Chapter 5: Into the Woods

They reacted slowly. Too slowly. At this rate, everyone would explode in the warehouse. They were all still handcuffed, and there was a man who I assumed had told them not to move. Unfortunately, he was petrified by the ominous news.

At the far end, Sarah jumped to her feet. There is as a window behind her back. "Come on everyone!" She yelled, trying to pull up the girl next to her. I noted that she had no handcuffs.

But if we tried to save everyone, we would die too. And I would not let her die.

I charged for her. Everything in my way either moved or was shoved. The momentum with which I collided with Sarah carried us crashing through the window. I quickly twisted in midair so that I could take the full weight of our crash.

I did take the full weight, with Sarah landing on top of me. I heard a sickening crack as the air got knocked out of me. I had broken a rib. Maybe two.

She immediately got off. "Come on Amber! Breathe," she shouted. My vision began to dim.

"Don't you dare you fucking bitch if you faint I swear I will kill you my fucking self!" I heard her tell me, them I felt several harsh slaps cutting across my face.

I sat up and retched blood.

"Let's go," she scrambled to her feet and dragged me to my own. Leaning on her, I stumbled away from the warehouse as fast as I could.

"Where are you two going?" we heard Travis bark from behind us. We ignored him.

I heard him click something on his gun. Before I knew it, Sarah grabbed the gun which I was still somehow holding on to, clicked it, and shot at him without hesitation.

What a brave girl. And she's fourteen.

I didn't hear him scream.

The ground suddenly rocked, causing us to fall down. People came tumbling out the warehouse door, but it was too late. A deafening explosion sounded as the ground rocked again.

Everyone was dead. Except us.

I dragged myself up first and spat more blood. She climbed up me like a tree and we supported each other as we stumbled away from the warehouse.

"My real name is Lucinda Williams," she panted and I half smiled.

I chose the prettiest name I had heard yet. "My name's Lucinda too. Lucinda Dave." Again I used a fake last name.

You know, since I don't have any.

"Freeze!" someone shouted.

"Took you long enough," I muttered.

Police were already swarming over the ruins of the warehouse, and two officers were coming towards us.

"You might be the only survivors," he said gravely. Looked pretty obvious to me.

"So?" Lucinda snapped.

His tone turned icy.

"You exited the building in time to escape. Did you know it was going to blow up?"

"Yes," we both snapped together.

I added, "While you just stayed in the forest and watched. What have you all been doing since I called you so long ago?"

His eyes widened. "You made that call?"

"Yeah so?"

"Heather Felix, you are under arrest for mass murder and use of forbidden weapons in the United States," he announced, pulling out his gun.

My eyes darkened.

I picked the names of a fucking criminal!?

I glared at the policeman and he fidgeted in my gaze. I then grabbed Lucinda's arm.

"You'd better take good care of my girl," I growled at him. "If anything happens to her I swear I will lift your head from your neck before the sun goes down that day."

He nodded, pale with fear.

I turned to her. I hated what I had to do. "I'll see you again dear I promise," I said.

She nodded stoically. "Thanks a lot," she said calmly as if she had not just found out that I am a serial killer.

Brave girl.

"Thanks too," I said before pushing her roughly between them. When they tried to catch her, I moved.

I turned and tore into the woods, easily jumping the wires.

"Stop!" said the policeman. I ignored.

I suddenly heard a gunshot. A searing pain radiated from my arm. I put on an extra burst of speed and ran nimbly through the forest.

I had never seen this place before, but I moved through the trees like I had lived here all my life. I ran faster than ever before, the ground disappearing behind me as me feet ate it up. I ran mindlessly with no sense of direction, doing at least five miles in only a few minutes..

Finally, I stopped, breathing heavily. The moonless night was not very helpful, but I saw the blood pouring out of a wound near my armpit. I pressed it with my other hand. I slumped on a tree, knowing I was done for.

But in less than a minute, I heard the sound of many footfalls. I listened and I could tell that they were not human; possibly some deer.

All of a sudden, four large wolves planted themselves in front of me. I smiled, unafraid. I was going to die anyway, wolves or no wolves.

Suddenly, a girl stepped in front of the wolves.

The first thing I saw about her was that she was stunning, even as she wore nothing but a huge man's shirt that covered her well enough. She was tall and slender, with long, dirty blonde hair and ice blue eyes that were full of worry.

"Are you ok?" she asked in a smooth silver voice. She tried to come closer, but I growled and she paused.

I was wary. I had been kidnapped before!

"Who are you," I hissed.

"Someone who just asked after your well-being," she snapped.

Oh the violent type.

"You're losing a lot of blood, you might die," she stated.

"You can see in the dark," I said weakly.

She rolled her eyes. "Can't you?"

She came closer and I let her. She  peered into my wound, then placed her own hands on it.

"Jeez this is ugly. Summon Doctor Justin at once," she called over her shoulder. One of the wolves ran away.

"Why are you helping me," I asked, struggling to breathe.

She huffed. "Just because you're from another pack doesn't mean I can't help you when you're hurt. Though Alpha probably won't appreciate you trespassing," she added.

I didn't understand half of what she just said and I didn't have time or energy to think about it.

"You can control the wolves," I said changing the subject.

She laughed a tinkering little laugh. "Nah," she said. "They usually just obey me 'cuz they love me."

Ah, a nature lover, a kindred spirit. Wow, even the wolves know her. Obey her.

I heard a very distant wolf howl. It was echoed by other wolves nearer and farther than that, and the wolves behind her also answered to it.

The girl grinned. "That's Alpha," she informed me. Must be her favorite of the wolves, judging by the proud smile.

"I would have bet no human could have heard that," I muttered.

"Do I smell human?" she countered.

What!?

Come to think of it, she didn't. Having grown up in the orphanage, I memorized several scents, including mine of course. And I couldn't help but notice that I smelled distinctly different from others. This girl, however, smelled much like me.

Does that mean I'm not human at all!?

Of course. Super speed and strength. Overly sensitive nose. Eyes that see in the dark. Ears that pick up everything. Extra healing ability— I couldn't even feel my face hurting now. Freaking tapetum.

I'm not human.

Then certain words that had been spat at me came rushing back:

"... little demon like you doesn't deserve to be among people."

I'm not human.

So, what am I?

I vaguely remembered that I had asked myself the same thing earlier today. But now the question rattled around in my mind way too much.

What am I?

What am I?

What am I?