Chapter Two: The Chase

Mallory’s POV 

“Where is she? Don’t let her get away!” 

On cue, running sounds reverberate the cracked pavement of the shanty little town. 

Four men in black suits barge in each building, trying to find me and my sister. I’m positively sure these are the loan shark’s lackeys. 

I’ve been hiding beside the dumpster and the foul smell of weed and shit makes me vomit. 

But I’ve been ignoring its scent as my attention is to see if the coast is clear before I could flee with my little sister. 

Speaking of which, my attention returns to her as I sigh in relief. Right now, she’s currently sleeping while clutching around my nape.

The ropes which are the only ones I could find in my mother’s room are being tied around her waist to mine. It’s the only way to never let her go if something happens. 

She’s alive. Thank God for that.

But she’s heating up and judging from the piles of cup noodles on the floor, it was obvious that my little sister was trying to survive.

My eyes flicker with a burning fire, reflecting the rage within me. I’ve never been this mad at my mother since I ran away. Abandoning her, leaving me with her shit load of debt and now I…I…

After recalling the memory of the incident at my boss’s office, a thought has finally come to dawn in me. 

I…k-killed him. I killed a person. 

It took a huge toll on me after he kept riling me up. Then, my violent behavior took place and I overestimated my strength.

I killed a man, leaving the evidence of my handprint on that lamp and without a doubt, my life is over.

There is no way I could protect Lilian if I’m behind bars. 

When she coughs, I snap back from my thoughts and I immediately cover her mouth before her sound reaches the ears of these men.

Thankfully, they are busy running around like buzzing bees to pay attention to the narrow alleyway being hidden by a car. 

As soon as they disappear, I pull Lilian up to my chest, my arms supporting her bottom before I make a dash to the dark street in careful steps, the pitter patter of my feet echoes as I pass by the unlit posts, my head rotating left and right until I've finally exited the street. 

Seeing less people heading here, I make a run for it, ignoring the weight around me as I keep running. 

But where to? The area for humans is limited to this border. They will eventually find me and sell Lilian off. 

No, stop thinking about it. I need to find a safe place first… but where? Where can I find a place for Lilian to survive?!

Just then, a familiar road catches my attention and as if everything is in slow motion, my eyes wander to that sign that I often see every time I pass by.

A sign of a reminder to all humans in the deeper parts of this city.

WARNING: THE HUMANS FROM THIS BORDER SHALL NOT TRESPASSED FROM THIS POINT OR  ELSE BE EXECUTED ON SIGHT

A sign neatly placed there to warn all of us, humans, not to go across the gate which leads to the high-rise luxurious parts of the city filled with wolves.

And it so happens the large gate is conveniently tilted open—the right space for my body to get in. 

I gulp. 

Without a second thought, my feet swiftly turn as I jolt straight to that direction. 

‘Oh, God. Oh, God! I’m screwed!’ are my thoughts repeating in my head as I slide myself inside the gap between the heavy gated doors and dash inside.

Thankfully, there weren't any wolves on guard as I entered, yet I couldn’t relax until I found a safe place for us to rest. 

So my feet keep running until I reach the unfamiliar streets of what looks like the Red-Light District.

And in the most impeccable timing that there are many wolves in their human forms in this dark alleyway, golden eyes all turn to me and my sister.

Those eyes aren’t exactly friendly either.

My feet quickly turn back and I start running, leaving no room for hesitation. Soon after, I hear howls and growls from a short distance away and I pray it isn’t a call of reinforcements.

I keep running, and the weight of Lilian has also dampened my speed. Yet, I couldn’t stop running in this unfamiliar area.

I could just go back to the human border and hide there.

No, there’s no point going back now.

At that moment, I feel…trapped.

“You can’t escape me, human!” A growling voice is nearby, reminding me of such a predicament and I regret turning to give it a look. When I see an enormous wolf ready to prowl behind me, I give a loud shrill. 

The wolf leaps to reach us—and in just a split second, my heel turns to leap inside a glass door of the building before the wolf could even grab me and hit his face on the concrete floor. 

I would have been caught if I hadn't trusted my guts right there.

He tries to get up, shaking his head when his snout is dropping blood from its nostrils. 

 Yet, I couldn’t spare a second resting as I tightened my hold on Lilian, her skin flaring underneath her bottom when I adjusted her weight. 

"Lilian, don't worry," I mutter as I caress her cheek. I'm not sure if I said those words for assurance for her or for myself. 

Now, I have a new problem to deal with: she badly needs to see a doctor as soon as possible. 

I continue running but when I catch sight of an elevator opening right before my very eyes, the stress and weariness couldn't be compared to the temporary joy I'm feeling now. 

“Don’t let her get away!”

Ah shit. 

If Lilian wasn’t with me, I could have beat the crap outta them—who am I kidding? I am a pathetic human being who chickens out when a wolf is nearby!

I laugh like a madman as I enter the elevator, punch the button as it closes down before they’ve reached for the gap between the closing doors.

Once the contraption starts moving upwards, I slide my back against the wall as I slump on the ground—my legs are aching from the chase.

At that moment, I feel safe. No, Lilian and I feel safe. 

But what happens after? 

The button I pressed is on the top floor.Even if we’ve reached the top, what should we do then? Werewolves are aware of our presence here, and going back to the human border is just us going straight to hell.

I stare at my sister once more. She is still in her fitful sleep despite the endless chase. Her creased eyebrows and the heated flush on her cheeks betray how she feels, and small whimpers occasionally escape from her parted lips, like she’s trying to hide the discomfort within. 

She’s just a child, and yet she has to go through all of these. 

“I don’t want you to grow up broken like me,” I mutter, embracing her, shielding her from whatever danger lurks outside this elevator. 

I’ve been thinking about the times when I feel down and that little voice—so soothing to my ears, reminds me as such.

Right now, I’ve been reminded of my daily ponders. 

What if…what if…now is the right time to do it? I can’t go back to the human border and I’m certain the wolves can easily capture us anytime..

There is no other way aside from this.

When the elevator dings, the doors part slowly in a soft, mechanical whisper and I’m once again, feel more relieved that the top elevator reaches directly to the rooftop. 

It’s a sign—a sign that at least at this moment, I’ve been given a choice.

And I’ll see this as an opportunity to choose my death—our death.  

As I walk each step, I feel braver. And a part of me is glad Lilian is sick and wouldn’t realize what I’m about to do.

 When I reach the edge of the building, peering down to see the vibrant view of the red-light district sprawls beneath me like a tapestry view of a beautiful evening. It is ironic that this might be the last view I’ll see before I move my feet closer, hanging at the edge as a crumble of rubble drops beneath. 

I tighten my embrace on Lilian, the only sole reason I continue to live.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper before dropping myself to end our demise.

It will be over soon. As soon as I hit the ground, even it wouldn’t be pleasant to see.

Tonight, Mallory and Lilian Bishop will end their lives. 

“Oopsiedaisy!” 

Strong arms wrap around my waist before I’ve been pulled back from the fall. 

Next thing I know, I land right directly on my ass then I shut my eyes from the painful blow straight to my sensitive bottom. 

“Fuck!” I groan.

“That was a close call, huh?” A man’s baritone voice interrupts my confused state.

My eyes visibly grow wider after looking up to see who is my so-called savior.

Dirty blonde hair, unkempt hair that you often see from models in magazines, a gray t-shirt that hugs his huge build that is tainted by blood. Actually, he’s all bloodied from his face till his shoes. 

“R-Russell DeLucci?!” 

Of all wolves who’ve caught me, why does it have to be him?!

A wolf  who is notoriously known for being violent and wreaking havoc anywhere he goes!

He slumps down on the floor next to me then he grabs my chin, hurting my jaw with his uncontrollable grip.

His bright green eyes flicker brightly under the full moon and as I am forced to look at his face, he gives a wide smile—a smile of a lunatic as a trail of blood drops from his forehead. 

“Can’t let you die on me when I finally found you, eh, fated mate?”