Monsters Beyond the Gate

Chapter Fifteen: The Longest Run

The door to the cell flew open. A huge guard with a dirty sneer on his face reached out and slapped me across the face so hard that the sound echoed inside the room.

I fell back in shock, causing the silver cuffs to dig into my already throbbing wrists. The pain made me want to cry out but instead I bit down on my tongue.

"Won't be doin' that again, eh Lassie? There'll be no mind talkin' in this place. We aren't yer average buncha idiots," he laughed coldly. His voice held a thick Scottish accent.

My cheek stung and warm tears brimmed my eyes. Tessa opened her mouth like she was going to say something nasty to him, but thought better of it. Though he wore tattered clothing and had jaw length greasy blonde hair, his arms were about the size of my legs. There was also an unsettling looking scar that went down right over his left eye and ended at the bottom of his jaw.

"It's time for yah to meet the lord of darkness," he said with a wink in my direction, "We'll start with you," he added, motioning towards Tessa. Two more scraggily looking guards stepped forward. One of them grabbed a set of keys that were hanging on the nail right next to the door and used it to unlock Tessa's cuffs.

Her wrists were red and raw just like mine. The guards then grabbed her naked body by her arms and hauled her to her feet. Pools of blood ran from her wounds, down her legs and then into puddles on the cold concrete floor. The sight of it made me feel woozy.

"Tessa-" I cried in a strangled voice.

All eyes turned to me. My mouth fell open but I choked on my own words. Nothing would come out. When they realized I wasn't going to say anything more, the guards turned away, dragging Tessa between them. They slammed the door shut and I was left feeling more alone than I'd ever felt in my life.

~***~

It felt like hours went by and Tessa had still not returned. I stared aimlessly at the wall. My face throbbed like my wrists and I could feel it bruising.

I imagined all of the horrible things they were doing to Tessa and I cried. I didn't care if they had cameras watching me bawl my eyes out. I was scared. Terrified that they were going to kill her and that I would be next and Fisher would be left all on his own.

I wanted my mom.

I wanted to go home. Yet, I wasn't even sure where home was anymore. Was it with my mother and her pack of wolves? Was it with my Father back inside the gate where I had to listen to my stepmother, Havana, complain all day? No. I'd already decided that that was never going to be my home again.

Especially since I had proof that I was a wolf. I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want to accept it. But I knew it was true. My mother was a wolf and so was I. I didn't belong inside that gate with normal humans. But I knew that regardless of that, I had to get Fisher back there, because that still was his home.

Finally the door was thrusted open again and Tessa was tossed back inside. She landed on her hands and knees. Blood poured out of her mouth. Her arms gave out and she fell onto her side.

I jerked against my chains. I wanted to go to her, but I couldn't move.

"Tessa? Tessa, are you alright?" I screamed. The guards laughed.

Tessa said nothing. She proceeded to cough and more blood spattered from her mouth.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" I yelled as loud as I could manage.