ATHENA (She's a Goddess)

CHAPTER 1

Athena's POV

“Ahhhhhh!"

I jolted from the cold bare floor where I was laying. Breathing heavily, beads of sweat spread all over my body. It was another nightmare. I had lost count of the number of days, moons or years since I had been imprisoned, and tortured.

“Seven years” I had heard the guard say as they chattered freely around the corridor, but time had become so meaningless to me. I stood up and began to pace around the small space hopelessly. A thought of freedom flashed through my mind and my legs began to feel weak as my heart sank in despondence. I moved close to the door and supported my weight with the door frame.

As I raised my hand to grab the door handle in an attempt to steady myself, my gaze fell on something strange, a bunch of keys on a wooden desk. My heart began to pound loudly. Could this be a trap? Are the guards trying to find out if I will try to escape? Well, there is no other better way to find out than to give it a trial.

What can be a worse punishment than being in this sordid cell under consistent torture. The humiliation of being displayed for fun like an animal in the zoo on every full moon was unexplainable.

Tonight has to be the night. I began to feel a new strength as I made a strong resolve to escape. It is a risk, but this is my only chance.

I picked up the bunch of keys; selecting the one that looks most suitable for the lock, I inserted the key and turned it in its hole, it made some clicking sound. I held the knob, pressed it downwards and pulled it. The door creaked open sending its echo through the silent corridor. My heart skipped two beats, my throat, dry as I swallowed hard. I closed it back gently when I saw the shadow of someone around, it must be one of the guards, I pressed my back against the wall as I tried to steady my rapid breathing and shivering body. The time is now.

I opened the door again and peeped through the corridor. It was sparingly illuminated and empty. I drew a quick mental picture of how I came into the cell through the main gate. I quickly went in the opposite direction. I guess that must be the rear exit.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps, followed by voices from the far end behind me. My blood froze. I quickly regained my position and made a swift left turn towards an exit sign, a few meters ahead of me and paused to listen. That must be the guards. My mind flashed back to the door to my cell.

In a mixed feeling I whispered, “The Door!" My eyes went wide open, and then I remembered I closed it gently to avoid raising any suspicion. " Thanks to the moon," I murmured, “They would only know of my escape when they open my cell.”

As I listened carefully, trying to avoid making any sound, I heard the guards speak to each other.

“Are you with the key to the cell? One of the voices asked,

“I…I guess I left it in the drawer," the other replied, stammering.

“It's going to be a heavy downpour tonight. I wish I was at home with my mate. Not here doing some boring security job”.

The other voice giggled, and made some comments I couldn't place.

They chatted a little more, then I heard their footsteps fading as they turned right through the corridor before my cell.

I straightened up and hurried down toward the exit door. I quickly began to test the keys in the bunch one after the other on the door. It clicked open on the second attempt. Cool moist came hitting my face immediately as I opened the door. It was already beginning to drizzle.

I peeped through the open door for any sign of the patrolling security. The coast was clear. Thanks to the pending rain I guess. I quickly stepped out leaving the door open and tiptoed towards the fence. One more hurdle and I'm out.

The fence wasn't as tall as I expected except for the barbed wires that seemed to pose a significant threat. I quickly tore my already tattered dress from the hem and tearing the pieces into two, I wrapped them around my hand like gloves.

With one shift and desperate leap, I landed at the other side of the fence before a sharp pain tore through my skin. The spikes had torn my back.

I made a muffled cry holding my mouth tightly and began to move from the fence disappearing into the darkness and running towards the forest as fast as my feets could carry me.

I ran towards the forest as it began to pour down heavily. Straining my eyes, I struggled to adjust to the darkness that had enveloped me. I would have to move as far away from the pack as I can before they find out that I'm gone; before the guards would find the exit door open or my cell empty.

As I ran through the forest, I heard a snap that made me look over my shoulder, I stumbled over a tree stump and came tumbling down. A short lived scream tore through my throat, I clamped my hand over my mouth, praying that no one had heard me. I waited a few seconds at the forest floor, waiting and trying to hear anything. There was no sound except for the rain which was beginning to subside.

I got up, grabbing onto the nearest tree to steady myself, wincing as the pain of my wounded palms shot up to my brains. My foot hurt, my ankle strained from the odd angle I had twisted it when I fell.

I couldn't afford to stop due to my ankle acting up. If they caught me again, my ankle would be the last of my worries. I had to keep going.

Love

I pulled myself off the tree and kept running.

I nearly slipped, catching myself just in time. I couldn't risk a broken ankle. Not right now. It was already sprained. My legs ached and burned, the numerous cuts in my skin hurting over and over again.

If only I had a wolf, I could run even faster and find refuge. But alas my wolf had been suppressed for so long I didn't even know if I still had one.

I was exhausted, my legs threatening to give way under me. But I pressed myself to keep going forward. I had no idea where I was going, as long as it was far from that hell. By now the rain had stopped completely or perherbs the rain didn't get to this part of the forest.

Suddenly, a rustling noise caught my attention. I turned sharply, my head jerking towards the direction of the sound as I struggled to hold my breath, my senses on alert.

“Who are you?". A voice questioned from behind me, in shock, I turned to see a gun pointed right at me.