Twisting Fate

The Escape

Chapter 21

As I sit in this dull, cramped room, I contemplate many things. First, how am I going to hide the fact that his mark hasn't taken. Second, how long can Lazira keep our pups hidden. And finally, how long have I been here?

Most people would be tearing their hair out wondering why they haven't been rescued. Why haven't their loved ones come to save them? Not me.

No, I know all too well about reality. In reality, people are raped. Kids are murdered. Families are tortured and burned. Parents beat their kids. Fathers get drunk. People leave. And most of all, there are no heroes.

The only person I can count on is myself. I have strength. I may be smaller than him, but I won't quietly be his punching bag anymore! I AM the strongest fighter in my pack! I will not go down without a fight!

"Are you done yet?" Lazira questions.

"What? Can't a girl give herself a peptalk?" I ask, half offended.

"Sure, but now that you have, focus. We need to ambush him next time he comes in. And before we do that, we need to try to contact the pack." She raddles off a list of "must do's" and I start checking it off.

"Alpha?....Travis?....Can anyone hear me?" I attempt to use my mind link. However, within seconds I feel a searing pain in my head and what sounds like a high pitched beep.

I close the link immediately and shake my head. Rubbing my temples, I squint my eyes to try and relieve the soreness. After a moment I can think again.

"What the hell?" I ask Lazira.

"There must be a spell around us. They can't get in, and we can't send messages out." She tells me.

"Great." I mutter.

Mental check one, can't mind link.

Mental check two, find something to hit Jeremy over the head with.

I look around the room and find a mirror slid behind the dresser. This should work.

I take the mirror and crawl back into the bed. Now for the waiting game.

I lie under the covers with the mirror in my hands. I focus on the sound of my breathing and my pup's heartbeats. Soon I have leveled my breathing to a slow rate and with it, my heart.

I stretch my hearing to pick up anything around me. I hear the ding of a microwave. The shuffling of distant feet. A door creaking open. A door slamming shut. Muffled voices. Suddenly there are steps heading my way.

I begin to count back from ten to calm my anxiety.

10

The foot steps are just outside the door.

9

The handle is turned painfully slow.

8

The door creaks open.

7

I hear him breathing. I feel his gaze. He's watching me. Seeing if I'm really asleep.

......

5

His steps are slow. Is my cover blown?

4

...

3

He's right beside the bed.

2

I sense a hand coming towards me.

ONE!

I leap from the bed at lightning speed. Swinging the mirror as hard as I can I smash it into the side of his head. Jeremy flies into the wall and without hesitation I dash for the door. I'm grabbed by the arm as I round a corner out of the hallway.

Using my reflexes and the force of the guy's pull I leap over his shoulder, twisting in his grasp so that my arm is around his throat. I snatch backward and lift my knee up with crushing force. Doubling the power in which I just snapped his spine over my knee. With a loud snap and a blood curdling scream I jump over the crippled rogue and continue my dash.

Just before I reach a large wooden door which I presume-hope- leads outside, I am snagged from behind and slammed into a hard, foul smelling chest. I swung my legs into the air and push against the chest. In a matter of nanoseconds I had the rogue's grip loosened and his neck between my thighs.

Never underestimate the power of a woman's thighs.

While hanging upside down, I reach my hands to the floor and guide my body in the directions I need. I twist my ankles together and snap my legs towards the floor. At the same time I use my arms to launch my upper body to right.

With a snap the rogue lies motionless and I land upright on my feet. I hit the floor running and bolted for the wooden door once more. I yank the door open and silently rejoice at finding the woods.

I am three steps out when I am slammed to the ground. I manage to twist so I land on my shoulder first instead of my stomach.

I'm flipped over onyo my back and come face to face with Jeremy. He has me pinned.

A large hand is thrown over my mouth as I prepared for an ear splitting scream. Jeremy sat his full weight on my hips, preventing any movement. I shouted into his hand but everything was muffled. I felt tears prick at the edges of my eyes as I realized that foul smelling, damp rag was back over my nose and mouth.

Jeremy was looking over my head and scanning the woods. Probably making sure everything was clear.

I noticed the gaping wound pouring blood out of the side of his head. But I couldn't take satisfaction in it. I hadn't knocked him out. Better yet, why couldn't that have just killed him? I should of just jabbed the damn mirror into his throat until I severed his head from his shoulders.

I feel the familiar, welcoming blackness start to take me away.

I picture Travis as a tear rolls down my face. "I'm sorry." I whisper to him.