Elena
Darkness. It was all I could see as my eyes cracked open. It was all I ever saw. Even the memory of the sky was faded in my mind after so long. Pushing up from the thin cot I slowly make out the shapes of the room I had been left in for so long. I didn’t even know how long it had been. Years I think. Years since my father died and I was dragged down the stairs and locked away. Years since I’d seen real sunlight, a blue sky, felt the wind on my skin or tasted the rain on my tongue. Throwing my legs to the side I slowly sit up, ignoring the screams of protest from my body. I could feel the cuts across my back and arms, the bruises that littered my skin but I forced myself to stand, to make my way blindly to the small sink to wash away the dried blood that still clung to me.
Last night had been the first of the month. It was the only time I saw anything but the shadow of my jailer. He always came on the first of the month. Him and his second. I tried to remember how long this has been going on but all the times blended together. It was always the same. The loud thud as the heavy metal door unlocked. The scrap of it against the concrete floor as he pushed it open. I’d already been standing in my place when I heard his steps on the stairs, my head already bowed as they came in. I could still feel the bite of the shackles as they chained me to the wall, the feel of his second’s breath on my neck as he forced my arms up.
I knew it would never stop. I couldn’t give him what he wanted but still he continued. There was time when I’d fight him, scream and beg, claw and bite to free myself but that time was long past. Instead I hung silently as he started the same way he always did. “Good Evening Elena. Are you ready?” I merely nodded my head, closing my eyes as I waited for the pain to start. I remember when I realized he enjoyed my screams but now he only ever seemed angry. Screaming at me to give him the one thing we both knew I couldn’t. “SHIFT!” The command gripped my body but nothing would ever happen and so they would begin.
It was always his second who cut me, beat me until the world slipped away. He wasn’t allowed to anymore. Not since he’d almost killed me. It was the only time he’d ever let another into my cell. A doctor. After I passed out he didn’t stop. They had to drag him away from my broken body. It had taken three months before they started again but it was never him anymore. He simply watched. Commanding me to shift while cut after cut and bruise after bruise was inflicted on me but I couldn’t give him what he wanted. I had no wolf to shift in to.
My name is Elena Young and I think I’m 17. My father was the Alpha of the Blue Hills Packs but he’s dead now. Everyone I knew is dead. At least that was what I was told and if it was a lie why hadn’t anyone come for me? I was 14 when I watched Alpha Jackson murder my father, his wolves quickly taking over the pack and killing anyone who tried to stand up to them. I tried to run but he found me. I could still feel the cold of the snow on my bare feet when I thought about it. In a few months I turn 18 and supposedly I’ll be old enough to find my mate but I don’t think he exists. I’m a werewolf that can’t shift. I may as well be human.
Wolves turn for the first time on their 14th birthday. I could still remember my parents preparing me for it. Even knowing that the first shift would hurt, I had been so excited. The excitement turned to horror when the Black Moon pack attacked the week before my birthday. Our warriors did everything they could but it was a blood bath. My father was dragged into the common area outside the packhouse after the fighting had stopped. Jackson held me on my knees and forced me to watch as they ripped him apart. That was the last time I saw the sky. I was dragged to the cells and thrown into the darkness. When my birthday finally came Jackson stood outside the bars and watched as I screamed, fire burning through my veins but when the sun came up the next day I was still human.
My senses had heightened and everything said I should have shifted but instead I had writhed in agony for hours before the moon's pull finally ended. Jackson had watched it all in silence and when it had finally ended he left in silence as well. After that I was left alone with only two meals being brought to me every day. At least they had thought to feed me. When the next month came, so did Jackson. That was the first time he beat me. I was covered in bruises and blood as his alpha command tried to force my shift but the command washed over me with no effect. Morning found us and he left without a word. Every month since was the same thing and I slowly went crazy from the isolation and pain. I couldn’t even remember how long it had been anymore, Years surely.
Now I stood at the small sink and washed the blood away. A few hours later I heard the door open and knew that it was my first meal. I watched the small flap at the bottom of the door open and the tray was shoved in but it didn’t close again. Curious I slowly walked towards the door and bent to grab the tray when the sounds of fighting drifted into the cell. A loud curse came from the other side of the door before a loud growl followed. I scrambled backwards from the door as I heard my jailer scream in pain for a sickening silence took over. What was going on? The lock on the door unlatched and I watched in horror as it swung open and a tall man covered in blood stood in the doorway.
Light flooded the darkened cell and I flinched away from it, cowering under my arm and squeezing my eyes shut as I crawled backwards towards the far wall. Was this some new kind of torture? Did Jackson finally grow tired of me and sent someone to end me? The thought actually gave me hope. Maybe it was all over. All the pain and suffering. Relief flooded my body and I let my arms fall as my eyes closed, willingly and happily accepting the fate I always knew was coming for me.
