Eighteen
Daylight brought no relief. Again, Arwen awoke on the cold, tiled floor, with a cruel chain about her neck. Wolf Man's scent had faded.
Had he left her here to die, chained and alone? Instinct told her he would not be so cruel. No, if he had not returned, something terrible must have happened to him. He needed her!
Arwen scrambled for the door, but the chain would not let her reach it.
So she sat down and howled. Long and loud so that they'd hear her in Glasgow.
It had to be Ravenna. Well, she hoped Ravenna heard her howl and it struck fear into her breast. Fear that she'd be next, if she harmed a single head on Wolf Man's... anything.
She howled until no sound came out, and she was forced to lie down, panting.
Now she wanted to stick her whole head in that stream outside and drink it dry.
But she could not reach it. She was in a bathroom, but not even the damn toilet was in reach.
And she might be an animal, but she was too much herself to drink out of a toilet bowl, even if she could reach it. The shower taps, though...
Arwen stretched up the wall, pawing at the tap. It was no good. She needed hands with thumbs to grasp the thing and turn...
A shiver ran through her body. Almost electric, like she'd touched a live wire and all two hundred and thirty volts were thrumming through her bloodstream. Like a heartbeat...
Her fingers scrabbled at the tap, her already torn nails breaking further.
And the chain. What had seemed heavy and choking if she pulled on it too hard before was burning against her skin. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. So thirsty...so weak...
Arwen slid down the wall, into a heap on the floor once more. Like someone had turned up the gravity and she couldn't get up. Couldn't keep her eyes open. Couldn't fight the...
Dark.