Caught

Reaching the building, I walked up the steps and reached the glass doors. Looking through, I noticed the hand written 'Out of Order' sign hanging on the elevator at end of the foyer. So going in I headed for the stairs with random ideas on how to get back at the big bad wolf for hurting my feelings. My mind being so focused on the stupidness of being petty, I didn't pay attention to what was about to happen.

I opened the door to stairs, stepped in and froze, but it was too late. The pain introducing its self to the back of my head sent my sight and thoughts of pissing Cash off into darkness. 

I knew I didn't die because I could still feel the pain when I finally came to. There are very few moments in time I can be grateful for the lack of pain after a soul swap. This was one of them. I also felt pain in my jaw and wrists. I could tell my wrists were tied to something, and apparently was blindfolded as well, because I know my eyes were wide open. 

I calmed down for a second, being alive at this moment meant I had a chance to make someone regret it. 

"Hellooo? Didn't your mother teacher you to make better life choices? Hellooo?" I heard my voice echoing so where ever I was must be empty. Random thoughts popped in my head, like, did Cash send his big bad wolves out to teach me a lesson for pissing him off? Ha, as if he'd care enough to do that.

The feeling hit me. Shifter. It made my blood boil and skin crawl. I made a quick prayer to upstairs the Pixie bunch was safe, and decided I needed to find out who the heck had the balls to piss me off, so I called out again. 

"Yoohoo, anyone home? Don't tell me you're scared of a little girl like me, that you have to keep me tied up and blindfolded? Not a great idea buddy. Just warning you ahead of time." I thought I'd give a little sarcasm with my words. Whoever ever it was, I would make them regret it.

"Tsk Tsk." was all I heard before I felt a sharp smack to my face. It was hard enough I seen stars against the blindfold. While I was busy admiring them, they suddenly disappeared and were replaced by dim lit surroundings and a familiar face. The Shifter from Cash's apartment. I stared right into the one gold and one green eye. No mistake.

"Yous are a pretty little one, aren't you? I see why Mr. Cornell has you hanging around." His voice was all slimy slithery like, and from this, I could assume his original form was a Nagg.

Though mostly killed off, there were a few still hanging on. Their skin is highly sought after, but once they forget their original form, they can no longer shed and sell it. As a result, they turn to a life of crime, like this douchebag apparently. The good side of this is he doesn't know who I am and figures I am just a bystander.

"Awe well thanks darlin, and may I inquire as to exactly who the hell you are?" My question pulled a little chuckle from him.

"My name, nor who I am is of any consequence to you, but until Mr. Cornell makes an appearance, I could use some other amusement." responding, he walked over to left of me and grabbed a plastic crate shoved into a pile of dusty meat cutting equipment. Sitting down he ran his gaze over me. 

Looking away, I glanced around and realized I was in the old Zin warehouse. He owned several meat markets in West City, and this must have just been a warehouse, abandoned. At least I knew where I was.

"You see, I have no intention of actually killing you, and I do apologize for the roughness, my temper is on a short leash. If Mr. Cornell makes an appearance soon, I can happily untie you and let you take your pretty little legs out of here." Eyeing my legs at that moment, he smiled big enough for me to see a very prominent set of fangs. Thin and pointy. No matter the Shifter, dental layout is key. It won't shift. 

Feeling my skin crawl, I moved uncomfortably in my chair. 

"So, why does keeping me here tied up make you think that Mr. Cornell even cares to come to my rescue?" I asked in attempt to keep him talking while I came up with a plan to take him out. I was not a fighter, but I could get by.

"I have my suspicions. His apartment, his office, why would someone not so important visit his place of work?" His question was ignored when I realized where I'd seen hotdog granny from earlier.

"The hotdog stand?" I asked and he just cocked the side of his fangy smile.

"Very good. Yes, I've been watching you see. Yesterday evening, when I went to make a visit with Mr. Cornell, I seen you go in the building, so I waited. Then today, I seen him leave, but he had several associates with him." He spit at the last sentence, so I could assume he meant Cash's men. 

"We have our fun and that's it, I don't think you'll find he cares one iota about me, nor has the time to." I said it indifferently while looking around for a weapon nearby, or a place to get out.

"Well, praying right now, that he does, would be in your best interest." With that statement he stood up and started to walk towards me. 

"Please don't hurt me, he cares nothing for me, I am nothing. Let me go and I will bring him to you, please don't hurt me." I put as much as fake dramatic sobbing as I could into my response hoping he would talk to me some more. I couldn't lead on yet I knew what he was and what he wanted with Cash.

I felt his slimy fingers caress from the top of my head down to my neck and take a firm hold whipping my head upwards. I closed my eyes tight which probably wasn't the best idea.

"So easily bitches like you want to run away. Does Mr. Cornell know you'd rather have him fight the wolves, then save them?" That comment he made was a slip because I could feel his grip loosen a moment and hear his heart skip up and slap him.

"Save them?" I feigned a whimper.

"Ah, yes. You don't know why I am wanting a meeting with Mr. Cornell, do you?" I tried to shake my head no in his grip and he let go so I lowered it pretending he hurt me.

"Comfy days are over for the West City Pack. I am just merely here to a lay the coals. The real fire will start soon." He made that comment as I could hear his feet shift to turn around.

I lifted my head a little, and peeped through one of my eyes. My face was still swollen from the slap earlier, but I could still see him walking over to a banged-up fridge laying on its side. The nice shiny sharp thing he pulled off the fridge was my que it was time to warp this up. Beat the bad guy and go home. Cash will be safe with his shitty pride, and me with my comfy bed and thousand pillows.

He turned around suddenly at the sound of the metal chair flipping back behind me. The ropes he used to bind me were easily disintegrated when I pulled my aura out from its comfy sleep. My wings ripped through another hoodie fast and fierce causing an array of floating feathers. He just froze, staring at me.