Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Audrey
No time seemed to pass before the door was grinding open. How did no one hear this sound? Any of the times patients went missing?
“Get your ass up,” Malik hissed, shoving his way in with two unfamiliar guards behind him. “Restrain her.”
The guards lunged forward as I jumped to my feet.
If I was going to be taken, I’d put up one hell of a fight.
I tried to channel my alphas’ energy, kicking and punching out as they tried to grab me until one finally shoved me into the wall so hard I hit my head with a sickening thud.
Pain shot through my face and I was dazed.
It was enough to give them the upper-hand.
The feeling of the towel being yanked away had me lashing out again though the injury had lost some fervor. A white dress that was all too familiar was shoved over my head.
Bile rose harsh and fast and I didn’t hold back as I emptied my stomach at their feet, splashing over their pants.
“Stupid omega,” Malik cursed as I watched on in sick satisfaction. He tried to dance out of the way but failed, his shoes and pants were covered.
Just more evidence, right?
“How do they not have you in prison, yet?” I ground out as I smacked away the guard’s hands. Clearly, they’d been told not to harm me too much because they could have easily overpowered me.
I needed a fucking weapon.
My eyes ran over them quickly. Guns, big ones. Bulletproof vests. Dark fatigues. Who the fuck were they?
Then I spotted them. Knives tucked into the cargo pants’ pockets. That was my target.
“I’m not in prison because I’m smarter than they are,” he hummed, giving me a cruel smile. “And I line far too many pockets to ever end up there.”
“I can’t wait for my pack to fucking kill you,” I growled. “You will pay for every sin you’ve committed here. Every fucking one!”
“Aw, the omega seems to be delusional again,” he simpered, not the least repentant for what he did. “Maybe we should fix that.”
His eyes sparked, that deranged excitement back again. That meant I was in trouble.
I kept my face in a shocked gasp before I lunged, fingers curling around the knife and yanking it free. I put so much force I almost toppled back but I was too locked in on my goal to let myself fail now.
The first swipe took them by surprise. I slammed the knife into the closest soldier’s thigh, before yanking it out and lunging for Malik. He was clearly the leader here and had to go down. The swipe across his face was deep. Blood wept from the wound but I wasn’t done.
I wanted him to die.
My next stab hit resistance. Bone. Malik’s screams were downright feral as the soldiers finally got a hold of me. They’d been trying before but were half-stunned.
The knife was jerked from my hand, the metal clanging against the cement where it was tossed aside. My hands were wrenched behind me painfully, a zip tie securing them until it was digging into my skin.
“Stupid bitch!” Malik screamed, holding a hand over a wound on his chest now. I’d hit collarbone, gone too high in my haste.
Pity.
A self-satisfied smirk was all I gave him in return. No matter what happened now I was choosing to cling to knowing Rydell and Ledger especially would hunt me down. Rydell had nearly killed Theo for less.
The truth was I was in danger. I now wore the same thin, white dress I’d worn for ten fucking years. Though, this one was cleaner. New.
“Get her out of here,” Malik groaned, grabbing one of the discarded shirts in the corner to press to his wounds. He hobbled to the far way, the guards dragging me behind him.
I couldn’t see what he did to open the doorway, but he found one where I couldn’t before. It groaned open as one of the guards slapped tape over my mouth.
My fight was still fading but the adrenaline of my new reality was enough to make their job harder. They both grunted and groaned, tiring out right along with me.
I was grateful they didn’t cover my eyes so I could take in every detail of the dingy hall we were in. More cement walls, the floors dirty and covered in plant debris. We were close to outside. Maybe a maintenance hall that was forgotten?
My heart pounded as we came to a stop against a dark metal door. Malik turned, baring his teeth.
“Can you two finally do your fucking job and hold her still?” he hissed. Their grips changed, harsh now, forcing me to settle. “Lights out, Audrey.”
The prick of the needle in my neck had panic rising. It was like ice in my veins, slowly coursing through me and making each limb feel like lead was weighting them down.
My vision started to blur, and the last thing I saw was a sick grin on Malik’s face. Though, it was pale now.
I’d caused damage.
I could practically hear Ledger in my head.
“Good fight, Wildling.”
My consciousness returned slowly. A heavy ache lingered over my entire body, making it impossible to move right away. The icy meds had faded and now I felt like I was being cooked alive. It was stifling hot in here.
Every breath was a fight, opening my eyes feeling like the hardest thing I’d ever had to overcome.
I was half paralyzed. What had they done to me?
Fuck!
My breath stuttered as I pushed through the heaviness, determined to at least take stock of my body.
What the fuck had Malik pushed into my veins?!
It felt like hours before it was fading enough to truly move. My breaths came easier, my heart not quite as erratic when I could move my body again.
I sat up, holding out my shaking hands to study them, not noticing anything other than dried blood.
Not even my own. I hoped wherever Malik was, that he was worse off than I was.
My body looked mostly unharmed outside a few bruises and scrapes. My head was tender but I couldn’t tell if it was the medication or something more.
I was alive.
That was about all I could say with any ounce of positivity.
Especially when I was back in hell. I’d escaped, and Malik had dragged me right back here. My omega was already freaking out, calling out for her pack even though we had no real way to do that.
Our aversion to claiming bites had been our downfall.
A key clicked in the lock before a man pushed inside. His pudgy form, worn clothes, and ugly mug were uncomfortably familiar.
The scent of stale coffee and cigars wafted in with him, my stomach churning. He took a deep breath and grinned, his eyes wide and what teeth he had left on display as he grinned.
“Welcome home, omega,” he chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “Things have changed in your absence, eh?”
“Stay the fuck away from me,” I gritted out, body tensing, ready to fight back if I needed to.
His grin only widened.
“I heard you had more fight. Nearly killed that man on your way in. We have quite a few alphas who love a little fight, don’t we? You’ve met a few.”
He licked his lips, my stomach churning but I had nothing left in it. It was a miracle I was still standing after expelling everything I ate however long ago and having nothing since.
“Your heat is kicking in,” he told me. “You have one day before I’d say you’re begging for knots.”
“Never,” I spit out. “I’ll bite off any knots that dare to get near me.”
He snorted and shrugged. “I think our alphas will be safe. You’ll fall in line soon enough.”
“Never,” I growled again. “I have a pack now and they won’t leave a single one of you bastards alive.”
“We’ve heard that before,” he said, not the least bit afraid. “So many times. Funny thing is, no one ever finds you.”
His crude chuckle echoed out as he started walking out, taking one final whiff. “Maybe I’ll come back first, have a taste myself now that you’re finally a real omega.”
My omega and I recoiled at his threat. There was no way we were letting that happen.
I’d rather die in this cell than let a single alpha touch me. I had my pack and I would accept no one less than the men fate gave me.
I bared my teeth when he took a step forward. His laughter was loud, echoing off the walls.
“Watch out, boys, we have a feral one in here,” he called out. A few random laughs sounded off in response, but he was more right than he realized.
My omega was ready to stay present this time, to fight to keep us safe. Everyone wanted to underestimate omegas. We were territorial over our pack, and that meant ensuring no one else could touch us but them.
We’d kill anyone that thought otherwise.