Chapter Four
Kory
The sound of snores fill the air around me as I stare out between the bars of the tiny cage Rudy and his two worthless sons have me trapped in.
I thought I escaped this life years ago, but I should have known they'd find me sooner or later.
My life is full of regrets, but the biggest one right now is not telling Hex about Rudy.
No one knows about this part of my life, so even if Hex tries to find me, he won't know where to start.
Elmer snorts and stirs in the dilapidated recliner underneath the shelf the cage is sitting on, the movement wafting stale air around.
I can't decide which is worse, the smell of sweat and stale beer, or the ripe chunk of cheese they left in the cage.
Would it kill them to shower, or leave me some fruit?
Restless, trapped in my wild mouse form, I pace the small area I have available wondering what hair-brained scheme these clowns have cooked up this time.
They fancy themselves master thieves, but they've been locked up too many times to count.
I suppose I should feel lucky I've never been sent away with them.
Although, that has less to do with them not giving me up, and more to do with how crazy they'll sound trying to explain to human cops how they use me in mouse form to get into places.
I know my mother did the best she could as a human raising me on her own, but her choice in men left much to be desired. Still, I can't blame her for not wanting to be alone, especially there at the end. I only wish she hadn't revealed the paranormal aspects of my life.
Rudy treated her well, which is why he was able to manipulate me so much.
If I went to her, she'd never believe him capable of being the kind of person he is.
Thank the gods they never got married. I'd never have been able to escape him and his brood if he'd gotten wind of any kind of inheritance.
Not that it mattered in the end that my mother left me the cabin I ran to, because here I am in a cage, surrounded by filth and stench.
The muffled sound of a phone ringing stops my pacing and I peer between the bars trying to get a glimpse of Elmer's passcode as he unlocks his phone.
Unfortunately, the angle isn't right. I don't get much from the conversation, either.
It's brief and composed of short phrases, probably because they've already discussed the specifics before they nabbed me.
Whatever they're cooking up sounds like it's a few short days away.
Elmer grunts and groans as he pulls himself out of the crater in the recliner. Once he's managed to stand, he scratches his belly. How attractive. Elmer looks up at me like he can sense my sarcasm, even though I know he's completely human and I know he can't.
"Thought you could get away, did ya?" he says, poking a large finger through the bars. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help myself. My teeth clamp down on his fleshy digit, hard.
"Fuck! I'm going to wring your neck, you little shit!"
"Leave him alone, Elmer. We need him for the job," Jimmy says from his recliner, trying not to laugh at his brother.
"Fucking animal probably has rabies," Elmer mutters, yanking his hand back after I let him go.
"You know from what we've learned, shifters don't carry diseases. Now, stop your bitching. I'm trying to nap," Rudy says before closing his eyes again.
Being a mouse, I'm more cute than ferocious, but I bare my teeth at Elmer when he looks at me again.
He narrows his eyes in response, but doesn't say anything further.
When he turns around and leave the room, I give an inward sigh of relief.
I'm safe for now, but it's going to be a long few days until I figure out what they're up to.