Saved

I closed my eyes, all the hope drained from me. This was it, I was going to die. Just as I was about to let myself stop fighting, I heard a THWACK and the slight crunch following after it. The wolf's weight was gone and I heard the loud whimper, which soon faded away. I opened my eyes slightly, looking through my eyelashes. A tall, muscular man stood there. He stared ahead, and then turned to me.

"What is a little girl like you doing out in these woods at this time of night?" His voice was older sounding, but still kind.

"I was running away from the seekers…" I mumbled, sitting up and hugging my right knee. My left leg was still bleeding from where I had been bit, and it hurt. He crouched down, touching the skin around the bite, and then looked at me.

"Those parasites," He almost growled, "We have to fight them, all of us. Together." He smiled, his face wasn't smooth but not covered in wrinkles either. He was older, not in his 70's old, but maybe in his late 50's or early 60's. I gasped when the moonlight didn't show any silver blue ring in his eyes. I backed up as fast as possible, using my arms to pull myself.

"Please, please, don't hurt me! Please! I won't tell anyone you're here, just don't hurt me!" I almost cried again. He looked at me, curiosity filled his eyes.

"No no, no one will hurt you…" His voice trailed off as he connected the dots. "You're one of them, aren't you?" He mumbled. He looked around, and sighed, then faced me. "No one will hurt you, for now." He came close and shone a flashlight in my eyes. I could see the reflection of my own gray and silver ringed eyes in his dark brown eyes. He turned the flashlight off and said, "Let me put this on you, I promise you won't get hurt." He pulled what looked like a scarf and tied it around my eyes. I couldn't see. He picked me up, careful of my leg, and started walking. I wasn't sure in what direction, and I didn't know what would happen.

I had fallen asleep in the human's arms, but now I felt the hands and slight shaking, and I woke up. The blindfold was removed and I fluttered my eyes, looking around. I was set down gently on the floor, the stone floor. Where was I? I looked around, surrounded by a smooth stone wall. A cave. It had lots of other openings, to other sections of the cave I guessed. As I looked back to where I was, the center of the cave labyrinth, I saw them. Humans. At least 20 of them stood in a group and glared at me.

"Why didn't you kill it?" A female voice hissed.

"Shoot it now!" this time a male growled.

"Now, y'all listen," The older man who had carried me here said, loud and clear, "She was running from them. She begged to be helped. She doesn't want anything to do with them." I looked up him, grateful he was willing to keep me safe. I surveyed the group, looking at each of the humans. My heart jumped when I saw them. Kaycee, she was holding her son on her hip and staring at me.

"Kaycee!" I nearly squealed in delight. I ran down towards them as fast as my injury would allow. "Kaycee!" I squeaked once more. As I got close, I reached my hands out, but before I could touch them, my felt the hard blow. I staggered back, raising my hands to my right cheek. It hurt to the touch and I knew I was bruising. I turned to see who had given me the punch. A very tall, very muscular man stood there. His blue eyes angry and his fists clenched. His black hair was slightly shaggy but still very short. I whimpered, and turned to Kaycee, my eyes hopeful.

"Kyle…" Her voice trailed and she looked at me, hurt hovered in her eyes.

"Auntie Tatumn!" The little boy in her arms screeched, a smile crossed his face from ear to ear. I smiled back and felt the tears run down my cheeks once again. I reached one hand out, very slightly, and wiped my tears with my other as the boy tried reaching out to me.

"No no Jason." Kaycee whispered to him, pushing his outstretched arm down.

"But, but mommy…" He looked at her confused and stared at me, his hazel eyes wide with confusion.

"Shhh, baby boy, its okay." She buried her face in his short brown hair and closed her eyes, tears slipping out. The man, who had punched me, Kyle as I remember, walked over and put his arm around her shoulders, stroking her hair.

"Well, since she seems to know you, Kaycee, she belongs to you. It's your choice what happens to her." I heard the older man who brought me here say. Kaycee looked up and nodded, clearly thinking of her options. She walked close to me.

"I won't have you killed. I can't, your body is my sister," She said, her eyes sad, "but none of us can trust you," she turned to the older man, "Michael, We can't trust her, but I don't want her dead. Can't we keep her as a prisoner?" Kaycee asked, looking at the man who I now knew was Michael. He nodded and walked over, I heard most of the people growl in disgust and they all walked away. Kyle stayed with Kaycee while Michael blindfolded me again. Then I was picked up. I was carelessly tossed over a shoulder and I whimpered in pain.

"Oh shut it, parasite." I heard Kyle's voice loud in my ear. Then we started walking. I wasn't sure were to, but it got black fast. Eventually I was tossed down on the ground and the blind fold was removed. Michael stood with a bright lamp in the small cave side hole. I looked around and saw a large crevice in the wall. I limped over and looked inside; it was a bowl-shaped and big enough for me to fit into. I looked back and Kaycee nodded, this was where I was supposed to sleep. I sighed and crawled in, hugging my body, I silently cried. The light from Michael was gone, but I heard the breathing of a human presence. "Sleep tight, bug." I heard Kyle growl. I shut my eyes and waited for morning.

Day One.

Day Two.

Day Three.

Day Four.

Day Five.

Five days passed, I could tell from the day and night shifts switching to watch me. I stayed in my crevice, never venturing out. I was starving, thirsty and sore. Just as I was about to ask for food or water, I heard footsteps. I peeked out of my crevice and watched as a shorter version of Kyle walked over to Kyle. This Kyle-look-alike was indeed tall, but not quite as tall as Kyle. He had a prettier face too, with sapphire blue eyes that glistened in the light he carried. He sat down next to Kyle and they started whispering. He shot me a menacing glare. Just then Kyle walked over and reached his hand inside the crevice, grabbing my hair and pulling me out. He threw me on the ground.

"Bye bye." He snarled and punched my bruised cheek. I felt Kyle get ripped off me and I looked up to see another man, About the height of Kyle's Look alike, holding Kyle and struggling to fight him.

"Kaycee doesn't want her dead!" He growled at Kyle. I was about to feel hopeful and get up to help, but someone dragged my down, pressing on the wolf bite. I squealed in pain and turned to face my attacker, he used both hands to push my neck into the ground. I couldn't breathe and I kicked and struggled. He wasn't going to let go I finally concluded. I felt the bruising on my neck begin and I opened my mouth, searching for air. Then, I saw Michael grab him by the shirt and toss him off me. I gasped for air, panting and holding my throat.

"I said no one hurts her while Kaycee still wants her here." Michael growled.

"Mike, it's one of them." The man who had strangled me argued.

"Ian, as long as she is here, she is not to be hurt. Understand? Kyle, you will not come in here again. I'll keep guard. And Jared," he turned to man who had held Kyle off me, "Organize a raid. You boys need to blow off some energy." Mike stared them down and they left. "Sorry Hun," he turned to me and helped me up. I crawled back into my crevice, laying down and calming my breathing. "You think you'll be okay by yourself during the night? Once the dangerous boys are gone?" He half chuckled.

"Yes. Thank you, by the way. For stopping them and keeping me alive." I my voice was raspy and I touched my neck, letting my fingers dance across the bruising.

"Alright, well I'll sit here till night fall," He sat down, "Kaycee is a sweet girl. She has a kind heart." He mumbled and I closed my eyes, trying to sleep.

Day Six.

Day Seven.

Day Eight.

Another three days I sat in silence. Mike had brought me watery soup and water. I was thankful and gulped every last bit. When Night fell, Mike left and I laid, wide awake, in my crevice. It wasn't long till I heard footsteps. My heart quickened with fear. I felt the hand reach in and touch my arm.

"It's okay; I promise I won't hurt you." I slowly crawled out and my gray eyes grew wide, Ian was crouching there. I tried squirming back in the crevice, but he grabbed my arm. "Shhh, it's okay. They're still out on a raid," His sapphire eyes met mine, "I just thought, maybe you were tired of being cooped up." He murmured and held his hand out. I took it and he helped me up, putting his left arm around my waist and he helped me hop through the winding halls to the main center of the cave. It was night, but the moon shone white light into the cave. He eventually picked my legs up and trotted towards another dark part of the cave. It wasn't long until I heard water bubbling and then he made a sharp turn into a separate room. He lit the lamp he was carrying and I saw the pond-like pool. "I'll turn off the lamp if you want to bathe yourself." He looked at me.

"Uh… Okay…" I muttered, and waited till he turned the lamp off. I saw the outline of him sit and face the entrance. I got into the pond and scrubbed my clothes free of dirt. Then I started on my body. Wetting my hair and scrubbing till all the mud and dirtiness was gone. "Uhm... Ian, I'm done… I need clothes or a towel or something…" I mumbled.

"Right here." He passed the clean clothes back without turning around. I grabbed them and slipped them on. I limped to his side when I was dressed. He stood up and picked me up again, my head resting on his chest. He walked away and I closed my eyes. Soon we reached another room and he set me down on a chair-like rock and lit the lamp again. He moved behind a counter shape and I heard him moving things around. He returned to me with a few rolls of bread and two water bottles. I ate the bread quickly and drank the water till I felt sick. He slightly smiled and took care of the trash. He then blew the lamp out and carried me somewhere else. I felt him lean on something and heard it open. A door maybe? He kept walking and laid me down on something soft and comfortable. A mattress, with a pillow and a blanket. He closed the opening to the room and sat next to me. The mattress was a queen size and I crawled under the blanket.

"You can come in too." I mumbled, snuggling into the pillow and blanket.

"Are you sure?" He asked. When I nodded, too tired to speak, he crawled over me, laid down and muttered, "You must be tired from that cave they kept you in."

"Tired and sore," I mumbled, "Why are you doing this?"

"I'm not sure. I just feel like if what happened to you, happened to me, I would have wanted to be treated better." He answered, turning towards me and sighing.

"Oh. Well Thank you, I appreciate it." I replied, closing my eyes.

"No problem. Sleep tight." He stroked my cheek that wasn't bruised and then turned away. I slowly drifted off into sleep, Ian's radiant blue eyes filling my mind.