The Alpha’s Undoing

AYLA I’m cursed! I didn’t mean that figuratively but literally. The sound of the loud bell going off somewhere inside the institution woke me up as usual and the other girls shared the small space we called room with me. Life at the institution was a routine that was quite predictable. I followed the girls out in a straight line as we joined the line that led to the bathroom where we would each wait for our turn to bath. Like at the institute as I have come to know it isn’t so bad, perhaps it’s because it’s the only place I could call home for years after my parents chased me out of theirs for being cursed. Usually the institution is a place built for criminals, banished to be corrected but my case was different except that no one knew that. My parents told everyone I committed a crime in order to send me away, knowing if words ever got out that I was cursed, the situation would worsen. I moved along the line, with my head bowed down like the others, recalling the day my parents discovered I couldn’t shift and the reason why. I was sent here at the age of thirteen and have lived here ever since then. When it was finally my turn to go into the bathroom, an older kid shoved me out of the way, disrupting the entire line. “Hey! No cutting!” I hissed, trying to push past him. “And what are you going to do about it, weakling?” Snarled the guy, pumping his fist up for a fight. That’s the thing with everyone here, they always want to fight, especially if they discover you are weak. “Look, I don’t want any trouble, it’s against the rule to cut and if you cut, I will miss my turn and that will disrupt the line.” I tried to reason with me, bumping into the person behind me in the process of trying to pack away from the guy. The girl behind me shoved me forward with a hissing sound. “Are you moving or what?” She demanded. To my horror, the guy pulled me out of the line and shoved me outside of it. People quickly moved into my line, laughing as if something funny just happened. Tears blurred my vision and I quickly blink them away, however knowing if I don’t find my way into a new line soon then things will get ugly fast. Each time I tried to step into a different line, someone was quick to step into it and this went on for several minutes until I gave up and decided to try my luck by going to the end of the line. As I was making my way there, Madam Red emerged from one of the bedrooms, her eyes immediately narrowing on me in anger. I swallowed hard, my body quivering with fear as she made her way towards where my feet stayed rooted to the ground. I opened my mouth but no sound came out of it, more tears streamed down my face. “What are you doing out of line?” She demanded calmly, but the venom in her voice couldn’t be missed as everyone in the line tensed at the sound of her voice. “Have you lost your damn voice?” She screamed, causing my heart to jump. “I…I…I…” By now, my body was shaking so much it’s a wonder how I’m standing upright and not passing out. I wished I could though, right now and never wake up again but sadly I don’t see that happening by any chance. I cried out when she abruptly pulled my hair, using it to drag me out of the hall. I begged, pleaded with her, told her how sorry I was but everything fell on deaf ears until we reached the basement. My heart pound in my chest, I held on to her, refusing to go down that hellhole which caused her to severely hit me on the face, her hand pulled my hair tighter, I was screaming, begging and howling in pain, yet I refused to let go. “Guards!” She shrieked, realizing nothing she does will lessen my hold on her. “Madam, please… I’m scared, don’t make me go there, I swear never to get out of line…” I cried harder, holding on to her tighter. When the guards appeared, they didn’t need to be told before knowing what they had to do. Without exchanging any words, they yanked me off her and took me down the basement. I kicked, struggled, clawed but I was no match for them. After pushing me down on the single bed in the dark room, one of the guards pinned me down while the other one secured the belt around me. Once they were done, they stepped back and the door closed behind them, leaving me in total darkness like I dread. Madam Red knew every child at the institution fear just so she could use it to punish them, or more like torture them. I have always been afraid of the dark. I didn’t know who told her that but the first time she locked me in the basement, I couldn’t speak for a week. I felt isolated from my body and kept having nightmares about it for days. For punishments and torture, she has rooms designed to use your worst fear against you, I recall there was a case where a child literally died from being too scared and with the way my life was heading, I could see myself becoming the second person. “Let me out of here, please! I promise it won’t happen again!” I shouted, even though it will do no good. I didn’t give up, I cried, bargained, screamed until I lost my voice and fell unconscious. Waking up later to see nothing has changed, I shut my eyes, trying to think about the happiest memories I had from my earliest childhood. My mom, braiding my hair while she tells me random stories, my older siblings fighting over some toys while Dad tried to settle it. Thoughts about my family made me start crying again, I missed them so much. I missed the Saturdays where we gathered in the yard to do our laundry and all those small memories that made me feel cherished, loved and safe but that was gone now, it’s the harsh reality I now live in. Hours passed by until I lost the concept of time, I peed on myself multiple times because I wasn’t allowed the freedom to do anything but lie there in the dark. Just when I thought I would lose my mind, the basement heavy door flew open and dim sunlight made its way into the room. Feeling alarm, I tried to move, to get away from whoever was heading towards me as I have no idea what their intentions were but to my relief the guard untied me and then helped me up from the bed. Probably thinking I could stand on my own, he let me go but a few seconds later, I collapsed on the spot at his feet. Muttering wine curses under his breath because now he has to carry me with all the bathroom business I did on myself while I was untied. He stopped once we reached outside the room where Madam Red was standing, watching the whole display with a smile on her face. She’s always in a good mood after torturing someone and honestly I think it’s the highlight of her day and she gets off on torturing us—me especially. “I assume you have learned your lesson?” She inquired, using her walking stick to tilt my face upward, directly at her. I nodded my head but quickly realizing how much she hates non verbal communication, I opened my mouth. “Yes, thank you madam.” I responded in a small, drainer voice. “Good, Atlas will be kind enough to lead you to your room, shower and have something to eat then meet me in my office.” With that, she turned around and left. As soon as she was gone, the guard dropped me. “I’m sure you can make it there on your own and if you can’t, better start crawling.” He also left, leaving me to my fate. Holding on to the walls for support, I made my way back to the bedroom. I did exactly as Madam instructed and when I finished freshening up, I was feeling a lot better but still a bit shaken up by the whole incident. As I stepped into the dining hall, all eyes immediately turned in my direction but I ignored them. I collected my share of food and looked around for a table when the guy from earlier appeared in front of me. “How’s a week in the dark room?” He taunted, flashing his fangs at me. A week? I was there for a week?! I suddenly felt nauseous and weak, no wonder my body still shakes! I had nothing to drink or eat for a week, it’s the longest Madam Red has ever locked me in the basement, which is ridiculous especially for the crime I committed. “Please… let me go.” I whispered, almost close to tears. “Awwwn, the weakling is begging! Perhaps I should let her go.” I felt a wave of relief shot through me at his statement but that was shot live when he knocked down my tray of food, spilling the contents on the ground. Everyone burst into laughter like he just did something funny, ignoring them as usual, I went down on my knees and started to eat the food from the floor. I didn’t care, not at that moment, I was starving and my body needs all the food it can get. Plus if I don’t eat it then I’ll have to stay hungry until the next meal is served, which might probably be tomorrow. Noticing how quiet everyone has gotten, I paused and looked around, watching the unsettling and uncomfortable look on their faces. This caused me to wonder why they stopped laughing, I dragged my attention back to eating and once I was done, I stood up, my gaze searching for water. “Here, you can have mine.” Someone offered me their water and I took it without hesitation. “You can finish it, I’ll share someone else’s own.” Her kindness moved me so much that I just started crying. “Thank…you…so…much.” A few minutes later, I composed myself outside of Madam Red’s office. After knocking on the door, I waited for her to give me the permission to come inside, which came a few more minutes later. “I’m sorry for taking too long madam.” I started to beg, seeing the anger on her face. I just got out of the basement, I didn’t want to return there, I don’t think I can handle it. She just chuckled at me. “Silly girl, you can take all the time you want, after all it’s your last day here.” “What?” I couldn’t believe my ears, maybe I didn’t hear her right. “Your father sent a letter this morning, looks like your family wants you back.” She declared, sending a wave of shock down my body!