Prison of Blood and Lies

Seven

I made my way back to the motel on foot, hoping to run into the woman or Tucker. Either would have been acceptable at this point. As I walked, I imagined all the ways I’d make Tucker suffer just for what I’d witnessed. He would beg for death like the dog he was.

The chill air made me pull my black leather jacket tighter around my body. I flipped up the collar to protect against the autumn wind. One I thought I caught the bap-bap-bap  of the Honda’s engine in the distance. I spun around and saw an empty street.

A few blocks from the seedy motel where I’d been staying, I saw a woman stumbling in the median. I was too far away to make out any clear details of her clothes or her face, but I felt in my gut that it was the same woman from before. I approached slowly.

“Excuse me,” I said. I used the most gentle tone I could muster, trying not to scare her away. Judging from my two other interactions with her, she’d been through a lot. I’d need to approach her with care.

She spun around and nearly fell over. Under the dim yellow light of the street lamp, I could see that it was, indeed, who I’d been looking for. Her face was bloody and her makeup smeared. She’d been crying.

“D-don’t come any closer. Please.” She extended her arm out toward me, motioning for me to stop. I didn’t take any more steps in her direction. The aura around her shone a dull gray and the fear rolled off her in waves. Even from where I stood several yards away, her strong emotion came through clearly.

I forced a small smile and hoped that she could see it through her fear and the dull light. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. I’m trying to help you.”

She took a step backward and tripped. She let out a small shriek and stayed on the ground with her knees pulled close to her chest. Her back shook as she sobbed.

I took a tentative step toward her. Her head snapped toward me.

“I said stop. Do not come any closer.”

I took a step back. “I’m a friend. Promise. I’m going to make that asshole pay for putting his hands all over your body. He has no right to hurt you. None.”

She wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “You can’t help me. Please. Just g-go away.” She looked around us, her head darting from side to side. She resembled a scared animal on the side of the road. I pitied her.

“I can. I can help and I’m going to free you from Tucker. Nobody deserves this.”

She just looked at me, doe - eyed. I let a few seconds pass before I spoke again.

“I was like you once. I didn’t have a choice.” I paused. I wanted to gain her trust but I resisted those painful memories.

She stayed silent but didn’t give any hints that she’d bolt, either.

I continued, “They drugged me. Beat me. Kept me high and locked up. Anything to keep me compliant.”

She c****d her head to one side.

“Do you want to know how I’m free today?”

She gave a tiny nod.

“I killed those mother fuckers. I ripped their hearts out.”

“R - Really?” she squeaked.

“I promise. And I’m out here trying to get every single one of these assholes who hurt women.”

In the distance I heard a suped-up engine and the noise grew progressively louder as the second ticked by. It was the Honda. It had to be. Tucker must have been searching for her.

I took a few steps toward her and held out my hand. She flinched away from me.

“Please, come with me. I’ve got somewhere safe you can crash for the night. We’ll get you cleaned up and get some hot food in your belly.”

She shook her head. “He’ll kill me. Please, just go.” Her whole body shook with terror.

The car had stopped at a light just a few blocks away, judging by the idling engine. I needed to get her cooperation and I needed it quickly, before he saw her.

Thinking fast, I looked in her face and got her attention. I pushed just a little sexy energy her way. Her lips parted. I gave another gentle push and held out my hand to her. This time she took it and allowed me to help her to her feet.

I pulled her along behind me. She limped the entire way. The car revved and it echoed in the empty streets. Time was running out. We needed to be out of sight.

I threw one arm around her shoulder and another behind her knees and scooped her up. She weighed practically nothing. With her in my arms, lolling her head back and forth, I ran down an alley way and ducked us behind a dumpster.

We got out of sight just as the car drove by. He must be frantic, looking for his missing cash cow. I grabbed her again and threw her over my shoulder, fireman style. She squirmed and moaned. Between my sensual energy and whatever drugs Tucker had forced into her system, she was out of it.

We kept to the shadows of the alleyways of the city and encountered nobody else. The walk back to the hotel took twice as long as it would have if we’d just taken the sidewalk, but we were able to stay hidden.

I unlocked my motel room door and kicked it open with my foot. I set the woman on the bed as gently as I could. She’d gone limp by now, unconscious. I closed the door and bolted it then flicked on the bathroom light so I could get a little light without disturbing my guest.

I heard a chuckle come from the far corner of the room.

“Hello there,” a deep, husky voice said. “You were looking for me?”

I put up my fists in defense and looked toward the voice.

There he was, Tucker, the werewolf pimp.