Alpha (Jacob Seed X Deputy OC)

15 - Breaking Out

I was tired of this. I was done. Every time I thought I was making progress it just turned out that he was manipulating me. Lying in his bed, once again coated in the blood of my victims, I pinched the inside of my lip with my teeth. He wouldn't get his way anymore. At the sound of the door handle turning, I sat up on the edge of the mattress and rubbed my blood stained face.

'Good work again pup.' Jacob gave me his dry praising tone, kicking off his boots and clambering onto the bed behind me. 'You're so close to the final test now and then it'll all be over.' His thumbs assumed their usual position on my shoulder blades as he started to massage my back.

'Jacob stop.' I murmured, tensing up at his touch.

'What was that?' He asked gruffly, leaning forward and planting a kiss on my flecked neck.

'Stop it.' I said again but he ignored me, trailing his lips down to my collarbone. 'I said fucking stop.' Standing up, I moved away and he fell forward, catching himself on the beam of the bed's frame.

'The fuck is your problem today?' He grunted in annoyance, sitting back onto his knees.

'Whatever this is, I'm done doing it.' Gesturing to the space between us, Jacob's expression went from irritation to simmering anger.

'You don't get to choose.' He responded with a tight jaw, teeth almost locked together.

'Yes I do!' I argued, planting my feet on the floor and standing my ground. He wasn't going to get away with bossing me around anymore. My fingers curled into fists and my face settled into a rage filled glare.

'No you don't.' Jacob got up, advancing towards me like a snarling wolf that was ready to rip both of my legs off.

'Look I'm sorry the system failed you and that not everything was peachy when you were in the army, but none of that was my fault so stop treating me like it was!' The soldier paused on the spot at my words.

'You didn't exactly help me though did you?' He snapped. 'I was always there for you, name one time you were there for me.' He folded his arms and granted, I did have to take a moment to think.

'That night that you burnt down the farm. I came out and comforted you.'

'You didn't offer to put me up and give me a place to stay.' He replied, stewing over it.

'I was twelve!' Shocked at his inconsideration for my own situation, I shook my head at him. 'I waited for you at the airport to come back from Iraq and they said you were dead. What did you expect me to do Jacob? Wait around forever!'

'Yes!' His response was laced with upset and desperation. I could see his fingers were digging into the scars on his arms. 'But you ditched me. You went off to play happy families with that fucknut Henry and forgot about me.'

'Jake I- wait.' Brain ticking over his words, I narrowed my eyes. 'I've never told you about Henry.' He didn't say anything, unfolding his arms and stuffing them in his jean pockets. Then I got it. Stepping back, I took in his hunched frame and remembered the hooded figure that'd been tracking me all those years ago. The night that Henry vanished. 'Jesus fucking Christ...' The words barely formed, coming out as a husky whisper.

'It was for your own good. You deserved more than that soft bag of shit.' Jacob defended his actions, shrugging his shoulders as if it didn't matter.

'You- You killed him?' I stammered, reaching for the nearby door handle to escape.

'No, no, no. I just, y'know, broke his legs...'

'Jacob!' I could've screamed ten times louder if I had the energy.

'Pup, listen-' His demeanour had changed, this time coming closer with a tentativeness that I didn't want.

'I-I don't want to be anywhere near you right now. I can't even look at you.' Securing my grasp around the metal door handle, I took my leave. Scampering down the corridor of the Veteran's Centre, I followed its twists and turns until I collided with Pratt.

'Deputy?' He asked, confused at my dishevelled  appearance and pale face.

'Pratt! Pratt you gotta get me out of here!' I braced his shoulders, shaking him. At the sound of Jacob's footsteps down the hallway, Pratt tugged me into a nearby broom closet. He placed a bloody finger to his lips, signalling for me to stay quiet. Burying my face in my hands, my body collapsed into a trembling mess and Pratt pulled me into a warm hug.

'Shh Dep. I'm gonna get you out, it's okay.' He held me close and I took comfort from it despite him being coated in blood and bruises. Jacob's footsteps echoed away and Pratt tentatively opened the door. 'Coast's clear, let's move.' Taking the suede material of my pilot jacket into his hand, Pratt dragged me by the wrist down a flight of stairs and into what looked like an office. Pictures and maps adorned the walls, pins and strings connecting ideas together. It was dark outside though I was unaware of the actual time. 'He knows you're ready to do it.' Pratt picked up a picture of Eli and waved it in my face. 'Look, trials. See!'

'I don't understand what you mean.' My brow creased, trying my best to configure what it was that Pratt was trying to tell me. Walking over to the large map on the wall, he spread his palms over the expanse.

'He's got it all planned out. One. Two. Three. One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three and then he's got you! It becomes second nature. Routine. He gets in your head and you don't even realise it.'

'Staci, calm down. I can handle this. Just please, right now I have to get away.' I bargained but he wouldn't have it, pressing the crook of his palms into his bruised eyes.

'You can't ever go back. You understand? You can't ever go back!' He drew his palms away and jabbed me in the chest with a finger. 'Promise me Dep, you will stay away from him.'

'Staci-'

'Promise me!' He shouted a little too loud and my shoulders twitched at the idea of Jacob finding us.

'Okay okay! I promise I won't come back.' I mimed a cross over my heart and Staci nodded before beckoning me over.

'Come on, there's a truck. We gotta get you on that truck. It's gotta be here, gotta get on that truck.' Reaching down, he handed me a large duffel bag of weapons. The weight of it made the polyester straps cut into my palms. 'It's almost time. I've studied the route for weeks. It's the only way out.' Leading me out on the balcony, I looked out at the courtyard of the Veteran's Centre. A dilapidated fountain stood proudly, it's shattered base glinting in the moonlight. 'You'll be safe if you don't-' Before Pratt could finish his sentence, distant shouts made our heads both whip around in unison. An alarm began to wail, red lights blinking all over the yard. 'No, no, no! Not yet! Not yet!' Pratt began to panic, searching the room we just left from the doorway to check for signs of life. The sound of a vehicle pulling up beneath us made me turn back and I saw the white van stopping just beneath the balcony. Then it started.

Only you,
Can make all this world seem right.

'Aw fuck! Fuck! No, no! I'm sorry!' Slamming his hands over his ears, Pratt apologised over and over. I felt my eyes begin to enflame and I searched his face for help. Without hesitation, he ran at me and pushed my entire weight over the balcony bannister. My body drifted down through the air and for a moment I felt weightless. Tears leaked from my eyes and I was only relieved of the pain when my head connected the roof of the truck, knocking me unconscious.