Chapter One
The car was going way to fast as she drove with tears streaming down her face. Today was officially the worst day of her life and it had no signs of getting better. The scene that just happened minutes earlier still playing through her head as she drove with her foot hard on the gas petal.
Just twenty minutes earlier...
It wasn't often that she got the opportunity to get off of work early. In her line of work it was countless long nights with little to go on but coffee and maybe three hours of sleep but she wouldn't of given it up for the world. She was a forensic tech, a life long dream since she was a small child and she had been finally living it for almost five years. It made having a social life difficult especially when cold cases were piling up on her desk but today had been different, today she was going to skip out before ten pm and enjoy this so called life she had but rarely seen.
Natalie had been with her boyfriend Chris for almost a year now and work had been weighing a toll on not only just her but also them as a couple. She knew that Chris hated the long hours and the fact that she had blown off more dates then she had actually kept but they were getting through it. It would get better, it would or at least thats what she kept telling him and so she headed to his art gallery to surprise him. She had a bottle of wine chilling on ice in the backseat and an order of burgers and fries to top it off. Today she would make up for everything, he deserved that much.
Pulling up to the gallery she saw the light on in the loft above it that held his apartment and she smiled, he was still awake. She quickly grabbed the wine and the bag of food as she adjusted her clothes then headed inside.
She had met Chris during a case she had been working on. He had been an eyewitness to a hit and run. It had just so happened to be right across the street from the gallery and when she had asked to go inside she was awe struck at how beautiful all the paintings were and she was even more shocked that he had painted them. He had so much talent, not to mention he was beautiful. Short cropped hair, chiseled jaw line and a body that screamed that he took a lot of pride in himself yet he wasn't conceded.
It had been years since Natalie had allowed herself to get close to anyone. She had learned her lesson years ago that her field of work was hard on those around her and even harder on relationships. She had honestly felt that she was doomed to be alone and up until that very night she was OK with that but meeting Chris, connecting with him. It did something to her, something she wasn't expecting, it almost felt like love though she rarely spoke the word out loud
It was a world wind relationship full of late night dinners and hours of talking. He had even painted a picture of her, it was a popular one in the small town they lived in. She was happy, for once in her life she was really happy.
As she got inside the gallery she stopped and smiled at the infamous picture of herself. She didn't even think that she looked like that, the picture was beautiful, she was beautiful. A sound caught her off guard as she glanced In the direction of his loft and she smiled once more as she headed up the long stairs to it. She may even tell him tonight, she may just say those three little words. The idea made her heart race and her face flush. Was this it? Was she finally in love? The next sound she heard was a peculiar one, almost like thumping and she stopped in her tracks as the sound got louder and louder.
She couldn't place where she had heard that sound before but she knew it was familiar. She pushed it away as she climbed the last two steps and put her hand on the door knob, slowly turning it as the thumping sound continued on. As the door swung open into the large space her eyes opened in shock at the scene before her because she knew now what that thumping sound was. It had been the bed hitting against the wall as Chris's naked body slammed into the woman underneath him.
Almost instantaneously the wine bottle dropped as did the food, crashing onto the ground as Chris's head whipped around and looked at her with shocked eyes. She felt sick, disgusted, she ran as he called out to her but she didn't stop. She just ran to her car and drove out of there as tears billowed from her eyes.
It seemed like everything was happening in slow motion even though she drove way over the speed limit. Her tears and sobs coming in heavy waves now making it hard to see where she was driving but she hadn't cared. How could be have done this to her and how could she have allowed herself to even care for anyone. She turned onto the narrow road that lead to her cabin. It was nearly pitch black on the old dirt road surrounded by woods and then something large darted in front of her as she slammed on the brakes causing her car to fish tail in the dirt and then finally come to a stop as she held onto the steering wheel for dear life.
Her seat belt had saved her face from meeting the steering wheel but her heart was frantically beating now as she gasped and tried to look past her headlights and then she heard it, a sound as she gasped loudly and pulled at her seatbelt. It wasn't a deer that she hit but a someone, for that she was sure by the sounds of groans she had heard.
Jumping from her sedan she ran to the front of the car and then fear struck her as she turned and then ran to the back. It felt like a nightmare and she couldn't help the scream that escaped because laying there behind her car on the ground in what she would only describe as a mangled mess was a man.
She fumbled for her phone in her pocket with her hands shaking so bad that she could barely grab onto the damn thing and then she heard him again, another groan as her eyes got wide and she dropped to her knees next to him.
"I'm calling for help" she said with her voice cracking as two blue eyes opened slowly and looked at her.."Please don't move, I'm so sorry, I didn't.. you were just...I'm calling" she said as her fingers fumbled with the phone and it took her three tries to call 911..His breathing shallowed making the seconds it took for the police dispatcher to answer, to seem like forever.."Answer damn it!" she yelled out loud as she looked over his body once more, there was so much blood. Gashes upon gashes, it seemed crazy to think that her car did that but she didn't allow that thought to settle as she held hard onto her phone until the operator answered.."I need an ambulance on Baker Road, a man is down and he is bleeding badly" she barely kept herself together as she spoke.."Just hurry damn it" she yelled and then tossed her phone on the ground as everything got eerily quiet.."No...no, your not gonna die!" she yelled out as she put her head to his mouth and listened, there was nothing, she tried to feel for a pulse, nothing...
Immediately her CPR skills took over as she did chest compressions over and over again until her arms felt like jelly but she didn't stop. Tears fell harder now as she worked on the limp body in front of her, she had done this, she had killed him. Minutes seemed like an eternity until she finally heard sirens, as much as she was relieved she was also completely horrified. He wasn't breathing and by the looks of his body she wondered if that would be a good thing. He was broken for that she was sure, arms, legs, numerous deep lacerations on his upper body. He looked battle worn. The sirens got closer and she continued to administer CPR and then she heard it, a faint gasp as she let her hands fall onto the ground as she heaved heavily. He was alive, for now he was alive.
One hour prior...
The swift punch to the temple would have been enough to knock any grown man out but all it did was blur his vision as he head wobbled.."Is that the best you got?" he laughed an spit out blood onto the ground as his blue eyes met green ones..
"Do you really think this is wise John, your chained up, beaten and yet you taunt me?" the man smiled wickedly as he walked in front of him.."Now I will ask you again, where is the locket" he smiled..
"Fuck you" John yelled out as he spit at the man in front of him and he was met with another blow but this time it had hit his jaw as a loud cracking sound was heard.
"We could do this all day John" the man grinned as a knock was heard on the door across the room and he sighed heavily with aggravation as he walked over to it.."What!" he said as he opened it and then whispering was heard.."Fine!" the man finally yelled and then the door slammed shut as he walked out.
John took the opportunity to assess the situation and the room he was being held captive in as he looked around. It was definitely under ground, no windows and it was damp. The ground was covered in dirt like one would find in an old mine. He glanced up at the IV bag hanging next to him. It was keeping him drugged and doing a great job at it. He yanked on the chains that held his hands together behind him but they didn't budge. He glanced down at his feet that were also chained together and held with a bolt on the ground. He yanked at the chains with his legs and surprisingly enough the bolt moved. It had apparently seen its fair share of wear and tear, he yanked his legs once more and it moved again and then again.
Though he was drugged he used this new found motivation to fight through the grogginess that filled him as he relentlessly pulled on the chain with his legs until he had just enough room to pull one now bloodied ankle out. He heard the bones breaking as it slid from the confines of the chain until it was finally free as he leaned back and breathed heavy.
With his now free and broken foot he used all the strength that he had to push against the floor as he pulled on the chains that held his hands back. It did nothing. He tried again and then again until he felt the slightest bit of resistance give way and as he clenched his jaw tight he pulled hard, snapping his right shoulder out of its socket as he fell forward onto the ground. Though the pain was almost crippling as he laid in his own sweat and blood he didn't let it stop him as he pulled himself up and removed the remaining chains from his hands and ankle. Yanking the IV from his arm he breathed heavily as a voice could be heard by the door, he quickly moved to the wall next to it and waited.
The door swung open as a familiar voice from earlier was heard, it wasn't the man that he had wanted but at this point any would do. "So it looks like its just you and.." the man began as John grabbed him before he could say another word and with a swift grab of his neck he crushed the windpipe of his first assailant who immediately dropped to the ground, his eyes staring lifelessly into the dark room.
John didn't wait as he quickly got into the hall of this man-made dungeon, he looked left and then right as he took off running even with his ankle broken, he pushed past the pain. The sound of voices made him stop as he skidded into a doorway and his eyes got wide as he saw the numerous bodies of half man, half wolf laying dead on the ground. What the hell was this place? The voices trailed as he got out of the room quick and found a staircase as he ran up it. He almost felt home free until someone turned for the stairs and their eyes got wide. He didn't give it a second thought as he grabbed the young man and tossed him down the stairs as he kept running.
The next thing he heard was a familiar sound and one that he hoped he wouldn't hear. It was growling and then a loud howl that echoed through the walls. He tried to run even faster. Still drugged and not at his full capacity he pushed on until he saw a window and he jumped, without thinking, without caring he jumped right through glass and wood frame. His body hitting the ground hard as the howls got louder and closer.
Scrambling to his feet he dodged past trees and bushes in the darkness. His night vision damn near nonexistent due to the drugs as he ran as fast as his body would allow. The next thing he felt was a sharp pain in his back as he crashed to the ground, the heavy weight of the beast on his back as it damn near clawed him to the bone. He grabbed for anything to stop it from tearing flesh from bone and all he got was a jagged stick and he used it to stab backwards hitting flesh as a loud yelp was heard and immediately the beast was off of him as he flipped himself over and used his good foot to kick the large wolf under the chin as his head snapped back with a loud cracking sound as it fell limp.
John scrambled to his feet once more and ran but this time it was merely a jog as the pain and loss of blood caused his sight to go in and out. Howls were heard all around him now as he continued through the woods, with a clearing up ahead he felt relief wash over him and then a light seemed to come out of no where and before he knew it he was being launched through the air. His limbs twisting and breaking even more so as he landed hard onto the dirt below.
The hit had been so hard that for a moment it had knocked him right out but when he opened his eyes through a hazy fog filled dark night he saw her. Red hair, blue eyes, she was crying as she spoke something to him but he couldn't make out the words. He saw a faint glimpse of a car and then everything went black.
Natalie watched in tears as the paramedics loaded the mangled man into the back of the ambulance. He was breathing but barely. She felt sick as she stood there and then immediately saw her Uncle Bo, who was also the police commissioner get out of his car."Are you alright?" he asked with heavy concern as he got in front of her..
"I didn't even see him Bo.. I...I" she said as she broke down into heavy sobs and he put his arms around her..
"Shh its gonna be OK sweetheart, its gonna be OK" he whispered reassuringly.
By the time Natalie had gotten to the hospital she had given her uncle a statement of the events that occurred, well everything but what had happened with Chris. She was a damn near hysterical mess as she paced the emergency room.
"Natalie, oh my god Natalie I heard what happened" the sound of her best friend Gigi was heard as she ran over to her friend and hugged her tight.."Are you OK, your not hurt right, did you get checked out" Gigi said frantically as the waiting room full of people looked over at them.
"I'm fine" Natalie said with tears as her body still continued to shake..
"Do you need me to call Chris, does he know" Gigi said with worry as she pulled back from the hug.
"No" Natalie said sternly as she turned from Gigi..The sound of the double doors leading to the OR rooms opened as a young doctor by the name of Evan Johnson walked out as Natalie immediately ran up to him. The perks of being in a small town were that everyone knew everyone, and Evan just happened to of been in the same graduating class of Lanview High with Natalie."Is he OK, please tell me he is OK Evan" she said with her voice shaking..
Evan sighed heavily and than directed her across the room away from prying eyes and ears.."He was busted up pretty bad, just how fast were you going out there" he asked as he looked at her..
"I...I don't know" she said with a shake of her head.."But he is gonna make it,right?"
"It's touch and go right now, you know the first twenty four hours are the hardest" he began.."I think something else got to him before your car did" he said quietly as Natalie swallowed hard. She knew that her car couldn't of created that much damage.."You didn't see anything?"
"No.. just him before..." her voice trailed as she looked down at her shaking hands..
"Keep us updated OK" Gigi said quickly as she looked at her friend.."It's gonna be OK Nat"
"I could of killed him" Natalie walked away from her friend as she wiped her face and stopped by a window..
"Nat, Chris has to be worried" Gigi said as Natalie let out a sarcastic laugh.."Nat whats going on?" she said with concern..
"I don't want Chris here OK, I just don't" Natalie finally said as she wiped her face some more..
"Natalie, sweetheart!" the sound of her mother Vicki's voice was heard as Natalie turned and saw her rushing towards her.."I came as soon as I heard, thank god your OK" her mother said as she hugged her tight..
"I'm OK mom, I promise" Natalie said as she pulled back slightly from her mother..
"Your father is talking to Bo, how did this happen" her mother said almost frantically.
"I don't know, I just don't know" Natalie said quietly as she stared at her mom..
"I should call your sister and your brother, they need to know" Vicki began with a shaking voice..
"Please don't mom, I'm fine.. I don't need them worrying about me" Natalie said quickly. The last thing she wanted was her brother Rex and Jess to be rushing out to see her. Jess had recently moved out to London to run the family newspaper there and Rex was out celebrating his birthday in Atlantic City. She felt overwhelmed as it was not to mention that the local media were all standing outside the hospital. She didn't like attention and she didn't want it. Growing up as an heiress to a multi million dollar family was attention enough as a child, now all she wanted was to be left alone, especially now.
"My lawyer is heading over here now, I don't want you saying anything else until he gets here" her father said as he walked up to them..
"Dad I don't need a lawyer" Natalie began, her father was always thinking of the family name, first and foremost. God forbid one of his children make them look bad. He wasn't a bad guy per-say but he was definitely all business, all the time.
"You hit a man with your car" he said sternly..
"Clint, now is not the time" Vicki said quickly as she looked at her husband..
"What the hell were you doing driving that fast anyway" he continued as Natalie sighed heavily.."have you been drinking?"
"No dad I haven't" Natalie snapped now as she spun from them and her mother could be heard talking quietly yet sternly to her father as Gigi walked over to Natalie..
"Were gonna get this figured out" Gigi put her hand on Natalie's shoulder..
Two hours had passed since she had been at the hospital. The man had been rushed into emergency surgery to fix the broken bones and tensions were running high in the emergency room. Her Uncle Bo came over towards her with a cup of coffee in hand.."Here, you could use this" he said softly. Bo had been like a father to her growing up. Her own father was a hard man to be around, always critical and judging. Bo was more laid back, he believed in her when no one else would, it was because of him that she had become a forensic tech much to her fathers disapproval. He had wanted her to be more like her sister and help run the families news paper but Natalie wanted so much more out of life.
"Do you have an ID on him yet?" Natalie asked as she sipped her coffee..
"Nothing, no ID, no wallet" he shook his head.."we'll get some answers once he wakes up" he added softly as the OR doors opened again and a very tired Evan stepped out as Bo quickly walked over to him..
"Surgery is done, he has extensive injuries" he began as he looked at them all.."Can I talk to you in private" he said towards Bo..
"Can I go see him" Natalie blurted out quickly as Evan nodded his head..
"ICU room 15" Evan added..
"Nat you sure you want to do this" Gigi said with worry..
"I did this to him, its the least I can do" Natalie said honestly and then she was disappearing behind the doors..
Natalie was not a fan of hospitals, she down right avoided them if possible. It always made her think of when her mother had had a heart attack years ago and she had spent so much time in the hospital with her. It was a depressing place and so cold. She could barely stand walking down the long corridor right now as she passed by numerous rooms that had devices that beeped and pumped life in to others. It was eerie and filled with the sounds of the dying.
She stopped at room 15 and swallowed hard before entering. The sight she saw nearly took her breath away. There were so many machines going and wires hooked up. She instantly felt sick to her stomach as she stood by the door way..
"It looks a lot scarier then it is, he is a lucky man to of survived what he did" a nurse said as she came next to Natalie.
With light on the man now she could make out his features better. He looked to be in his mid thirties, long dark hair and a body covered in bandages and casts. She stepped closer to the bed slowly as her eyes landed on a tattoo on his bare arm. He looked strong, a lot stronger than anyone she had ever seen. His chest moved up and down slowly as the mask covering his mouth and nose pushed fresh air at him.. Even though his face was bruised slightly, his defined jaw line stuck out to her and the hair that grew there. He was a handsome man, and apparently a John Doe since he had no ID on him. What was he doing on her property? Why was he on the road? How had he gotten so broken? None of it made sense.
She finally spoke quietly as she stood there.."I'm sorry I did this to you".
She sat in the chair across from his bed as she watched him. It seemed like forever until the door opened and she woke up. It was Evan and he walked in.."He's gonna be out for awhile Natalie"
"I know, I would like to stay though if you don't mind" she said softly..
Evan moved closer to the bed as he looked over his patient.."This wasn't just your run of the mill car accident" he began as Natalie looked at him with confusion.."He was hurting way before that, Ive never seen anything like it in my life" he said as he picked up the mans arm and inspected the tattoo. Natalie got up now and walked over to him.."I'm only telling you this because your a friend and I know your worried" he began as she came next to him.."Your car didn't do this" he looked at her now..
"What are you saying?" she asked with a confused look.."If my car didn't do this" her voice trailed..
"He was running from something" he shook his head..
"Running?" her eyes got wide..
"Look at his wrists, do you see that" he said as he held up the mans hand who had a red and bruised mark around his wrist..
"What is that?" Natalie inspected the wrist.."Was he bound?" her eyes got wide as she looked at Evan.
"Not just that" Evan began as he moved the body up some and then his eyes got wide.."Wait thats not right, I know I saw" he said with a perplexed look as he moved the body some more.."How the.." his voice trailed again and then he looked at Natalie.
"What is it?" she said as her heart began to race, Evan really looked concerned and worried and she couldn't help but think that maybe he was going to die after all. Evan stood up now quickly and then without saying a word he went to the door.."Evan what is going on" Natalie walked after him now..
"Listen I gotta.." his voice trailed and then he shook his head.."I need to go check on something, I will be back" he said and then he left as Natalie stood there completely confused..She looked back at the man on the bed and then shook her head, something was definitely wrong that much she did know.