Run

I ran, my body propelling me forward, dodging the silhouette of trees I could make out in the darkness. Sticks and leaves crunching under my feet while my breathing became ragged. I knew he would follow me, hearing his yelling in the distance mixed with the sounds of tearing flesh. Her blood on my hands mixed with my own. This isn't how it's supposed to be. We were going to escape together. Now I am all alone. We've been here five years, two months and ten days. I repeat the mantra every day to stay somewhat sane, knowing nothing will change, but why not look on the non-existent bright side? Ever since the werewolves took over, humans have been pushed lower than dirt. Forced into sweat shops or some other form of manual labor. My sister and I were lucky enough to be thrown into the same camp where, like most, they were separated from the family to prevent escape plans from hatching. Rose lay next to me on the bed we shared. Her shiny blonde hair was now caked in years worth of dirt. Her once curvy figure, the envy of all the girls, had thinned drastically over the past few months. Her eyes watch me, once full of life, were now a dull gray. She had been getting sicker and the wolves viewed it as an inconvenience to deal with it shoving her aside. Worthless human they muttered when bringing it. I fought for a while yelling at them for help or refusing to work, but the side effects of my resistance only made things worse. The horn went off signally it was time to get up. Rose and I got in line with everyone else while the wolves separated us into work groups. Doing it right out of the bat must mean they don't plan on us having breakfast, if you can call it that its usually a bowl of mushy mystery substance that could be described as discarded oatmeal. Rose was pulled off to the left towards a different group than what I am being pulled towards. I try moving through the crowd to get to her but before I get a chance to react, I'm thrown to the ground and felt the wind get knocked out of me. The guard's foot comes back a second time before I can recover and I feel my ribs crack from the force. I cough trying to catch my breath as he sneers down at me. Terrance's six-foot stature towers over my five foot frame, brown hair fell in front of his face before he stood up straight trying to compose himself. The sharp pain in my side throbbed, making me close my eyes to hold in the scream. This man took pride in the amount of pain he inflicts on me his marks are branded throughout my body. He pulled me to the side of the formed line and took out his handy dandy, no not notebook it's a whip. Normally, most would grovel but I'm not broken down enough to give him the satisfaction of breaking me, which that in itself seems to excite this sicko even more. The whip came down three times on my back and I still did not scream even as the blood trickled down my tunic. He yanked me to my feet, his red eyes staring at me full of loathing and disdain. Terrance held my collar, forcing his face inches from mine, "get back in line." I was thrown towards my original group and swallowed the scream that was about to leave my mouth. The other humans or slaves help me to my feet as I looked over at Rose. She continues walking with her group, watching me with tears in her eyes, "Go with them Annie", she says, before following the orders of the guard assigned to her. I don't blame her for not fighting back. It would do more harm than good in her condition. I am led toward the new construction site. They are expanding the camp to bring in more humans. Horrible to think we are building a new home air quotes, for people to come to this place. "Hurry up!' Terrance yells from behind us, magical how he's assigned to my group again. Wincing in pain, I pick up the pace to keep up with my group, careful not to fall behind and receive extra attention. We spend the afternoon laying the fence, myself and another girl dig the post holes while others follow behind, putting in the poles and surrounding them with cement. The cool morning air faded away and was replaced with the scorching sun. My hands start to bleed and I'm pretty sure my back is the same color as my hair at this point.  Finishing the last hole, I'm shoved toward a line with the others making their way back to the cells. I wince the pain in my side throbbing uncontrollably from the days work. There are some days where I wonder if I step out of line just enough, if they would kill me and get it over with, its not like I'm needed. There are more than enough humans to go around. But if I left, Rose would be alone and I couldn't do that to her.