When I reached the top, I rolled off the board and side of the well to land forcefully in the grass. I gasped and shook. I opened my eyes and saw that Sikes’ wife wasn’t there, but Marcus, his uncle and three other guys were. I wondered how they were going to help me without putting offense marks on me, but by the looks on their faces, they had no intentions of that anymore.
Marcus smiled cruelly at me and grabbed my arm, yanking me up before jerking his hand back hissing.
“That still stings as bad as it did the first time.”
“All right. We can’t do this outside she’ll make too much noise. Inside, now,” Sikes barked.
Oh, no. What- Then his thoughts were blaring to me. He was so, so mad. He didn’t want to do this and, in fact, had no intentions of watching. He was going to let Marcus loose on me and see how many offense marks they could put on me at one time. See if it affected or drained me so much that it changed something. I couldn’t have that. I shook my head.
“No. No, please stop,” I begged Sikes, looked right at him to implore his humanity. “Please don’t hurt me anymore. I’m only seventeen. I can’t handle this anymore. It hurts so badly, please.”
He looked away and repeated his order.
“Take her inside.”
I screamed as Marcus came to grab me once more, wrapping a fist in my hair. Something silver and gleaming glinted in the light in his hand. I felt the sting and pressure across my shoulder and the edge of my throat before it registered what he’d done. He’d cut me, with a knife.
I flung my hand to my shoulder and felt the warm sticky mess in between my fingers. I also felt warm soaking up the front of my shirt.
“Marcus! No!” Sikes yelled and pushed him aside. “I did not give you permission to harm her with worldly goods, only supernatural! Finn, take her inside, now!”
I pushed at the one who came, and then they all came for me. I felt stings and slaps in several places all over me as they all tried to contain me, but were jerking their hands back in pain themselves. I slung my arms out and my brain kicked in with karate maneuvers but my body had no strength behind it as I lamely fought back with feeble kicks and blocks.
I thought, if I could just hold them off, maybe something would happen. And then it did. One of the men, Finn I presumed, yelled and screamed, grabbed my arms and pulled me up to stand. He pulled me against his chest from behind and wrapped a hand around my mouth, still screaming in his own agony, but determined to end this now. I bit his hand as hard as I could muster and he pushed me away in instinct, over the cliff’s edge.I heard yells and screams as I soared through the air. Sikes roared above me as I fell, out loud and in his mind, “No!”
I looked down and saw only dark greens and blues moving rapidly towards me.
I landed in freezing ice water. Raging around me and swallowing me. I fought it but just like up on the cliff, I had no strength to actually make progress. So I just took a deep breath and let the current of the river take me. I floated roughly until I felt scratching and jarring on my legs. I looked up to see I was slamming into a downed tree, leaning over the river’s bank.
I reached and pulled, slowly I managed to get myself half out of the water. I knew it wasn’t smart to sit there in plain sight. I was sure that Sikes and his bunch would be looking for me. But my body wouldn’t go any further. I passed out with my top half on the dirty freezing bank and my bottom half submerged in tree branches and dirty freezing water.
I had no idea how much time had passed, but it was dark when I woke up again. The pain that shot through me was like nothing ever before it. It coursed through me, on a mission to end me. I couldn’t scream. I knew they were looking for me and it would lead them to me. Plus, I knew this was the Watson compound. Who knew how many of them lived out here, but I wanted to scream so badly. I fought it. My mouth opened in a silent scream as my body spasmed and bowed in reflex to the cramps, my fingers digging into the dirt. I contorted in on myself as I spat and coughed up river water when I tried to move up the bank and out of the freezing water.
I eventually pulled myself up completely out of the water and army crawled to the dry grass up past the beach. I rolled to rest on my back and tried to catch my breath.
I could see every star, just like that night at Mugly’s with Caleb. Just like the beach the night I was taken. I imagined Caleb beside me, holding my hand and us just looking up at them so casually as we’d done before. My chest clinched as I thought of him. The stars bounced in my vision as my head pounded against the ground under it. I had to get to Caleb. I was free. I had to get moving.
I rolled back over and it took all my strength to stand. I started to walk as I continued to shiver. I felt twigs and rocks under me cut my feet and my arms scratched by passing branches and I rammed through like a lump. I felt the gash on my collar break open when I fell to the ground once. I wrapped my fingers around it and kept going, ignoring the pain in my shoulder. The longer I walked the more I couldn’t feel my toes or fingers. I had no way to warm myself and, after what seemed like several hours, felt my resolve slipping. I was going to die out here. If it wasn’t by the Watsons hand it would be by the woods.
I didn’t walk on the trails or the beach instead walking through the bushes and trees to hopefully keep anyone from seeing me. I was so exhausted, so in pain, but I kept going. I saw a shed or cabin ahead of me. I felt hope soar then plummet. I debated whether to go in or not. Who knew whose shed it was? It could be one of theirs and they’d find me there. I couldn’t help it. I was freezing and had to get dry.
I pulled myself up the short hill to the top by some roots and vines. I crept up to the cabin, wincing when the stairs creaked under my feet. I peeked into the dark window and seeing no light decided to try the door.
Unlocked.
I eased it open and heard the lock rattling from my shaking fingers. I took a deep breath and swung the door open. The moon illuminated the room to show a small bed and kitchen. I searched for a light switch and found one by the door. The lights were bright and I quickly turned it off in case of alerting someone. I spotted a flashlight on the floor by the door and tried it instead.
As I looked around the cabin it was clear that no one had been there in forever. It was undecorated, unclean, and efficient. Across the room, the closet was full of clothes, jeans and coats. I immediately pulled off my soaking wet t-shirt and threw on a long ugly men’s warm sweater. I took my jeans and laid them across the bedrail to dry. There was nothing to do for my cut and bleeding feet.
I walked over to the kitchen and found a stack of emergency candles all ready and lined up by the sink with matches. I lit a couple of them and then looked into the cupboard for something to eat. I found two cans of Vienna sausage - yuck - but I ate them quicker than I had any tasty burger I’d ever had. There were a couple jugs of water by the sink, too. They were unopened and smelled all right so I took a couple big swigs from one.
I felt ready to pass out again. My stomach was full but hurt for other reasons. I had no idea how to reach Caleb or where I was exactly, geographically, but I knew I had to find a way. In the morning, I’d be able to see and could find my way out.
But when I looked at the bed I was skeptical about being able to sleep in it. It was old and dirty, dust and cobwebs everywhere, but I wasn’t in a position to be picky. I decided to just sleep on the top cover and used a blanket thrown over the end to cover up with.
When I lay down, I sighed. Who cared whose bed it was, it was like heaven. I balled myself up, pulling my knees to my chest and felt the shivers slowing just as I drifted to sleep.
~ ~ ~
Something startled me awake. I opened my eyes and was too terrified and anxious to think about the blinding pain hitting me. Someone was there.
I hobbled to the closet, grabbing my shirt and pants on the way. Once I sat down, I felt the full force of the withdrawal and it was all I could do not to scream. My stomach started to heave and cramp but somehow I managed to keep it together as I heard the front door creak open.
I held my breath and prayed I could keep myself calm as I waited for them to find me or not. My heart was beating against my ribs so hard, it hurt. Wait…
My heartbeat.
The medicine was out of my system. Caleb could find me now! If I could only make it until he could get here. My joy sang in me even as I feared the worst of my intruder. The long cut on my throat and arm were pulsing and pounding painfully with my rapid heart but I was thankful for it. I peeked through the coats that hung in front of my face. I couldn’t see who it was but they were looking around the room, like they were looking for something. I silently cursed myself for running to the closet instead of out the back door.
But I heard the voices calling to each other outside and was thankful for the closet. The man inside yelled something back and I held back my gasp. It was the guy who’d brought me orange juice and ogled me in my see through sheet.
Crap. They were here looking for me.
“Not here,” he yelled and walked swiftly through the door.I focused to see if I could hear Sikes thoughts, if he was near and got nothing but when I thought of Marcus, I got a lot more than I wanted.
Stupid human. I’ll kill her. And Sikes thinks he’s just running things now. I have had it with this. When I find her I’m gonna teach her something about what a real Ace is. She’ll wish she’d never met me. Maybe I’ll show Caleb in an echo dream. Ha! That’d be freaking hilarious! Oh, no! Maggie I love you! Ha! Idiots. I’m so glad I’ll never imprint and have to deal with that crap. Just wait til I find you, little Maggie. You’ll wish you’d died in the fall.