Chapter Three: August
1486 Words
August followed close behind Senna. She didn’t even want to think about being left with any of the others.
She held her arms for warmth and tried to make out anything of note from where they walked but all the hallways were identical.
Senna glanced back at her as if he sensed her interest. “You should give up. You won’t escape us.”
August bit back a retort. It wouldn’t do her any good if all of these psychos hated her. “No one ever has? At all?”
Senna paused and turned towards her. His eyes were cloudy as he shook his head. “No, and they never will. I think you’ll understand better when we get to your room.”
“Why bother giving me a room if you’re just going to restrain me again?” She grumbled.
He tried to smile for her but it fell far too soon to be genuine. “Just, follow me, please.”
August did as bade and they got to a metal door. He didn’t speak as he pulled out a device from his pocket and pressed his thumb against a sensor. A box near the door flashed and with a creak, the door swung open.
Senna watched as she entered the room and before she could say anything to the mysterious young man she heard the door close behind her.
No windows, not like she expected any to be in a prison cell. There were a couple of beds pushed against the sides of the room and not much else.
“How exciting,” August mumbled. She noticed something from the corner of her eye and turned to see someone holding their knees and sobbing.
August took a step towards them when the floor creaked beneath her foot.
The other occupant of the room shot up as if she had sat on a tack and eyed August with a frown. She twisted a strand of her silky black hair around her finger as her eyes darted back and forth from August to the door. “Who- who are you?” She stammered.
“I’m August.” August did her best to smile at her. The other girl reminded her of a kicked puppy.
“Jessie,” she acknowledged with a nod. “I guess that’s it then?” More tears gathered in her brown eyes. “I’m done.”
“No!” August shook her head so hard she caused a wave of dizziness. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not with them.”
“You don’t have to be with them to hurt me.” Jessie’s stammers faded as the girl stared at a wall. “You don’t know how it works here. You think you do, but you don’t. At least it will be over soon.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” August complained. “I’m not going to hurt you, and together we can find a way out of here!”
At this Jessie threw her head back and laughed almost in a rough purr. “You keep thinking that, cupcake. Which of the pack wants you anyway?”
“Pack? Wait, that Nathan guy mentioned a pack too. I thought he was being weird instead of calling them a gang.”
The laugh died mid-chuckle. “You don’t know what you’re in the middle of? Seriously kid?”
August scowled at her as she crossed her arms. “I’m older than you, and no I don’t have any earthly idea of what you’re going on about.”
Jessie shook her head. “I’m going to get replaced by a newbie that doesn’t even know what she’s stumbled on. Listen, it doesn’t matter if you’re physically older than me. If you can’t start seeing what’s in front of you, you’re a goner. They are going to tear you apart and devour every last piece. Here, honey, let me explain it in simple terms so you understand what’s going on.”
She uncurled from the bed and stood to her full height. “Let’s take a visual journey and then we’ll see if you’ve connected the dots yet.”
August blinked. “I don’t understand-”
“I get that, I do. Just be a good girl and listen, okay? I’m trying to educate your ass here.” Jessie rolled up the sleeve on her shirt and turned the arm to August.
“Adon doesn’t care for me much. I didn’t scream enough when he left me this memento.
August’s jaw went slack. Jessie’s shoulder was covered in intricate diamonds and circles. She leaned closer and realized that it wasn’t a tattoo as she had thought. That was blood. “How? What happened?”
“He’s a cutter. It gets him all aroused to cut on women and hear them scream. I didn’t give him what he wanted so he didn’t show as much interest.” She chuckled. “I think you might be more his speed. But let’s move on.”
“These are horrible people, why would you want to stay here?” August shook her head as her nose scrunched. “I don’t get it.”
“I never said I wanted to stay here. I just want to live, that’s all anybody wants.” She let her sleeve fall and then tugged on the neckline of her shirt and turned around revealing the back of her beck to August where angry red marks covered most of her skin.
“Gideon left me these little love bites. I hope you’re built to last, that guy can go for hours.” She scoffed and let her shirt fall back into place. “I guess I’m lucky. Some of the previous girls were taken by all the members of the pack, well except Nathan”
August shook her head. “No way, you can’t be serious.” She shook it again faster. “I refuse to believe it.”
“Believe it, cupcake. They just love to pick up girls that are down on their luck like us. Let me guess, Gideon grabbed you? You seem his type-” she stopped and threw her head back again laughing even harder than before.
“Anything with a hole is his type!” She wiped a tear away that had formed from all the laughter.
“If you’re going to get f****d by one of them, I suggest Senna. He’s pretty gentle so they say. He’s pretty picky about who he chooses to mate with.”
She wiggled an eyebrow. “Do you understand what I’m telling you yet?”
“Are you really telling me that all those guys are-” August looked around the room and took a step closer. “Werewolves?” she hissed.
“She got it!” Jessie grinned at her. “I knew you could figure it out!” Her smile died and her eyes darted to the door again.
“They don’t keep two girls at once. At least not for very long.” She sighed and crawled onto the bed. “I wonder who will be the one that finishes me off."
"Vicious Adon? I bet he would love to just slice me open and pull my organs out. I heard he did that to one girl. He was halfway through when he got so aroused he f****d her while she was dying.”
Jessie shuddered. “I can’t stand that guy. I guess Gideon wouldn’t be a bad way to go. I’d end up f****d to death, but better ending than the one with Adon. I know Senna isn’t into me, so no mercy killing there. That leaves Nathan, the leader guy. I’ve never heard of him taking any of the girls either so it’s a roll of the dice to see which way I get to die, and when.”
She observed August as if just not noticing her. “Hey wait, besides that bump on your head you look untouched, why the hell hasn’t anyone claimed you yet?”
“How can you just give up like that?” August demanded. She trembled as she glared at the other girl. “You’re talking about your death like you can’t do anything about it!”
“f**k off,” Jessie sneered. “Answer my damn question, little girl. Why the f**k are you untouched?” she growled deep in her throat as she started to advance on August.
August stomped forward in return. “They said I was being sold to someone, they recorded me for some sick reason.” She thrust her finger into the other girl’s chest. “You are not going to give up, I’m not going to let you.”
Jessie’s anger vanished as she pitched forward and fell to the ground. August started to flip her over when she realized the girl was shaking with laughter.
“You aren’t going to let me die? You going to fight a pack of werewolves, kiddo? I just told you what they do to you when you have some sort of worth. Imagine how much more f****d things will be when they want you dead. Yet, here’s this brave August ready to take them all on to save someone she doesn’t even know. That kind of thinking is going to get you killed.”
“Then I’ll die trying,” August spat. “I don’t think rolling over for death is funny. I don’t care what they are, you’re not just some disposable source for their amusement.”
“Oh, August,” Jessie all but purred the words. “I guess at least I have some entertainment before I go.” Her eyes slid to the door again and as if in an answer it swung open with a creak.
Adon strolled into the room a grin on his lips. “It’s time.”
- Writer
