The Boy Next Door

Chapter Twenty-Two

It's been days I guess. I can't tell. I don't know what time it is ever. I never see sunlight. Only the light from the bulb. I never see any other animals but the few scraps of meat they throw in my room.

I stand alert as I hear footsteps. I shove aside my raw cow meat and crouch in front of the door. I growl as it opens. I cower as I see the lightning rod. The stinging stick.

I've learned the hard way. If I disobey or fight the humans, I'll get hurt. The humans? I'm human. I think I am. No I'm not. Humans are horrible. Humans control.

The human man comes in and sits on my concrete table. He sits professionally. I hate this. This man is alpha when he's in here. I'm powerless.

I sit back on my feet, waiting for a command. After a while he speaks.

"I know I know. You're bored. Well now we have a mission for you. Only if you can handle it. Only if you don't run away. If you do run, we'll kill you."

He waited until I met his eyes again .

"Your mission is to kill a very dangerous person. He escaped from his prison a few days back and is in our area causing trouble. Find him. Kill him. You will be rewarded."

I have no choice but to obey. I have no goddamned choice.

He shows me a picture of the man. He shows me someone familiar. He tells me to kill him.

"Jason. Jason! Wake up. You were having a bad dream. It's okay I'm here for ya."

Lies. No one is here. No one.

I will kill him. I nod.

...

I crouch in front of a bush, hidden and silent. My mission is to kill. My thoughts are to kill. My instincts are to kill.

I tense as he walks out of the little corner shop. No one is around in this dark night. No one to hear his screams.

He walks unknowingly toward me. I wait. He walks into the woods. I wait.

I follow.

He goes to a cave that looks like a distant memory. I stop trying to remember and instead focus on my mission. The man leads me inside. He sits with his back to me on an old wooden chair.

"I know you're there Jason. Come out." I tense as I hear the familiar name. "You've been missing for three years. Where were ya? I've missed ya. Alyssa does too. We've been worried."

He takes a shaky breath and continues. "I don't know. I don't know why you left or how. Please tell me." I move slowly around to his side. I'm far enough so he can't touch me but close enough so I can pounce. "Don't fight me. I don't want to kill you. Please. Just listen." He turns his head to me. I see old scars scattered on his face. His eyes are leaking clear liquid.

"Please. Do you know where Jamie is? Wolf? They took him too I guess, four days after they took you and Jamie. I just want my pack back. Please, come back."

I growl softly, a warning, as he turns his whole body toward me. "What did they do to you? You were so nice. What did they do? I'll kill 'em. They took my brother and now I'm gonna kill 'em."

He stands suddenly, I lunge. He expected it and threw me back. I land in a wooden box. He shut the door. No. No not again.

"I'm sorry. I am. I love you brother, so I have to do this. Forgive me." The crate moves suddenly. I tumble down.