Capture

When all the humans from Neema’s village had been transferred off of the helicopters and into the main compound, they were separated into two lines of men and women. The children clung to their mothers as three wolves demanded the name and age of each person. Their details were typed into a small transparent screen by each wolf who took a picture to accompany each name. When they had finished they were forced to face the front where a tall white haired male stood. His black beady eyes narrowed down on them while his back was supported by a line of ferocious looking men. Some of them choosing to stay in the middle form of half man half wolf. Their beast shone through in their eyes and many bared their fangs at them.

The scent of fear was an aphrodisiac to them, and the humans reeked of it.

Neema’s eyes glanced over all the bloody humans, some had gaping wounds on their arms and legs. They were too weak to stand but feared they would be killed if they disobeyed the command given. Caillum and Jana stood behind her as she tried to protect them from what she knew would be a gruesome display of pure dominance and carnal behaviour. The sun was still strong in the sky though it had begun its decent across the sky. Preparing them for the darkness their souls would be submitted to. Ripping the light from their life and shrouding them in gloom.

A sharp whistle into the microphone gained everyone’s attention. The white haired man stood further onto the stage, his body hunching over the podium as his eyes squinted down at the humans. Glee shone in his eyes in reverence of what he was about to say. What he was about to condemn them to. A tall heavy black man stood to the side as he watched them with a disappointed and resigned face. His hazel eyes glimmered as wrinkles stretched across his dark skin. His bald head shining in the sun. His shoulders were broad and his chest puffed out, as he folded his arms across his chest.

“We stand here today to witness the punishment of these measly humans who thought they could remain hidden from us. Their reluctance to submit has meant hundreds of wolves have gone without mates! Without children!”

His voice growled at the last sentence as if his chance of having a mate had been stolen from him, like her choice would be stolen from her. A small black disk hovered in the air as the old man glared directly at it and baring his teeth. It was as if he was directing his speech to the disk and not the humans in front of him.

“Each human above the age of 16 will receive a lash for every year they have stayed away from a facility. Let it come as a warning to every human present and those who remain hidden, to hide from us will only result in blood... Let them begin” shouted the White haired man. His eyes a reflection of the cruelty that would be enforced on the people.

Howls filled the air as wolves sung their song of glory and vengeance. The beating they would face was more than just a lesson for other people, it was retribution for the wrong doings the wolves felt they had been dealt by humans.

The wolves in army like regalia began dragging people one by one towards the stage, where the amount of lashes they received were announced before the beating began. Neema felt stupid for telling them her actual age beforehand. If she knew this were going to happen she would have told them she was 16 and not her actual 22 years when they were asking everyone. Although she was only entitled to 6 lashes which was less than most she didn’t want to have to endure the amount of pain she was surely to feel. The size of the men was testament to the force they would put behind each lash.

These wolves were cunning. Cunningly sick! They administrated each punishment separately so the direness and brutality of the situation would really sink in.

They made sure all eyes were facing the front as each person was dragged onto the stage and whipped within an inch of their life. They started with the men, the strongest first so they could fuel the fear amongst the humans.

A young man was selected for the next set of punishments. Neema quivered in line as she watched the man with light blonde hair be dragged towards the poles. Although he seemed to be of average male height his body was dwarfed by the two wolves who strapped him onto the beam, making him appear so fragile and weak. The boy released a horrendous screech with the first lash that crashed down on his back, causing Neema to cringe as if the whip was beating across her own back.

The men whimpered, some even cried and screamed. If the men could not bear the punishment it did not bode well for the females.

The females whose refusal to be captured had left many of the wolves present without mates and without pups. This was retribution and how bitter it was.

The administration of punishment was done to psychologically scar the women as well as physically and it was working.

Neema stoically stood by as person after person were lashed until they had to be physically carried from the podium disappearing somewhere behind them. Never to be seen again.

She waited for Victus to be brought forward as each man was dragged to and from the podium, she waited to catch a glimpse of him but saw none. She held her breath in hopes that they had accidently missed him out but when they begun to pull women forwards she knew that he was not here. If he was not here than he was not alive.

She hated to be so pessimistic but she knew death would be the only way of escaping these wolves. Everyone else from the village was here, the only people missing where a few of the hunters. Hunters who fought to protect their people and she knew Victus was one of them. He would rather be dead then hide and shirk from his duty.

Neema’s heart felt heavy as the only friend she had left was ripped cruelly from her. She would always remember what he did for her family and never forget the kiss they shared. No matter how brief their time together was she would never forget him

As the lashings continued to bear down across peoples back the despair inside her body began to multiply. Victus was gone and the wolves were stripping them of all their dignity.

Her little brother and sister whimpered behind her as the sounds of sobbing and tearing of flesh echoed around them. Jana clung to her legs and Caillum buried his head into her back as their tears seeped through her torn clothes. She was not sure if they knew what was happening but the sounds would surely scare them for life, if their imaginations hadn’t already.

So many children were present to see the destruction of their parents and this was just the first punishments. Neema could only imagine what would happen to the men and women who had married someone other then their wolf counterparts.

She knew this day would only get worse for some, her only optimism was that she was not married. Though it was not much to be happy for.

Desperate for any form of escape her eyes began to scan the high walls of the facility that acted as a barrier between her and her family’s freedom. As her wandering eyes searched her surroundings she caught something in her peripheral view, twisting her head to get a better view she caught sight with one of the many Wolves that stood along the back of the podium. His hazel eyes flashed a shocking red before reverting back to its previous colour, while he sniffed the air before tightening his jaw.

She was so caught up in looking at the hazel eyed wolf she barely realised the shadow that came to stand along side her until her vision of him was cut off. Her gaze was dragged away from his strong stubborn jaw by the two wolves who stood before her, like angels of death their eyes were whirlpools of anger and conviction. Neema felt her heart drop to her stomach when she realised what their presence meant. Her body shook as sobs began to well up inside her but she refused to release them. Tight lipped and scowling faces, they gripped Neema by the arms and pulled her from the line. Their movements jerking her brother and sister with her. Their little arms and legs wrapped tightly around her body as they sobbed harder and refused to let go.

The wolves shook her body roughly to try and dislodge them but her siblings only clung on tighter, their little bodies shaking with fear. Jana and Caillum hugged her body like she was their life line, as if without her they would seize to exist. They held onto her as if she were a part of their body that could not be removed, and no matter how much jerking the sentinels did the two little angels would not let go.

“I’ll, I’ll get them to let go, ju – just give me a – a min- minute” she stammered as she implored them to let go, releasing her arms they stood back and nodded their heads. Giving her time to disentangle her siblings from her body.

Twisting the top half of her body she looked down at the two of them, patting Caillum’s head she removed Jana from her foot before turning completely and crouching down in front of them. She pulled them into her arms as she squeezed them with all her might, kissing their little faces while she whispered reassuring words into their ears. Her heart hurt and she could feel it thumping in her throat. It felt as if her whole being had been ripped from her. Seeing her siblings cry made her feel like such a failure. She couldn’t protect them from anything, no matter how hard she tried they would always be tainted by this day.

“It’s okay little loves, I’m here. No one is going to hurt you” she mumbled into their skin as tears glided down her face. Her skin was dripping with both her and their tears as she tried to reassure them.

Neema looked up at the young girl who stood beside her, she could be no older than 15 and her short blonde hair clung to her gaunt face. Her lovely green eyes were filled with fear as water glided across her chin and down her wobbling lips.

“Please, don’t let them watch.” She implored the young girl as she hiccupped, tears tumbled down both Neema and the young girls face. When she received a watery nod by her, Neema squeezed them one last time and peppered them with kisses before she stood up and pushed them towards the young girl. Nodding her head in thanks she faced the two wolves.

Their faces remained the same but in their eyes she could see a small flicker of sympathy and pain before their eyes shuttered and turned blank.

Wiping her face, she was firmly escorted by both sentinels across the field their fingers firmly griped her arms as her body began to tense up. The smell of blood permeated the air.

“C-Caillum, Jana baby close your eyes, don’t look. I’ll be fine” she sobbed out in grief hoping that her sibling’s innocence would be spared from being present to the gruelling torture she was about to face. Their little tear streaked faces were turned away from the view of the stage as they hid behind the blonde haired child. She was still too young to be seeing this but the wolves were to inhumane to care about what this would do to a young child’s psyche. Neema had never met the young girl before today but she would be forever grateful to her. The young girl was a warrior.

The closer she got to the beam the tauter her body became, her mind telling her to run, to break free from their grip. However, her fear made her feet turn to sludge making it impossible for her to walk the rest of the way to the beam let alone escape. She tried to relax, to calm her breathing but she couldn’t tamper the urge she felt to fight back. To draw blood like they had been ripping from the humans all day. As the wolf on her right side grasped her arm to secure her wrist in the strap she felt her body automatically react. Her left arm swung out towards his face, her nails clawing against his skin drawing blood in a last bid to get free.

She heard a large gasp as she continued to fight the wolf off her. Her moves were erratic and sporadic. Desperation seeping from her skin.

In her determination to get free she forgot about the second wolf but was soon made aware of his presence when he gripped her matted locks in his large fist and yanked her head back. The force of the pull was so strong her brain felt as if it had been dislodged from her skull. Causing her world to become a fuzzy blur of shouts and colour. When she gained consciousness she was aware of a warm liquid dripping down the back of her neck, as she went to raise her arms to wipe the back of her head she was alerted to the straps that held her wrists prisoner. Struggling to break the clasps Neema twisted and pulled her arms causing the leather to bite into her wrists, when the struggle became futile she raised her head.

The white haired male walked to the podium on the stage and clasped the microphone in his hand. His hateful eyes glared down at Neema as he contemplated over his words. A cruel glimmer blazed in his eyes as he cleared his throat. His words were simple, but oh so damning.

“Double her lashes” he growled deeply.

Neema’s eyes widened in disbelief as the sound of the whip whooshed through the air her back tensed in preparation for the pain that would come. When the first lash tore through her skin Neema bit down on her bottom lip so hard blood trickled down her chin, the sharp stinging of her mouth a distraction from the pain of her splintered skin. As the whip continued to rain down on her skin, pools of water gathered in the corners of hers eyes and dripped off her face, the physical presence of tears being the only inkling to the pain she felt. After the tenth lash, her body entered a realm of numbness where the only thing penetrating her mind was her mantra of ‘it will be ok’.

But not even she could believe her own words.