The Fear of Death

Abbey's point of view.

The cell was filled with noise as I struggled to wake up, the banging of the iron gate mingling with animalistic growls. The last time I heard such commotion was when our pack was raided. "What's going on?" Charity asked as she rubbed her eyes, trying to wake up. "It's Ejection Day, Alpha,Charity," Titi, the girl in the cell next to ours, informed Charity. She was from the same pack as Charity but held the rank of an omega.

"What is Ejection Day?" I inquired, curious about the term. "They do it whenever they raid a new pack. It's basically killing off the old members in the cell to make room for new prisoners," Titi's sick brother explained. Panic rose in my chest as I imagined myself being disposed of like trash. Charity advised me to stay at the back of the cell to avoid provoking them. Following Charity's direction , I stood beside her in the shadows, ignoring the aches in my body. 

In the cell, Charity and I huddle together, our faces wrought with fear. The air is heavy with tension as our panicked whispers filled the confined space. Charity's hands tremble as she clutches onto me seeking comfort amidst the uncertainty. Our hearts race in unison, each beat echoing the dread of Our confinement. Despite the darkness pressing in around us cling to each other, finding solace in our shared fear.

"How do they decide who to 'clean up'?" I asked, my throat dry with fear. "They basically choose randomly, targeting the injured, sick, or anyone known for causing trouble," Titi explained. My heart skipped a beat as my gaze landed on Titi, hugging her brother tightly. Despite our shared predicament, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"Abby," Charity called my name, "just keep your head down, and we'll be fine." My voice caught in my throat as I nodded, clenching and unclenching my fists to release my anxiety. I couldn't ignore the terror on Charity's face.

"They should be done soon," Titi whispered to her brother, risking a glance down the hallway to assess the situation.  shadows dance ominously as uniformed guards escort a line of somber-faced wolves out of cramped cells. The echo of heavy boots reverberates against cold stone walls, punctuated by the clinking of metal restraints. 

Each person wears an expression of resignation or defiance, their movements subdued yet filled with a silent resolve. As they are led away, the faint sound of muffled protests and pleas for mercy lingers in the air, a haunting reminder of the harsh reality they face.

 From the sounds of screaming and crying, it seemed they had ejected half of the cell's occupants. Some fought back, others pleaded, while some simply accepted their fate.

Closing my eyes, I tried to control my erratic breathing. I pictured myself in a battlefield facing that ruthless Alpha in combat, wondering if I stood a chance. "We'll all be fine," Charity reassured, though her words did little to ease my fears.

I felt a sense of foreboding, similar to the wrenching feeling I experienced when our pack's alarm sounded during the raid. "How many more do we need?" the first soldier asked. "Just a few, not too many," another replied. Their voices grew closer to our cell, the sound of their boots echoing in the corridor. "Soso already rounded up the sick and injured ones, the troublemakers are gone too," the second guard added.

I could see Titi in tears as she clung to her brother, her fear palpable. The second soldier remarked callously, "Those troublemakers were never going to fight our battles. It's good we got rid of them early." My heart sank as the door to our cell swung open.

I tried to keep my gaze downcast, as Charity had advised, as they dragged an elderly woman, likely in her mid-fifties, out of the cell. She fought back valiantly, but the soldiers were too skilled and too cruel. The first soldier then proceeded to Titi's cell to take her brother.

In the stark cell, the harsh light casts long shadows as the  two siblings cling desperately to each other. Her brother, weakened by illness, is dragged away by unseen hands, his sister's cries echoing off the cold, unforgiving walls. Tears streak down her face as she reaches out futilely, her fingers grazing the air where her brother once stood. The weight of helplessness settles heavy on Titi's shoulders as she watches him disappear into the darkness, their bond forcibly severed by the cruel hands of fate.

Kane held onto his sister for his dear life, but it was futile. 

I remembered Titi's stories about their loving parents and the sense of unity within their pack, regardless of rank. She told stories of her childhood, she and brother sitting by a serene lake, surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowers. Titi reminisce about their childhood adventures: climbing trees, chasing fireflies, and building forts in the nearby woods. As they laugh and share stories, the golden glow of the setting sun paints the sky with warm hues, creating a picturesque scene of familial love and cherished memories.

In a moment of unbearable grief, the Titi anguished screams echoed through the air as she desperately searched for her brother. Her cries pierced the silence, filling the air with raw emotion until the weight of her sorrow overwhelmed her, and she collapsed, her voice fading into unconsciousness. The pain of loss consumed her, leaving behind a haunting silence in its wake.

 I couldn't help but look up at the soldiers taking Kane away, trying to conceal my terror. At that moment, the second soldier was facing our cell. Something came over me.

In the dimly lit cell, the first soldier's focus was fixed ahead, unaware of the danger behind him. As he turned, I struck swiftly, catching him off guard. My fist connected with precision, sending him stumbling forward. With determination, I pressed my advantage, delivering a series of blows that left him reeling. But my efforts were futile. The soldier grabbed me and threw me against the hard concrete. Darkness consumed me as I fell, witnessing the terror in Charity's eyes. She screamed, tears and mucus streaming down her face, distorting her usually beautiful features.

As I was dragged out of the cell, darkness finally enveloped me. In that moment, I woyld never wake up again.