5/16/19
Chapter 14
Maddy skidded to a halt, just one more hill top and she would be at the Wild Wolfblood settlement. It was a crisp morning, the slowly greening grass still wet from frost, her warm breath rising in small swirls as she exhaled. Maddy noticed some flecks of mud speckling her new light blue jeans. She clasped the necklace Miranda had given the group, and tucked it inside her flannel shirt. She took a deep breath, she couldn't imagine getting passed all the horrible things that she encountered: Ms. Dupree's murder, her time in jail, and then the ostracizing by the school. She was lucky. See the sun squeeze between dark clouds, she started off toward the encampment. Maddy slowed down at the sound of her name. Jogging to meet her, was Gahmin. His piercing emerald eyes grabbing her attention immediately. His shaggy hair clung to his forehead as he panted heavily.
"Gahmin, what are you doing out here?" Maddy surmised he had been hunting like usual.
"I followed your scent. You are running with great purpose. Is there danger?" He looked about as he asked her.
"I am heading to the camp to find Davin."
"You will not find her. No one from our pack has seen her."
His answer hit her like a ton of bricks. Maddy looked to the ground, her mind racing with questions and suspicions of her disappearance bubbling up from her stomach. The youngest Smith looked toward the camp then in the direction of town. "What do you mean?" Her motivation and strength evaporating with the dew drops that lingered in patches on the ground.
"She has disappeared. It happened last full moon. It has brought a division to our pack. Many think she was taken by the Hunters. But our Alpha will not concede and leave."
"Davin is obstinate and pig-headed. How - how do you know this isn't her attempt to make some type of point?" Maddy watched Gahmin cock his head in confusion. "Pig-headed means stubborn." While she didn't want the Wild Wolfbloods to leave as she felt some distant kinship to them and more than anything like she belong to something greater, she also didn't want them to endanger themselves. Someone or something was capturing them like trophies. Maddy just couldn't determine who or why. Maddy looked at Gahmin, "Why are you here?" She paused, "You can leave." It was dangerous to not be a lone wolf, but it may have been a safer option.
"He has sent me to get you. It is very important and requires your immediate presence." He looked at her and then shook his head. "My destiny is not mine, but Mahkah's. I will stay."
Together the two Wolfbloods charged toward the encampment. As she approached the settlement, she stopped. Families were packing, breaking down their huts. Maddy watch some cubs stuff different materials into sacks. The empty clanging of pots and pans were heard beating like warning drums. One of the Betas of the group roughly passed by Maddy, snarling as she slowed him on this way to gather materials along with his family. A deep sorrow spread in through her as she empathize with these Wild Wolfbloods who were grabbing what they could carry to try and escape. As many that were packing, there were as many watching the ruckus with vexation. Since Mahkah had yet to command the move, Maddy could only guess those that were moving were doing it against their Alpha's orders. To go against the pack, was an act of treason. Gahmin nudged Maddy forward, guiding her to where the elder was waiting.
Down a row of sleeping huts, stood Mahkah in a small circular clearing, the remnants of a family's hut. His regal disposition seemed soft, lacking of resolve. Nomadic life for a Wild Wolfblood was common, but it was not the same as being pushed out of your territory. His back to her, Maddy picked at her chipped finger nails. There was no way he did smell her standing there. After a few painful minutes, she took a few tentative steps forward, the patch still warm from the shelter the deerskin walls would have provided. She looked back for reassurance from Gahmin, except he was gone. With the fall of leadership and chaos of survival instinct running rampant, she couldn't imagine that the bylaws for treatment to an Omega still stood. Nonetheless, she was there alone with the shell of a respected leader.
"Gahmin asked for me to come. Said you wanted to talk," she began, unsure of herself.
"Madeline," he welcomed warmly. "How are you?"
Looking around, watching the pack descend into anarchy, she almost forgot to answer the question. "I'm doing okay . . . Gahmin told me what happened to Davin." She pushed her hands into her back pockets, and looked around again. It felt as if Mother Nature was going through some type of withdrawal at losing the Wild Wolfbloods, the birds did not chirp, no rustling of rabbits, nothing. It was oppressively quiet.
He breathed heavily, as if the world was pressing down on him. "You saw . . . the pack have chosen to move on . . . most of them. It is no longer safe and I have failed to protect them as an Alpha should." Finally, he turned to face her, his eyes dark, a testament of many nights without sleep.
Maddy opened her mouth, but nothing came out. What could she say? He wasn't wrong. The pack needed to leave if they ever wanted to survive. She closed the distance and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. He patted her hand. "You must leave too. Before the Hunters discover you are a Wolfblood. Your family does a good job hiding among them, but they will eventually find out the truth. Wolfbloods are not meant to be caged in a Natural's world."
"Who are these Hunters? I can never get a straight answer," she snapped in frustration. "If you know, we can just avoid them and help you escape."
"We do not know the names they call themselves and they each smell different. . . we just know they live in your settlement. They are Naturals and they want us gone," Mahkah said sternly.
Maddy understood the predicament. The Wild Wolfbloods wouldn't travel that far into town to learn more about their enemies, not when all Naturals were seen as evil. Their own conventions to sticking to tradition was their vice in all of this. Maddy wanted to help the Wild Wolfbloods but she wasn't sure how.
"You need a proper teacher," he said simply, watching her pace as she tried to work out the problem on her mind. "There is another one of you."
"Another one?" Maddy immediately stopped pacing and stared at him like she was seeing him for the first time. His face was still weathered from long periods of being exposed to the harsh conditions, and his clothing was different earthen shades of brown, woven by his wife with tender care.
"Yes, northwest of here. Follow the path of the Great Wolves. That is where the pack is going. The True Wolf there can help you strengthen your gifts and keep you safe."
Requesting refuge by another Alpha's pack was a sign of failure. "What happened to Davin?" Maddy asked.
"We are not sure, but my instinct tells me the Hunters captured her . . . along with my son. They vanished during the last full moon." A chilling breeze blew in, Mahkah's long hair dancing in the wind. "Madeline, you are a precious value to Wolfblood legacy and a threat to those that wish to end us. You need a hone your skills. Please do not discard my words . . . go." Makkah turned, his shoulders slumped, and retreated deeper into the woods.
-Wolfblood-
Mother Nature was working hard, the flowers slowly breaking through the hardened ground, the sun working overtime. Soft green, fresh grass began to spot the ground in patches, spring was taking a stronger stance each day. Maddy, Ling, and Miranda had decided to enjoy the change in weather and walk the wooded trails that surrounded the town's park. Maddy hopped deftly from boulder to boulder, more commonly used as benches to rest. "Girl, you crazy?" Miranda commented. "I would break my neck trying to do that?"
"Please don't," Ling quipped, earning a soft shove from Miranda.
"I just love this weather. It's like the earth turned up every smell, and the smell of spring and fresh flowers and grass and the rivers actually running without ice blocking it . . . it's just the best."
Ling and Miranda looked at Maddy unconvinced. "We'll take your word for it," Ling replied.
"So, did you everyone get their dress?" Ling asked.
"Yeah, I went shopping with my mum weeks ago." Maddy was focusing on the sky as Ling and Miranda trailed her.
"I still feel weird going without a date," Ling lamented, looking down at the ground.
Maddy stopped and turned around. Hopping off the rock she just landed on, she walked over to the other girls. "Miranda is going without a date," she reminded, gesturing to the Polynesian.
Miranda sighed, "About that . . . My parents ran into some money troubles and I can't go."
"What?!" Maddy exclaimed, her renewed faith that somehow everything would be okay came to a grinding halt. "You already bought a ticket!"
"Actually, I didn't. I've known I wasn't going for weeks, but didn't want to say anything. You were so excited and I felt bad with everything you had gone through. I'm really sorry, girlie. I also hoped that it would also just get better and I could go." Miranda found a boulder and leaned against it. Maddy wanted to scream at Miranda for not saying anything earlier, but doing so wouldn't make anyone feel better or change the situation.
"I'm sorry that your family is going through financial issues," Ling comforted, taking a seat next to Miranda and giving her shoulder a squeeze. Maddy turned away, trying to compose herself. Prom was supposed to be their last good time before everyone was made to go their separate ways.
Maddy put her hands on her hips and took a few deep breaths and then returned to her friends. "I'm sorry too."
"You're being nice," Miranda said knowingly, playing with the zipper of her red Lady Moose school fleece jacket.
"I am really sorry," Maddy reaffirmed, joining them on the rock. She wasn't going to comment on the anger she felt about their prom plans going south. The three girls sat quietly as dead leaves from the winter, dried and brittle, tumbled across the walk way.
"Hey, we have the after party at Miranda's brother's cabin." Maddy shuttered at the thought, recalling the near death experience from last time.
"Relax," Miranda spoke softly. "Nothing bad will happen this time."
"It's weird we never figured out who spiked that punch," Ling recalled.
"I thought it was Coach," Miranda answered, pushing herself off the rock, and brushing the dirt off her jeans.
"Yes, you are right. A more accurate question then is how did she do it," Ling touched her fingers to her lips, a pensive expression on her face. "If the punch was made at the cabin . . ."
Maddy matched Miranda, and pushed off the rock. "Who cares. It's over, you know . . ." Maddy still couldn't speak aloud about the murder or the hurt from the betrayal of her trust.
"Don't you find it unsettling that when you search her name no results come up other than the championship?" Ling queried. Maddy and Miranda exchanged glances and then shook their heads.
"I've never searched for her," Maddy said nonchalantly, wanting to talk about something different.
"Maybe she's a private person," Miranda suggested. Maddy caught the not-so-discreet gesture for Ling to drop it.
"So, is Robert picking you up or are you just meeting us there?" Ling asked, changing the subject.
"Wait! You're going with Robert?" Miranda nearly choked out.
" . . . Yeah," Maddy answered slowly, caught off guard by her reaction.
"Well, can you do that?" Miranda asked. Maddy began laughing until she realized that Miranda was being serious. "I'm serious, are you allowed?"
"Why wouldn't I be allowed?" Maddy looked to Ling for help, but Ling looked was as dumbfounded as Maddy.
"Because you're a . . . you know . . ." she insinuated arching her eyebrows. " . . .Wolfblood" Miranda whispered. Maddy just stared blankly, as she tried to piece together her thoughts. "Come on, you and he aren't you know . . ." She intertwined her fingers.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Maddy snapped, her patience evaporating.
"You know! You're an apple and he's an orange," she tried elaborating, keeping her voice low.
"No one is around, just talk," Maddy demanded.
Miranda huffed. "You're a Wolfblood and he's a human. You guys can't, like, get together. Isn't that taboo?" Miranda asked bluntly.
"We're not sleeping together, Miranda!" Maddy corrected, her face red. "We're going to a glorified school dance."
"Yeah, but he obviously likes you, so I mean it could lead . . ." Ling started to speculate, also having a hard time bringing up such intimate matters.
"It's just a dance!" Maddy repeated, knowing it was probably the greatest understatement to be uttered by any teen. Maddy started to walk away. Her hair blowing in her face.
"I understand this, but does he?" Ling asked softly, trying not to agitate the Wolfblood more.
"Girl, I love you, but Robert . . I mean he's your friend. Is it right to string him along?" Miranda rarely was serous, but the tone said it all.
Maddy spun around ready to plow through their concerns like a steam engine. "I'm not - he's - I just . . . it's . . . and . . ." Maddy breathed, her body relaxing. Her cheeks suddenly felt colder, it was then she realized she had started to cry. "I just want to be normal, for just one night," she admitted, holding up one finger. "Just one night."
Ling and Miranda walked over to the Wolfblood and gave her hug. "After everything, I just wanted a normal night with my friends."
"But you're not normal. You're the True Wolf." Ling said, as if Maddy needed reminding. The Wolfblood used the cuff of her coat to wipe away her tears. "But that's not a bad thing either."
"Yeah, your not-normal is epic. Ours is just sad," Miranda tried comforting. Ling threw a scathing look at Miranda, causing Maddy to laugh.
"I remember having this kind of talk with someone I cared about a long time ago," Maddy recalled.
"I'll have to talk to Robert, I guess. I just . . . it's complicated," Maddy said solemnly.
"It's the right thing to do. And by the way, thanks for tellin' a girl about this big news," Miranda quipped.
"Sorry," Maddy apologized. "It happened so quickly, and now it has to die just as fast."
"Rip the bandaid off," Miranda offered, motioning with her hand.
"So . . ." Ling prodded, "Can Wolfbloods get together with us, Normals?" Maddy threw her a side glance as if to say 'really?'
"Naturals," Maddy corrected, "and I . . . don't know. I've never asked. But, I guess it's just presumed we would marry are own kind. I've never considered being with someone that wasn't a Wolfblood. I - I don't know . . ." Maddy retorted.
"You know they want me to go learn from another True Wolf."
"Really? Where?" Miranda inquired.
"Not sure," Maddy answered, kicking at the pile of leaves. "My parents don't know yet. I mean, we're already headed for the States, they're not going to change their minds. So, it doesn't matter."
"Well, send a post card or something." Both Ling and Maddy stopped and looked at her in bewilderment. "What?"
"Wild Wolfbloods don't use post offices."
Miranda shrugged. "Whatever. So, who's up for some pie at the diner?" Ling shook her head in disapproval of Miranda's lackadaisical demeanor and Maddy just laughed. If nothing else, her friends were entertaining.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy examined the necklace Miranda had given her. As she lifted the leather string up to place over her head, she spotted the other necklace she had swiped from her coach's house. The small gem twinkled in the light, as if knowing she was watching. Maddy put down the necklace from Miranda and picked up the other one, the metal uncharacteristically warm.
A light, polite rapping came from the front door. Maddy answered, knowing Ling would wait until someone physically let her in. Ling agreed to help Maddy get ready for prom, and then meet she and Robert later as her parents insisted dropping her off. As Ling started working with Maddy's hair, carefully weaving a small portion into a braid, she quietly asked, "Have you said anything to Robert?"
Maddy sighed, "No, but it wasn't for lack of trying. I didn't want to do it over a text, I wanted to talk to him in person, but every time I tried, he couldn't make it or was distracted by the prom committee."
"Prom committee?"
"He's facilitating most of the arrangements since his parents own Elk Lodge." Ling 'hmm', in understanding and continued. "My mom had to quick run to the market for some things and said she'll be back soon to take pictures."
"Maybe we should have you get in your dress before we cont - " she shrieked at the sound of someone tapping the window. Both girls stood up to find Gahmin hunched on the balcony to see inside.
"What is he doing here?!" Ling asked, stepping back a little.
Maddy walked over, and slid the window up to let the young Wolfblood in. "Your room smells of flowers but I do not see any." He spun in a small circle looking for the arrangements.
"It's perfume," she quickly answered. "What are you doing here?" Maddy felt a lump growing in the pit of her stomach. If the Wild Wolfblood was willing to risk encountering Naturals, it must be important.
"I found our missing kin. I need your help to free them."
Maddy flushed when he grabbed her hands. His looks were eerily familiar. "Whe-where are the other Wolfbloods? Where did you find them? Why can't the pack help you?" Her mind was running faster than it ever had. Ling looked a mix of excited and frightened. Surely, if they were being held by someone or something, they could not do it alone.
"They are on a boat. I tracked their scent. And our pack is leaving tonight. They will not risk further capture, the few Betas left are assigned to ensure safe travels. It is just me. It is my chance to no longer be exiled. I need you, True Wolf."
Maddy looked longingly at the dress hanging on the back of her door. It was a coral pink, long satin dress. " . . . Okay. I'll come."
"Are you serious?!" Ling pulled Maddy away, so poor attempt at gaining privacy. "Call the police. This sounds dangerous," Ling advised. "Maddy, please." Gahmin growled his indignation at being challenged. To her surprise, Maddy watched Ling straighten up and step between them. "This is dangerous, really dangerous. You don't know who these people are. And there are serious consequences for Maddy if she gets caught."
"I have to help him."
Ling was clearly frustrated as she placed her hands on Maddy's shoulders. "Stop!" She warned. "You're not thinking this through."
"We can't alert the police. They'll ask too many questions, want to know who these nomads are, why they were captured - it's took risky calling the authorities." Maddy shoved her feet into her hiking boots, and darted in the hall to get her green bomber jacket. She looked at Ling, who was ready to burst into tears. "I'll meet you outside," she told Gahmin. Gahmin nodded and then exited the way he came in. When she was sure he had climbed down the fire escape, she turned to Ling, "Stay here. Let my parents know what is going on. Maybe they can convince the pack to help. Don't worry, I'll be careful."
"What about Rob- "
"Tell him . . . I'm sorry." It was then that Maddy and Ling knew this was it. Once Maddy left through that window, there was no coming back. Understanding this, Maddy clambered over her bed to her nightstand and opened the draw with the pictures and drawings from Rhydian. She folded them and gently placed them in her pocket. She then tightly hugged Ling. "Thank you . . . for everything."
Ling started to cry, nodding in understanding. She looked like she was trying to say something, but couldn't get the words out. Not wanting to cry, herself, she left through the window.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy and Gahmin were tucked behind some crates, her entire travel to the docks she frantically tried thinking of a daring rescue plan. No matter how she dreamt it, she was sure this was not going to end well. Maddy had Gahmin wait for a few minutes, the seconds moving by faster than she could ever recall. Her hopes of others showing up were put out like a candle flame in a mighty gust of wind.
"We need to move," he whispered. Maddy swallowed hard, every fiber in her being tensed. The boat Gahmin described was actually a grey, sleek looking three floor yacht. Just then an alarm sounded. Maddy and Gahmin covered their ears, the high pitch whirring bringing them to their knees. She jerked her head in the direction of the yacht for Gahmin to follow her. They scurried up the ramp leading to the deck of the vessel. Looking out from the deck, Maddy saw at the far end of the dock another ship glowing different shades of red and yellow. A fire had broken out and the workers were trying desperately to put it out. Even though the fire was far from them, something from deep within her said she needed to move faster to rescue the Wild Wolfbloods.
Maddy tried to turn the wheel of the door open, but the blaring of the sirens were too much for her to complete more than one rotation before needing to cup her hands over her ears. At this point, they would be caught before they could help the other Wolfbloods. Just as she was about to quit, small hands came from behind and started turning the wheel. It was Ling. "What are you doing here?!" Maddy demanded over the noise. Gahmin started to pace in pain.
Within a few moments, Maddy heard the faint click of the latch giving. Ling opened the door enough for them to gather inside. As Maddy began closing it, hands curled around the edge and opened the door further. It was Robert. He looked distraught as he squeezed himself inside the small opening. Seeing the effects of the siren on the Wolfbloods, he quickly pushed the door closed. "What are you doing?" Robert asked Ling. "I told you to get Maddy and come back, not go inside with her."
Gahmin was breathing heavy, little whimpers escaping. Maddy was leaning against the cream colored wall. "What are you both doing here?" She asked, resting her head on the wall.
"We came to get you," Robert answered. "Now, let's get out of here." He gestured to the door.
"I can't go. I promised to help Gahmin," she said, looking pointedly. "You both need to get out of here, though."
"I'm not going anywhere," Ling announced. Maddy groan. Now she grows a backbone, she thought.
"I'm not working with Naturals," Gahmin spat, pointing his finger at Ling and Robert.
"You are going to have to because they aren't going to leave and we're losing time. Did you two start the fire?" Ling and Robert shook their heads. Maddy paused, trying to evaluate everything that was unfolding. Was is possibly a coincidence, she wondered.
"I called Robert after calling your parents. We raced over here. With all the commotion, there was no one guarding the front, so we just drove in. We couldn't get a hold of Miranda, but I left a message," Ling explained, with a small smile.
"Maddy . . . please . . . think about - " Robert stopped as Maddy turned around and raced down hallway, making the first left possible. The others followed her, hushing each other at each noise made. Maddy stopped halfway down the carpeted hallway and sniffed the air, there were other Wolfbloods here. A sense of relief washed over her that this danger she was putting all of them in wasn't for nothing.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy guided them haphazardly down several narrow corridors, until they reached the lower part of the yacht's bow. They gathered at a white painted door, Robert's complexion nearly matched the color of the door.
Maddy sniffed again and then nodded at Gahmin who quietly agreed. Maddy's palms were sweating profusely. She whipped them on her jeans before tugging on the door handle. "It's locked," she confirmed.
"Now what?" Ling asked, looking at Maddy for direction.
"We turn back. Get help." Robert immediately spoke, earning a glare from Maddy.
"Lets look for something that we can break the handle with," Maddy suggested.
As the others spread out to search, Maddy froze. Flashes of her nightmare played quickly, so strong she could smell the oil burning and feel the heat from the explosion. As the vision released its grip, Maddy looked about. None of her surroundings emulated what she dreamed or felt, so why would those images just take over.
Gahmin called everyone back, he had found a small pipe to break the handle. He showed Maddy his prize find, his smile evident of how proud he was of himself. Gahmin swung the pipe twice, connecting with handle each time. The metal door handle dropped with a small clunk.
"Don't you find it suspicious that it's so quiet? It's . . . as if the yacht has been abandoned." Ling clasped her hands together in worry.
"Maybe they are distracted by the fire," Maddy surmised, watching Robert looking down the halls as if someone was going to pop out just then. "Let's focus," she instructed. She pulled the door open, and hit the lights. The group gasped. Lining the narrow room was two rows of cages, each one housing one of the Wild Wolfbloods.
From the middle of the room, Maddy heard her named called. Crouched on her hind quarters like an animal, was Davin, her fingers curled around the bars. "True Wolf, you came," she said surprised. "Help us!" Maddy grabbed the pipe from Gahmin and smashed the lock holding Davin captive.
Davin swung the door open and stepped outside, stretching her weary muscles, she looked at Maddy, "We need to move before they come back."
Maddy nodded and instructed Davin to start breaking the other out. "Ling, go with Gahmin to find something else to break them free. If we all work at it, we'll get out of here faster." Maddy turned away from the group to collet herself. There was no hampering the noise of the locks being broken, one by one. With the door ajar and unable to be shut, they could stop the clanging sound of metal on metal from permeating out into the halls.
"Who are 'they'?" Maddy asked Davin, who was pulling on the broken lock and opening the door to free the Wolfblood inside. Maddy immediately recognized him as Mahkah's son.
"The villagers, the Naturals you live with."
"All of them?!"
"I am not sure their numbers, just that they breed there," Davin grunted, throwing a broken lock on the floor and freeing the next Wolfblood inside. Maddy winced, wishing she would be more delicate. But delicate required time, and they didn't have any to spare.
Reflecting on Davin's words, Maddy felt as if she couldn't breathe. If they Hunters were living in numbers in Tall Skies, why would Segolia send her family there?
Ling and Gahmin returned with a long metal wrench and another pipe. Robert provided look out as they quickly broke out the remaining trapped Wolfbloods.
Maddy guided everyone back through the maze of hallways, using the smell of fresh air as her guide. Reaching the small steps that led back to the main deck, Maddy smiled. Once they got to the docks, it was just a sprint to the woods, which were right outside the main entrance to the docks. Maddy ascended the first few steps to see the door open. The sun glaring down, so bright, it blinded the youngest Smith. The rhythmic clamoring of something metal rolling down the steps and the door closing was all she could make out. Eying the metal container that rested at the bottom of the steps, Maddy panicked, it was an aerosol can much like the one the monster hunter used in Stonybridge. "Cover your mouth and nose!" Maddy fell to her knees, coughing. It was too late as everything went dark.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy's head throb unforgivingly, her vision slowly focused. She pushed herself into a sitting position, hearing rustling sounds, she looked over her shoulder. Davin shook her head, while Gahmin sat in a far corner. The others cowered in pairs. They were all locked in some room; a slight improvement over the small cages. The yellow of their eyes as brilliant as full moons. "Where - what happened?"
Davin snorted, "Hunters." Maddy continued to stare expecting more, but after a few silent moments, realized she wouldn't get anything further from her.
"Where are Ling and Robert?" Davin shrugged nonchalantly. Clearly, she was not going to be helpful. Aggravated at Davin's curt answers, Maddy stood and tried to gather intel on her surroundings. With no light and no windows, the darkness was unavoidable. Maddy walked forward hoping it was to a door. Maddy felt cold, thin, metal poles. "Bars," she whispered to herself. Carefully pressing her hands through the slot, she felt something wooden, "the door?" The were definitely locked in some makeshift prison. Maddy speculated they didn't have enough locks or time to put them back in their original containment units, so they just lumped all the Wolfbloods in one room . The True Wolf slid her arm down and was delighted to feel the door handle.
"Maddy," Gahmin called. But is was too late. Small jolts of electricity ran through her finger tips and up her arm. Maddy stumbled back, looking at her palms. She flexed her fingers trying to rid herself of the tingling feeling. "The door is possessed," he whimpered.
Maddy blinked, hissing as light flooded the room. She wasn't alone, growling immediately erupted from the other captives.
Two large men with cattle prodders and holstered guns filled the doorway, mere feet from Maddy. Her suspicions were immediately confirmed, they were in some type of makeshift holding pen. The welding marks on the bar's hinges still looked warm. Maddy wouldn't give them the satisfaction of showing fear. Proudly she puffed out her chest. But her brave front deflated at the sight of the smaller person that squeezed between the men. "Miranda?" Maddy whispered.
"I'm here for the True Wolf," she said firmly, looking passed Maddy. "While I would hate to lose more money by killing you, I will if any of you try something funny," she warned. "Let's go Maddy," she commanded. It was if Maddy was on auto-pilot. She gestured for the others to not move. Miranda stepped forward and without taking her eyes off Maddy, she placed cuffs on the Wolfblood. "These should feel familiar," she joked. Pulling Maddy from the room, she led her down the hall.
She felt as if weights were pulling on her, each step heavy and exhausting. "I don't understand. What's going on?" Maddy finally asked.
"We're Man's last hope. We are Helwing Hunters, named after our founder. George Van Helwing, better known under the fictitious name Van Helsing. While his focus were vampires, he was not ignorant to other beasts wandering this planet, mixing with us, humans." The hate and venom dripping from her words made her almost unrecognizable.
They continued to walk in silence until they reached another door. Miranda pushed passed her, and pounded on the door three times. Maddy couldn't make sense of this Miranda, it was if she dropped into an alternate universe.
"Get in," she shoved. Maddy nearly tripped over the metal door still, catching her balance at the last second. The room was lavishly decorated, an oval desk at the end and a couch to her right. Maddy backed up as the man sitting behind the desk approached. The Wolfblood felt two powerful hands grab her, squeezing like a vice. She looked up to see each man pushing her forward. Maddy planted her feet in and effort to resist their combined power. Still disoriented, it was not going in her favor. Mr. Abernathy crouched down slightly so they were face to face. "What makes you so special, True Wolf?" he pondered. He grabbed her chin, moving her head from side to side as if evaluating cattle at market. Madddy growled warningly, but it didn't phase the man in the least. He returned with a small syringe. Miranda pulled Maddy's sleeve up to show her bare arm, and slowly Mr. Abernathy extracted a blood sample. "I'll send this off to some of our team," he said to Miranda. "We'll compare it to samples we took from the others."
Maddy only hated Mr. Abernathy slightly more than herself. The uneasiness that surrounded him, she should have listened to her instincts. "It was all . . . a lie. You - you . . . this whole time," she paused just starring at the smug expression on Miranda's face. "You bitch!" Maddy finally yelled. So focused on Miranda, she didn't see it coming. Mr. Abernathy swiftly backhanded Maddy across the face. His rings scratching her cheek.
"Shut up!" He seethed, straightening out his blazer. "You - your species cost me enough." Maddy noticed small red dots spotting the cream colored carpet underneath her. She breathed heavy, the weight of her situation settling in. Slowly, she lifted her fingers to her nose, a line of crimson rolled over each finger. She then toucher her lip, more blood. She didn't say more, playing the outburst in her mind.
"Where's Ling and Robert?" Maddy asked him, noticing their obvious absence. "Ling isn't a Wolfblood."
"You are right. But, we can't obviously let her go. She knows too much. It's a shame she's so damn loyal to you beasts, or we would have offered her membership into our organization."
"Organization?" She snorted. "You're murdering innocent people."
"People is a term reserved for humans, not monsters."
"You're the monsters!" Maddy moved forward, but repelled back to her spot as the men regained their composure. Maddy breathed before asking, "She dead?"
"No yet," he answered emotionless.
"And Robert? You wouldn't kill your own son," Maddison could taste the blood collecting in her mouth. She wanted desperately to wipe her nose and mouth, but with such a tight grip on her arms, she was little in the way of movement.
"Don't worry about him," he said casually, turning to sit at his desk.
Maddy was numb to say the least. "What's going to happen to us?"
"We have a buyer in England willing to take you so he can study you. He's figuring out a cure for you all."
"We're not the ones who are sick," she said, her eyes fixated on the man responsible for so much death.
"Seems a little soft of a punishment, but . . ." he trailed off, setting into his oversized desk chair. "He's especially interested in you. A True Wolf. Thought to be extinct. Right here."
-Wolfblood-
Maddy had been escorted back to small room separate of the pack. She paced in what she believed was a walk-in closet. A small exposed light bulb illuminated the confined space. Maddy touched her mouth and nose, and was slightly relieved to see the bleeding has stopped. The door slowly opened, and Maddy braced herself, unsure of what was coming next. It was her parents. "Mum! Dad!"
"Shhh," Dan hushed, bringing his fingers to her mouth. He waved Maddy to exit, taking a brief moment to see his daughter's injured face. "Come on, let's go."
Maddy followed her parents. "We need to find Ling and rescue the others." They stopped at a part of the hall that separated three ways. "If we separate, we can find them faster."
"That's a horrible idea," Emma reprimanded. "We stick together." Not mentioning the dried blood sticking to her lip and side of cheek, Emma cupped her cub's face and grimaced.
"I'm sorry," Maddy whispered, wiping away a lone tear. Unable to smell her pack, she felt blind.
"They're in opposite directions," Dan lamented.
"We can't leave them. You rescue the other Wolfbloods, and I'll go after Ling." The youngest Smith believed that if her parents could rescue the Wild Wolfbloods, they would have numbers on their side.
-Wolfblood-
Maddy recalled her father's instructions, hoping she hadn't moved. Her sense of smell impaired, left her vulnerable and more human than even the strongest No Moon days. Climbing the spiral staircase to the second floor, she could see the fire was spreading, the dock workers haphazardly trying to contain it with the small volunteer firefighters. Since its inception, the fire had spread to the adjacent dock.
Maddy gently closed the door as to not disturb anyone on the floor, entering a small foyer. Hunched down, she pressed her ear to the door the led to the main room. Listening with all her might, she heard a small scuttling sound coming from within. Maddy opened the door as slowly as possible and peered in. Ling was tied to a chocolate-colored, leather swivel chair, a cloth over her mouth. Only a few feet across her was Robert. His hands were glued to his lap and he sat staring at Ling, almost longingly. It was apparent he had been crying, his eyes red and swollen.
Maddy stood, slightly raised on her toes. Her eyes darted about the room checking to see if they were the only occupants. Unlike the bottom floor, this was not subdivided into different rooms, but one large open space. There was a long rectangular table, some lavish couches and a large tv that doubled as a monitor for conference calls. On the other end, was a bar that appeared to lead to a small kitchen.A thin balcony wrapped around the room, so guests could look out onto the water. Maddy breathed an internal sigh of relief when she didn't find another person in the room.
Robert jumped from his seat. "Maddy!"
Unsure how to take his sudden explosion, Maddy put her hands up, her finger slightly curled, ready to claw her way out of anything. She growled warningly as she sidestepped toward Ling. Robert immediately sat, his hands returned to his lap. "What are you doing here? You need to leave right now?!"
"I'm not leaving without Ling or the others," she said pointedly. "I trusted you." She glanced between her and Robert as she began to untie Ling.
"I tried to warn you. I pled for you to leave," he defended. Looking about, he rose.
Maddy wanted to yell at him, but she couldn't give away her position. "Why aren't you trying to stop me?"
"Because I like you. I want you to be safe. That's why I asked you out to prom, I knew it would keep you away if you went. I didn't anticipate one of the Wild Wolfbloods tracking you down or finding this place."
"If you wanted to help me, then why not free Ling. Why not tell me the truth?" Maddy accused, having just finished un-tieing Ling's legs and she worked on the rope around her torso. Maddy looked at Robert, her face contorted in disgust. It felt as if he wanted to say more, but declined. Ling pulled the gag from her mouth as Maddy worked on the other hand.
"If my father has it his way, they are going to kill us all," he said, his voice straining.
"Kill us all?" Maddy questioned.
"You are not the first Wolfblood I became fond of Maddy." He ran his fingers through his hair. "This isn't baseball, they don't give 3 strikes. Even a second chance was being gracious."
"Samantha," she breathed, recalling the girl he mentioned months ago. She was also a Wolfblood. "What happened?"
"The same that happened to Ms. Dupree." He eyes locked with her, and Maddy could barely breath, barely stand, barely think.
"They murdered them." It came out so quietly, she wasn't even sure if it was so much spoken but a thought that just escaped. "Ms Dupree . . . was a Wolfblood?"
Maddy hands slowed to a halt, resting on the half-undone knot securing Ling's right hand. Adrenaline running, Ling pulled at the tie Maddy had been working on, finally freeing her left hand. Maddy's heart raced as she played the last few months back.
"Maddy, Maddy," Robert called in a hush voice. "You need to go," he instructed, helping Ling with the last knot.
"How come I couldn't smell her if she was a Wolfblood?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."
"You knew she was a Wolfblood and was killed by the Hunters, and you didn't say anything?" Maddy accused, shoving him.
"I didn't know until recently and by then it wouldn't have done any good to tell you."
"Who killed her?" Maddy demanded, snarling.
"I did." A form appeared in the doorway. Several gun shots sound outside. Maddy turned toward the sound, worried for her parents' safety."You cause a lot of trouble, you know that? A whole batch gone," Miranda said with no remorse.
"Robert, Ling, stay here . . if you know what's good for you. Let's go, True Wolf. The others might be gone, but you're the one they really care about anyway." Maddy breathed, she could feel the static - the energy- of Mother Nature tingling all around her. She could hear the pumping of their hearts and steady breathing of Miranda. Without hesitation, Maddy exploded forward . . . but she wasn't faster than Miranda's trigger finger. Maddy hit the floor and hissed. Her hissing let way of a scream. Maddy clutched her shoulder, feeling warmth emanate where the bullet burrowed into shoulder. "God, you're predictable."
Maddy slowly moved to her feet, her denim coat starting to turn a viole as the blood soaked through.
"Let's go," Miranda waved Maddy on with the gun. Maddy obeyed, moving cautiously down the spiral stairs to the main floor. Looking off the distance, she could see a few Wolfbloods bolting into the labrinyth of crates, but she didn't recognize any as her parents. Maddy faltered as she crept to the starboard side of the ship, away from the dock. The wound was worse than Miranda and she had originally thought. Maddy slammed into the side of the yacht, sliding down the cloud-grey exterior. Maddy laid her head against the cool metal side.
"You might as well shoot me," Maddy half laughed, half gasped. Maddy could she the wall of smoke moving closer. Instinct told her to run, but the oozing wound denied her the ability. "I can't believe I didn't see it earlier. The questions, the fact you were always there when I had an issue . . ." Maddy laughter deteriorated into sobs. She didn't know what hurt worse, the wound or her pride. The youngest Smith closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Get up, the fire is getting closer and we have to move you to another boat. You're worth too much. Move!" Mirada pointed the gun at her menacingly, aggravated by Maddy's stalling.
The True Wolf opened her eyes to look at Miranda, but it was all fuzzy shapes filled in with hazy water colors. Maddy didn't flinch as she heard a resounding bang. She looked about herself, checking for where the second bullet went. Nothing.
Beside her rested something large. She squinted, hoping her vision would clear for just a moment. Surely, the darkened-tan shape in front of her was Miranda, so what could be next to her? For the smallest second, her vision came into focus. It was Gahmin, breathing heavy. Each inhale gurgled with his blood. She gasped, Miranda's presence briefly forgotten. Maddy haphazardly crawled to him, trying to apply pressure to the wound in his chest.
"I - I will die . . . an Omega . . . but I will die . . . having . . . brought balance," he smiled. "Tru-u-ue W-w-wolf, he . . . here." He gave her a wooden rings carved like a wolf and a moon. "Tha - thank you . . ." Maddy wanted him to stop. It was taking him all his strength to speak, but she knew even if he did stop, it wouldn't change his fate. "for giving me hope," he finished. Gahmin took one last large gasp as he pushed the trinket into her crimson palms. Tears mixed with his blood as she cried. His body warm but listless as his spirit started his journey back home. Maddy clasped her fingers around the ring in her one hand, and gripped tightly to his shirt his the other hand, not wanting to let go of the young man just yet.
"Damn, what a waste." Miranda commented, shaking her head. The gun hung by Miranda's side in a moment of distraction, Maddy took the opening as a time to attack. She surged forward, praying to make contact. Maddy fell to all fours, her vision so faded, she felt it was middle of the night. Spots of yellow and pink floated like fireflies. But, she wasn't only one hunched over on the wooden deck. "You . . . bitch," Miranda spat. Hearing Miranda spit again to rid her mouth of blood - an all too familiar feeling for the young Wolfblood - Maddy came to the sound conclusion that what she clawed into was Miranda's face. Her vision still hazy, Maddy stayed crouched. Miranda located her gun and slowly rose to her feet, the pistol pointed at Maddy. "I don't care how much you're worth," she exhaled, tired. "If you exist then another one of you has to be out there somewhere." From behind Miranda, the engine exploded like a can of pre-made rolls exposed to the sun for too long. The yacht lurched, tipping everything forward.
Maddy dug her nails into the wood flooring to keep from sliding. Another explosion rocked the vessel, dislodging the Wolfblood. Like a bucking bull, the boat rolled, throwing any remaining passengers.
The water was cold, her muscles cramping under its bite. An unconscious Miranda descended, her body limp, small bubbles escaping from her mouth and nose. Miranda could never be brought to justice without exposing their secret. Maddy knew this. So, would it be so bad if she just let her sink, drown in the darkness around her?
She could extend her arm and with each flick of her foot, her right ankle pulsed. The shooting pain would result in a momentary pause, each pause leaving her to follow Miranda down further into the waters.
In spite of the lopsided swim, Maddy started to pull herself toward Miranda. She wasn't a killer. Her chest hurt as needed oxygen became scarce, and to her horror, Maddy understood she would never make to her former friend. Looking up toward the water's edge, she realized something worse. Miranda had damned both of them of surviving. Feeling foggy, Maddy could sense the need to hurry, but her muscles refused and her eyes instead.
-Wolfblood-
The truck rumbled angrily down the lone stretch of highway. The sun's rays stretched out over the rolling hills, warmth crawling on the ground, chasing the dark away. Maddy stirred, the hum from the old engine igniting her own cognition. She hissed in pain as she moved into a sitting position. "You need rest. Stop moving about like a dying fish." Davin watched Maddy intently, resting against the interior wall of Miranda's truck bed.
"My parents?"
"Driving," Ling replied, who was sitting opposite of Davin. Maddy turned around and spotted the back of her parent's heads through the small rear window.
"Where are we headed?" Maddy inquired.
"Somewhere safe," Ling answered, pulling her legs closer to her.
"Where's Robert? How did you escape? Why are you here?" The questions tumbled out of Maddy's mouth as fast as she could think of them.
"I'm not sure. He and I became separated after the engine caught fire. If it wasn't for Davin, I'm not sure I would have lived." Ling pulled some of her ebony hair behind her ear and adjust her glasses that were cracked on the right corner. "I don't know if I can go back, Maddy. If any of Miranda's group is still living . . . they know who I am and that I know about Wolfbloods . . . I . . . I'm afraid what they might do to my parents . . . or me."
"I'm so sorry, Ling. This is entirely my fault. I was so focused on just being normal, that I . . . I never thought Miranda and Robert were . . . Maybe we can get a hold of Segolia and see what they can do . . ." As the words left her mouth, she remembered that Segolia was the one that condemned them to Tall Skies, the questions was: did they know about the Helwing Hunters when they made the arrangements?
The truck slowed, and the small door of the back window slid open."You hear that?" Dan asked his daughter. He turned the truck off. Through the woods emerged a long, lonely howl of a Wolfblood.
"Other survivors?" Ling inquired.
"No," Maddy whispered. The sadness and tragedy that seemed to blanket the small group of survivors could not hold back the joy she felt of hearing her name called by him.
"Go, quickly," her mother urged. "Go before anyone else hears him."
"Stay," she instructed, as she watch Davin start to rise. "I will return shortly." Davin seemed uneasy about Maddy's departure, but settle back down nonetheless.
-Wolfblood-
"Helwing Hunters," Rhydian repeated aloud, leaning over the railing of the upstairs walkway to look out onto the small desolate town. Another heart-wrenching cry was heard erupting from the woods that backed up against the motel they were staying at for the night. "You think that's a good idea letting her carry on like that?"
"I'm not sure about anything right now." Maddy peered inside the room; her parents were sleeping in the one-bedroom suite while Ling rested on the couch. The TV in the room shot burst of light through the crack. The volume turned down so low, the news anchors were indistinguishable.
"It's not your fault," Rhydian comforted. "You know that, right?"
"Maybe." She turned back to look at the crescent moon. "But either way, a whole pack of Wolfbloods was slaughtered."
Rhydian gently turned Maddy to face him. "You don't know that. More could have escaped than you thought." Maddy nodded silently, not really believing in any of it. A cool breeze rushed passed carrying Davin's cries on its back. Rhydian groaned as he listened to Davin continue to mourn. Resigning to the fact that Maddy wasn't going to stop Davin, he asked, "Where to next?"
"Alaska," Maddy answered in an empty tone. Ling had taken the long ride to unravel the clue that Mahkah had given Maddy. The brilliant colored path to their ancestors was the Northern Lights that danced in the darkened Alaskan skies.
"Yeah? And what's there?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.
"Answers." Maddy leaned into Rhydian, resting her head against his chest, listening to his heart beat. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her as they looked out over the quiet town, thinking about what was to come next.
- End The Long Call Home
A/N: Thank you all for coming on this journey with me. I have learned so much about myself as a writer in telling this story. And as always, please leave a review. Thank you again.