Chapter 2

Number 42’s POV

I could hear her muttering about incompetence under her breath as the lights in the corridor began to flash alternately between white and red.

She stashed her tools on the side and looked longingly at the area she had been about to slice into. She exhaled heavily before fixing a bright smile on her face.

“I’m not done with you yet, sweetling. I’ll be back soon. Don’t miss me too much!” She tittered happily, blowing me a kiss as she exited out the door and hurried down the corridor.

The spell she had cast remained in place, as I was unable to move. It was like being glued to the surface below you and compressed with a weight that you couldn’t possibly hope to remove.

I wasn’t sure how long I lay there, but the relentless flashing red light continued and gradually the sounds of snarling carried up the corridor.

I frowned.

That wasn’t normal. It was always quiet.

I found myself able to lift my head and gradually the weight on my arms decreased and I was able to sit up.

‘Well, this is new.’

“Indeed. I wonder what’s going on.”

My head snapped up at movement outside in the corridor.

The windows were mirrored and one way, I could see out, but the people outside couldn’t see in.

The violent beating that the red-eyed brutes were taking in the corridor though was not something that I expected to see.

I watched open mouthed as the brute’s face was smashed against the window, before he slid down slowly, revealing the aggressor as some sort of half wolf, half man. It sniffed the air tentatively before barreling off to the left towards the cells.

My heart raced. Was this is it? Was this my chance to escape?

I crept along the corridors as quietly as I could.

The sounds of mayhem floated up behind me occasionally as I navigated this maze of corridors and rooms. The bodies of the henchmen littered the floors and blood splattered up the walls.

I couldn’t imagine what was happening, and I don’t think I wanted to find out.

‘Perhaps she finally took someone who she shouldn’t have.’ The voice inside me whispered gleefully.

I snorted.

Wouldn’t that be justice? I thought to myself ironically.

I had been there too long to think that the rescue was for me. I hoped they were successful in retrieving whoever it was.

I prayed that they made the bitch pay.

A door lay open in front of me, the enticing promise of light shining confidently from beyond.

‘We should go that way. It smells fresh.’ The voice said confidently.

“How would you know what fresh smells like? We’ve been here so long.” I said sarcastically.

‘You might not remember. But I do. As if it were yesterday.’ The voice whispered, full of nostalgia.

Dutifully, I approached the door, stepping over lifeless bodies and ascended the steps carefully.

A steady breeze wafted gently against my face as I pushed back the fear of running into my torturer as I attempted my escape.

I emerged into a light so bright that I again had to cover my eyes.

As the air tinged with the acrid smell of smoke and the sounds of intense battle assaulted my senses, I tried to get my bearings, looking around cautiously.

There were skirmishes as far as I could see. The only clear path that I could make out was towards a densely wooded area that was fenced off with a heavy metal panels, at least three times as tall as I.

My heart was beating furiously in my chest as I began to make my way over as quickly as I could, praying that I went unnoticed.

As I got closer to the panels, I saw an opening further up. The only issue was that there were multiple forms fighting furiously not too far away, the Primal growls and flashes of magic discharging reverberating in the area.

With any luck, they were too distracted to see me.

As I crouched close to the ground, making myself as small as possible, I edged closer. Slowly.

The enormous wolves and half wolf, half man beasts fought viciously, destroying the henchman and magic users that faced off against them effortlessly.

‘Just a little more. We can make this.’

Suddenly, the huge white wolf turned to stare at the position I stood.

I froze, shaking with fear. It growled loudly as it turned its body towards me, sniffing the air.

‘What are you doing?! Keep going! We can make it!’ The voice insisted, pushing through my fear and urging me onwards.

The wolf began to pad slowly and carefully towards me, its comrades filling in behind it to ensure none would go after it.

‘RUN DAMN IT!’ The voice filled with urgency screamed in my head spurring me to action and it worked.

I ran, sobbing, tears streaming down my face, stumbling over the uneven terrain and heading straight for the forest.

I didn’t dare look behind me, but I heard the sounds of the undergrowth being trampled by something in pursuit of me.

I sobbed louder, the breath catching in my throat as I frantically tried to escape this cruel madness.

I hadn’t escaped one torturer who had kept me alive in order to farm my body just to fall prey to some insanely overgrown animal.

The sound of running water gradually became louder as I ran blindly forwards.

I could hear voices shouting from behind me, but I didn’t want to stop to find out if they were friend or foe.

I saw the jagged edge of the ridge at the last minute and as hard as I tried to slow my forward motion, it was too late.

I soared over the edge and fell downwards, turning slightly as I did so.

Before I hit the water that lay below me, I saw the silhouette of a figure reaching for me at the cliff edge.

A ferocious roar filled with despair surrounded the air as I hit the water and was sucked along in the current of the river.