Taken

Chapter 2: Reborn

Exact location unknown; some time later

Something didn't feel right to me, but my mind was too hazy to try to figure out just exactly what it was that was bothering me. It was kind of similar to the feeling I got after waking up from anesthesia post tonsil removal when I was twelve.

All I really knew was that I was incredibly drowsy and the thought of having to wake up irritated me. I was getting hot, so I tried to move to get away from the heat, but it was no use. I was trapped in a space that I could barely move around in. There was no air inside this room that I was in, either. Instead, it seemed to be some sort of thick, hot, gel-like liquid that swirled slowly around my body. I didn't have the time to try to gather my thoughts and think about just how I was alive without breathing in air. I felt myself start to slip back into unconsciousness.

~~~

Through the walls of the room I was in, I heard muffled voices and I was suddenly jostled around in my container as it was moved. I tried to roll from laying on my right side to laying on my stomach in order to relieve the pressure on the corresponding hip and shoulder, but it was no use. There was now even less room than before! I felt my eye lids get heavy and sleep claimed me once again.

~~~

When I woke up again, my mind was pretty clear. The pain in my body (especially in my limbs and neck) was unbearable from being forced to rest in this contorted, unnatural way. My sense of time was totally gone and I had no idea how long it had been since I had been kidnapped. I listened, but the world beyond the walls of my prison was totally quiet. If I can break out of this box before they come back, I thought to myself. Then maybe I can escape before I get drugged again!

I remained still for a moment as I figured out the most efficient way to break the walls of my prison. I couldn't feel the walls with my hands, so I tried to push my way out with my limbs, which very quickly became sore and screamed in protest. Come on! I thought with a growl. There has to be a door or lid or some sort of other opening on this thing somewhere! I paused as the sound of something ripping echoed around me and there was noticeably a little less liquid around me than before. I took a second or two to see If I could hear anything else. The world beyond the walls of the space I was in was still quiet.

After taking a few deep breaths, I tried again and heard several more rips by my feet as yet more of the liquid drained away. The heat that I had thought was so overbearing earlier seemed to lend me strength now. I kept on thrashing, pausing frequently to catch my breath and to give my aching limbs a break. But, resting in what felt like a small plastic bag filled with warm, likely dirty gel didn't sit well with me. I was starving for clean air and more space to move.

With renewed vigor, I lashed out with all of the power and energy that remained in my weak muscles. There was a final tearing noise and the remaining liquid drained away.

Now that I was free of the gel and the bag, I rolled over onto my stomach and blinked up at the odd red light that hung over me. There was a sudden tightness in my chest and I began to cough violently until the same gel-like substance that had surrounded me earlier came out through my nose and mouth. With my nose and airways now clear, I took several deep breaths of fresh air. It was a little warm, but it was still fresh air, and I welcomed it eagerly. After a few more deep breaths, I sighed with relief and looked down. I froze when I saw massive white paws, like that of a wolf, in place of my normal Human hands.

"Hey, take it easy, there. You're not going mad, I promise."

The sudden, disembodied female voice in my head caused me to whip my head around in alarm.