ColtIt’s been three days since Andy showed us the basement where we would be training, and we have been down here every day ever since. There is so much equipment down here that it’s insane. When he said he had unlimited resources, he wasn’t kidding.“Duck!” Ryan shouts to me, and I do, avoiding Andy’s fist. We have been down here not only learning to control our powers but also learning to fight at the same time.“GO, Ryan!” Andy shouts, and Ryan closes his eyes, twisting into a twister. Everything in the basement gets windy, and Andy claps his hands, “See! You got it,” he says, and Ryan twists back into himself.“I still can’t believe I can do that,” he admits, and I nod, agreeing. Yep. None of us ever imagined he could become a twister. Even though he can do the things that Andy does, he is still not as powerful as him; none of us are.Ian walks down the stairs carrying a dead bunny, and I know it’s my turn. He grins evilly, and I roll my eyes. Andy’s sense of humor is sick. He
Maddie I hug Lila goodbye as she has tears in her eyes, “We will be back, you know that,” I whisper into her ear. She wipes her eyes as she sighs. “I know, and I understand why I can’t come, but I will miss all of you. Even Ian,” she says, and I chuckle as I wipe the tears that fall from my eyes. Then, finally, I release her so Ryan can hug her next. “It’s only for a few days,” Andy reminds us both. We are going to kill the Norms and be home by Saturday.” He says with confidence. We both nod, and Lila sighs, kissing and hugging Ryan. I watch them as Colt grabs my hand, “She is safest here, you know.” He reminds me. I nod, “I know. I am glad she won’t be alone here but still.” I say, looking at the staff that will stay with her. She is my sister, and I will miss her dearly. “Is everyone ready?” Andy asks, and we all nod. Even though we have to leave Lila and I can’t see into the future like him, I know I am ready. This has been a long time coming, and I am prepared for it to end
My breath is heavy, and the concrete is cold on my feet. The five of us pant as we run through the dark hallway, the alarm loud and echoing through this hell hole, “Which way?!” Julia shouts. We all look to Andy; Andy is the one who is going to get us out of here. “This way,” Andy motions to us. The five of us have become friends in this compound made of grey brick. We aren’t wolves here, were numbers. A private company practices genetics on us. It’s time to escape, we are getting out. We won’t let them hurt us any longer. “It’s just a little further,” he tells us, and we follow him, looking for the door that holds our escape. I was the one to snatch this keycard. We all hatched a plan a month ago to get out of here; we had to. The experiments are getting more extreme as we get older. Last month was the last straw; we can no longer stay in this lab. We are used to the experiments, it’s why they bred us here but last month, they gave us a drug that made us all turn on each other. We
Breakfast was uneventful and Lila and I got away with me changing and spilling the milk. I will need to replace it somehow before Mrs. Stevenson notices, but I think that will work out fine.I now help wash the hands of all the little children here and then it’s off to clean the orphanage and take care of what’s needed on the farm. The county took an old farmhouse and turned it into an orphanage. They figured children could learn to harvest and be self-sufficient this way. The town I was brought to was rural and small which I didn’t mind since I didn’t want the lab people to find me.Flashbacks hit me once more.“We have to split up, it’s the safest option.” Andy urges me. I look at Julia and Ryan with tears in my eyes.“No, we need to stay together. The big man even says we are the most powerful ones together.” I sob.“Maddie, we will see each other again.” Brooke smiles at me, tears streaming down her face, “We all know how to find one another if we need to but Andy is right, we nee
After I finish the rest of my chores, I walk back into the house and toward Mrs. Stevenson’s office. It’s noon now and I should be getting lunch ready. I knock on the door, “Come in.”I open the door slowly and she’s sitting at her desk, eating a sandwich. “You prepared sandwiches yesterday, right?” she asks me. I nod and she smiles approvingly, “Good, here is the list. You will take Lila with you.”“Lila?” I ask. Her eyes look up at me coldly, “Yes, Lila. You will need help bringing the stuff back. Grab the wagon and try to be home before dark.” She grins.“Wait, we are walking?” I ask, horrified. The town is 5 miles away.“Yes, you are both in good shape. I take good care of you, that long of a walk isn’t so bad. Now you better get going if you are going to get back before dark. Rural areas are not safe at night for two teenage girls.”I stare at her in disbelief, and she hands me a list, “Get everything that you can.” She then hands me money, “If it’s not on the list, you don’t bu
“Do you smell that?” I ask Lila. She sniffs the air and walks a few steps, “Yes, and look!” she points. The smoke is filling the air above us and my heart begins to race, “Leave the bags!” I shout as I grab her hand and we run toward the farm.“Maddie, slow down! I can’t see anything!” Lila stumbles behind me.I have perfect vision no matter what the conditions are, it’s a perk of being a wolf.“And what about the store items?” she stops, looking back, “Mrs. Stevenson is going to kill us!” she says, breathing deeply.“Lila,” I say, trying to remain calm, “I think the orphanage is on fire.” I blurt out.She stares at me confused and now she begins running as she grabs my hand again, “What makes you think that?!” I get in the lead and guide her through the night, “The smoke is coming from that direction. I hope I am wrong. If we have to go back and get the bags, we will. I would rather be late and wrong than right.” I admit. Though, I fear my vision has come true and I won’t be able to
Colt POV9 years ago the only friends I had in this entire world, left me. The plan was for all of us to escape but that’s not how it played out. I tripped and fell, and they didn’t come back for me.I foolishly thought they would but when they got the keycard and ran outside, it was every wolf for himself and that broke my heart. I was already weak, but I thought my family had my back. I thought they would carry me to safety, and we would all get away together. I never could have imagined how wrong I was.I called out for them. I called out for her-Maddie- as I lay bleeding on the ground.Maddie not only was my best friend but my sister. The five of us were family but she and I were closer than the others. I took care of her, and she took care of me.She snuck me food when I was starving due to experiments, and I always cleaned her wounds from the fights she fought.Maddy was the perfect soldier and from the conversations I overheard; she was the one.She was the one they wanted. The
The night air is cold; we have been walking for hours. My stomach grumbles and I know Lila is hungry too. She wanted to go back for the bags, but that was the direction Colt’s SUV had gone; it was too dangerous. “I am so tired,” Lila groans. I sigh as I look around. I zone in my hearing and hear running water, “Lila, I think we are close to water.” She looks at me, “So?” “I need to cover my scen.”I start but she won’t understand, “We need to get muddy. We need to go through the water and then cover ourselves in mud.” She looks at me disgusted, “Is that really necessary?” she asks. I nod, “Yes, it will help keep us safe, I promise.” She sighs and I pull her toward the sound of the water, “We can wait to cross till the morning. We can’t sleep wet; we could get hypothermic.” I look over and see a hollow of trees and a stream; this is perfect. Secluded yet open. She agrees with me, but I can tell she is questioning everything I am saying. We were all schooled in house at the orphana