4. Ava
When the lunchtime school bell rings, we all stand up from the bench we’ve made our home for the last forty-five minutes. “Are you coming to study hall?” Kayleigh asks.
I shake my head as I slide my bag over my shoulder. “Not yet. I’m going to meet Danny in the car park quickly—he said he wanted to see me. Stall Miss Lowe for me, please?”
Kayleigh rolls her eyes, but she can’t fight the smile that creeps onto her lips. “Alright, lover girl. You owe me.”
“Thank you,” I exhale gratefully before giving her a half-hearted hug. I don’t have long to see Danny. He”s always busy playing football at lunch.
I dart off to the sports block and approach the car park. My eyes scan the area, hoping I’m not caught by a teacher for being out of class.
My legs carry me to the other end of the car park, where I spot Danny’s car, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I check my phone, and surprisingly, I have no messages either. I huff out a breath and slump against the side of his door when a van pulls up with blacked-out windows.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand immediately, and I push off the car. I grab my bag tighter and stare at the man as he peers out of the window, looking at me like I’m an animal at the zoo.
“Hey, darlin’.” His voice is rough as he chews on a toothpick.
I furrow my brows at him before walking away. Do they not have better security at this school? Either that or one of the maintenance men is being extra creepy today.
The van slowly pulls away and begins to follow me as I walk towards the exit of the car park. I keep my head down. It’s best not to engage.
“Aren’t you a pretty little thing?”
When I look at him with disgust, he drops me a sleazy wink which makes my stomach roll with discomfort. My feet burst into a run, but I hear the van door open and slam behind me.
“Grab her,” another voice demands loudly. “She’s the one. She’s mine.”
Blood pounds in my ears as I run to the path, but I’m too slow. A sweaty hand clamps over my mouth to muffle my scream, as forceful hands latch onto my arms, tugging me backwards. I kick and wriggle, but I’m outnumbered. The back door of the van opens, and I’m shoved inside. Darkness swarms me as they slam the doors shut and laugh.
My face burnsfrom the punch that leaves me whimpering. Blood swims in my mouth, making me nauseous. I’m sick of the taste. I’m sick of swallowing back copper that burns my throat.
“Now, tell me again, where did you used to live?”
I partially open my swollen eyes to look at my kidnapper, Lucien.
“I-I don’t remember,” I croak between heavy breaths. Blood drips down my chin as I speak and splashes onto the stone-cold floor.
Lucien flashes me a smile of triumph. “Good pet. And your parents?”
“My foste–”
The next hit is more painful than the last. My entire face stings beyond words. Flinching, I release a groan of agony. My body almost touches the floor. But before I hit the ground, Lucien takes a fist full of my hair and tugs me towards his face.
I stare back into his lifeless mossy eyes that I have despised since the moment I came here. My jaw clenches, and I am hit by another wave of tangy blood that makes me gag. “Who are your parents?” he asks again.
My lips tremble, and I know better than to act smart or tell the truth. “I-I don’t remember,” I whisper as I flick my eyes between his.
Lucien finally releases my head and throws me to the floor. “Good,” he grumbles as he stands up and dusts his hands on his trousers. “We’ll come back to this again tomorrow. The quicker you forget, the quicker we can get on with everything we have in store for you.”
My entire body shakes against the wet floor. I close my eyes as they fight to stay open. I’ve never felt so defeated and useless. My only wish is that this is all over soon. Yet, I know barely anyone will be looking for me.
”There”s my beautiful girl.”Lucien flashes his evil smile at me as he enters the room I’m chained up in.
I stare up at him through my damp lashes. “Fuck you.” My voice is a weak whisper.
His dark, cackling laugh echoes around the freezing room as he takes a few steps closer. I flick my eyes to his hand as he slaps my cheek hard. The corner of my lip splits open within seconds. Blood bursts across my tongue, but I’m used to it now.
My head rises as I look up at him. His chest heaves with fuelled disgust at my profanity. I gather the blood in my mouth and spit down onto the ground next to his feet. Before I know it, he’s grabbing my face painfully between his fingers and lining his nose up against mine. “Oh…you stupid little mate. Everything would have turned out alright if you were an actual wolf and not a human.”
I refuse to let my eyes water. He’s been going on about werewolves and mates since I was brought here against my will. I didn’t believe him at first, but he showed me the transformation, which I thought was impossible. A part of me was convinced that I had died, but the reality soon hit.
I’m living in hell on Earth instead.
My gaze zeros on him. “Do you know how embarrassing it would be to bring out a pathetic, weak, human Luna like you?”
“Just let me go,” I say through gritted teeth.
Lucien pouts and twists his head, his evil eyes flashing at me without an ounce of remorse. “Oh, sweetheart, but that’s no fun!”
His fingers dig into the flesh on my cheeks, which makes me wince, but I refuse to make a sound. I don’t want to give him that satisfaction. I want to fight. “You still owe my Beta and my male wolves a show.”
Immediately, my skin runs cold, goosebumps invade my arms. I clench my throat to stop the bile from rising, but the mention of his pack has my body triggering its fight-or-flight instinct. Except I have nowhere to go, and the only choice I have is to play by their despicable, unfair rules.
“You even thinkabout showing me up, and I swear I”ll make you wish you were never born.” Lucien”s eyes are lifeless as always, but today they seem deadlier, and by the tone of his words, I don’t want to play games.
His voice echoes around my head. I’ll make you wish you were never born. Little does he know, I already do. I know I’m never getting out of here, and now, I’m nothing but a dead soul inside a shell.
“It’s showtime,” he sings in my ear, and I grimace at the heat of his breath on my skin. I study his hand as it raises before he gives my cheek a light tap.
He pulls me up roughly by the strands of my matted hair, making me cry out in agony. He drags me into the hall and down to the room of nightmares. Terror doesn’t even do it justice. This room makes me wish I was dead.
As I enter, I can’t ignore the jeers, misogynistic comments, and wolf whistles that are directed my way. The testosterone in this room is lethal, and I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy—unless it’s Lucien, then I’d make him go through this a thousand times over.
My head remains down as I step inside, refusing to make eye contact with any of these hormonal wolves who clearly haven’t seen a female in a long time. “Remember what I said,” Lucien demands quietly in my ear. “You don’t want to let me down today, sweetheart.”
Nothing could prepare me for what is about to happen, even though I know the process. I wish I could say it gets easier, but it doesn’t. Every time, I wish someone would put me out of my misery—bludgeon me to death, quick and easy.
Lucien throws me down onto the floor in the middle of his wolves. My knees scrape against the uneven concrete. I grit my teeth, but I don’t make a noise. My shoulder hits the ground as silhouettes surround me.
“Get on your knees, bitch.” I hear Lucien’s Beta, Damon, as he grips the back of my head and yanks me up onto my knees, which crack against the hard ground.
I look straight ahead and despise the sight. Tears roll down my cheeks endlessly. All I can do is wonder what I ever did to deserve this.
My body has been attemptingto give up for a long time now. There is barely anything left of me. I can’t remember the last time I had a decent meal.
I cannot tell you how happy I am to die.
The door to my chambers opens. I don’t usually expect Lucien at this time. Except it isn’t Lucien; it’s his little brother, Evan. He’s the only kind soul in this place. His youthful face is like seeing flowers after a rain shower.
“Ava,” he says softly as he approaches me on the floor. A cold hand presses to my cheek, forcing my eyes to look at him, but I’m weaker than I’ve ever been before. “Ava, look at me.”
My body trembles. “Evan,” I whimper hoarsely. He starts to undo my shackles with a bunch of keys. “W-what are you doing?”
“They are going to kill you, Ava. You need to go now before they get back!”
My head shakes from confusion. Is this real? I must be dreaming. I haven’t had a drop of water in forever. I’m going out of my mind.
“I-I don’t understand,” I murmur, attempting to lick my cracked lips but my tongue is equally as dry.
“Ava,” he shakes me again. “Don’t you dare be stupid right now. Lucien rejected you. You have a whole life to live. Please just run and never look back. Get as far as possible and go seek help. I should have stood up for you sooner. I need you to go before they come back!”
Evan unbuckles my last shackle, and it hits the floor with a thud. “There is a door down at the end of the hall they never lock for easy access. It takes you out into the forest. Turn right and run. Find the road, it’ll take you to the nearest town. You have an hour until they notice.”
I blink at him in disbelief. “W-why are you doing this?”
He’s risking his own life for me.
“Because you don’t deserve this. I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. I’ve been silent for too long, and now I’m ready for the consequences. Just go!”
I stand on shaky legs and take a breath, even though my ribs ache. I don’t know if I’m going to make it, but I have to try. I haven’t gone through hell and back to give up now when I’m given my only chance.
With a few wobbly steps, I rush down the hall and out the back door. I blink rapidly from the brightness and shield my eyes for a moment before turning my head to the right. Then, I run for my life.