Unseen Hope: "The Prisoner and the Innocent"

CHAPTER3

Alpha William stood tall in front of the combined class; no sign of happiness could be seen. One thing I did notice was that he was a bit tired, the bags under his makeup that covered his eyes were obvious. Today I was going to be extra observant. I even brought a brand-new notebook to note everything odd. The first one was right in front of me.

1- Odd Alpha behavior. He does not seem like ordinary self.

"Welcome children, your teacher has already told you the rules and such. So, there's nothing holding us back from going through these gates," he states, pointing to the extremely heavy 3-door entry.

2- All the gates are wide open and we aren't even in yet. Newspapers never said all gates are opened at the same time for security reasons.

"Now follow me, and be orderly. We don't need any trouble makers," he says, motioning for us to follow him. We did, me and Darien in the middle. I didn't want them to get suspicious of me and my constant notes. I looked around a while ago I read an article stating that there were only 200 guards stationed at this prison. Wrong.

3- Over 300 guards. Media lies. As we entered the main prison building my heart started to beat faster. I was getting more excited than I had planned. I was also a bit scared, but also... I can't figure out this other feeling. I'll stick it to an unknown fear.

But it doesn't feel bad.

"Okay kids, welcome to the Alpha High Security Prison," a deep, old voice speaks up. I tried and jump up to see who it was, but Darien ended up giving me a piggy back ride. He was already tall enough to see above everybody else. I just stood out like a sore thumb while on his back.

"I hope you enjoy the tour. Now let's get going," the old warden says, taking the lead. Our Alpha was standing tall next to him.

The halls were white and boring, everything looking exactly the same.

4- Maze-like prison. Everything looks the same.

I was taking note of everything that stuck out to me and possibly not other people. I was planning to show Greta and Darien this later, to see if they also saw what I saw.

"As you may not know, there is no prisoner mess hall here," the warden said. "The prisoners always stay in their cells. No, nothing, not even if they die. One of the prisoners had a dead body in his cell for his whole first year because of that rule," he snickered. I frowned, after a month a body is obviously dead. It's pretty sadistic to leave the body rot with the new prisoner, but I guess they deserve all the bad things in life.

5- Sadistic Warden.

Sweet and simple. That's what I'm trying to stick with, so it doesn't look obvious.

We walked, well I rode, for another ten minutes before we reached an open area full of cell doors. "This is the lowest level of security in this prison." There was a guard by each door, even a couple of grey wolves pacing around. Rumor has it that the darker your fur is, the stronger you are. White wolves aren't known for their strength, just beauty. Mine was in the middle, somewhere.

"There are currently 12 prisoners here. All their crimes include killing between five to ten werewolves," the warden says while glaring at all of the cells. Who wouldn't just want to give these worthless bodies of flesh a death glare? I wonder why they kept them alive? I wish I could write a note, but no, there was nothing that was too odd.

The warden talked for another ten minutes before we moved to the Middle Security section. Two guards by each door, holding a loaded gun with silver bullets. They killed ten plus werewolves, disgusting beyond words.

But I was still excited. My heart was beating fast, and I was breathing heavily. I put my hand over my heart, begging it to slow down. Maybe I should walk. I get off Darian's back and he looks down at me with slight worry. He hears my heartbeat. I smiled lightly, showing him I was okay, but I knew he didn't believe it.

I froze and Darian turned around to look at Caleb, who was looking up again. I gripped onto Darian's arm, feeling my stomach twist into knots. I felt sick, and not sickly in love.

"Ginger, apples, cigarettes," Caleb says, making a popping sound after each word. "That's what you smell like my dear."

"Kids, c'mon!" my Alpha shouts and I pull Darian away before anything else could be said. I was about to have a panic attack, I still just might.

Darian had an arm around my waist, holding me close to him. He knew, and if he didn't, he at least knew something was wrong and I needed support. Before we exited the prison, he put me on his back so I could fall asleep for the walk back to our shady bus.

When I woke up, the bus was stopped behind our school. I stood up and stretched and bit, holding my notebooks close. Darian held my hand as we headed off the bus and off school property. Nobody was going to stay for the rest of the day, not even the teachers that came.

"Evelyn, punch me if I’m wrong, but is Caleb your mate?" Darian asks, stopping and shutting his eyes. Probably to prepare for the punch that wasn't going to come.

I bit my lip, letting out a whimper. He opened his eyes and they went wide. He took me in for a hug,

"I'm so sorry, let's go to my house and forget about today, okay?" he says, pulling away to look into my eyes.

"I can't forget," I cried. A monster. No, The Monster was my mate. He didn't deserve a mate! He deserved to die. Oh god, somebody help me.

"Calm down Lilly! You're going into shock!" Darian shouted as I fell to the ground. Thankfully, he catches me right before my head would've gotten slit open. "My house is only a couple of houses down. I'm going to carry you," he states. When he states something, he really means it.

He picks me up bridal style and practically runs to his one-story mobile home. He crashes the front door open with his foot and sets me on the couch. My head felt light and clouded.

"Here, ice," he stood, placing a bag of frozen peas on my head. I lightly smiled, I wish he would've been my mate. I guess I'm just not that lucky in life. Well, if anything, I hope Greta is his mate. The perfect couple.

My head soon started to clear up and I tossed the peas on my head, I hated the smell and Damien knew that. "Ewwww," I said, wiping my hands on my leggings.

"Thank god, that's the normal Evelyn," Darian smiles, hugging me tightly. "So, would you like to talk about it?" he asks, looking down into my eyes. Just so caring, how could I not tell him?

I let out a small sigh, looking away. "My wolf got excited first when we heard about the trip, then she got slightly more excited at the gate, and when we saw Caleb, she started going nuts. I also smelt my favorite scent, the peppermint plant. I didn't think it was real since he didn't notice me, but his last comment..." I wrap my arms around my legs. "I had to reject him. I don't know his last name.

"I said, pulling my hair.

"Shh," Darian pulls me onto his lap, which was a first. "Not like he can do anything, he's locked up in silver chains,'

He leans his head into my neck.

I waited before pulling out my phone. I’ve heard about the powers wolves gain when they meet their mates, and the thought of escape isn't too far off from reality if it's true.

The first website I clicked was Wiki, stating that mating doubles the strength of their male mate. Females have the power to help their mate heal faster than they normally would. Females also tend to gain immunity to silver, but not completely.

I bit my lip and clicked the second link, Wolves4Dummies. They said the same thing, and so did every other website.

"Darian, do you think he could break out?" I asked, even though he just said he wouldn't a few moments ago. I needed to find out again. Was it believable?

He sighs, "I'm going to be honest as your best friend Evelyn, if his strength doubles and if you healed him from being close to him today, there’s a good possibility," he mumbles into the back of my neck.

I stay silent, just keeping my thoughts to myself. He was being honest, but I wish he had lied to me. Just this one time, I don't want to live in reality. I wanted to live in a far-off land where nobody knows I exist.

"I need to leave," I stood up and turned around to a surprised Darian. "If my parents found out, they'd disown me. They would think I'm like him because I'm his mate," I pointed at the direction the prison is located.

Darian stands up and takes a step closer to me, as if I'm a little doe.

"Lillian, your parents will always love you," he says in a soft voice.

I back away, "And what if he escapes? He's going to kill again, and I don't want to be there for it!" I said, sliding down the front door.

"We will protect you; you are a part of the pack, Evelyn. We never leave anybody behind," he says, kneeling in front of me. I felt crowded, claustrophobic, which I've never felt before today.

I looked up with tears in my eyes, "I hate to break it to you, but the last time before a mate was found for a serial killer, the government tortured her and killed her to torment her mate for fun!" I shouted. I was always the calm type, not anymore. I was a mess in a matter of seconds. I wanted to pull myself together, but I knew that wasn't going to happen.

"Stay here tonight, Lillian, my parents are out drinking. And we might as well do some of our own," he says, holding out his hand. I gulp and stand up, falling onto his chest.

A good night of drinking should make me forget this... pain... sadness... guilt.