CHAPTER5
879 Words
A Cage of Wolves
Morning came without any sunlight.
Aria woke up to complete silence. It felt really weird.
She lay still for a time staring at the dark ceiling. The bed was super soft. Her body still hurts all over.
She remembered everything that happened. The forest, the monster and Damien Veylor the man who killed it with his hands.
Her heart started beating. It was not a dream.
Aria sat up fast and the blankets fell on the floor. The room looked the same as the night. There was furniture, dark oak shelves and a big window with a great view of the mountains.
It was beautiful. She knew she could not escape.
She quickly got up. Went to the window.
The glass was really clear. She could see the cliffs and the pine forests below. There were guard towers and men with guns walking around.
It was like a prison. It looked nice.
Arias fingers touched the glass. She was looking for a way to open it. She could not find anything.
"There is no way to climb out " she said to herself.
Then she heard a click behind her.
Aria turned around. Her fists were up ready to fight.
A woman came into the room. She was wearing a coat and had auburn hair tied up in a braid. Her eyes were green. Looked kind.
She was carrying a tray with food. Bread, eggs, fruit and coffee.
"I was wondering how long you would sleep " the woman said with a smile.
Aria did not put her fists down.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"My name is Lydia Graves " the woman replied.
She put the tray on the table. Said, "I am here to make sure you are okay."
Aria laughed,. It was not funny.
"I am locked in a steel box " she said.
Lydia nodded.
"I know, " she said.
"You call this being treated " Aria asked.
Lydia said, "No, I call this politics."
Aria was surprised. Lydia did not sound like the others.
She did not sound mean or angry.
She just looked tired.
Aria felt a little bad for her.
"You should eat " Lydia said softly.
Aria said, "I am not hungry."
Lydia sighed.
"You humans always say that after something bad happens " she said.
Aria looked at her.
"You said humans " Aria said.
Lydia looked surprised.
"I made a mistake " she said.
Aria knew she did not make a mistake.
There was a silence between them.
Then Lydia sat down at the table.
"What do you remember?" she asked.
Aria told her everything. The forest, the monster and Damien Veylor.
Lydia listened without saying anything.
When Aria finished Lydia asked, "What do you remember before the forest?"
Aria thought for a moment.
"I remember my apartment " she said.
". Before that?" Lydia asked.
Aria said, "I remember the diner where I work."
Lydia asked again "And before that?"
Aria frowned.
"What kind of question is that?" she asked.
Lydia just said, "Please."
So Aria told her about her life. The homes, the group facilities and how she never had any family.
Lydia's smile went away.
"You would be surprised " she said.
Aria wanted to know what she meant. Then there was another knock at the door.
It was firmer this time.
A woman in a navy suit came in.
She had glasses and a calm face.
" Morning, " she said.
"My name is Dr. Evelyn Mercer."
Aria looked at her. Then at Lydia.
"I guess breakfast was not the reason you came, " she said.
Dr. Mercer said, "I am here to examine you."
Aria said, "No."
Dr. Mercer nodded.
Aria said again "No I will not let you examine me."
Lydia got up.
"Aria..." she said.
Aria was angry.
"I do not even know where I am " she said.
"I do not know who you are."
"You put me in a prison and now you want to run tests on me?"
Arias' heart was beating fast. She felt a buzzing under her skin.
The lights. A coffee cup rattled.
Dr. Mercer noticed.
"Interesting, " she said.
Aria was scared.
"I am scared " she said.
The room shook a little and dust fell from the ceiling.
Lydia's eyes were wide. Dr. Mercer did not move.
"Remarkable " she said.
She took out a crystal in a glass vial.
It was dull at first. Then it started glowing.
Aria felt something happening inside her.
The mark on her hand started burning and silver light spread under her skin.
The crystal was. There was a low humming noise.
Then a horn echoed outside the room.
Lydia ran to the window.
"Oh no, " she said.
Aria asked, "What is it?"
Lydia's face was pale.
"That is the alarm " she said.
The fortress was in chaos. Boots running orders being shouted and sirens blaring.
A wolf howled in the distance. Then many more joined in.
Dr. Mercer closed the vial.
"They are here " she said.
Arias stomach felt tight.
"Who is here?" she asked.
Neither woman answered.
They just looked at the door waiting for something to happen.
Then something huge slammed into the fortress gates shaking the mountain.
- Writer
