The Shift

Chapter 7

*Hey, I wanted to thank you for understanding the break I took from writing. Saying that I'm back! It was a hectic 5 weeks but I have a lot more time now to get chapters out for you all.*

Everything is black, but the pounding through my head lets me know I'm not dead yet. I let my hands wander over the soft sheets stretching out my sore muscles. Taking a deep breath in I let go of the tension in my shoulders and relax deeper into the bed, savoring the comfort it gave me.

It was just a bad dream, I'm fine and dad will be home from work soon I reassure myself. I open my eyes expecting to see the familiar light blue walls surrounding me, but they were not there. The room was a clean white in a way that screamed clinical. The room was a nice size but it was bare there was a plush chair tucked neatly in the corner, a bedside table, and a few machines mounted neatly onto the wall. I sat up quietly trying to listen for any sounds beyond the door but if there were any it was drowned out by the humming of the machines.

"How long have I been here" I whisper in a panic. 

In a split second, I decided this was my chance to leave before anyone came looking for me. I don't quite know what happened at the ball its a little fuzzy but I have a pretty good idea that I was claimed and don't want to wait around and find out. I peek down at myself quickly assessing my body for any damage, nothing physically wrong with me I note. Reaching over to my left arm I unhook the blood cuff that is currently attached to my upper arm. I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and slowly I lower myself onto the floor trying to make as little noise as possible. My feet hit the cold tile floor with a quiet thud before I quickly move towards the window.

I peer over the edge assessing my probability of escaping, the drop looks to be 6-7 stories at least. I don't think I could survive if I jumped but I didn't let that thought deter me. I looked at the door dreading the new idea that popped into my head. That door is the only thing that stands between me and freedom, and maybe a couple of dozen wolves. I inch myself towards the door being sure to listen for any sounds approaching to the best of my abilities, cursing the infernal low hum coming from the machines dulling my senses.

Putting my hands on the door I let my fingers run over the cold wood beneath them to calm myself slightly. Pushing the door open slightly  I cringe praying to whatever god is up there that this door does not creek. Continuing I push the door open until I think can squeeze my body through the crack, not wanting to test my luck by pushing it open any further.

Quickly I slip half my body out the door giving the hallway the old once over to make sure I'm not going to be tackled at any moment and taken away to the pack dungeons for running. Today really is my lucky day I smirk, the coast is clear. I quickly move down the hallway letting my bare feet pad along the corridor keeping my sights on a bright red exit sign I spotted at the end of the hall. My heart increases almost feeling like it is jumping out of my chest the closer I get to the door.

I continue making my way quickly down the hallway my hands sweating as I grab the hard metal handle. I almost cry as I push the door open seeing the dark stairwell towards my freedom. As quickly as possible I slip into the stairway almost running down the stairs trying to make as little noise as possible. I watch the signs on the wall as I rip down the stairs 5 more floors to go, 4 more floors to go, 3 more floors to go I smile. Jumping down the stairs at this point I'm skipping 2-3 stairs at a time rushing to the bottom. My smile grows watching the concrete pad at the bottom become larger and larger.

My smile felt like it was going to break my face as my feet hit the bottom with a slight slap. Laughing I pushed the side door wide open before running like a mad man across the parking lot. looking around to try to get my barrings I recognized the familiar downtown area. They hadn't risked moving me out of the city in my condition something I will be forever grateful for, because if this was their pack hospital this mission would have just become a lot more difficult.