4. THE LAST FIGHT

“Cut her loose.” The words were like weapons themselves. Fear drilled in from his voice. Cold and deadly.

The men did not waste time. They looked around just as the man let go of my neck. He stood up, hearing him walk out of the room to the next.

Pain pulled me from the empty space he had occupied. I turned my head to see the men tugging hard on the chain but it did not budge.

“We can break her foot.”

“Wouldn’t work. The chain is too tight. I doubt she even has skin there.”

They tugged again then began slamming the chain over and over with no success.

“It’s not working alpha!”

The sentence pulled the man who had left back into the room.

“Then cut her foot.” The alpha snapped and I sucked in a breath. I squeezed my eyes hard and let the chill run down my body.

I deserve this, I told myself. Not even that was enough to take the horror away from the words that had just been spoken so casually. Even the three other men stopped in shock.

“What if she is chained and locked in here for a reason?”

“We will find out after you cut her foot.” The alpha enforced, walking out of the room with the matter settled.

My tears just streamed yet I clamped my mouth and kept my pleas to myself.

The silence spread until one of the men got up.

“Well, I will go get a saw. I saw a shed outside.” He said, walking out of the room.

I tried to find happy memories but all that poisoned my mind were horrendous memories that affirmed my decision. Nothing would be worse than them. No pain would be too much than what I had already felt.

Feet came dashing back in.

“I found a bolt cutter.”

The men stood up just as the alpha came back from ransacking the other rooms.

“The fucker escaped.” He groaned out in pure anger with his fists finding the wall where he drummed, leaving them stained with blood. He turned, rushing to me and I waited for the impact but all I got was relief as the chain that had been there for most of my years fell away.

A large surge of energy washed over my body, nearly paralysing.

I had no time to dwell on my newfound freedom.

“Erekemtu.” I whispered as fast and low as I could, my head low, hair hiding me away, praying it also hid my voice.

“What was that?” The harsh voice of the alpha rippled through my body, having me shrink away.

His hand fell on my jaw painfully and he jerked forward. I yelped, not daring even by chance to stare up at him.

“What did you just say?”

I shook my head over and over.

He pushed me back, my body falling over.

“Take her to the others. We will need to make an example and she will be first.” The alpha said, turning to walk out of the room. My expiry date set in stone.

One of the men grabbed my arm, jerking me up. I did not fight. I took a step but my right leg was in such pain from the chain having fallen off. I was sure my skin was red if not bleeding. I hopped and was grateful as another man grabbed my other arm and they began pulling me with them.

The castle was dark, the only sound coming from the foreign wolves giving instructions outside. The threat was neutralized, that threat being my people.

Blood spread all over the floor. In some parts, claw marks were seen where they had dragged unwilling victims. The walls were a monstrous piece of art that would send children screaming with nightmares.

They did not have to tell how angry they were. I could see it all over the castle I hadn’t walked through in years but nothing had changed, not a single thing. There was darkness coursing from the lowest to the highest corner. There was no warmth, no color. It was just dark, a prison for many.

The sun shone through but the blood running down the steps drained it’s warmth from me. I had always wondered how it would feel to wear the sun on my skin without the window between us and that experience was taken away from me.

Bodies of men, our warriors, led the path to the backyard where about a hundred men were chained to each other. They were roaring in anger, trying to get free and the foreign werewolves were more than happy to beat them to submission.

Blood, so much blood, all were covered in it.

Screams hit my ears and I was fast to push my head up.

Women. A lot of women. So many women and most I had never seen in my life. Most had children chained to them and they were chained to other women.

They cried and held their children tight to them. My heart clenched and my jaw felt as if it would snap. As quickly as I could, my eyes ran through until my stomach quickly dropped.

Roselyn. Tyme.

My head shook and I fought the tears back.

Their mouths opened but I shook my head no.

“Bring a single chain.” One of the men dragging me shouted.

It brought most eyes to me.

Many of the women gasped while those that knew me cried out. The shock was very apparent to the point where even the foreign werewolves turned to stare at me.

“What is that about?”

“I don’t know.” The man on my right answered.

“Stand here. don’t move.” One of the men said, letting go of me. I stood still, my eyes wrecking the scene right before me.

My arms were pulled up and locked together with a chain and lock.

There were so many of the foreign werewolves. I could count over a hundred close by us.

They were fast and efficient, tying everyone together.

I always knew the day would come when the werewolves would find us. I knew it would.

I was left alone to stand. Another of our warriors was brought to stand beside me. The man was not going down without a fight. He kept kicking and heading the foreign werewolves. He bit and roared with such anger. It took five of the werewolves to subdue him. Another man was brought to our line and I knew we would be the example. The men kept fighting and I just stood there staring at the women.

My eyes stayed on my two ladies in waiting. I intensely stared at them until they nod their heads. I turned my head to the forest then back again. My eyes then moved to the rest of the women and children then back to the two women. They nod their heads in understanding.

“Deratutu.” I whispered over and over as my eyes moved from one section of the prisoner women to another. The men beside me made so much noise I hoped it was enough to hide my words.

I kept going with my feet dug into the soil where I drew in all the energy.

One. I mouthed to the two women who had raised me.

Two.

The other women were ready too. I could see them hold their children even closer.

Three.

“Deratutu.” I spoke out loud then turned with my chains hitting the ground.

“RUN”