The Wolf in His Arms (The Runes Trilogy) (29 page)

“It’s what you’re supposed to do. They’re supposed to be
your pack.”

“The night of the full moon, they will predictably be
looking for a place for the sister to change. It’s the perfect opportunity
to...set things right.” Griffin smiled with wicked confidence. “Let me take a
few boys from the school here.” He turned to face Vincent. “If they don’t want
to be werewolves, then they can be dead, right Vincent?”

Vincent wagged his eyebrows comically. “The only good human
is a dead human.”

*
         
*
         
*
         
*

Drizzle shimmered on the pavement under a March-gray sky.
Lucy checked her refection in the window of the gym, and, in doing so, spotted
Mitch inside. Her stomach knotted instantly, just at the thought of asking him
for a favor of any sort. She imagined his snarky, self-confident response, and
she became irritated before she even asked him.

Mitch leaned against the counter of the juice bar, and he
nodded toward Lucy as she approached. “Rune, haven’t seen you for a while. I
thought maybe you decided I was too tough.”

“I’ve been traveling,” she said.
Keep cool.

“Anywhere interesting?”

“Iowa.”

“I guess not.” He shifted his weight, indicating boredom.
“Getting a little catch-up in? You gonna make class?”

“Actually, now that you mention it, I was wondering
something.”

He cocked his eyebrow. “I’m listening.”

“I have some friends who would like to learn, um, basic
self-defense techniques.”

“Aw, and you told them about my class. You’re the best.”

“No, actually, I was wondering if you could teach a special
class for us.” She added hastily, “We’d pay you, of course.”

He pulled back in mock surprise. “This sounds like, a—what’s
the word?—favor.”

Lucy clenched her jaw. “It is.”

“Aren’t you the one who tried to embarrass me in front of my
class a few weeks ago?”

“Look, if you don’t want to do it, don’t. I’m not gonna beg,
you.”

His merry laughter annoyed her further. “It’s so easy to get
you going. Sure, I’ll do it, but you really need to work on your favor-asking
skills. Heaven forbid you beg—or even ask politely.”

“How much?”

“We’ll call it community service, and I’ll arrange to use a
room here.”

“Could we do it soon?”

He leaned over the counter of the juice bar and retrieved
the calendar of room availability. “We could do it tonight. Eight o’clock?”

“Great. Thanks.” She turned to leave but stopped to turn
back. “Really, thanks.”

“You’re really welcome.”

*
         
*
         
*
         
*

Alec double-checked his shopping list as he picked up
supplies at the sporting goods store. Looking up from his list, he scanned for
Maxwell and Haley who had run off like bored children. He was beginning to
regret accepting their offer to help him.

With items like sleeping bags on his list, his total climbed
quickly. But, his two extra campers had to be prepared to stay the night on
Belle Isle. He started to walk toward the checkout, planning to snag his
prodigal shoppers on the way.

“Can we get this?” Haley bounded toward him with Maxwell at
her heels. She held out a flashlight.

“We have flashlights,” Alec countered.

“This is a special flashlight,” she insisted.

Alec took the flashlight and looked it over. “It’s
expensive.”

“It’s long lasting,” Maxwell explained. He looked at Alec
with large, doe eyes. “I’m afraid of the dark.”

“No problem. We’ll get it.” He huffed. “I’ve never heard of
a werewolf who’s scared of the dark.”

Maxwell and Haley fell behind Alec as they walked to the
checkout. “I looked it up online,” Haley assured Maxwell. “It’s just like the
one in your dream.”

As the
day passed, Collin felt like a man who knew a bomb was strapped to his chest,
but he had no idea what time it would detonate. He failed to concentrate in his
classes; he nibbled at his plate of food; and, after dinner, he secluded
himself to his room. He lay quietly on the bed, eyes on the door, jerking in
fear every time he heard steps outside his door. He could taste the anxiety in
his dry mouth, feel it churning in his stomach. Collin glanced at the clock,
waiting for lights out, wondering if that was when he would have a chance to
look for Tony or if that was when they would come for him.

The
lights shining on the exterior of the building radiated through the window like
a thin mist. Collin walked to the window and looked down at the lawn. The
daytime drizzle had frozen on the grass and shimmered in the landscape lights.
Pressing his forehead against the cold glass, he judged the sheer drop to the
ground. The drop would certainly break his leg or at least twist his ankle. He
looked at the sheets on his bed and thought about trying to create a rope to
lower himself. He could tie the sheets to the radiator, he thought.

And then what?

He had
no cellphone and only his uniform. No coat or hat or gloves. And certainly, no
stranger would pick him up once they saw his
reform
school uniform. So, it would only be a matter of time until
he was caught and brought back. Collin heard footsteps in the hall and spun as
the door scraped open. Pale and drenched in sweat, Tony stumbled in and
staggered to his bed, where he collapsed. Mark and another student stood in the
hall. As Collin closed the door, Mark pointed his finger like a gun and arched
his eyebrow.

Collin
helped Tony to his bed where he collapsed. He curled into the fetal position,
clutching his sides and moaning. Sweat soaked his hair and clothes, beaded on
his skin. “They gave me the shot,” he said through chattering teeth. “We
shoulda just run.”

Collin
stepped back from Tony, the idea of contagion shooting through his mind. He
stopped, and instead of running, retrieved a wet washcloth and patted Tony’s
head. “I’m gonna be sick,” Tony sputtered. Collin snatched the wastepaper
basket and handed to Tony. He stood aside as Tony heaved a thick green bile.
“I’m cold.”

Trying
not to disturb Tony too much, Collin tugged the covers out from under him. He
pulled Tony’s shoes off and dropped them on the floor and then draped the
covers over Tony.

“It feels
like I’m dying,” Tony moaned.

Collin started
pacing, and thought,
I’m afraid it’s
worse.

Outside
in the hall, a guard called, “Lights out.” Collin flipped the light switch and
sat on the edge of his bed. He listened to Tony’s labored breathing, his
occasional gagging, and feverish dreams. Cutting his eyes to the door, Collin
crept from his bed to the desk, and then quietly jammed the back of the chair under
the door handle, hoping for at least a warning if someone tried to come in.

Collin
closed his eyes, wanting a brief rest. When he opened his eyes, Tony was
standing between their beds, looking in a mirror. The bedside lamp was on.
Collin blinked at the clock. He had fallen asleep for three hours. “Tony?”

Tony
turned to face him, his face trembling, looking old. “Look at my eyes.”

Collin
jumped up out of the bed and looked into Tony’s eyes. Even in the dim light he
could see the flecks of pale green floating in the brown. His brown eyes were
streaked with green like starbursts. “Fuck.”

“I can
feel it in me. I can’t fight it.” Tony sat on his bed. “I’m feeling stronger.
But,” he looked pained. “I’m gonna betray you, Collin. I already know. They’re
gonna ask me what you know, and I’m gonna tell them.” He hit his fists against
his knees. “It’s like I don’t have a choice.”

Collin
dropped to the bed, silent. He thought for a long moment. “I’m gonna run for
it. I’m going straight for the road and hitchhike.” He stood. “I’ll get you
help.”

“It’s
too late for me.”

Collin
glanced up at Tony again. As he watched, more green seeped over the brown, like
moss overtaking a log.

Collins
fingers fumbled on his laces as he tied his shoes. He slid the chair back into
place at the desk. As he opened the door, Tony grabbed his arm. “Take a
blanket,” he said. He grabbed the covers from Collin’s bed, and shoved the
blanket into Collin’s chest. Collin grabbed it and nodded thanks.

Collin
slipped out the door, closing it silently. He turned toward the stairwell and
descended. He hoped that Tony would in fact betray him, since he had no
intentions of running for the road.

*
         
*
         
*
         
*

Mitch looked around the room at the group Lucy had brought to
him, and they looked like a grownup version of the
Bad News Bears
. He doubted even he could teach them self-defense.
Her brother, Alec, seemed the most interested, and even he was distracted, and
talking to the one Lucy introduced as Jared. He looked at Maxwell, and he
reminded him of the kid who sat on the ball field pulling grass, unaware when
the baseball plopped at his feet. Haley, seated next to Maxwell, looked like
she would rather be at a salon. In Nadia, he saw a glimmer of hope.

“Alright,” Mitch called. “Let’s form a half circle around
me.” He gestured and waited impatiently. “I’m sure Lucy’s told you I’m a pain
in the ass.” He noticed Alec nod exaggeratedly to Jared and fought the urge to
smirk. “That’s because I demand focus. You’re here to learn.” Mitch looked from
face to face, noting the green eyes staring back at him. He turned suddenly to
Jared, “Why do you want to learn self-defense?”

“To defend myself?” Jared said slowly.

“I want to feel more assured,” Alec said, nudging Jared with
his shoulder.

“Feeling like you can protect yourself can give you added
confidence. What about you?” He turned to Haley.

“It was either this or stay home with her mom,” she hooked
her thumb at Nadia.

“Nothing else?”

The memory of Griffin confronting them, and Jared lying in a
pool of blood on the sidewalk washed over her. The helplessness she had felt
made her knees tremble. “I live in the city. I wouldn’t mind being able to
fight a little.”

“Good. You need to have a reason to be here, or you won’t
learn anything.” He addressed the whole class again. “Let’s begin.”

Lucy, despite herself, realized she did not regret her
decision at all. In just one evening, Mitch managed to teach them all more than
she had in a week. At the end of the night, as the others headed out, she
stopped to thank him. “That was great. They came a long way.”

“They did.” He stared into her eyes, and Lucy turned her
head uncomfortably. “I guess I won’t see you tomorrow,” he added.

“What?” She back stiffened.

“Tomorrow’s the full moon. You never come in on the full
moon, so I guess I won’t see you here tomorrow.”

“I’ve never noticed,” Lucy said, trying to sound nonchalant.
“See you later.”

“But not tomorrow,” he repeated. As she fled out the door,
he called to her. “Lucy, just a minute.” He stood beside her and smiled down.
“I was just wondering where you found so many people with green eyes.”

“Thanks again for your help,” Lucy said and pushed out the
door, feeling her anger burn in her head and chest.

*
         
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*

They fucking locked me in a
small room in the basement...

Mark’s
words echoed in Collin’s mind as he navigated his way through the labyrinthine
corridors of the basement. As immense as the building was, the basement seemed
to dwarf it somehow. Collin began to wonder if underground halls connected the
out buildings. He passed an old FALLOUT SHELTER sign attached to a closed door.
He knew that it would only be minutes before guards began to search for him,
and he needed a place for long-term hiding. Once the search for him cooled—and
only then—would he make a break for it. He figured two days tops.

Lines
of light and shadow, caused by the intermittent halogen bulbs in the ceiling,
striped the floor. The buzzing overhead reminded him of cicadas in late summer.
Door after door, Collin paused outside to listen; if he heard no noise he would
try the handle. He pulled a door open.
Jackpot!
He found a pantry. Collin flipped on the light and pulled the door behind him.
He walked over to the food-lined shelves. He lay the blanket on the floor and
folded it to use as a knapsack. He piled food he could snack on into it: canned
fruit with pull ring openers, bread, crackers. He tied the blanket and slung it
over his shoulder.

Easing
the door open, Collin looked both ways before entering the hall. From deep in
the basement, he could hear swearing and screaming. He froze. He could see in
his mind clearly what was happening: another student was being tied down,
injected. His instinct was to run, but his curiosity swelled within him.
No
, he told himself.
After I find a hiding place
.

Collin
moved away from the screaming and stopped as he passed a door marked BOILER
ROOM. He turned the handle and the door creaked open. Collin charged inside,
pulling the door shut. The room was warm, which was good, and dark. A workbench
filled with a disarray of tools took up one wall. Collin riffled through the
tools, hoping to find something useful. On the bottom shelf he found a large,
square flashlight. He flicked it on. A strong beam cut across the room.