Uncaged

Chapter 21

"Nikki, see if you can see what they're up to, I need to get your dad, he has that front door app," I whispered harshly as I ran from the room. Her dad was in the office, one door down, and I ran there to see him peering through the blinds as we had been. "Mr. Garrison, he's here at the front door, you'll want to use the app to talk to him. But Nikki is trying to see what they're up to. Come back to the room."

Leading the way, I got back to Nikki just as the doorbell rang. I saw Mr. Garrison fumbling with the phone as Nikki pulled me closer. "Brad is a werewolf too, but new, he shifted last month at the full moon. They're after both of us girls, Brad wants Jasmine and Phillis wants me. They're going to shut off the power, and then attack if we don't let them in. They don't know we're all here."

"Hey Brad, Mr. Phillips, I didn't realize you knew each other. What can I do for you?" Mr. Garrison said into his phone. We could hear it mumbling out at the front door.

"We've come for your daughter," Mr. Phillips said in a sinister voice. "Well, daughters, we need them both."

"Excuse me? My daughters aren't going anywhere with you!"

"You can either bring them down, or we're coming in to get them. But we're not leaving without them," Brad demanded.

"I'm calling the police! I've had enough of these threats!" Mr. garrison bluffed.

"They're headed to the garage and the breaker box!" Nikki called out.

"Head back to the office, and turn your phone light on, they're going to cut the power!" I directed Mr. Garrison and then sent a text to Sam, Leon, Jane and Jasmine about the power. Damnit! I wish we'd thought to get flashlights, but I guess we didn't think of everything. Pulling Nikki closer, I gave her a deep kiss. "I love you, keep my parents safe."

"I love you too Lucas, and I'll take care of them."

I went out to the hallway as Nikki went into her room. Up against the wall were the slats with the silver spikes. We hadn't laid them out yet because we didn't want to have to dodge them all night when going from room to room, but now that we were under attack, it was time. Working quickly, I lowered them to the floor and then went back to the end, where I crouched behind a tipped over desk. I had my crossbow loaded with the first silver tipped bolt, and 2 dozen more bolts ready to go along with a thick leather glove that had the silver barbed wire wrapped around the fist. I propped my phone against the front of the desk and turned the light on. Seconds later, the house was plunged into darkness, and the light from the phone was all I had.

Anything that moved would be a target. The boys and Mr. Garrison were all going to be in their rooms unless it was an emergency, so I just pointed the crossbow down the hallway at the top of the staircase and waited.

The silence was terrifying. I'd expected a lot of howling, barking, something. But once the lights went off, there was nothing at all. Nikki's door on my right cracked open, and she peered out. "Is anything happening?"

"Not yet, but I can't imagine it will be too long. I was hoping your dad's threat to call the cops would get them moving without thinking."

"It still might. They might be planning a coordinated attack of some sort," she pointed out.

"How are my parents doing?" I asked, having not heard anything from them yet.

"It could happen any minute," she answered while looking over her shoulder. "I'll get back to them."

"Be safe! Love you!" I called out as she was shutting the door. She blew me a kiss, and then was gone.