Fit for Fire

Adeline

Jeremy was there at the door in a heartbeat. He gestured for me to step inside, but all I wanted to do was crumble to the ground and let the tears flow.

He took hold of my arm, guiding me through the entrance. “You can walk, or I can drag you,” he murmured.

I didn’t want his touch, so I yanked my arm back and started moving.

“Hey,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I halted and turned to face him. His eyes were filled with conflict, and his expression held a gentleness I didn’t think he was capable of.

“We’re doing this for the safety of our pack. Just hang in there. If you’re who you claim to be, this will all be sorted out soon.”

I nodded. They knew who I was. They probably knew more about me than I did at this point. They had a complete file. They could just let me go.

Jeremy held the door open for me as I descended the stairs.

I was halfway down the corridor to my cell when I heard what sounded like screams from the first hallway.

I froze, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. Someone was shouting, and a man was crying out in agony from the farthest cell.

His pain echoed off the cold, unfeeling walls and resonated in my heart, stirring emotions I had long since buried.

Jeremy came up behind me, studying my face before he grimaced. He took hold of my arm, steering me back toward the stairs.

I looked at him, a wave of panic and confusion washing over me as his hand slid down my arm and gripped my wrist.

Seeing my expression, he shot an annoyed glance toward the source of the screams before saying, “Don’t worry. That won’t happen to you.”

His words didn’t exactly soothe me, but I nodded anyway. He led me to a door hidden down a small hallway to the left of the stairs.

Where was he taking me?

After everything, I was pretty sure this wasn’t some scientific research lab, even though I had been quick to believe the beta when he said they were all wolves.

I wouldn’t have believed Jeremy if I hadn’t seen him start to transform. That, and I hadn’t met a single person yet who smelled normal.

These people didn’t smell like everyone else. They all had a similar but slightly different scent, and not one of them smelled like a regular human.

Jeremy didn’t seem like he was going to hurt me. But I couldn’t trust that he wouldn’t. Not when someone was clearly being tortured here.

That could have been me. It still could be. My wolf was on high alert, and I was right there with her. I just hoped that when the time came, I could shift.

The man’s howls of pain started up again, and I looked in his direction as Jeremy approached another keypad.

I kept my eyes on the direction of the screams while I shifted my gaze to his fingers. I could see roughly where his fingers were.

It looked like he typed in 5467. I repeated those four numbers in my head. These numbers were my ticket out, but how?

The door beeped, and as he pulled it open, Jeremy guided me inside. Another hallway stretched out before us, but this one had white walls and white tiled floors.

While the hallway upstairs had a more administrative feel, this place reminded me of a hospital.

The smell of the hallway matched the look, as it was heavy with the scent of lemon cleaner.

He let go of my hand and led me to the end of the hallway. There were closed doors on either side.

The door he pointed me to was on the left and labeled REC. As he punched in the code, I looked at the door across from me.

It was labeled Medical. I wondered if that was where I had been treated. A shiver ran down my spine.

I looked down at my feet, the embarrassment of being naked and unconscious making my face heat up. When I heard the beep of the door, I looked up and noticed something.

There was a faint glow of natural light seeping out from under the medical room door. Could that be from a window?

Please, I silently pleaded. ~Please let it be a window.~

Feeling a hand on my back, I looked up to see Jeremy’s expectant gaze.

He raised an eyebrow at the blush still coloring my cheeks, then made a sweeping gesture with his hand.

I rolled my eyes and walked into the room, surprised to find it furnished with a table and chairs, a television, and a bookcase. He opened a door that led to a small, bare bathroom.

“You’re under observation now, so you can spend some of your time here. You can choose to eat your meals here or in your cell.”

“Here!” I blurted out, maybe a bit too quickly. He gave me a suspicious look before he left the room, closing the door behind him.

I used the bathroom as quickly as I could, then came back out and examined the door. Like the others, it locked automatically and had a keypad.

I reached out to the keypad, letting my fingers trace over the buttons. I didn’t know how much time I had. My stomach growled at me threateningly.

I was starving, and food sounded wonderful, but what if this was my only chance? What if he stayed and kept watch when he came back?

If I wanted to escape, I had to go now. I couldn’t risk waiting. I had an opportunity now, and I had to seize it.

Taking a deep breath, I hoped I had seen the numbers correctly and that they used the same code for all the doors. 5-4-6-7. I entered the numbers slowly.

I sent a silent prayer to anyone who might be listening, then hit Enter.

Nothing happened at first. My hopes started to dwindle, and my lungs ached from the breath I was holding.

Then, a beep sounded overhead, and I let out the breath I had been holding, jumping up in triumph. I didn’t know whether to dance or cry.

When I turned the handle, the door opened with a soft metallic click. I peeked out the door, quickly looking both ways before stepping out.

I covered the distance between the rec room and the medical room in a few quick strides, then went to enter the code on the keypad.

I stopped myself, pressing my ear to the door to listen for any signs of life inside before I unlocked the door.

Satisfied that my wolf-like hearing hadn’t failed me, I entered the numbers again and pushed my way inside.

I held the door, guiding it to close silently before turning to survey the room.

The room was simple, with a monitor mounted on the wall next to a countertop that held a few cabinets, a sink, and a pair of hospital gurneys.

In one corner, IV stands were tucked away, and a small blue curtain was pushed aside.

I glanced up at the large overhead lights and shivered. A sense of déjà vu washed over me. I’d been here before. This was where they’d treated me. I turned away from the lights, focusing on why I was here.

A decent-sized window on the back wall offered a view of the woods. I moved towards it, grateful that it was on the first floor.

The window had a latch on the side. Once unlocked, it slid open easily. I popped out the screen and gently lowered it to the ground.

I shot a quick look over my shoulder and listened for any sounds before lowering myself out of the window.

My heart pounded as my feet touched the ground. The scent of crisp air and pine filled my nostrils. I took a deep breath, a smile spreading across my face. I was free!

Not yet, a small voice in my head reminded me. I turned my attention back to my escape, covering my tracks.

I stood on my tiptoes to pull the window shut. Then, out of habit, I picked up the screen and popped it back into place.

Years of sneaking out of foster homes had taught me the importance of leaving no trace of your escape route. It bought you time and left you a route for future use. I hoped I’d never find myself here again.

Facing the forest, I shielded my eyes from the bright noon sun. It was mid-spring, and the heat was already stifling.

As I moved towards the trees, I could feel sweat forming on my pale skin.

My heart was racing, and as I ventured deeper into the brush, I paused to calm my breathing.

Being out was somehow scarier than being in. If I was caught, I’d look guiltier than before, and who knew what they’d do or how long they’d keep me.

My mind drifted to the sound of the man screaming in his cell. I needed to get out of here fast.

I crouched down, closing my eyes, and tapped into my ability to shift. The wolf inside me was restless, eager to be set free.

It was time to run, and running was something she did best. I stripped off my clothes, tossing my pants under a nearby bush.

I folded and rolled my shirt neatly before setting it down. Then, I crouched down and willed myself to change.

I imagined myself becoming the wolf. My body began to pop and snap as the transformation started.

A sharp pain shot through my shoulder, and when I opened my eyes, I was the wolf.

I picked up the shirt from where I’d left it, positioning it comfortably in my mouth before doing a little celebratory hop.

The movement hurt my shoulder; I was sure I’d reopened the wound, but I had to ignore it for now.

I bounded forward, sniffing the air to make sure the coast was clear before leaping into the forest.

I needed to put distance between myself and the compound. I also needed to find a way off pack grounds. I had no idea how large their territory was.

I also had no idea where I was. I assumed a pack would live on their grounds, given how fiercely they protected it.

If people lived here, it had to be fairly close to a town, right? I needed to recall everything I knew about the land.

I’d been driving down the highway when I’d decided to pull over for a run.

I’d taken a dirt road to a small grove of trees, stripped down, and changed.

The dirt road hadn’t been far from the highway.

Hopefully, this meant the highway ran through their land. I listened for the sounds of cars and checked the air for the scent of exhaust, gas, or oil.

If I found the highway, I could find my way home. I let the wolf take over. I’d need all my instincts to get out of here.

After an hour of running, I was beginning to think I’d never escape the endless sea of trees. Just when I was about to change my course, I heard it.

The unmistakable sound of cars, accompanied by the sharp scent of gas and burning rubber.

I picked up speed, running until the trees started to thin. I slowed to a stop and crept to the edge of the tree line.

Peering out, I watched as a semi-truck roared past.

I’d found it! I ducked back into the trees and followed the road, hidden by the forest.

When I came across road signs, I snuck out to read them, making sure the coast was clear.

I was ten miles from home.

Ten miles was a long way, especially since I’d been running all day, injured, and hadn’t eaten in days. I retreated back into the trees and lay down to think.

Maybe I could hitchhike? I’d be naked when I changed back.

I had the T-shirt, but hitchhiking half-naked didn’t seem like a good idea. It was just asking for trouble.

The last thing I needed was to explain why I was half-naked and injured by the highway.

I rolled my shoulder back, feeling the wound slowly healing. I just didn’t know how noticeable it would be to anyone passing by.

Thinking about my shoulder made it hurt. My whole body hurt. I’d been running on adrenaline, and resting was making me come down from the high.

I needed to keep moving. I couldn’t afford to shut down now.

I got up, picked up the shirt, and decided to keep going, hoping a better plan would come to me.

I’d been running for what felt like a couple of miles when I picked up the scent of humans.

I slowed as the smell got stronger, creeping through the trees until I reached the back of a small diner.

A young man was unloading a pickup truck, carrying items into the back of the diner.

He was joking with the owner, an elderly woman, before she handed him a plate of food. My stomach growled so loudly I was sure they could hear it.

I wanted to lunge for the plate in the man’s hand, but I forced myself to stay put, promising my body all the food it wanted once I got home.

When the man mentioned heading back to town, my ears perked up. He checked the back of his truck before heeding the old woman’s call to wash his dish before he left.

This was it. My moment. I quickly pulled the drool-soaked shirt over my head. My legs trembled as I tiptoed towards the truck.

Peering into the back, I was relieved to find a couple of blankets, a crumpled tarp, and a rusty red toolbox.

I climbed into the truck, pulling the tarp and blankets over me, trying to make myself as tiny as possible.

Footsteps echoed towards the truck. I fought to calm my shaking limbs and held my breath as a man, presumably the driver, circled the vehicle.

When the footsteps paused at the top of the truck, my heart threatened to burst out of my chest.

He was going to discover me. I had no clue what I would say to him. Thankfully, he resumed walking, and the sound of the driver’s door opening and closing allowed me to relax, ready for the journey home.

The wind whipped around me as the truck gained speed on the highway. The young man had the radio turned up loud, singing along to every song.

Terribly. Really terribly. As he belted out a particularly high note, I wished I was still in wolf form. At least then I could press my ears to my skull.

The journey took longer than I anticipated, but I welcomed the drive, as it gave me time to rest and think. The sun peeked through a gap in the tarp.

I reached up, touching the small spot gently. I could feel the warmth seeping through the heavy material.

The heat reminded me of my bed, and I longed to feel safe and warm, snuggled under my heavy comforter.

Home. I craved it more than anything, but the more I yearned for it, the more I realized it was no longer there.

My apartment was still there, but the possibility of it being my home was gone. They had a file on me. They had my car, phone, and all my cards.

They knew where I lived. I had to return for cash and clothes, but I couldn’t stay.

These guys had a full compound and were willing to keep me locked up in it because I’d run on their land.

What would they do now that I had defied them by escaping?

The sun had set by the time we exited the highway.

I uncovered my face and watched the street signs on the stop lights until we were near my street.

Preparing myself, I slipped out the back of the truck at the next red light.

I was thankful there were no cars behind us and equally so for the song that had the young driver thumping his steering wheel while he sang loudly.

I whispered an apology as I grabbed the blanket from the back, and once I reached the sidewalk, I wrapped myself in it.

Being three blocks from safety, I used the last of my energy to jog until I reached the old brick building with the red door that I called home.

Quickly entering the building, I headed for the staircase, taking the stairs two at a time.

My old green door came into view as I climbed the remaining stairs. The sight of that worn-out door almost brought me to tears.

Lifting the navy blue flowerpot to the left of the door, I freed the key I had taped to the bottom of the pot.

The small key lay in my hand, and I just stared at it for a moment. Was I doing the right thing by coming home?

I knew they could find me here, but without a car or money, what other choice did I have?

Making up my mind, I quickly unlocked my door and stepped inside. I immediately locked the door behind me.

Detecting no other scents and hearing nothing but the pounding of my own heart, I walked into the living room, switching on lights as I went.

Seeing my old tan couch, I spread my arms wide and fell backward into the cushions.

Sinking into the cushions, I closed my eyes and deeply inhaled the scent of home.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I thought of how I had barely made it back here.

Wiping them away, I opened my eyes to study the familiar cracks in my ceiling.

A few days ago, I would have done anything to escape this place, but now I was just grateful that I was home.

Getting up, I headed straight for the kitchen. My stomach was growling, tired of waiting, and my body was cramping from dehydration.

The first thing I did was gulp down what felt like a gallon of water.

Then, opening the fridge, I pulled out the plate of leftovers and, giving it a cautious sniff, made sure it was still good before popping it into the microwave.

Setting it for a couple of minutes, I went to wipe my hands on my shirt. When I looked down at the blue oversized shirt, my mood began to change. This wasn’t my shirt.

It was theirs. I yanked it off, giving it a dark look before tossing it into the trash.

I wouldn’t be needing it anymore. The familiar ding of the microwave reminded me of the sound the doors at the compound made when they unlocked.

I shivered instantly.

Shaking it off, I retrieved my now heated food. Grabbing a fork, I headed to the bathroom.

Eating as I went, I started laying out everything I would need for a quick shower. Catching sight of myself in the mirror, I grimaced.

My shoulder-length honey-blonde hair was tangled and greasy. My dark blue eyes were red and swollen from crying.

I was covered in a thin layer of dirt, and the bandage that was on my shoulder had fallen off, probably during my shift.

The gash in my shoulder, which should have fully healed by now, was only partially healed.

A long inch-wide gash ran from my collarbone to the tip of my shoulder. The skin was split open, revealing a pink ravine and a gruesome display of my missing flesh.

I could tell that my body had tried to pull my wound together but hadn’t been fully able to. Seeing it as it was, I tried not to imagine what it must have looked like fresh.

I traced the injury with my finger. Maybe the drugs had interfered with my healing abilities? I hadn’t been able to shift, so that would make sense.

Or maybe since I was dehydrated, hungry, and sleep deprived, I didn’t have the energy to heal myself as quickly as I was used to.

Tearing my eyes away from the mirror, and my thoughts away from the past couple of days, I took a few more bites of my meal.

Turning on the shower, I let the water heat up while I finished my plate.

When the water was just shy of scalding my skin, I stepped in. As the hot water hit my back, I could feel my shoulders instantly relax.

I pressed my hands against the shower wall, letting the hot water cascade over my tense body. I watched as the grime from the past two days swirled down the drain.

I wished it was that easy. That everything that had happened could just wash away like the dirt from my skin. I straightened up, reaching for my shampoo bottle, and began to work it through my tangled hair.

I knew, though, that no amount of hot water could erase the reality. The pack might still be after me. I still had to figure out how to handle everything.

I ran my hands over my face, groaning aloud. My car. Should I try to retrieve it?

The thought of the file the alpha had on me stirred up my anger again.

They wouldn’t have been able to compile that file without the information they found in my car. They must have it.

Should I report the car stolen? The alpha had mentioned their connections with the local police department.

If I reported it, I’d have to concoct a story about where I was, why I was there, and what happened.

Not to mention, I’d likely have to venture into their territory to deal with it, leading me right back to them.

If they had my driver’s license and a comprehensive file on me, they knew where I lived. I reminded myself of this fact again.

I needed to use this time wisely. I needed to make a plan. Once I was far enough away, I needed to figure out what to do about my car.

They also had my credit cards. Should I cancel them?

I doubted that a group with their own private jail needed my meager earnings, but I would need new cards. So, I’d have to call—.

I stopped mid-thought. My phone. My phone was in the car too.

I growled in frustration, kicking the tub and yelping when I stubbed my toe. I’d have to scrape together cash for a new phone.

Adding it all up, I realized I had a long to-do list and no resources.

As I shampooed my hair a second time, my mind spun. Would they really come after me?

I was just one lone wolf. What harm could I do? I might be a rogue in their eyes, but I had no intention of hurting anyone.

The only real crimes they could pin on me, aside from trespassing, were my ignorance of my kind’s ways and the unfortunate circumstance of being born without a pack or family.

That was what made me undesirable to them, and it was something I had no control over.

After rinsing the suds from my hair, I applied conditioner, then washed my body twice with my favorite peppermint soap.

I grimaced as I rinsed out the conditioner, my hair still feeling knotted and rough.

I turned off the water, grabbed my towel, and dried off. At my vanity, I applied a leave-in deep conditioning treatment to my hair.

I sighed, looking longingly at the tub’s reflection in the mirror.

My body ached terribly, and I craved a good soak. If I had more time, I would have indulged in a long hot bath, but that was a luxury I couldn’t afford now.

As I finished my skincare routine and brushed my teeth, my stomach growled.

I still had a few tasks to complete, so why not let a batch of brownies bake while I worked? I had promised myself all the brownies I wanted, after all.

I deserved it.