Seeing Red

Chapter 12

"Where could the others be?" I asked.

"You should be able to find Mark," said Simon, "So we should go for him first."

"Wait, how could I find him? Can I track his scent or something?" I asked.

"Kind of," said Simon, "There's no doubt in my mind that you and Mark are mates at this point, which means you should be able to feel his heart beat and track him down to exactly where he is. I imagine you two have since had..."

"Yes." I really didn't want Simon to finish that sentence.

"Well then, focus on Mark and try to listen to his heart beat," said Simon, "Imagine laying your head on his chest."

I did so, closing my eyes and looking down at the metal floor. Imagining laying my head on Mark's chest was easy, but I gasped in shock when I heard the beating heart in the distance. When I opened my eyes, it was like I could see a string of smoke leading me down the hallway, past rows and rows of cages.

"What you're probably seeing right now is a string of fate," said Simon, "Follow it to him, but don't turn back into your wolf form. When we find him, he and I can get him out of a cell."

"Gotcha." I said, following the strand, "Let's go!"

I ran, following the strand with Simon right behind me. The training cells looked a lot different from how I remembered them; it felt like there were a hell of a lot more than before. The strand of fate went around a corner and stopped at a cell at the end of that hallway. I sprinted for it with Simon right behind me.

"Mark?! Mark?!" I said as I got to the bars.

"Scarlet?!" The beautiful sound of Mark's voice send hope through my soul, and I threw myself into the bars of Mark's cell just as he did the same, catching each other's arms.

"Thank god you're alive!" I said, "I thought for sure Gwen was going to kill you!"

"I'd never go out that easy," said Mark, "Scarlet, how did you -"

"Before we answer some difficult questions, we're gonna have to get everyone re-grouped," said Simon as he stepped to the bars, "You know, before Gwen and her lackeys figure out what's happened and start ripping some throats out."

"Ah, good point," said Mark, "We should find Becky. I think she's -"

"She's close." I was surprised at how I was immediately able to discern what Becky's smell was, though there was no trail leading me to her. There were so many scents around, it would've probably been overwhelming if my adrenaline weren't pumping at mach-ten.

"She is," said Mark, "We have to get her. Simon, help me with these bars, we should be able to get them open if we work together!"

"Say no more," said Simon, who had already turned into his wolf form. Mark transformed within seconds as well, and after some pulling on the bars, Mark was free.

"Thank god, I was getting some bad flashbacks," said Mark as he looked back at the cell and shuddered, "Let's go get Becky and the others."

"Where's Lisa?" I asked. When Mark flinched, I had a pretty good idea what had happened.

"She's a backstabber," said Mark, "Walked us right into a trap. Turns out, Gwen had a feeling what we were up to from the start and sent Lisa in."

"Damn." I said, "That sucks. Well, we'll deal with that when we're all regrouped. We need to find Brandon and Dustin."

Simon and Mark nodded in agreement and we followed Mark through the labyrinth of cells. I was clutching Mark's hand the whole time; I never wanted to let go of it again.