The Runaway

Chapter 9

Annie's POV

I am jolted awake by the awful smells assaulting my nostrils. I slowly sit up, pain shakes my body.

Images flash before my eyes, a black wolf and auburn wolf in the cabin. Akron getting hurt because of me. The auburn wolf. Me unconscious, swaying to that monster. The auburn wolf alone, the black wolf nowhere in sight. The pain from his canines in my skin, his claws scraping my meat for blood. Trying to tear flesh from bone.

I grit my teeth at the pain from every puncture, every scrape. My eyes dart to each of my wounds. At least one wound on each limb.

I breath in deeply, my brain finally recognizing the smell of death and blood. Strong scent of fresh blood. MY BLOOD.

Shivering, I notice one other scent. Different from my own, but similar to the auburn wolf and black wolf. I glance up at the silhouette. The light behind his head creating a halo, obscuring my view of his face.

The man's voice is what scares me more, calm. "It's about time you have awoken, young one."

I try to push myself further from the cell bars, the pain back fires causing me to cry out.

The calm voice sighs, "You are hurt, you shouldn't move very much. I'm sorry, young one."

I whimper, ducking my head. My brown locks shift forward creating a wall between us. My blue eyes dart around looking for something, anything. The soft jangle of keys echoes through the room, the click of a lock.

The man steps forward, "Young one..."

I throw my head up and glare harshly, "Get away from me! Don't come any closer!!"

The man jumps lightly before growling, "Girl, you will not order me around like a slave!"

He made a mistake.

I warned him.

I really did.

It isn't my fault. It isn't my fault. It isn't my fault.

My vision darkens and my body acts while my mind is gone. When my vision returns, my claws are out posed over the man's neck. My canines slowly retracting, eyes dimming. I'm losing Whitney, my panther. She forced me to let her have control.

See Annie, I told you. You need us. We are here to make sure you survive. Whitney's voice echoes through my head.

I whisper to my panther, "Come forward, Whitney. I give you the control to subdue the man for answers. "

The man's eyes lock onto mine, confusion laced through his. Mine as clear as day, war between the three species within me.

"Who are you talking to?" The man's voice strains from his throat, fear. The thing that gets you killed.

The next words from my mouth are soft with a playful tone and sharp canines, sliding back out. Claws sharpening, ready to tear flesh from bone if necessary. "Well hello Mister.  It wouldn't be in your to do list to let my human go is it?"

Annie could hear and see everything going on with Whitney in control, the man would be scared.

The man laughs heartedly, "My, my, my, you are delightful. But I'm sad to say...," the man's reflexes were very quick. His hand caught the wrist and flipped the position, his hand now squeezing the life out of the girl's frightened body, "if I do decide to let you go...it will be in death. Now be a good girl and don't try anything else."

The man holds his grip on her throat until she passes out, he gets up and dusts himself off. Locking the door, he heads back upstairs, to his niece and nephew. To his pack and family. Away from his prisoner, his blood. His sister.

Malachi's POV

After I leave the girl in the dungeon, I walk into my room and plop on the bed. Thoughts racing through my brain. What did they do? Why doesn't she remember me? Was it because she doesn't want to? That can't be it...she is my sister after all.

The monster in me could only see the fresh meat to be picked and beaten. The boy in me saw a sister that I loved and then lost.

A thud of a door slamming open startles me up, a little form leaps onto my bed. I sigh in relief as I realize it's only Rachel.

"Hey Ray-Ray, you know you are supposed to knock." I grin at my little niece.

She laughs softly and wraps her arms around my neck, "I know Uncle Mal, but I wanted to surprise you."

"Surprise me?"

"Yes Uncle Mal, look!" She races out of the door before racing back in with something that makes my blood run cold.

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Word count: 782