Struggling against the handcuffs did nothing but break the skin on my wrists and the fire was quickly spreading. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was crying pretty heavily while I contemplated how badly being burned alive was going to hurt. Smoke was filling the barn at an alarming rate and my lungs were starting to fill with it, making me cough. Suddenly, I was falling and dropped unceremoniously on the barn floor. The fire had burned through the anchor for the rope and while I was no longer hanging from the ceiling, my hands were still cuffed. That was a problem I'd solve later, right now I had to get out of this death trap. Fire was blocking the door but it was my only chance to get out so I did what no sane person should do. I screamed as I ran through the flames and out the door, then dropped to the ground to put out the fire that had spread to my jeans. A quick look around revealed that psycho lady was nowhere around but neither was the car she had used to bring me here.
Breathing deeply of the fresh air, I quickly contemplated my choices. Either run down this dirt road and try to find civilization or take my chances in the woods where I could hide if I needed to. My choice was made for me when I caught a glimpse of my kidnapper's vehicle coming towards me and I ran as fast as I could for the woods. The cuffs were a hindrance but I managed to make it to the tree line in time for me to hear the brakes squeal loudly in protest as she stopped the car. Branches scratched my face as I ran, not caring which direction it was as long as it was away from her. A scream echoed in the distance and something told me she realized that I was gone.
I tried to think calmly, as though there wasn't a predator on my tail. If I ran through water, could she still smell me? Or was that dogs? I took a chance when I came to a stream and barreled through it without hesitation. Something about her screamed 'feline' and cats could climb trees so it was in my best interest to stay on the ground. My chest was burning and begging for a break but I couldn't afford one until I found a safe place to hide. A cave caught my eye as I ran past it, making me double back and scramble awkwardly through the opening. I barely squeezed through and it made me confident to think that she couldn't fit through the small opening. I was trying to catch my breath when I heard her voice taunting me.
"Weakling..." She called, her voice getting closer. "Where did you go, mouse?"
I put my hands over my mouth to stifle the fearful sobs as I saw her legs pause outside of the opening. I heard her sniff the air and then giggle with blood thirsty glee. "I know you're here...why not make it easy on yourself and come out?"
When I didn't reveal myself, she continued. "Most predators don't like their meals laced with fear but I find that terror gives the meat such a...sweet taste."
Something nudged my foot then I felt something furry and huge press against my legs, its paws moving to rest in my lap. My eyes had adjusted to the partial darkness and I could make out the silhouette of a wolf. Fantastic.
"Come out now and I'll kill you mercifully."
The wolf's ears perked up at her words and she cocked her head to the side, with an inquisitive look on her face. I pressed my hands tighter against my face to keep any sounds from getting out while I wept silently. The wolf snuffled at my face then licked my cheek, no doubt tasting tears.
"I'm tired of this game." She snarled and I jumped as she ran through the woods, away from my cave. I could hear branches breaking as she ran, the woods around my location getting quieter the farther she got. I didn't move my hands from my mouth until I was sure she was gone then I tried not to panic as it finally sank into my head that a freaking wolf was staring me in the face.
"Um...hi. I'm having a really bad day," I said with a quivering voice. "So, if you could not eat me, I'd super appreciate it."
The wolf snorted then moved off of me, waiting for me to make my next move. When I remained sitting upright, it grabbed the sleeve of my dress and tugged on it gently until I laid down. When I was relatively comfortable, using my hands as a pillow, the wolf moved to lay in front of me, as though it was protecting me. The running and the crying had taken a lot of energy out of me, so I let myself close my eyes. Just for a minute.
-0-
When I woke up, it was dark and I was cold. Sitting up, the handcuffs reminded me of the events of the day. I had to get to a town or someplace safe where my kidnapper couldn't find me. I stretched the best I could in the confined space available then scrambled out of the cave, taking a few seconds to survey my surroundings. My wolfy companion was nowhere to be seen and I ventured into the woods with the intent of finding my way home. Thankfully the moon was full and gave me a pretty good line of vision so I didn't trip over anything.
"There you are." The voice made me tremble but I didn't bother to turn around, opting to run. I heard her chuckle then take off after me. She wasn't running as fast as she could because she could have easily caught me if she was. This crazy bitch was toying with me. I begged my legs to move faster but they were going as fast as they could when I tried to climb over a log. My right foot fell through a hole in the log and got stuck. I tugged on it as hard as I could but to no avail. I was stuck and my killer was fast approaching.
"Never run from a predator." She warned me as she sauntered forward, pausing roughly fifteen yards away from me. I tried to get free and the world seemed to slow as she lunged forward and I did the only thing I could think of. I screamed as loud as I could and squeezed my watering eyes closed against the sight of the tools of my execution when something landed in front of me with a snarl that made me shriek. I heard the sound of bodies colliding and when I opened my eyes, I saw Victor throwing my captor against a tree trunk. I could tell as they brawled that while she may be more agile, Victor was much stronger and it wasn't long before he had his claws buried in her chest. Shock and betrayal was plastered on her face as she slumped to the ground and Victor pulled his hand free then quickly came to my rescue. It took a second for him to break my foot free and use his claws to break me free of the handcuffs.
As soon as my hands were free, I threw my arms around Victor's neck and sobbed into his coat. He seemed taken aback for a moment then put one arm around my shoulders and the other around my knees, collecting me into his arms and carrying me out of the woods. He stole my captor's car and I drew my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around my legs while he drove us to a motel. He carried me into the room he had rented, setting me carefully on the bed before kneeling in front of me and checking me for any wounds. My wrists were rubbed raw, my face had at least a dozen small cuts from branches, and my ankle ached but other than that I was okay. When he was satisfied, or at least less pissed, about my well being he handed me a glass that had some whiskey in it.
"Drink it. You're in shock." He ordered and I clutched the glass with a trembling hand. The amber liquid sloshed out of the glass and onto my dirty dress but I managed to get a drink, the burn in my throat making me cough. Victor surveyed my clothes and dirty face and hair then said, "Shower. I'll be back."
"Where are you going?" I stammered, afraid to be alone.
"You need clothes." Victor said then left, locking the door behind him.
The shower did help clean the dirt off but it didn't make me feel better. The soap caused my wrists and the cuts on my face to sting but it was better than being dead so I didn't let it bother me. Victor was still gone when I exited the bathroom so I rummaged around in the motel supplied dresser and found one of his shirts. It fell to my knees but it would be better than being naked when he returned. My underwear were dirty so I hand washed them and hung them to dry on the towel rack before crawling into bed, wrapping the comforter around me tightly. The silence was deafening so I clicked on the TV and watched re-runs of I Love Lucy until he came back.
When Victor did return, he had a paper bag that smelled suspiciously like hamburgers and a bag that, presumably, had clothes in it. He tossed the plastic bag to me and I dug through it, thankfully finding underwear and pajamas as well as jeans and a few t shirts. I shoved the blanket back and got out of bed when he stiffened at the sight of me in his shirt.
"I'm sorry. I-I didn't have anything else." I explained quietly.
He put the food on the bed and moved closer, lowering his face to my neck and inhaling deeply, running his nose the length of my neck. "Keep it."
Then he moved away, allowing me to escape to the bathroom to change into fresh underwear and pajamas. When I came into the main room again, he growled at the sight of me in the sleep pants and tank top he had bought me. "What?"
"Nothing." Victor downed the liquor I hadn't drank before snapping, "Eat."
My stomach turned at the thought of food but I managed to eat one of the hamburgers. Victor pulled a tube of something from his pocket and pulled my wrists toward him when I was done eating. He had bought antibiotic ointment while he was out and applied it to my wrists with more tenderness than I would have expected from him. When he was satisfied with the ointment, he wrapped my wrists with gauzy bandages and secured them.
He released me and re capped the ointment then poured himself another drink. I took a sip of my own drink before I murmured, "Thank you for saving me."
Victor gave me a sideways glance but grunted an acknowledgement at me and I pressed my lips against his cheek gently before crawling further back to the bed and laying down. Sleep would be impossible (even if I hadn't slept in the cave) because anytime I closed my eyes, I saw my captor and my heart started to pound. Victor said nothing when I turned the TV back on and sometime around four in the morning, he laid on the bed next to me and was snoring within seconds. My body was begging for sleep by then so I turned the TV off and pulled the comforter up to my chin. I watched the clock for about an hour before I rolled over to face Victor and carefully scooted closer to him, pausing every time I moved to make sure I didn't wake him. I curled up next to him, close enough to smell the whiskey on his breath and I was finally able to sleep.
A/N: Thanks to my two reviewers DragonessWitch92(guest) and PanIvy747. You guys are amazing and I love you. Thanks to those of you who have added this story to your alerts/favorites list. I love you guys too! Remember reviews go to stories like Professor X and telepathy so please leave on your way out. Let me know what you guys think. :)