Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Atray slides beneath the railing with stale soup sloshing in a plastic bowl. No spoon. A micro cup of water. I pull it to the wall, glaring at the delivery man as I snap, “Are you just going to stand there and watch me eat?”
The echo within the warehouse startles the scrawny man and he scurries away quickly beneath the rolling door. I hold the tray, listening for any other approaching footsteps. The coast is clear. I scoot to the fence as the wolf charges at my sudden presence.
“Oh, stop that,” I shush her, angling the soup as far as I can to the side of the fencing, pouring it slowly on the floor.
She continues to snarl, her lips peeling back to reveal the scarring of her gums. There’s no telling how long they’ve kept her in here or what she’s been through.
I lift my hands in surrender, unsteadily backing to the corner of the wall.
Slumping down, I fold my hands quietly in my lap and wait. “You better eat before it dries.” She drops her head in response, her fur still bristling along her back.
Once she realizes I’m not moving, the massive wolf begins to lap the soup up, only pausing to check my movement.
Her pale eyes shutter at the taste, making it clear she hasn’t been fed in a while.
Nonetheless, she finishes quickly and returns to her hay.
I stare down at the Styrofoam cup in my hand; if she hasn’t been fed then I’m certain she hasn’t had water either.
There’s no bowl in or outside the cage. I bring the cup to my lips, shakily dipping my tongue in, just enough to wet my mouth.
It takes every ounce of my willpower to restrain myself, but out of the two of us, she will be the only one making it out of here.
And she’s going to need all her strength to do it.
I scoot back to the barrier between us, careful not to spill a drop.
The wolf jumps onto her feet, sending an ugly snarl into my direction with warning.
“I don’t think this is something you can drink from the floor girl,” I murmur.
She only licks her sharp teeth, a low growl rumbling in her chest. The bars have just enough space, so I squish the cup through one of the openings of the bars, tilting it just enough for her to fit her muzzle into.
The wolf charges, biting at the gate rapidly, sending me sprawling back against the floor. “Has anyone ever told you, you don’t bite the hand that feeds you!” I curse under my breath.
She paces the fence, ignoring the cup completely.
“Suit yourself,” I mutter, staring up to the blaring light above.
“You better move that or they’ll stop feeding you too.” My head snaps up to the familiar voice.
“Jett?” I shake my head in disbelief, my feet scrambling behind me as I jolt to the bars.
He runs to me, scanning my body for any visible injuries. “I don’t have much time,” he whispers, twining his hand into mine.
“What? What do you mean? Where’s the team?” I ramble.
Jett exhales a shaky breath, his eyes wide with fear. “They’re not here. But they will be. When I come back, I need you to play along. Can you do that for me?”
I nod painfully. “So, this is what you’ve been up to?” My insides squirm as I study his face, scared this is another one of Greer’s tricks.
Jett peers behind him, stroking my hand as he listens for any surprise visitors.
“Scott has had me trailing her for months now. I’m undercover.
This is the only time I can come see you like this, Florence, but I need to warn you.
Play along. I can’t explain right now, I have to get back before they notice but it will all make sense soon.
Just hang in there and move that damn cup.
I mean it. That wolf is not Torin. Her name is Kova.
They’ve kept her here for… purposes. Stay as far back from that fence as you can. Just please, Florence, listen to me.”
My head snaps to Kova, all the color draining from my face.
“I’ve got to go.” Jett steps backward, but I panic, reaching for his hand.
“Wait! Jett if anything ha-happens to me, there’s a black book on my book-shelf— it’s actually a box— and it has letters in it. Find it. G-give them out for me, okay?”
He gently squeezes my hand, his eyes darting from me to Kova. “I will get you out of here, Florence. I promise.”
I back away, my back sliding down against the concrete as he disappears into the shadows. My head rolls to Kova, “So, you kill people for a living? Or what?”
I close my eyes, listening to Kova’s panting as my mind wanders to Greyline. If this is it, I never got to tell half the people I care about what they mean to me. The thought sits heavier than the concrete beneath me. I think I might hurl.
The female snorts, her breath rolling into the stagnant air. I remove my jacket, smoothing it across the hard floor. It’s no mattress, but it’s better than nothing. My muscles ache as I lower myself down, propping my head onto my elbow.
The light of the warehouse moves with time, a pink hue shining through the ceiling just as my eyelids flutter with heaviness. But right before the sleep takes me, Kova rises from her nest, sniffing along the dusty floor to the awaiting cup still perched in the fence.
Kova pauses, her head lowering to my level, as if she’s waiting for me to react.
But I lie perfectly still, squinting beneath my lashes to watch her.
A heartbeat passes by, then the wolf raises her muzzle to the Styrofoam, her tongue darting in to lap up the little water given.
It takes all of a second before it’s empty, but she shoves her muzzle lightly in, sniffing for any remaining drops.
The cup squeezes back through the hole, bouncing back to my side.
Kova drops to her belly, slumping her head between her paws.
I feel a fragile smile twitching at my lips as her golden eyes lock onto mine, holding my sleepy gaze.
We remain like that, exchanging wordless understanding of the quiet between breaths.
But the hours feel like minutes as the pink rays turn into the black of night, sweeping my consciousness away.