Taming A Runner

Chapter One

I woke with a start, flashing lights pounding through my eyelids as I pried my eyes open.

I looked around, holding onto what I was lying on...some sort of metal grid. I was moving through the air, everything around me a blur. I was in some sort of lift...I tried to focus my thoughts but my head was pounding making my eyes water. Oh god.

The metal grid I was in stopped suddenly, thudding against the top of the lift. My body bounced against the metal underneath me.

I noticed the crates around me startled as the light from above blinded me. I gasped, my hands instinctively going to shield my eyes. I heard a murmur of voices from above...I was not alone.

"It's a girl!" Cried one voice, sounding surprised.

"Not a bad one either."

"Like that would matter. It's been so long if she had a tail i don't think I'd care!" Laughed another.

"Shut up you shanks!" Ordered a stronger voice, deeper than the others. I panicked, everything happening so fast, I found it hard to process what they were saying. I didn't even understand what the words meant. My brain felt like it was melting out of my ears. I backed up trying to find some sort of weapon, grasping the floor around me.

I felt something sharp under my right hand...a blade! I grabbed it and scrabbled up to my feet, my eyes focusing to adjust to the light. I could make out several figures leaning over to look into the box.

Instinctively, I swished the blade in front of me. It felt familiar in my hand, I moved it easily.

"She's a wild one." Said another voice. I looked around, unable to see who had said it. There was too many faces. I had to get out of this box. My eyes were struggling to focus through the darkness surrounding me and the bright light above. I needed to escape and I certainly couldn't do it in this metal box...

My eyes focused on a wooden crate in front of me and I grabbed onto it easily, my legs feeling stronger with the ground still. I stepped onto it quickly and launched myself up, blade grasped in hand and I rolled forward onto my feet feeling grass beneath me.

My eyes adjusted easily now, I was in some sort of meadow...it was grass beneath my feet. I lifted the blade quickly around me. I panicked as I realised I was surrounded by boys.

"Who is she?" Asked a blonde one, stepping back away from my blade.

"She's one of them." said the tallest boy, with particularly wide shoulders.

"It's okay," a dark skinned boy stepped forward, he seemed older than the others. He looked at me cautiously, "everyone step back! Give her some room." Everyone obeyed...he must be the leader.

"It's okay." He repeated, making eye contact. I looked around, I couldn't give him that. I had to be alert, everything in me told me to run, to get away. I needed to search my surroundings but I couldn't whilst this blatant threat was in front of me...these boys. Who were they?...my head was swimming with questions, it made my eyes water.

"Look, we've all been there. We've all come up in that box..." His words confused me...what? "You need to calm down. We're not going to hurt you, I promise. Please, just lower your knife..." I looked around me there was too many of them. He seemed to understand...

"Everyone get back to your jobs." He ordered, his eyes not leaving mine.

"What about tonight?" Asked one of the boys.

"We'll discuss that later," the leader replied. "Everyone leave." He shouted, "Newt and Minho stay." Two boys either side him were the only ones not to move. The other boys seemed more reluctant but eventually after some murmurs they left.

It gave me a better view of my surroundings, it was like some sort of meadow, a small lake, a forest, large area of grass, some wooden huts...the area was big...but it was enclosed by four tall grey brick walls...no way out. Chunks rose in my throat, I swallowed them down, my stomach turning over. If I ran where would I go?

"Look you need to calm down." Said a slender pale boy who stood next to their leader.

"No one had ever looked this calm before." Said an Asian boy on the other side of the leader. I was surprised how they stood motionless just watching me as if I was the amusement for the day.

"She's not calm," said a voice from behind me. I panicked, slashing the blade in that direction. I felt some hands grab at my wrist holding the blade. I struggled madly, hitting it's receiver with everything I have. I heard a groan as large hands grabbed at my waist. I was breathing heavy now, my head swimming. Everything was so fuzzy, I had to get this guy off of me. I was slipping out of consciousness, my head throbbing, the sudden shaking was too much for me. I could feel a hard torso beneath my back, I struggled with everything I had, willingness myself to stay conscious. I could hear myself crying out, making as much noise as I could. The arms around me only tightened.

"GALLY NO!" cried the leader as I felt my body slump into my attackers arms.