Or how having my memories is going to make me even more determined to be sure her plans don’t come to fruition.
A new sense of confidence fills me, and I get moving. First, I try the door again just in case, giving the handle a firmer turn but it still doesn’t budge. I’m definitely not getting out that way, not unless I have an as yet undiscovered skill for lock picking.
Which I’m pretty sure I don’t.
I glance around the room, then head toward a second door in the corner. This one leads to a bathroom, which isn’t particularly helpful. A third door opens into a walk-in closet. I huff out another laugh. At least this time I’ve been locked up in style instead of a tiny metal cage.
Shaking away the claustrophobic memory of the cage, I make my way back to the window, this time pulling the curtains completely open. Second story or not, I think going out the window is my only choice.
I shove my shoulder against the window pane, using the leverage to force it upward. Something is blocking it from opening more than eight inches or so, but for once I can be grateful for how skinny I am. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but I can fit.
Probably.
I start with my head, turning sideways and sliding through, then I twist my shoulders around to wiggle them through the gap. The bottom of the window scrapes along my back as I forcemyself through the opening, but I make steady progress. Once I’m halfway out, my waist resting against the window sill inside the bedroom, I realize I might have a problem.
Going out head first might not have been the best idea because as soon as my upper body tips the balance toward going out instead of staying in, I’m going to go headfirst into the ground below.
I’m a shifter, so I’d likely be just fine, but I don’t have time to take that risk.
I wriggle my way back into the room, then turn around and thread my legs through the small opening. This is a little more awkward since I have to hold myself up with my hands to push myself through the window, but in the end, it will be much safer.
Or at least doable without me cracking my skull open. That would definitely put a crimp in my rescue plan.
Not that I’m entirely sure what that is…
Doesn’t matter. I’ll deal with that when I get to it.
I return my attention to maneuvering myself out of the window, thanking my forethought this second time around that I went out face down so I’m not trying to bend backwards to get my head out.
After a few more awkward wiggles and some really shallow breaths, I finally slither all the way through the window, leaving me holding on to the ledge as I dangle over the ground below.
I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and let go. The landing isn’t quite as graceful as I would’ve liked, but I do remember to bend my knees to absorb some of the impact, and I’m pretty sure I haven’t broken anything.
A large light attached to the side of the house clicks on, illuminating the area directly around the house. Not good. I’m just going to have to make a run for it and hope for the best.
I dart away from the house, heading for the tree line. The trees won’t provide a ton of cover, but they’re better than the nothingI have now. After running across another open area, I reach the woods and tuck myself behind a large pine before sliding down to sit on the ground, taking a moment to think over what’s next.
My first priority is finding Luke. Nothing is more important than that. I just need to figure out where he is and how to get to him. Sounds easy enough, right?
Twenty-Seven
Luke
My awareness returns slowly,the world around me fading in bit by bit as my brain comes back online. The first thing I notice is the smell—a heavy antiseptic scent that almost burns my overly sensitive nasal passages. I smack my lips trying to flush out the nasty taste in my mouth and rub my snout over my leg.
Wait a second.Snout?
My fuzzy mind pulls the situation into focus much too slowly for my liking.
I’m in wolf form. But why? How? I don’t remember shifting.
I wrack my brain trying to recall how I ended up here—wherever the hellhereis. What little light there is doesn’t domuch to illuminate my surroundings and the chilly air smells only of chemicals. I sneeze, sending my head spinning again.
The dizziness takes ages to go away and I’m left blinking in confusion, still desperately trying to push through the mental fog and figure out what the hell happened to me.
There’s a vague memory just at the edge of my consciousness of sitting at a long table, of eating and drinking, my mate at my side…
Memories coming rushing back.
