Valko-Zeke

(Amalia: Ama as mama and lia as in leeyah) At my house, either a baby was crying or car horns were honking. I just needed one peaceful night and I'd be a new girl. My teacher was advertising a feildtrip, and then a question was directed at me. I raised my eyes to look at the bookish man in black slacks- wearing a blank look on my face. "Hmmph, no studying, Amalia?" He said feigning disapointment. Study? In my mom's three-bedroom apartment? My brothers and sisters screamed, threw tantrums and the television droned on, barney mostly. My fingers curled tightly around my pencil. "No, sir." "Shame. What a waste." He sighed, and I didn't hear anything after that until the freedom bell rang. I hung my bag over my shoulder, and sped out of the classroom with no time to waste. After that dullish class, I couldn't stand to attend another. The radio had been announcing the rainstorm of the decade all day, but I snuck out of the back entrance of the highschool and made my way down the cobblestoned path anyway. The spot I was heading towards was a hidden gem in town. A little grassy clearing under a bridge. It could be boring, but it was infinitely preferable to high school because it was peaceful. I spent my time there lost in thought, and writing scribbles in my journal. After quite some time I was startled out of my daydream by a single raindrop. I looked up at the sky, my heart skipping a beat- it was too dark. If I was late getting home my mother would start asking questions about where I was. Aching with cold I rose to stand, hunched like an old woman. With one glance I breathed a sigh of relief, it wasn't late; black clouds rolled like the midnight ocean from every direction. I dusted off my jeans and hitched my backpack higher. I began my trek home, probably a few miles. Skipping school couldn't be a long-term plan, I knew that, but every which way was fear: fear of angry-faced teachers, kids who bullied and parents who demanded nothing less than perfection. When the heavens broke I stopped walking, standing statue-like in the rain. My long black hair stuck to my face and back, my clothes wet through in seconds. My walk turned into a jog as I could begin to see my building off in the distance. The rain turned to hail, painfully beating down on my skin, and I ran faster. Walk quickly. Keep your head down. Don't stop to talk. Be polite. I repeated my mother's words when I saw who was standing by the front door. "Amalia, you're late," Marcus said as soon as I was in earshot, "That is why your mom is always yelling, you know. Do you even try to make it back on time? We all know you skipped today." My knuckles went white as I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth in an effort to remain silent. "You know, it's probably a good thing your dad didn't live to see what a disappointment you are." He chuckled. My hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. My face was red with suppressed rage, and when Marcos set his hand on my shoulder, I swung. I punched the Alpha's son. .... "Amalia," Harold said carefully, "please come down from there." I peered down at him from my perch upon the wooden plank and sighed. He looked at me as if I was made of glass and held his arms out as if I were falling. "Relax, Herald," I hummed. "That," he said, gesturing to my distance from the ground, "That is dangerous. Now come down." I groaned and positioned my hands so they were gripping the plank, "I guess it was only a matter of time." I sighed and then swung down onto the floor. Harry was my moms new boyfriend. He was alright, but I didn't really consider him to be my dad as much as he considered me to be his daughter. Harry cringed as I made my decent and helped me up when I reached for his hand. I didn't even bother to pretend I wasn't upset. "What are we going to do with you Amalia?" He exclaimed, gripping my wrist tightly, "Your always running away from your duties!" I growled at his hold and twisted his hand a bit so he knew it was hurting me. He mumbled profanities under his breath and released my arm. I glared at him. "Hey- I'm sorry." He said, "Now tell me what's wrong." "I punched Marcus." I uttered biting my lip. Harry's eyes held shock. We both knew I was screwed. Alpha Dext already couldn't stand the thought of me. It was only a matter of time before he came knocking on my door. Harry's face only confirmed my fears. I was f****d. "We should go, I-" He stopped, unsure of what to say, and tried to lead my out the door. I grabbed my jacket, zipping me up, and Harry handed me an unbrella. "Amalia, you need to run, honey." Harry said, shoving clothes and food into a backpack. "Harry, we can petition any punishment, and maybe I can just transfer to a new pack." I said uncertainly. "No, honey. Not this time." He grimaced, "I'll tell your mom and siblings what happened, and that you love them, okay?" I grabbed the bag from him, feeling the affects of a panic attack coming on. "Run through the forest, and don't look back." He said seriously, a frown on his face. I slipped the bag on my back, but before I could say another word I heard a knock on the door. My eyes darted to meet Harrys in a flurry of panic, but we had no choice but to see who was on the other side. "Alpha Dext I-" I said as I began opening the door... but it wasn't him at the door. His little bitches were. "We have orders from the Alpha to take you to the Q prison located 50 miles west into the forest. You have the rights to a small bag and the clothes on your back." Two men outside my door recite their lines. There are days I wonder if I am in control of my mind and body. Am I the master of what I think or are my ideas the result of deep thinking I'm only loosely aware of? There is a third possibility, of course, that is both, and it depends on my feelings at the time. I have clear thinking and control when I am calm and happy, but I'm more driven by impulses when I am fearful and anxious. What am I to do when I only have time to react on these instincts, impulses? In this scenario, I couldn't speak. I couldn't move. I was frozen. I guess my instincts are shot. I'm not fight or flight, just stupid freeze. "We will escort you as you pack your bag, Maam." The guard said sternly. I locked eyes with Harrold once again, my heart beating loudly in my ear. I glanced at the bag he was packing for me and took out some of the survival tools and replaced them with something that might be more suitable for a prison. I couldn't forget my necessities, like a toothbrush, hairbrush, I packed my make-up bag, pajamas, and also my fluffy blanket. I knew I would regret it if I didn't bring my favorite snuggly blanket. The guards watched what I placed inside like hawks glued to my side. "Say your goodbyes now, we are out of time." He insisted, ushering me along. I wrapped Harrold in a hug, "Tell them I will miss them, and that I'm sorry." I whispered, tears forming in my eyes. I tried to hold steady and strong, but I could feel myself waivering. "Are you ready now, miss?" He asked. They wait for me to respond, but since I don't, they gesture for me to follow them outside. I can't move. They pull me to follow them and I'm greeted by a black car waiting for us to leave the prison. I gulp and try my best to think of some sort of plan or reaction during the ride, but my mind is too awake for me to sleep and too dead for me to try and think, so I just stare out the window instead. It all happened so fast, one minute I was off in my own world and now I'm being shipped off to the real one. One of darkness, pain, and horror that I would soon get to know very well. What does wait for me in that prison? My mother's suffocating concern, my hateful peers, my warm bed, my brother's brother's advice? No. Gangs, cold food, and pain wait for me. What waits for me is Alpha Valko-Zeke. A monster. The Alpha was locked away because he shifted twice. Once into a werewolf, the second time into a beast. That was unheard of for werewolves, and people are scared of what they don't know. Alpha Dext knew this, and he used it to his advantage. Now he's the Alpha and Alpha Valko-Zeke is a prisoner. I hear he went crazy after they locked him up. I hear he terrorizes and rules over the prison. "What have I gotten myself into this time?" I exhaled a shaky breath and let my eyes relax in the darkness of their lids. When I let light reach my eyes again, I can see the approaching prison. Men are everywhere. I shiver at the testosterone levels in the air and the pure masculinity radiating from the walls ahead. I don't vibe with the energy at all, I'm at an entirely different frequency than them. I am sneaky and I can climb. I've always had the ability to quite literally climb away from my problems. I can use it to my advantage. The car jerked to a halt just as I was reminding myself of my strength, and a man that seemed like a prison guard opened the door for me to exit. I pull up my black hoodie so it hides my face from his view and then plant my feet on the gravel dirt. "We got a small one, Jarrod. " The guard grunts to the driver, not taking a second glance at me, "And, bud, you can't have that hood up." He reaches his hand and yanks it off my head harshly. His breathing stops, "A girl?" I growled and yanked myself away from his prying eyes. Soon, the man who drove me took hold of my arms and another held out the warrant from Alpha Dext. "Orders from the Alpha King himself." The guard looks at me alarmed, "Uhhh... what did she do? To get locked up here, I mean." I put on my best emotionless face, and realized that the men behind the fence were all staring at me curiously. They all wondered what I did to get such a cruel fate. To be locked here where the guards only prevent people from leaving. Where only the outside is protected and the inside is left for the dogs. Well, they should be prepared for disappointment. What I did was actually pretty lame. "Maybe she'll tell you if you're nice to her," The man who held me replied, "She's someone you'd want on your side! She's one of the worst I've seen!" He held me so tight that I had to hold in a whimper. I let a confused look slip onto my face, to which the guy discreetly winked in my direction. I realized he was helping me by playing me up in hopes no one would bother me. "She looks pretty harmless to me," the guard wavered. "That's why it works." He grunted back mysteriously. I let a few giggles escape at how wrong he was, and then the guard looked at me horrified. I smiled even more when I realized that everyone had heard me laughing. It would be hilarious if I wasn't about to die... "Well, welcome to the Q, sweetheart!" The prison guard said, opening up the gate.