Page 23 of Escaping Wildfire

“I’m sorry, Miss, but I don’t know. Alpha Marek just told me to bring you food.” She looked down at the floor.

“Do you know where my parents are or where the other girls I came in with are?”

“I just delivered food to the other two girls, they are both in the room across from yours.” It was a relief to know Jasmine and Jade were together, even if I couldn’t see them. “As for anyone else, I’ve only seen the three of you and two little boys that are down the hall.”

She set the tray down on a coffee table beside a loveseat. “I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, but I can help you get showered and changed if you like. I noticed you were still in the clothes you came in. Your friends were too, but it might help you feel more comfortable if you got changed.”

“I don’t want to be comfortable here! Your pack ripped me away from my home and killed my Alpha! The only thing I want is to go back home with my family!”

Nora looked down at the floor again. “I’m sorry, I understand. This must be difficult for you. I’ll let you eat and come back later for the tray.” She seemed to cower as she spoke.

“No, I’m sorry. I know it’s not your fault. Thank you for trying to help.”

She nodded and turned to walk out but paused as if contemplating something. She turned and looked up at me. “If it’s any consolation, we’re not all like the Alpha and warriors you’ve met so far…some of us are as much a prisoner in this pack as you are.” With those words, she quickly walked out.

I walked over to the food and saw that she’d brought me a simple meal of chicken strips and a salad. At least it was something I liked. For a moment, I wondered if they’d tampered with my food in any way, but the delicious smell made my stomach clench. I hadn’t eaten since lunchtime yesterday, and I was certain it must be about lunchtime now as the sun was high in the sky.

I looked down at my hands and clothes. I had been reluctant to change out of my dirty clothes because it was all I had of home. I felt like putting on the new clothes they’d left in the drawers meant me accepting my fate here at Wildfire. I'd washed as much blood as I could off my hands and arms without showering last night, but I had still had a restless sleep, waking up every so often and looking down at my hands to make sure there was no blood and that I was still safe…or as safe as I could be locked up in this room.

I ate as much as I could because I didn’t know when they would feed me again, and then I sat by the window looking out. Now that it was daytime, I could see that my room looked out towards a training field. I could see a group of warriors training in smaller groups. Their mixture of dark and brightly colored workout clothes made them look out of place. From a place like Wildfire, I’d expect more dark colors and soldiers training in unison than the normal-looking crowd outside.

I heard a knock, and Nora let herself in. “Hello, again. I’ve come for the tray. I’ve been told to let you know that there is a TV room on this floor that you and your friends can go to, but I’ll be back to help you get ready for dinner. Alpha Marek has requested your presence.”

“Just mine?”

“Yes, Miss.” Nora looked down at the floor again, obviously uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. I felt panic rise in me as I thought about what Alpha Marek might want with me.

“Would you like me to show you to the TV room?”

“Yes, please.” I had nothing better to do in this room, so I might as well go there.

She led me to the end of the hallway and opened a door for me to enter before leaving again.

I was relieved to find Jasmine, Jade, and the boys in there. I quickly rushed over and hugged Jasmine. “You’re okay!” She exclaimed.

“You, too.” I pulled back to see her face and saw that a light purple mark had formed on her cheek. “How long have you been here?”

“Just a few minutes.” She pulled me with her to sit down. “The boys said they took your parents to the cells.”

“What?!” I covered my mouth with my hand in shock.

“When we got here, they drove us to a different building and had Mom get out. Then, they took Tío Tomás and your mom and led all three of them into the building. Dad was still knocked out, so they carried him inside.” Felix filled in for me.

“I asked the guy driving us where they were taking them, and he said they were getting locked up in the cells,” Miles added. “Then they drove us up here and put us in a room.”

“What do you think they want with us?” It was Jade who spoke up this time.

“I’m not sure, but the girl who brought my food said Alpha Marek wants to have dinner with me tonight…that she’d come by to help me get ready later.”

Jasmine reached out to grab my hand. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes said it all, and even through her pain and suffering these past 24 hours, she had enough emotions left in her to feel scared for me.

10 Dinner Party

GEMA

“I’ve been sent up to help you get ready for dinner, Miss.” Nora walked into the room, interrupting us as we tried to watch a movie. Though, we were all too distracted by our current circumstances to enjoy the movie.

I untangled myself from the others as we had all piled up on the couch together, and I stood up to leave. Jasmine held onto my hand, though. “Don’t worry, Jas, he can’t hurt me. I won’t let him.”