Slain

By all means

Put me through hell

And I’ll make you see

I’ll be your worst enemy

Try to kick, kick, kick me when I’m down

-Kick me, by Sleeping With Sirens

A gate slides open and I crouch halfheartedly, trying to regain focus in preperation for another fight. Eight unphased wolves file into the arena, four fanning out to the left and four to the right. I sway on my feet, still gripping my neck tightly, though blood continues to seep out.

I tighten my hold on the dagger as the wolves close in on me from all sides. This is it. This is where he finally kills me.

The wolves lunge at me all at once. I swipe my dagger at as many as I can, but without letting go of my neck it’s useless. One wolf knocks the blade from my hand as another tackles me to the ground and flips me over to lay face down in the sand. He sits on my back as another wolf sits on my legs to stop their flailing. My legs are forced together as someone jerks my hand from my neck and forces it behind my back. Blood pours from my wound and I begin to panic.

That should be clotting by now. If it doesn’t start to close, I’m going to bleed out.

I try to roll from beneath the wolves, but to no avail. My eyelids become heavy and my mind foggy before everything drifts to blackness.

A pounding in my head just behind my eyes and in my temples wakes me. I keep my eyes closed tight as I bring a hand to my face, nearly missing it. My limbs feel weak and disconnected from my brain as I move.

What’s happening? Am I dead?

I can’t be dead, my body hurts too much.

I crack open my eyes, afraid I’ll be blinded by light. I’m met with darkness. I move my hand down to my neck, remembering my injury. Stiff, crusty gauze meets my fingers.

So, he still wants me alive then.

Slowly, I push myself into a sitting position, the pounding in my head growing unbearably at the movement. I squeeze my eyes shut to wait out the pain, pressing my hands into the cold stone floor. After a few seconds, the pain subsides to a dull ache and I’m able to think again.

I run my hands along the ground; I’m on the stone floor without so much as a blanket. How generous. I then feel around for a cup or bowl of water. My throat and mouth are dry and coated in sand.

I find nothing to relieve the ache and groan in annoyance. That means someone should be coming in to bring me water at some point. The only problem is, I don’t know how long I’ve been in here so I can’t judge how long I have to wait for water.

Deciding to take care of this myself, I lean against the wall and push myself to my feet. Sweat forms on my brow and my hands shake from the effort, my knees buckling under my weight. I almost sit back down, deciding it’s not worth it.

It takes me a minute to regain control over my body, my stomach rolling with nausea. I must have lost a lot of blood.

Walking slowly along the wall, I make my way toward the sliver of light leaking under the door. I lift a heavy hand and knock against the wood.

There’s no answer.

I knock again.

Silence.

Irritated, I try the handle. To my surprise, it’s unlocked. What kind of idiot...?

I pull the door open enough to peek my head out. No one stands in the hallway. Could this be my chance?

After listening for a few seconds, I decide I might as well try. If he didn’t kill me in the arena, he won’t kill me now.

I pull the door open enough for me to slip out, shutting it softly behind me. Steadying myself against the wall, I creep down the hall trying to stay alert for sounds of anyone approaching. The blood rushes in my ears and my face grows hot, the sweat starting to drip down my face.

Coming to a corner, I slow my pace and take a second to listen more carefully before peeking around the corner. No one.

I continue on, knowing the foyer is just down this hall and to the left. My hands shake almost uncontrollably as I go and my legs feel heavy. If I get caught, there’s no way I’ll be able to make a run for it. My only chance is to leave unnoticed.

The doorway to the foyer comes into view; it’s dim. Only a single torch lighting the stone entryway. It’s also empty.

Suspicion rises in my chest. Why haven’t I been caught yet? Unless he wants me to escape...

That’s absurd. No matter the reason for my so far easy escape, I have to continue on. I can’t stay here any longer.

I let go of the wall, swaying slightly on my feet. When I’m sure I can walk without falling, I walk as fast as I can toward the front door. Excitement fuels my tired limbs as I yank the door open and step outside, now desperate for freedom.

No one waits for me outside like I half expected, so I hobble down the wooden steps and rush toward the nearest woods. If I can make it to a stream, I can cover my scent so I can’t be followed.

As I make my way through the small, deserted pack, the feeling that something is wrong grows. None of this makes sense and I almost turn around to head back to my little room. The thought of being forced to kill innocent people keeps me heading for the trees though.

I reach the treeline without difficulty and hope surges through me. Am I actually getting away from this creep?

I pick up speed, despite the ache in my muscles, the fear of being caught again giving me energy. I try my best not to make any noise, but with my exhausted body and frantic escape, I make quite a bit of racket.

The sound of water trickling catchest my attention and I change direction, praying it’s shallow enough. A narrow stream appears, the water glistening in the moonlight. Eager to cover my sent, I tromp into the icy water and follow it downstream.

Hopefully, it doesn’t deepen or have any deep holes since I can’t swim. I keep close to the shore just in case.

As I walk, I scoop up a handful of water and sip it, finally soothing my aching throat. The longer I walk, the more I want to laugh with relief.

I’m free. I actually got away from Demon.

But that relief is short-lived. I realize I don’t know where I’m going. I can’t go back to my village and it would be stupid of me to go back to Fluffy, though the idea is appealing. No, I need to figure out a way to get Zane out. I don't think I can do it on my own, but I doubt my own village would be willing to help me. I'll need to find Slayers willing to help.

Deciding on finding another slayer village, a feeling of satisfaction settles over me. Now I just have to get there before I collapse from exhaustion.

My feet burn from the cold water, my toes already numb, but I push forward, determined to make it a good couple miles before I leave the water. Damon isn’t getting his hands on me again.

Rustling startles me awake.

I had walked until sunrise before my body decided I couldn’t go any farther without food and rest. So I curled up under the nearest tree and immediately fell asleep. It's now sometime late afternoon.

The rustling continues across the stream. I grab my boots, which were laid out to dry beside me and slip them on, ready to run. When it sounds like it's getting closer I jump to my feet and turn, deciding to hide in a tree instead since I'm too weak to outrun anything.

I scramble up the bark and the rustling stops as if it's listening. I find a branch a decent way up the tree and sit on it. My heart's in my throat as I listen, praying whatever it is continues on.

Then someone speaks and my heart stops altogether.

"Jack?"

I want to cry at the sound. How did he find me?

"Jack, it's me, Ajax." He steps into view under the tree and I almost fall out of relief. He looks up at me, a mixture of relief, fear, and worry filling his deep sable eyes. "Will you come down?"

With shaking hands, I begin to carefully climb back down. Am I hallucinating? What are the odds that he would actually find me? And why?

I reach the ground, but he stays where he is. His eyes sweep over me, lingering on the bandage around my neck and blood caked on my arms and clothes. My eyes trail down his body, noticing his tone bare chest and bare feet. Pushing away my attraction, I watch his face for any indication of what he's thinking, but he gives nothing away.

Suddenly, he steps forward and pulls me into his arms. Startled, I tense under his touch, but I start to relax as his warmth seeps into my skin. I wrap my arms around his waist loosely, allowing myself these few seconds of comfort.

His scent floods my senses: warm and woodsy like cypress and cedar and suddenly I worry I smell. I haven't bathed since Damon took me, I'm sure I smell awful, but that doesn't keep him from gripping me tightly to his chest. His chin rests on top of my head, his breath rustling my hair gently. I can feel his heart beating against my chest, it's pace fast but steady.

He pulls back to look at me. "I thought I lost you," he mutters, brushing back some of my hair.

Suddenly embarrassed, I step back out of his hold. What am I doing? I hardly know this guy. How do I know he doesn't want the same things from me that Damon wanted?

"It's okay now, Jack," he says as if reading my thoughts. "Let me take you back to our pack to take care of you."

I move back, putting more distance between us, now unsure if I can trust him. "How did you find me?"

"We've been looking for you since they took you, but they covered your scents so we couldn't track you. We've been going pack to pack hoping someone would know something." He watches me with worry. Probably afraid I'll try to run.

"We?" I ask, glancing around at the empty forest.

He shifts his weight. "I caught your scent as we were heading to the next pack. I asked the others to wait so they wouldn't scare you off."

My stomach cramps from hunger, making up my mind. "Alright. Let's go then," I sigh, walking past him. He follows me, grabbing my arm just before we reach the stream. I look at him questioningly.

"Let me carry you," he says, nodding to the stream. Too tired and hungry to argue, I nod. He scoops me up, cradling me to his chest before wading through the knee-deep water. He reaches the other side but continues on without putting me down as I had expected. I decide not to complain since I'm still feeling very weak from blood loss.

A group of phased wolves comes into view laying in the sunlight filtering through the trees. When they spot us, they get to their feet, ears perked at attention. Fluffy takes me over to the pile of cloth bags and sets me down gently.

"Are you hungry?" He asks, already digging through a bag. I nod, trying to hide my enthusiasm at the thought of food other than mystery meat and expired bread.

Fluffy pulls out an apple and something wrapped in cloth. He hands me the apple which I immediately bite into, savoring the sweet flavor. He unwraps what he's holding, revealing jerky. I salivate at the thought of its salty taste.

After handing me a few strips, he wraps the rest back up and put it away before digging through another bag. I watch curiously as I alternate eating the jerky and apple.

"Akira, will you get her some water from the stream?" Fluffy asks over his shoulder as he slips a shirt over his head. "The rest of you create a perimeter and make sure no one gets through." I glance at the group of wolves who had been watching us disperse into the trees, disappearing like ghosts. A golden brown wolf trots behind a tree and Akira steps out moments later wearing only a pair of cloth shorts. He approaches me slowly, his eyes taking in the bandage and blood regretfully.

He smiles at me reassuringly as he stoops to dig out a wooden cup from one of the bags. "Glad to have you back."

I smile back half-heartedly feeling guilty and confused. How can I not trust these wolves? They haven't done anything to give me a reason not to. Well, except taking me prisoner and not letting me leave. But they've treated me more like one of their own than an enemy. Their race alone should be enough to prevent me from trusting them, but I can't find it in myself. Especially not Fluffy.

"How do you feel?" Fluffy asks, crouching beside me as Akira appears with a cup full of water.

I take the cup from Akira and gulp down the water, emptying the cup before answering. Akira takes it from me and turns, heading back toward the stream. "Tired and weak," I shrug meeting Fluffy's gaze.

"Can I look?" He asks, gesturing toward my neck. I nod, slightly afraid that once the bandage is removed the wound will start spurting blood again.

He gently tugs on the knot securing the gauze to my neck, his warm fingers brushing my skin and creating goosebumps. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to regain control of my shallow breathing, almost telling him to stop.

The gauze tugs on my skin as he carefully pulls it back, the dried blood acting as a glue. The closer he gets to the wound, the harder it is to separate the gauze from my skin. He stops, a frown marring his features. "We'll need to soak it off. I don't want to cause any more damage trying to pull this off." He ties the gauze back in place, his jaw clenched tight.

Akira appears once again with my cup of water which I drink just as eagerly as the first. When he takes my cup to get me more, I stop him, telling him I'm good for the moment. He glances to Fluffy who nods before putting the cup away.

I finish off the apple, tossing the core into the trees as I ignore their exchange, surprisingly unbothered. "Are you okay to travel?" Fluffy asks me softly. I nod, stuffing the last bit of jerky into my mouth. "Akira, call the wolves in. We'll leave in a few minutes." He turns back to me as Akira strides off into the woods, a howl sounding seconds later. "We'll stop at the closest pack. They'll allow us to stay and get you cleaned up."

I nod again, my eyes feeling heavy now that I've gotten food into my system. Wolves trot from the trees and grab bags with their teeth. Fluffy scoops me back up, holding me against his chest. I don't complain. Instead, I tuck my head into the crook of his neck and close my eyes, allowing his scent to soothe me.