Blood Lust in the Woods

The Other Brother

   I howled out in pain and my body wracks with uncontrollable sobs. Nora crouched down beside me placing a sympathetic hand on my unmarked shoulder. I run my fingers angrily through my hair before jumping up and frantically pacing in the room. I kept mumbling and cursing using every combination of cuss words I could think of. I turn to Owen, "How long before we go in?" I ask walking up to the boy Adam steps protectively in front of the boy, seemingly now afraid of what I was. I snap my chin up at him "Scared of me now?" I take a step closer and he takes a small step back I give a tight smile at him " Boo!" I say jumping out towards him. He hops back pulling Owen with him I glare at the large man before turning back to Owen expectantly. 

    "A couple of hours ago they told us a few hours till the house drawing. They will determine which team gets which arena house." He says pushing past Adam who growls at him. I nod and begin pacing again, already feeling like a caged animal. "Alright, alright, so we get our house go in and live our lives and help those who need it. All in God knows how soon." I mumble under my breath I continue pacing about the room. I throw my hands up in frustration and my ramblings are disturbed by a tolling of a loud bell. Nora and Sarah stop me and hold me still. 

    "It is time for the drawing." Sarah says grimly. I flinch and stop I shake myself out before puffing out my chest preparing for what was to come. Nora reaches over and grabs my hand I flinch but don't pull back. "I still have so many questions!" I say clutching at her hand desperately. He pats my hand "I will answer whatever you want when we get there." She says in a reassuring tone. Cooing at me is if I were a child. I nod and stand a bit taller bracing my feet on the floor. I instantly sober myself up and dry my tears and put on a stoic and still expression on my face. 

    The doors are pushed open and 10 guards storm in I look about and consider the chances of escape. Nora and Sarah wrap their arms around my waist as if sensing my train of thought. We are marched back through the hall of cells and wolf teeth growls and grabs his crotch in my direction. I snap back in his direction and he gives me another smile, one of his previous companions lay next to the dead child blood freely flowing from the open neck wound. I turn up my nose in disgust and keep moving past the cells. 

    We are walked into an open chamber with 10 groups of five. 50 of us crammed into an arena. I looked around at the others. Most were people our age but my eyes focus on a young boy with a mental mark on his shoulder. He eyes me suspiciously and I give a kind wave hoping he would see that I wasn't as Feral as my mark portrayed. Another was a short heavy set young woman who had an unnaturally intelligent gleam in her eyes. And lastly my eyes focused on a familiarly large male, so familiar my eyes quickly dart beside me to look at Adam to see if he still stood beside me. His eyes focused on the other male who was watching us intently. He looked almost exactly like Adam except for the dimple in his cheeks even though he was not smiling. His eyes narrowed on his brother and skimmed over the rest of our group eyes landing on me. I glare at him and pull my teeth back in a snarl at him. 

    He gives a loud amused laugh showing off his dimpled cheeks.I contemplate throwing something at him but Nora and Sarah tighten their arms around me. Adam comes to stand behind the group "That is my brother. I would like to ask him to join us in the arena if that is alright with you all." He says and places a delicate hand on my head, his brother narrows his eyes and mouths an unintelligible word at Adam, who takes his hand from my head. The boy with the dimples gives a curt nod before going back to stare at me intently. His eyes flicker down to my shoulder and his eyes flash in surprise, my eyes drop down to his in response and am surprised to see he bears the mark of a mental gift. He narrows his gaze even further at my inspection of him and he scoffs in newfound disgust after discovering i'm "Feral" I huff and turn so I am not facing him anymore. 

    I look over at Adam, "As long as he is not a danger to the group I see no harm in it. He just has to get to us. The others too, are quick to agree. Adam nods his head at his brother before our attention is brought to a man in the middle of the room. First he calls up a group, "Allison Monterrey's group." The short girl steps forward with her group and the man pulls a slip of paper from a clear fish bowl. Unfolds it slowly " The seaside bungalow." He says and points to an open door. The team marches severely to the the door before disappearing from sight. I start to shake slightly as the groups in the room disappear through the door. Owen throws a comforting arm around my shoulder careful not to hit my freshly marked arm. 

    Adam's brother throws a disgusted look at me as if I was tricking them into keeping me safe only so I could rip their throats out. I snap my blunt teeth at him and give a dainty waive. Adam taps me on the head before grumbling at me "Play nice" he chastised me like a child. I bowed my head and then I heard it, "Sarah Grimes." My eyes flash to Sarah as she takes a step forward. "Your group will reside in the tree house." he says pointing over to the door. Owen puts a hand at the small of my back ushering me to the door. I peek over my shoulder at Adam's brother and give him a stiff military solute and a small smile.