Finding The Red Dragon

Warn Ragnar

"That stings!" Ella shouted at Jake as he cleaned her arm. "How did it get like this? He scratched you once." Jake tried to clean it again. "I scrapped it on a tree when we stopped once." "You must have scraped it hard because this is..." Jake stopped and looked up at her.

"You did it on purpose." He said with disgust. "What are you talking about?" She rolled her eyes. "You did. What were you thinking?" He whispered. "I was thinking about getting out of here." She whispered back.

"You led them right to their deaths. This place is a fortress. No dragon is getting in here. They have weapons you have never seen before." Jake closed his eyes and exhaled. 

"They are dragons, nothing can hurt them." "A laser that can cut off their head will. Or the giant harpoon that waits in the back will. Ella, they plan to shoot the red dragon straight through the heart." "No." Tears filled her eyes as panic raced through her. Not her dragon! Not Ragnar!

"Jake, you have to help him." Her lip quivered. "I can't Ella. I am sorry." "Then warn them. Please. I swear I will make them spare your life. And your family's, anyone close to you." "I have no one but my mother." "Then I will help her too." She pleaded.

"Ella, you don't understand, these guys, they are not like normal werewolves. They crave power and the extinction of their biggest enemy. The dragons. Kruse will stop at nothing to get that red dragon."

"Ragnar." "What?' "His name is Ragnar. And I care for him very much. Please. You must help me. Then I will get you out of here." She took his hands and looked into his eyes with all the hope she had. And when he looked back, he tilted his head, and she saw his eyes change, before he looked away.

"And go where? No one will ever be able to protect me from them." "Then we kill them all." "There are sixty-five wolves in this compound and all of them work for Kruse, willing or not."

"Jake, please, you have to help me save him." "Not a chance Ella. I am sorry." He stood up and left her in the room, locking the door behind him. Now what? She looked around the room. No windows, no phone, no way to communicate. Nothing more than a bed, a small table with one chair and a tiny bathroom. Not much to write home about. At least the bed was comfortable and clean as she laid down to rest. She was so exhausted.

~

An argument outside her door woke her, but Ella did not dare move. The last man to come in with a plate of food and a bottle of water barely even looked at her. She was not about to waste time on someone else.

The door flew open and Fido waltzed in loudly. "Let me see your arm." He held out his hand and she glared. "Jake told me it was infected. Show me." He snapped and she held it out knowing full well it was fine. She looked at Jake, who nodded slightly. What was he doing?

"It looks fine." "Don't touch it!" She snapped and pulled her arm back from his grasp. "It seems fine." Fido glared. "Maybe to you, but your little scratch has turned into a big problem." She growled.

"She is fine." Fido shook his head. "She is not fine. If I do not get her some antibiotics, the infection will spread, and she will be in no shape to negotiate with. How is it going to look if we turn over a half dead human? The red dragon will never come forward." Jake was doing a particularly good job of acting, and she played along.

"Between that and whatever drug you used, I am sick. Jake is right, if you plan to use me as bait, I better be in good shape, or it will never work. The red dragon is smarter than you think." She laid down and covered back up.

"Jake, can I have some more aspirin, please. I think my fever is back." "Yes." Jake agreed. "FINE! Go get the damn medicine. You better be back in an hour, or I swear I will send someone out for you." "Trust me, I would rather let her die, but then what good would she be." Jake glared at her, then Fido left the room with a growl.