Chapter 1: Where am I?

DORA

I inhaled sharply, coughing hard as fear tightened around my racing heart.

Where am I?

I groaned as I felt pain like no other consume my entire body. Blinking a few times, my vision cleared just in time to see a rat sniffing my bloody hand. I moved, and it suddenly sprinted across the cold, hard floor before disappearing under my bed.

Right. I was back in the dungeon cell I call a bedroom, a place I have lived in since I was a child.

I thought I would be dead by now. So why am I still alive?

The last thing I remember was breaking the glass cup containing my brother's drink and begging for my life while he kicked me over and over again in the ribs until I coughed out blood and blacked out.

I closed my eyes, and tears spilt out of it.

I should’ve died, so why am I still alive? When will this hell of a life end?

I began to sob as I slowly pushed my body up, feeling like I had been run over a million times. I should have healed by now, but my wolf has been close to being non-existent for a long while now. I rarely feel her these days, and that alone crushed my spirit.

I wondered when my pain would end? I mean, how much pain and suffering will I have to endure before I take my last breath?

I sighed and forced myself to lean against the cold, bare wall of my cell. Immediately, I felt chilly, and my stomach rumbled violently.

It’s been days since I last ate, and I know I am still alive because somehow, my barely existent wolf keeps trying its best to sustain my body. I hugged my knees to myself, trying to ignore the hunger and the cold. I remembered my teacher saying the wolf is usually the first to die before the human.

Maybe it was best if we both wither away here. I’ll mourn my wolf while I take my last few breaths. A tear slipped out my eye as I closed my eyes, willing to embrace death and end it all.

I remembered my wolf and realized I couldn’t do this to her. She’s kept me alive this long, and the least I could do is make sure her efforts were not in vain. If I die at the hands of another, then it’s not my fault. At least I tried. ”

Now motivated to do something about my pathetic life, I looked up as if I could see through the ceiling. I’ll have to go upstairs and see what leftovers I can find in the kitchen or the trash.

The thought alone terrified me. This dungeon was my safe space, and leaving it felt like jumping off a cliff. Anything could happen. After taking a few deep breaths, I groaned through the pain and pushed myself to my feet. There was only one way to find out.

I felt terribly cold, but the pain in my ribs wouldn’t let me try on a sweater, so I left the cell, shivering hard. My eyes went dizzy for several moments at a time, so I had to use the wall for support. Thankfully, the hallway was short, comprising eight empty cells in total, but when I got halfway, I felt so tired and exhausted that I really thought that I was going to die while making my way out.

Luckily for me, the rest of the dungeon cells were empty, so I could lean against the cell gates and rest with ease. At last, I finally reached the stony steps that led up to the main house, but my heart began to race again. What if I ran into my brother or my father?

I shivered at the thought.

Down here, I had no sense of time, but ever since they planned to sign a treaty with some powerful Alpha, they’ve rarely been home. I hope such is the case when I get up there or they might kill me if they find me in the kitchen.

I said a little prayer to the Moon Goddess and my mom before climbing the steps slowly. Since I couldn’t stand upright, I crawled with my hands and legs up the stairs till I got to the door. When I got there, I opened it slowly and listened. When I had nothing, I opened the door wider and stepped into the brightly lit hallway.

Raising my arm up to shield my eyes from the brightness, I listened some more, and when I heard nothing, I sniffed the air. My family’s scent was faint like they'd been around hours ago. The moment I realized that, my body instantly flooded with adrenaline.

Is my mission a go?

Summoning strength and ignoring my pain, I limped to the kitchen area and checked the fridge for leftovers. If I don't find any, then I will definitely see something to eat in the trash can. Not my best option but a girl’s gotta survive.

Luckily, I found a wrapped turkey sandwich in the fridge and closed my eyes in relief. It’s been months since I had one and finally I’d be able to have something good after days of being forced to starve. Grabbing it and a bottle of water, I closed the fridge, and with the desperation of a hyena, I took a long gulp before unwrapping my meal. I was just about to take a bite when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

I froze. Holy shit. Should I make a run for it?