Kidnapped And Caged

“Just dropped me off here and left, huh?” She whispers bitterly.

Losing your parents in a town like this was the worst thing that could happen to anyone. But somehow, Claire had scaled through.

She was still scaling through though, barely. 

She had spent years shuffled from one cold orphanage to another, each new place swallowing her hopes a little more. But she survived it. 

She had finally aged out, clawed her way through job after job, and landed something just steady enough to cover her bills.

Now, she had her own place, grimy, crumbling, and barely big enough for her. A “shit-ass apartment,” as she liked to call it. But it was hers, and that was enough.

Tonight she was standing before her parents and grandmother’s grave. Her fingers traced the worn edges of their names, etched into stone. 

Days like these, she didn’t know how she felt about them. Sometimes, she missed them with an ache that nothing could touch. Other times, she hated them for leaving her to face this broken world alone.

She let out a long, unsteady sigh.

“ Hope you’re both having a fantastic time up there,” she murmured, kicking at a clod of dirt by her feet.

She forced a laugh, though it came out hollow. “And guess what, Mom? I still haven’t found my mate yet. He’s probably dead, or doesn’t exist, or doesn’t care that I exist. All those stories you used to tell me about finding my mate, living happily ever after… total bullshit.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I held on to it, though. It’s sad. Pathetic, even….Your fault, Mom.”

She chuckled bitterly, but her voice broke, barely audible in the empty graveyard.

She checked the time, and realized she had stayed later than she had meant to. “See you soon,” she whispered, turning to leave. But as she walked away from the graves, a creeping sense of dread clawed its way up her spine.

It was getting dark, and only a few people were left on the street. She picked up her pace, her heartbeat quickening.

A year ago, she wouldn’t have worried. This town used to be safe, a place where people knew each other and looked out for one another. Now, it was one of the most dangerous places an omega could live. 

Omegas had been disappearing, from one to two,then three to four. Now, every few weeks, another girl was taken, swallowed by the night. 

And the police? They weren’t doing a damn thing about it. Sometimes, Claire couldn’t help but wonder if they knew exactly where those girls were going.

She takes in a deep breath, forcing herself to keep walking. But every shadow felt closer, every sound sharper.

When she reached a corner, her steps faltered. Her breath caught in her throat. A figure in a black hoodie was standing under the streetlight, staring at her. She froze, her blood turning to ice as a cold chill crawled down her spine.

No, she thought. No, no, please.

Claire forced herself to glance behind her, hoping for an escape. Her heart dropped. Another man in a black hoodie was standing there too, his face half-hidden in shadow, watching her every move.

Panic surged through her veins. She tried to back away, but her body wouldn’t respond—her legs won't move, her mind was screaming for her to run.

But run to where?

“Please,” she whispered, the word barely leaving her lips. Her life was already difficult, maybe even hopeless at times…but she didn’t want to die.

She took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she tried to steel herself. She opened her mouth to scream, to call for help, but before the sound could escape, something pressed tightly over her nose and mouth.

A rag. The sickly-sweet smell filled her senses, dizzying her.

No… no…

Claire struggled, her arms flailing, her vision swimming. But her strength decreases with every passing second, her movements growing weaker. Her body slumped, her mind slipping into darkness.

When she woke up, it was to the feeling of cold metal beneath her. Claire groaned, blinking against the harsh light. Her head throbbed, her limbs heavy, but as she tried to sit up, her surroundings came into focus.

Bars. Cold bars caging her in.

She was trapped, crammed into a small metal cage like an animal. Her pulse spiked, panic setting in as she took in the rows and rows of other cages around her. Each one held an omega, their faces pale and stricken, their eyes filled with fear.