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When occupied, the members were encouraged to visit the kennels on the regular. Running their claws and knives along the bars to torment us, especially after the worst of the sun had passed and you fell into an exhausted sleep.
Once, the Prez had even taken a leak on the wall right beside my cage. I hadn’t broken eye contact, though the foul smell had made my eyes run.
That lovely little incident was early in my time with the Bone Crushers, back when Winter had been my constant companion and before Chains had noticed our ill-begotten friendship. Finishing his business with a jiggle of his pathetic dick, the alpha had spat in the dirt and sauntered away but I could see the rage riding his rigid movements as he’d retreated.
I’d paid dearly for my insolence.
The Prez had removed the breakfast rations, leaving only the nightly refill of my water canister. If Benji was the one tending me, he would sneak me an extra mugful. Even still, it was barely enough to survive. In my ensuing stupor, I’d soon lost count of the time spent in the cage.
It hadn’t broken me as intended, only transmuted my hatred for the Bone Crushers—and in particular their alpha—into iron which strengthened my spine.
With severe sunburn and dehydration, I’d had just enough energy to flip Chains the bird as I’d been dragged through the clubhouse and up the stairs. Once back in our shared quarters, and despite my begging her not to, Winter had nursed me back to health. However, in coming to my aid, my only friend had unintentionally shown our hand.
Winter was a competent nurse, even without many resources on hand. So, when the alpha had visited to gloat and found me instead well on the road to recovery, he’d flown into a rage and taken my friend. At first, I didn’t even know if she’d survived his wrath.
Benji had been the one to tell me the truth. To this day I wasn’t sure if it was a kindness or yet another form of subtle torture. After beating her almost to death, Chains had dragged Winter away to his den to become his personal slave. A fate far worse than a quick execution.
The guilt had been eating me alive ever since.
Now, the route to the kennels was ingrained in my bones and the toll of the time I’d spent incarcerated there ran deep. My soul dragged in my frame and my limbs locked up of their own accord, no matter how firmly I ordered them to remain fluid.
Basking in my discomfort, Chains took a moment to stand in the doorway and light up a cigarette, throwing me a wink. It took less than a minute to cross the yard in a reluctant shamble, my ridiculous heels digging into the packed dirt and causing me to wobble with every step.
Their gaits were victorious as Crusher opened the gate and mock bowed. Venom took a drag of the Prez’s smoke before holding my gaze as he ground it to nothing below his boot then sauntered off into the clubhouse without sparing me another glance.
I stared at the cage. This was the kennel they always put me in for punishment. Usually, by the time I was dragged over here, I was in no state to protest being tossed inside. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to make a break for it. Consequences be damned.
It’d been designed for solitary. Too small to stand and barely enough room to turn around on my hands and knees. One swift tug on the dog collar around my neck and my half-formed thought to flee deserted me.
As soon as I stooped to enter, the Prez took a few swift steps and kicked me in the ass. I flew. His steel capped boot sent a shooting pain all the way up my spine. My arms raised right before I hit the back wall of the cage, not doing much to soften the blow. The grating beneath my knees, already cool from the long shadows, dug into my exposed flesh.
I’m sorry, Winter, I sobbed in my mind, the tears frozen in place while my soul begged for an absolution it would never receive.
All this time, I’d foolishly promised myself that if I could just survive long enough, one day an opportunity for escape would present itself. Then I’d free her. Free them all. But even that promise had been a yoke the Prez of the Bone Crushers had been wielding.
By keeping us separate, he’d ensured my hesitation because getting my charges from that room hadn’t been enough. I’d refused to let myself leave unless I could ensure Winter’s rescue as well. Now we were all doomed.
Sucking in a few quick breaths to quell the rising panic, I kept my face averted as the pair jeered and turned away. Fingers clutching the wire like a lifeline, I bit on my lip, lest my courage give way and I started begging for their return.
One by one, the rest of my charges were brought down by the Sgt. at Arms and other lackeys to be crammed into the kennels alongside me. Some were stoic, others a blubbering mess. But all were sporting their own dog collar.
Shock rode me hard.
I remained in the smallest cage alone. Isolated by design. Kept separate from the very people I’d sworn to comfort and protect. Struck mute by the finality of it all.
I couldn’t look them in the eye anymore.
My face remained pointed at the dirt.
I’d failed them. All of them. We’d reached the end of the line. And soon, the real hell would begin.
TIME’S A-WASTIN’
Grimm
“Send us in teams, Prez,” came Silver’s voice behind me, a blood-thirsty growl in his throat. “I’ll be adding my little something extra to the mix through those broken windows. Scare the shit out of the pathetic mutts.”
I could feel the toll this was taking on our omega.
