2 The Chase Begins
1635 Words
2 The Chase Begins
Vin presses her lips together, willing tears not to fall.
Fuck. He bit me. He marked me for… his games or whatever twisted wolf thing. Maybe if I hide it in my bag no one will see and I can get a nurse to clean it up.
It is a hopeful - near delusional idea.
The other humans have not moved and they do not talk. Vin shakily drapes her sac around her hand.
When the bus stops they move to board.
The driver stops Vin.
"Not you. You'll cause trouble with that." He motions towards the red stain spreading across the fabric of her bag.
"This? I cut it on a broken cleaning plate." Vin smiled, hoping to convince him it is nothing to fear.
"I'm not taking that chance." The other humans do not rat her out, but no one defends her either.
"Please, please, I need to get home." Vin pleads.
"We all do. Another time." The driver drops his tone gently. The door closes in her face and she is stranded. It's nearly dark and she has nowhere to go.
Her breathing quickens and tears well in her eyes.
This is not going to end well.
No. She scolds herself. You will not be a helpless ninny. Chin up. I can make it home still.
She tries to stay steady in her pace as she decides to walk home.
What else am I going to do? With their smelling abilities, I can't hide under a bridge in wolf town, and the family I work for will not help me. After dark, I do not exist to them.
Maybe luck will be on my side tonight.
It's a stupid thought, but Vin refuses to give up.
She makes it another six minutes until the street lamps click on.
No no no no no. Breathe.
She hears the sound of howling and stops in her tracks.
No.
She runs. She runs as fast as she can in her slippers, not caring who sees her and ignoring their jeers.
She barely makes it to a street corner.
It doesn't take long before she is surrounded by the same adolescent wolves from the bus stop. In the bright lights of the street lamps, Vin can see the spread of their ages. Some look barely younger than her, most look a few years her senior.
"Hello, human, are you lost?" One step forward. It was not really a question, more of a taunt, she can hear it in his smug sneer.
"Please. Please, I'm just trying to get home, not cause any trouble. I have work at the Beta's house tomorrow." Her best attempts at a steady voice are unsuccessful and she can hear the fear in her voice. She knows it won't convince them.
“Please.” She barely whispers.
"I'm sure you do." The wolf that bit her leaned towards her.
A slightly older wolf holds up his arm to signal something.
Vin can hear the rattle of metal and tires on pavement coming up the road. The large car isn't far from view. She knew about the large cars and what they did. These are the stories that are common among the humans. She had hoped to never see it in real life.
Fuck. Tonight. A purge.
Every so often there is a purge of sorts. A game the wolfs liked to play. They round up humans, half-breeds, criminals... any undesirable- and chase them for sport. It keeps the wolves happy, and the warriors trained. The wolves especially love it. The sport of it.
Another wolf steps forward and rips her bag from her body. She is left with torn clothing and her slippers.
At least I have some protection.
When the car pulls up, the gate is dropped. A wolf gleefully pushes her into the back of the car, where another wolf chains her with the other unfortunate occupants. There are dozens of other humans, malnourished wolves, and half-breeds here.
We're all f****d.
She had heard stories of this purge. Purge is the human word for it. There seemed to be no warning for it, other than wolves needing training and to work off some steam. Usually, the stories were something like 'my mom's uncle got caught and is a servant in the palace now,' or 'my sister's twice-removed aunt was never seen again." The stories were not reliable, but the purpose was to spread caution.
Of course. Of course, the one time I'm out too late it's that night. The night I die.
They all sit in silence as the car bumps their tense bodies along the gravel road.
What happens to them? Well, it depends. Most are killed. Some women and men are used as bed warmers for pleasure or population growth. Some are kept as live-in maids, cleaning without a salary. The men are either used as or if they are strong enough in battle they become front-line battle soldiers for the Lycans at whatever petty war they find.
The stronger supernaturals use this as training. It gives their warriors practice. It also protects their female warriors from harassment so they can keep being warriors without the worry of male impulses.
Lucky them. Vin had heard all species participate but that it is mostly a wolf sport. The Fey find it too barbaric, and most vampires are too introverted to participate in a hunt like this.
A few of them have been marked for pickup like Vin was, sporting bloody hands; and others were picked up on a whim, or pulled from prison.
Vins emotions alternate between fear and stubbornness. She is terrified. She knows the chances of getting out of this alive are low, and even if you live… but she also has the desire to live. I have people to care for. People who need me. There is still good I can do for everyone.
The large box car comes to a stop near a field. Vin can see two other cars parked in front of them and imagines they are also filled with terrified souls too. There's a rope line holding back an excited queue of wolves.
They're excited, salivating at the chase they're about to have.
The humans are all terrified.
The contrast in this singular experience does not miss Vin.
Panic starts to bubble in her stomach.
I am not strong. I am not a warrior. There is no way I live through this. I have to live. I don't know how.
The box car doors open and a wolf quickly pulls the chains away. The relief of not being secured is short-lived when other wolves start telling them to get started running as they pull them out and push them forward.
Vin runs. She runs because her instinct pushes her body forward. They are given a small lead and she is going to use it. While chances are slim, Vin has decided not to give up.
She is thankful her body is nimble and quickly driven by anxiety. It makes running through the field towards the forest easy.
A loud howl rips through the air. The chase has officially begun.
Vin starts to hear screams behind her as the hounds are released.
Fuck s**t f**k run.
She tries sprinting faster.
The cries of people falling get closer.
I need to hide.
She spots a large tree to her side and sprints around its truck. There is a hollowed-out root system that she slides into. The decay of plants and a rancid animal carcass are strong - Vin hopes it is enough to cover her scent.
She slathers some mud on her skin. She works on calming her breath.
In for four, hold, out for four. In for four, hold, out for four. She imagines her heart returning to its normal pace. I don't want the pounding in my chest or my wheezing to attract attention.
Vin clamps her hands over her lips.
I need to be quiet. I hope there are too many other smells that my scent is mostly masked. I hope so.
The sound of running thunders near her. She can hear feet kicking up bark and plants. She can hear panic. From her hollow hiding spot, Vin sees a woman fall. A wolf is on top of her at a frightening speed.
He flips her on all fours and mounts her, howling with excitement. She screams and he laughs.
I am so sorry. She closes her eyes tightly. I'm a coward. I should run out and… I don't know… punch him? I'm so sorry.
At least she will just be a bed warmer since he did not take the opportunity to kill her. She will live somewhat. When he finishes, he picks up her sobbing form and throws it over his shoulder. He has his prize.
Vin keeps her eyes shut, her knees are drawn to her chest. She bites her lips. Her hands plug her ears in an attempt to block out the chaos around her. She rocks slightly back and forth. She was too terrified to worry if her motions would draw attention.
Her tears spill from her cheeks down her legs.
I am a coward. I am so sorry.
Moments pass. She can not measure time, so Vin does not know exactly how long has passed.
Her tears have stopped and her body at least feels safer. She strains her ears to listen for the slightest of sounds. Her eyes scan the horizon.
She can now see the moon from her position, a definitive sign that time has passed.
Are they gone? Is it over already? It's still dark out.
There's no running, no twigs snapping, no screams.
Vin slowly crawls from her safe hiding hole.
- Writer
