Chapter 7 The Escape
1201 Words
"Damn it. Have we failed again?" The man's voice was full of frustration, followed by a loud thud as he slammed his fist into the wall.
"Wait. I hear a car outside," another man interrupted in a calmer voice.
I saw shadows moving toward the window as they peered outside.
"Go check it out. Maybe she's back."
The footsteps pounded in my ears, quick and urgent.
I quickly threw some money at the driver, gripping his shoulder as I leaned in and whispered urgently, "Get out of here, now. Hurry!"
He stared at me, bewildered, as I leaped out of the cab and sprinted into the narrow alley beside the apartment building, disappearing into the rain.
*****
Maybe it was because I had dealt with too many absurd situations lately, but despite my heart racing like mad, my mind stayed strangely clear, allowing me to assess my situation.
Inside that building were two werewolves. They were trained, fast, with keen senses, and experts at tracking down their prey.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't stand a chance. But tonight, the moon goddess smiled upon me. The moon hid behind thick clouds, and the rain poured down, a perfect cover to mask my scent and tracks.
I glanced at the nearby dumpster, my mind made up. Without hesitation, I yanked the lid open and jumped inside, nearly passing out from the stench.
Holding my nose, I fought back the urge to retch, forcing myself to remain calm and slowing my breathing as much as possible, hoping the sound of my heartbeat wouldn't give me away.
All of this happened in a matter of seconds.
Through a gap in the dumpster, I saw the driver speed away into the rain, ignoring the shouts of the two men who had stormed out of my apartment.
"Hey! Stop the car! Damn it!"
The car sped up. I must have scared the poor driver, but at least he had the sense to get out of there, even if it clearly enraged the two men.
One of the men raised a gun, but the other quickly shoved it down, snapping, "Are you crazy? This is Northern Wolf Pack Alliance territory. If we get caught, we're dead meat. Besides, we need to take her alive!"
The first man shot him a venomous look but still fired at the tires.
The car skidded out of control, crashing into a streetlamp.
I stifled a scream and stayed where I was, clamping my hands over my mouth. 'Poor driver. I hope he's okay... Otherwise, I'll feel guilty forever.'
They hurried over to inspect the car.
"There's only a driver, no woman. Did we mess up?"
"I told you not to shoot! Why don't you listen? Enough. Maybe she's still nearby. Let's go find her."
They began to comb the area. My breath hitched, and my pulse raced faster as panic welled up inside me.
"There's an alley here. She might be hiding..." One of the men snapped his head in my direction, his gaze sharp, and he was getting close to finding me.
My terror grew with each step he took, peaking as their footsteps approached.
I heard a low growl in my ear, a warning sound from the White Wolf. Its paw rested on my arm, and I felt its concern, sensing it wanted to protect and comfort me.
But I knew it couldn't help me here. My eyes widened in terror as I stayed perfectly still, not daring to make a sound. The man now stood right in front of the dumpster, sniffing the air.
"There's something here... Smells like her, but not quite..."
The other man came over, holding his nose in disgust. "There's nowhere to hide down that way, and this place reeks. Can we go now?"
"Wait!" The calm man suddenly turned toward the dumpster, placing his hand slowly on the lid.
'No, no, no!'
The lid creaked as it started to open, the sound like the whisper of death itself. I gripped the lid tightly, desperate to keep it shut.
"Huh?" His expression sharpened, turning ruthless as he reached out with his other hand, ready to pry it open.
"Who's over there?" A shout rang out, and police cars suddenly swarmed the street, their sirens blaring through the night.
"Let's get out of here!" The two men vanished into the darkness in the blink of an eye.
"Hah!"
I collapsed inside the dumpster, gasping for air, only then realizing I was soaked in sweat, every muscle trembling from fear and adrenaline.
The police cars roared past, some officers sealing off the area while others called for an ambulance for the poor driver.
I knew I couldn't stay here any longer. After catching my breath, I slipped out of the dumpster, avoiding the police's attention, and made my escape.
With my apartment off-limits for now, I had nowhere to go, so I turned to my best friend. Twenty minutes later, I knocked on the door of a college dorm.
The door swung open to reveal Adele, her face a mix of irritation and concern. "Look at you. You look like a stray cat crawling out of a dumpster. Get in here."
"Well, you're half right," I said with a tired smile. "I did crawl out of a dumpster."
Adele rolled her eyes. "Don't change the subject. I'm still mad you went off to deal with that b***h alone."
I couldn't help but laugh, warmth spreading through my chest and easing the tension in my limbs. Her familiar grumpiness soothed my frayed nerves.
Adele thrust a set of pajamas into my arms with a huff and shoved me toward the bathroom.
"No matter what happened, you're going to tell me everything, every single detail, got it?" She shot me a stern look, one that meant she wouldn't let me off easily.
I nodded obediently, and she softened slightly, frowning. "But first, Miss Soaked-to-the-Bone, take a hot shower and get rid of that god-awful smell. Then we'll discuss your latest escapade, alright?"
She must have noticed how cold I was, shivering from head to toe, and decided to let me off just this once.
I slid into the hot water with a contented sigh, letting the warmth chase away the chill. When I opened my eyes, I found the White Wolf crouched beside the tub, its piercing gray-blue eyes fixed on me.
"Thanks," I whispered, patting its head, grateful for the comfort it had offered during my most terrifying moments.
Its gaze softened, but it still held back, keeping its thoughts to itself. I tried to reach out to it mentally, but it shied away, and I gave up.
*****
After the shower, I buried myself in a cozy down quilt, feeling exhaustion tugging at my eyelids, but Adele wasn't about to let me sleep just yet. I still had to recount the day's events.
"You're saying you got marked? And now his wolf is following you around? It's here right now?" She sat up, wide-eyed.
I glanced at the wolf by my feet. "Yep. And it's staring right at you."
"Ahh!" Adele let out a dramatic squeal, wrapping her arms around herself. "Does this mean I can't sleep naked anymore?"
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