Ch. 47

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN:

~Avery:

I opened my eyes, my body aching and my spirit broken. Depression gripped me tightly, suffocating any remnants of hope. Nightmares swirled in my mind, replaying the deaths I had caused, tormenting me relentlessly. I struggled to stay awake, but sleep seduced me once more. I’d had depressive episodes before, but this was something else. I was sucked back in to repeat the same cycle over and over.

Something pulled me out early this time.

As my eyes adjusted to the dim light surrounding me, I noticed a vaguely familiar figure poking me with a long stick. Recognition dawned upon me—it was Tyler, my former foster brother. He was as thin and dead-eyed as he had been as a kid. I tried to find my voice, to apologize, to say anything, but before the words could escape my lips, Tyler's older brother stormed into the room.

His face bore a smug satisfaction, reveling in the knowledge he had acquired. "Well, I have to admit I’m surprised he was here bothering with you," he sneered. "You traumatized him so much he hasn’t talked since he told me what you did.” He turned back to face Tyler, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently, saying, “It took years of searching and training with the Hunters to bring me here, face to face with the one who ruined our lives… but there she is buddy. And she can’t hurt you. She won’t hurt anyone ever again."

My heart sank, guilt washing over me in waves. I looked to Tyler to try to say something to him, "I never meant for any of this to happen," I choked out, my voice trembling. "I never wanted to bring harm to you or your family. I'm so sorry. He was hurting you Ty, and I just wanted him to stop. I was trying to protect you. I’m sorry, I failed you."

Tyler just stared at me with glassy eyes. I couldn’t even tell if he actually heard or processed anything I said.

His brother’s eyes gleamed with malice as he towered over me, leaning on my cell bars. "Sorry won't change what you've done, you sick little witch. You did what you did. You can’t change that."

Tears streamed down my face as I absorbed the weight of my actions. Tyler's older brother snatched him away then, leaving me alone once more. The depths of my self-loathing threatened to consume me entirely. I lay down on my back and it didn’t take long to get sucked back in again. 

It started over again. Each memory. Starting in the basement of the O’Dell household. My first kill. And it went on and on, each death dragging me down, making me feel heavy. I wasn’t strong enough to hold back, not really. I didn’t ask for this magic, but that didn’t matter. While superheroes in movies managed their abilities to help people, I could barely hold myself back from being the villain.

The cycle looped again. And again. And then something was different. This time I caught a glimpse of Drake. Relief, happiness, and sorrow took over me as I walked through the scene - when we first met. This was a longer moment than before. Yes, I remembered killing this guy, but I had almost forgotten the rest of that day.  I was reminded that he still existed, that he was out there somewhere, that he meant something to me. Maybe everything. But before I could fully grasp his presence, he vanished, leaving me to the mercy of my nightmares.

The cycle continued, I started to think he was just a fluke. My nightmares went on consuming me, leaving me gasping for breath. I found myself standing on the desolate dock by the cabin, my screams echoing into the void as I lit up the world around me. And then, to my astonishment, Drake materialized before me. The memory of the relief I felt at his presence flooded my senses, momentarily soothing my weary soul. I’d forgotten the rest of this moment. When I’d pushed him away but he’d just gone to check on things. He hadn’t left. He was true to his word and didn’t leave me behind.

In my life people left me or I left them. I couldn’t remember anyone since my adoptive parents died who had been in my life very long. Even in foster care. No one was actually there for me. No one cared for me when I was sick, or held me when I cried. But here he was in this moment, holding me. The world around flickered a moment - I could swear that while I hugged him he was also watching me from a few feet away. That wasn’t real, was it?

The respite was short-lived as the nightmares picked up again, reclaiming their hold over me. The whole aura of everything around got dark again. But then… something shifted. I caught a glimpse of a wolf's silhouette, a large one, like a wolf I knew… and suddenly, everything changed. Drake was there. But I couldn’t place this version. I didn’t remember this memory. He said something to me I couldn’t quite get, but then Drake's memories unfolded before my eyes, as if I was experiencing them alongside him, sharing in his darkest moments.

Sadness washed over me as I witnessed Drake's transformation into a massive, terrifying wolf, unleashing a rampage of carnage upon unsuspecting campers. His parents fought desperately to stop him, but he just knocked them out and kept on going. Then the following morning, he woke in his human form, covered in blood, burdened by the weight of his actions. The memories continued, revealing a pattern of anger and violence—a tormented young man wrestling with the darkness within. Starting fights in school, picking on groups of guys at bars - blood and bruises galore. Deaths in between.

I took it all in, my heart breaking for this boy, and then man, who struggled with darkness. The darkness I know really well. I saw myself in him. I always felt like he understood me more than other people, but I didn’t realize he really, truly, understood what this was like. 

In this altered state of the dream, I could see Drake clearly, standing beside me. I collapsed into him. Him, the only person probably in existence who knows how it feels. Who wrestles with how invigorating it is to let go, let the darkness take over. 

“It’s really you, isn’t it?” I asked him.

He didn’t even need to answer. I knew in my gut that it was. I remembered our dream visits from when he was out there looking for me. But this also felt different. I felt like this was us in surround-sound. Every place we touched, him being so close, his heartbeat - I was aware of all of it. I could feel worry and relief, that wasn't quite mine. And a deep urge to keep hold of him, never let go.

Distance makes the heart go fonder?

Beth’s new boyfriend was there next, which was odd. And I found myself fighting feelings of jealousy. I wanted Drake all to myself.

Things happened quickly then. I could feel myself being woken up again. I fought to hold onto him, tried to think of everything helpful I could say before I left him.

Waking up there broke my heart all over again. I had to fight to keep a whimper from escaping my mouth. 

“Oh, can’t have you crying before we start, lass,” Jack’s sinister words sent shivers to my spine.

I guess I hadn’t hid my whimper enough. 

I looked to the cell door as he opened it and stepped inside.

“Well cheer up, lass. We’re going on a fieldtrip today,” he said, leaning down and yanking me up.

I stumbled as I tried to catch my own weight. His hand gripped into my side fiercely as he pushed me on the cell bar. I smacked my head and hissed. My left hand going up in an automatic reaction was grasped tightly by him and he yanked it down. That’s going to bruise later, I’m sure. Then I felt something stuff, cold, and - heard a click.

He leaned away and grabbed me by my elbow, leading me out of the cell. Jack was rough, shoving me out and around, and then next thing I knew we were out the door 

I’d almost forgotten how vividly weird this place is. Especially now that I knew the rest looked like some old hospital. The torches in the hallway flickered, giving medieval vibes in a squeaky clean hospital-like hallway. Seriously, did they employ cleaners here? I glanced at the floor as Jack led me down the hall, the opposite from the direction of the first girl I’d run into the day I escaped.

“Where are you taking me?” I gathered enough nerve to ask.

Jack just chuckled.

It couldn’t be good. Not after the carving session he’d done on me the other day. I’m surprised all my nightmares didn’t include that. I hadn’t told Drake about it though, I couldn’t add more stress to all of this. Part of me also didn’t want him to think… well, that I was weak. I twisted my mouth in thought trying to figure that part out.

“Here we go, little mermaid,” he said, pushing me towards an elevator. 

We went down to the main level, the one I’d seen before that had some sort of lobby. Then out and into the blinding lights, down the hall, and he stopped me in front of some unknown door.

It suddenly opened from the inside and I saw two other guys. And behind them was a large wooden table.

Jack shoved me inside and towards the table.

“Sit,” he commanded.

I looked around, unsure, for a moment, but I took a seat at the closest chair, my arms clasped together behind me in cuffs that cut at my skin. 

I looked at Jack, then back over to the other two guards or whatever they were, then back to Jack. I did not like the look on his face. He smirked at me, arms crossed.

Then a knock came to the door. All my nerves were at attention.

“Is she here?” someone asked from the other side.

“Yeah,” Jack answered.

He stepped aside to reveal a middle aged man. Something about him set all my hairs on end. My bones felt like they wanted to run away. There was something terrible about this guy.

“Ah, there you are,” the guy said as he entered, flanked by two other huge guys.

They looked at me with disgust as they seemed to be sniffing the air.

“You’re right. It’s worn down. I can pick it up pretty clearly now,” the middle aged guy said to Jack who nodded curtly.

I shifted a bit under their uncomfortable gazes.

Who was this guy? Clearly some leader. As he stepped forward, I couldn’t help but feel like I recognized him.

He grabbed my chin roughly, turning my face. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you boys?”

His eyes glazed over.

They chuckled like they were all saying something secretly to each other.

“Wisp of a thing for him… but who am I to judge fate?” he snickered, and roughly released me.

He turned and faced Jack once more saying, “They’ll put some things on her to absorb her scent and we’ll be out of your hair.”

Jack grinned darkly and nodded, showing the mystery guy out. 

This couldn’t be good.