The Runaway

Chapter 13

Isabella's POV

Gasps echo from the younger kids. They press themselves against the back wall trying to get away from the sight of their future alpha being guided by the vampire.

I catch sight of Matthew's eyes and get a glimpse of dead lifeless eyes. The scent of fresh blood intensifies as the come closer, the red liquid running down his arms and soaking through his shirt from multiple wounds along his arms and torso.

Asriel keeps his hand on Matt's shoulder, guiding him forward. Asriel's eyes dance with excitement as he tilts his head, "Now Matty, who is the one you care for the most?"

Matthew doesn't even allow me to call him that, I allow the thought to blow through the desert of my otherwise unoccupied mind. Matthew's voice brings me back, though his voice is off, "I care much for my younger siblings, Mark and Marie, but...Isabelle is the one and only key to my heart," Matthew's head turns to the vampire, "She is to be my downfall. Love is gonna be all our downfalls."

His voice sounds dead, no emotion. I bite back my gasp at his comment, the vampire smiles at the boy that I used to know.

Asriel speaks once more, "Love is rather good at being someone's downfall. But moving right along, who shall you get rid of?"

Matthew's dead eyes room over us before flicking off five points, "Peter McAvoy, Charlotte Fray, Mark Martin, Adam and Ada Levine."

I search through my mind and realize that those five are the youngest kids. Older siblings cradle them to their chest and try to protect them. The five kids are 6 years old and have full heads of blond hair, like Matthew.

Asriel grins and nods to a vampire who ushers them out before turning back to us, "Matthew will not be joining your ranks again for a while but we have decided to let most of you go. Those that remain in this particular cell, excluding the 3 oldest, are going to be released soon. We are finishing this up at the moment."

He turns and ushers Matthew ahead of him leaving us to decide what we are going to do.

Malachi's POV

Zeke went hysterical after the news about his mate and his little Johnny. What can I say I was terrified at first but then I recalled that Matthew was with them, he will protect them. My son. My Matthew Grayburn. He will take after me, Malachi Grayburn. Like his mother Mary Grayburn, he is a blond with the will of an alpha.

Isabella Scott is also with the others meaning she is near Matthew, he has always had a crush on her it will help him.

I head to the dungeon to talk to Annie, my sister when Zeke runs into me, "Ray was saying she was getting something, from the other kids! Does this mean they aren't as far as we thought?!"

I shove him away and sigh, "Zeke it means nothing. More than likely they are trying to get us to give them something. Accompany me. "

Zeke stays quiet as we make our way to Annie's cell. She is backed into a corner with wide eyes, "Please don't hurt me! Please!"

I raise an eyebrow at Zeke, he shrugs, I turn to our sister, "Do you have any ideas about why Aldrin would be taking kids?"

She looked to me before shaking her head vigorously.

Hey we are here...they want her. Whoever she is. They want her. Then let go of the others once they have her. The voices of many kids echoes in my head, I look to Zeke to see him staring back.

We race out of the dungeons and out of the house. A swarm of kids come from the woods, I survey the crowd and note about 8 or 9 faces missing. Matthew and Isabella are two of the faces. Zeke's mate is in front and he zips forward and embraces her. Johnny isn't anywhere to be seen either.

Fear takes over my heart as I search the link for my son, his crush, or my nephew.

No response.

That's when it hits me...

*********
Word count: 702