Kids in the Dark

Chapter 50

Ryder's P.O.V

Our cell felt empty without Theo that evening and his absences was beginning to raise questions from the others. Adam, of course, was the first to approach me about it once I had returned to the canteen, so I explained what had happened, to him, and the others. They were all as shocked as I had been when they heard what Theo had done, but not surprised that it had landed him in solitary.

I wasn't much in the mood for socializing when Marc and I returned to our cell. Instead, I, pulled off my orange jumpsuit, which had been around my waist, to lie back on my bunk and proceeded to stare at the slats above me, mulling over everything that had happened today. Eventually, the sounds of Marc chatting with Adam, Charlie and Jace in the cell opposite fell away, the lights turned off and I let my tiredness consume me.

I was pelting headlong through a forest, darting in and out of the trees, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. Throwing a glance over my shoulder I saw a cloaked figure bearing down on me. The brief moments my eyes were not focused on the forest floor beneath me, my foot caught on a root jutting out from the ground. I went falling forwards, unable to catch myself as the ground rushed towards me. Whatever it was, the dark figure, descended upon me. I rolled over and tried to scramble away, but it held me down, pressing its forehead against mine. Images began to flood into my mind, each more horrifying than the last.

First was Jace, or what was left of him at the base of a building, barely recognizable apart from the clumps of golden hair which clung to the chunks of skull that littered the ground. Next was Charlie, charred and burnt in the remains of a blackened house, his unmoving body still smoking in places. Marc was 3rd, slumped against a wall. There was a single bullet hole right between his eyes, his brain matter plastered to the wall behind him, one small trickle of blood running down his brow. Adam came next, dark, thick blood pooling around him, a knife plunged deep into his chest, which was no longer moving.

Theo was last, lying in the snow, stock still but I could clearly make out his chest rise and fall. From all around wolves emerged from the shadows, approaching, circling, hungry growls escaping their lips. As they drew closer they began to rise, leaving 4 paws behind for 2 feet. As they rose their spines straightened and their tails fell away, morphing them into wolf-headed humans. As they shifted form the scene spun. The trees dissolved away to be replaced by a hospital. Theo, no longer sprawled in the snow, lay secured to a hospital bed, unmoving but clearly alive. I could just hear the beeping of monitors over the commotion and noise of the humanoid wolves. Upon closer inspection, each one wore scrubs, clearly doctors. Equipment exchanged hands and information was noted down, yet all the while Theo still did not move.

All the commotion suddenly stopped and a single wolf-headed doctor stepped forwards, a large syringe held in his hand. It drew closer to Theo, growling cruely as he took ahold of the intravenous line inserted into Theo's vein. After several moments of checking monitors, he attached the syringe into the IV line and pressed down the plunger.

The scene then shifted so that I was stood next to Theo, right by his side. I could see him lying there, eyes trained on the ceiling above him. The fear was clear in his eyes as the syringe was emptied, releasing the toxins into Theo's body. A panic had consumed me now, tightening my chest as my heartbeat raced. Not Theo, I thought. I can't lose him, not now. The beeps of the heart rate monitor were beginning to slow. I watched in horror as the life faded from my brother whilst I stood frozen, unable to do anything. I saw a single tear run down his cheek.

"I'm-sorry-Ryder." He said in a strained voice before all life left him, the beeps flatlining.

Chapter 50 is done! Sorry, I know it's shorter than usual. Then next one will be longer I promise.

I also want to let you know that I am planning on revising the starting chapters to remove Raven. She doesn't add to the story and if I'm being honest I didn't really like writing her as a character. I just wanted to give you a heads up if you get confused - Flo