A LUNA'S SHADOWS (RE-WRITE IN PROGRESS)

Pounding on my door caused me to jump up, my heart beating thunderously in my chest. I knew, of all days, what I had done. Slept in. I pulled on my clothes, a black outfit, stretchy pants, a stretchy shirt, and a thin spray jacket. Floaty clothes that would be easy to shuffle in and out of. I wrapped my hair into a bun and a few curls strayed to my eyes and bounded happily there. Swinging my door open, leaving my bed unmade, not caring.

“Hey, Adira!” Viv grinned.

“Matching outfits I see.” I winked.

“Well, you know, raid style is the best!” She said.

“I might just like this style.” I shrugged.

“Hey Adira…” a voice murmured behind me.

“I can’t, not today.” I sighed.

“I didn’t ask for it to end.” He sighed.

“I know, I know.” I said.

“Just turn around, in case it’s the last time we talk.” He asked.

“Okay.” I sighed, giving in.

“You’re still part of my world Adira, you brought me here. We agreed to do this together.” Elijah murmured.

“I get it. Elijah, I do. I know, I know you didn’t pick her, I got told how it works. What maybe you don’t feel is how much it hurts that it wasn’t me.” I sighed.

“I’m sorry Adira.” He whispered.

“I have to go before I lose control.” I whispered.

Possibly one of the hardest goodbyes. But Viv walked me to the truck. Keeping me distracted. She was the type of girl who just gave you that little spark. No depression, nothing dark. She lived positively and always looked for the light of situations. If that wasn’t healthy in a war, then what is? The truck shuddered to a stop. From there we walked. Prowling along the fences, the electrified chain link that would zap your collar if you got close. Torture, pure torture. The moon glimmered down on us, almost feeling as if she begged us to free them.

“I will.” I whisper.

“Hmm?” the wolf next to me whispers.

“Nevermind.” I whispered.

Gunshots sounded in the distance, no it’s too early. The male wolf looks at me with panic, his face asking me what we should do? I didn’t know, I only knew the plan. Crouching here as I search my mind for a Plan B. We watched as the other wolves spring from their hiding places. A set of lasers line them up and aim. Standing up, I walk forwards, feeling the earth rumble. The lasers lose their aim as the rumble continues until the earth cracks. Officials are scrambling around in panic. One grabbed a megaphone and yelled into it.

“Whichever wolf you are doing this, come out slowly with your hands up!”

I smirked. The creature pulled itself from the gap. While the shots squealed through it, the wolves used the distraction and tore through the looming soldiers in black. That was until a giant explosion happened in front of me. My ears rang. It covered me in dirt and other materials I cared to not know. Of course, it didn’t take long for the officials to storm in and tackle the living wolves to the ground. It felt as if they were squeezing the air from my lungs. A quick sharp sting to my neck and my body felt numb. I remembered this. Vlad had used this drug. Here it was, the effects that come in waves. First, the drowsiness, second the disorientation, and third, back to drowsiness.

“Fuck you.” I managed to whimper before I submitted to sleep.

Waking up, I felt cold chains shackled to my wrists and ankles. Locked in a well-used room that reeked of sweat and blood. Although it looked clean, a wolf’s nose couldn’t lie, and I felt it. I felt their pain. The lights flickered on, making the white-tiled walls and floors glow that bit more. A silver drain glimmered in the middle of the room. Easy cleaning then… a levelled rolling tray, much like what hairdressers use, is a few feet away. Neatly lined instruments rest on top. I shudder at the thought of them and what they might be used for. Then a man walks in, the first of many times and many...Many, painful memories. He kept me drugged; he laughed when I cried, cackled when I screamed and sighed when I passed out. He asked me three simple questions every session.

“Do you have power?”

“Where is your pack?”

“Do you want to die?”

I always remained silent.

White tiles beneath me are bloody. I couldn’t believe my body even held that much. My forehead is wet with sweat. I knew I wouldn’t utter a word, and I know I am strong. I burned his face into my mind. Those hazel eyes, his unshaven face and his thin body were at the top of my list to kill. Somehow I will at the first chance I get. He would die now. It’s dark now. I look around; I saw a syringe on the ground, full of toxic liquid. He forgot to inject me. I grinned, not the radiant smile, the slightly mental one. This human is going to regret that mistake. I set my plan. I waited in the dark. A predator waiting for prey, I will show him what they are fighting against. Lights flickered on with the door banging open.

Showtime.

“Do you have a-- “he began.

I pulled one chain from the roof; the tiles cracking under the force.

“Y-you--“ he stuttered and ran for his big red panic button.

He didn’t make it that far; I leapt forward and bounced in front of him. One shift moment and I pushed him to the floor. The other chain broke and ripped the shackles off effortlessly.

“P-p-please, I have a family!” He cried. I kept him pinned to the floor under my foot.

The wind rushed around me, the growls of the creatures echoed in the wind, the floor beneath me cracked.

“I have a family too!” I hissed.

“What a-are you?” He mumbled.

“No one you will ever know.” I whispered.

I pushed my foot through his chest, feeling the bones underneath shatter with the force. Liquid oozed around my toes, and I pulled it out in disgust. Shocked at what I had done at the moment and now I looked down and I watched him lay there lifelessly. My first kill and it wasn’t a happy feeling. But it was him or me. I ripped the door open; the building shook with the force that was growing with every step I took. My clothes ripped and bloody, missing shoes and messy hair stuck to my face. Not a care in the world as I strolled the long hallway. Every cell is empty, except for the very last one, and I had been too late to save the young teen. His lean body rested on the cold tiles, his chest didn’t rise and fell and his lips blue. I knew the teen was gone, and I still picked him up. He had parents somewhere; he needed a resting place. Soon the alarms blared. The place became a manic scene. Officials dressed in heavy clothing and large guns aimed at me shouted things at all different times. Looking at the scarred face of the teen wolf, my fury grew. The wind whipped through me. The angry growls of the creatures rippled below and the officials fell silent in shock.

Beneath them the earth cracked, swallowing half of them. A bubble formed around me. The other half retreated, shouting for backup. Alarms still blared around me. Shouting wolves behind the fences became more desperate as I walked out of the double doors. A building that had been built a few feet past the fence. The snow never touched me. Placing the boy on a supply of old blankets, I then shifted and looked around. Knowing if I didn’t shut off the collars any wolf that passed the gates would be shocked, possibly to death. The shouting grew more exciting with every step I took towards a tower. One that buzzed with a force I had never felt.

“Hold up, wolf!” A man growled behind me.

A menacing growl rumbled through me.

He took a shot; I moved out of the way as it slowly moved inside the bubble.

“What the--“ and he never finished because my jaws were around his neck.

Bolting up the stairs, I found the source of the buzzing. I circled the glowing purple stone. Something about it called to me.

“Hey, you!” A voice yelled behind me.

A shot went off and pierced my bubble. It shattered like glass and hit my thigh. A familiar searing pain filled me. I tried to call my shadows, but they only growled weakly. Glaring at the stone, feeling its buzz intensify. In a desperate move, I leapt for the set of computers I assumed were the control panel. Using my teeth and strength to rip them open. Doing my best to dodge shots as I chewed up the machines. Sparks were flying and eventually a fire started. Another bullet pierced me and I felt the blood loss more now. Smoke filled my lungs. Alarms were blaring, and the officials were clearing out. With just one very last hope, as I gave into the darkness.

Please be free… Please...