Chain Me

Round 'em Up

     Tight ropes pull at my wrists and ankles as I come to. I groan and flop my head around, trying to see what's happening. I'm in an uncomfortable chair, my arms behind me, bound, and my ankles are tied to the legs of the chair. My chest is held to the back of the chair with rope, too, as an extra precaution I'm guessing. My dress is definitely going to be wrinkled when this fiasco is over.
     "These conditions were the best that could be done," someone says from behind me. I twist in my chair to see and find Isa walking around my chair. She flicks the hair dangling over my shoulder and turns her nose up at me. "Your... accessory prevented me from caging you. Shame. I had to use more human ways of keeping you still."
     I mentally thank Lost for getting me my bracelet. It didn't prevent me from getting kidnapped but it did stop magical means of keeping me compliant from working. I'd take ropes over burning bars any day.
     Moving to stand in front of my chair, Isa leans down and puts her face in mine, resting her hands on my forearms. "You are a hard one to get alone. You've cultivated quite the following." She stares right into my eyes. "Turns out the one person that was supposed to protect you, couldn't. Too bad for you."
     My hands slowly curl into fists. "What do you want from me?" I hiss. "I'm human."
     "Ah." Isa pushes off me hard to stand up straight, and she shrugs. "That you are." She hums in something close to amused delight. "Normally, that would have you walking out of here. But you've been naughty. You've been sleeping with a dog." Her words are sharp, disgusted. "You spread your legs for an animal. Willingly. Whore," she spits.
     I fight in my seat. "Shut your mouth." I'm not even upset at being called a whore, that's no insult, but it's upsetting to have Lost be referred to as a dog or animal.
     "If you had shut your thighs you wouldn't be here." Her lip curls and I flinch, thinking she might hit me. But she doesn't. She lifts her chin and looks down her nose at me. "But you can cleanse yourself. You can leave here alive and intact, reborn, if you would only help the cause."
     "What cause is that? The one that tortures and kills innocent people?"
     Isa snorts derisively. "'People'? They're not people, and they're certainly not innocent."
     "And you are?"
     "I do what I do so others can remain pure. I'm a hero."
     "You're the villain, you stupid girl."
     This time, Isa does hit me. The back of her hand connects with my cheek and I yelp. Then my head is yanked back, my hair tugged roughly. Isa snarls into my face. Her hot, angry breath hushes over my cheeks.
     "You're lucky I need you alive," she growls. She throws my head back and releases her hold on my hair. My scalp aches where her fingernails dug in.
     "What do you want from me?" I ask. I stretch my jaw and glare at her as she takes a few steps away from me. I hope the hatred flowing through me is fueling Lost right now.
     Isa rolls her shoulders, regaining her composure. "Your bitch."
     "Excuse me?"
     "Lost, you call her. You're going to give her to me."
     A barked laugh escapes me. "You really are stupid. She's not ever going to you, unless it's to take your head."
     "That's why I have you." She waggles a finger in the air. "I've done a bit of research. There isn't much on your filthy bitch anywhere, but there's enough. Her one redeeming quality is obeying a human's orders."
     Great, the scarce information in the world on Lost, and Isa managed to get her grubby hands on it. "She'll never follow your orders," I scoff.
     "No, but she'll follow yours. You're going to hand her over to me or I'll kill you."
     "She won't let that happen."
     A slimey smile spreads Isa's lips. "Good. Then she'll give herself to me to keep you breathing."

                                   ------------------------------

     The fourth table tonight shatters under my strength. Kahlan was taken from me, right under my nose, and I can't get over the shame, the guilt. I wanted to run after Kahlan immediately but I knew I'd die without getting close enough. Isa has witches and who knows what protecting her. So, in a rare moment of lucidity, I found Deanna. She took me underground to come up with a plan but I've been in the cafeteria, breaking tables with every minute that passes. Anger surges through my blood and bone and everything else. It's bad enough that my connection with Kahlan was interrupted at that club long enough for her to be taken without me feeling it, but I can't take knowing exactly where she is and yet not being able to get to her. I'll kill Isa for this. I will.
     "Lost, please!" Lessa shrieks for the hundredth time. Deanna left her in here with me with the ridiculous notion that she could somehow calm me. Deanna was obviously wrong. "You're going to hurt yourself!"
     I spin to Lessa, snarling and salivating like a beast. Calm is the furthest thing from me right now. I need to run under the moon and find Kahlan already. Our bond is tugging me to her. I need to follow.
     Lessa squeaks in fear, shrinking away from me. I advance on her slowly. I'm not going to hurt her, I'm not. Kahlan has given me the ability to think on my own and use her sanity to not become a feral animal with every strong emotion. Wiping my mouth with my shirt sleeve, I stand straight and move to the cafeteria doors.
     "Tell Deanna I've had enough," I snap. "I'm leaving. I'll come up with a plan on my own. I know where Kahlan is and I'm getting her. Now."
     Lessa skitters after me, begging me not to go, to wait. I ignore her and make my stomping way to the elevator leading uptop. Eventually Lessa's pleas stop and I'm left alone. The quiet brings my scattered thoughts together somewhat and I think I'll go to The Black Hound next in search for help. As I think on this and reach the waiting area before the elevator, something strikes me in the back. It doesn't hurt or even sting, but it makes me twist around in a huff. Leon and Deanna are standing behind me, Leon holding a funny looking fun.
     "What did you shoot me with?" I demand to know, trying to reach the area I felt being hit.
     "Something to calm you," Leon says smoothly. "We don't have a solid plan yet. You can't leave."
     Whatever they shot me with is a dud, because I can't feel a thing. "I'm going. You can try to stop me but you'll lose a few limbs."
     Leon raises his weird gun and takes a step toward me, but Deanna holds out her arm to stop him. Her hard eyes are on me. "You're going to leave without our help? You won't have our resources."
      "I'm getting Kahlan. Help or not, I don't care."
     Deanna's eyes narrow the barest. "You're making a mistake. You could die alone before reaching her."
     "I am hers and she is calling for me. I will heed her call and fight to reach her."
     There's a moment of strained silence. Then, with a resigned nod, Deanna lets me go. I hop into the elevator and almost smash the buttons to ascend. A strange sensation follows me all the way up and I start to wonder why Deanna and Leon let me go so easily. That doesn't seem like something they would do without a big fight. But then I'm at ground floor and the elevator doors are open, and I zoom out, forgetting about Leon and Deanna.
     I sprint out of the building and skid to turn, aiming for The Black Hound. It's night but the city is still thrumming with life, and I'm forced to take side streets and hide in the shadows to hide my speed and avoid pedestrians. My route forces the barest bit of time on me, and I'm annoyed, but I reach The Black Hound quickly. I almost smash the door as I enter the grungy place and I unsettle a few customers. Someone attempts to hassle me about my entrance but I have no patience for them. They're only human so I push them out of my way with the smallest portion of my strength and call for Josh or Joanne. A skinny wolf in an oversized shirt runs up to me, asking what I want, and I demand to see Josh. He nods and runs to the back.
     I stalk to the bar and slap my hands atop it. The noise and commotion around me is frustrating to say the least and I want to hit somebody. But I don't, mostly because the clientele tonight is majority human.
     "Lost!" Josh booms, stepping out from the back to behind the bar. "What's going on? Is everything okay? Karl tells me you came in like you wanted to kill us all."
     I try to school my face into a blank expression, but I know I'm scowling despite my efforts. "Isa took Kahlan," I grind out over the chatter around me.
     Josh stares at me for half a second before lifting his head and shouting at his customers to "Get! We're closed! We're out of beer!" There are groans and some people are clearly planning to stay despite the dry taps, but wolves come out from the back to get the stingy people up and moving. I scrape my hand through my hair as the bar empties out. Josh is on his cell, talking to Joanne by the sound of it, and he tells her to ring everyone up. Everyone.
     "We'll have at least three packs worth of wolves here," he declares when he hangs up. "I've got a big family, and we're all going to put our noses to finding Kahlan, don't you worry."
     "I already know where she is," I say. "I just need help to make it to her. Isa has witches and such at her disposal."
     "You've got your help."
     "Thank you." I look up at him. "But some of you could get hurt. Don't give me your pack if you're not comfortable with that."
     Josh smiles boyishly. "They're always griping about nothing fun to do. They'll love finally having the opportunity to sink their teeth into someone who deserves it."
     "I can't ever repay you for this."
     "You're a legend, like I said you'd be. In fact..." He grins, moving out from behind the bar. "I think we're going to have an army within the hour."
     I sit back and try to even my breathing as wolves start coming into the bar in groups or pairs. They pile around tables with hard expressions and give me nods in solidarity. I nod back, thankful for their help. Wolves at my side tonight are exactly what I need. Their snapping jaws and flesh hungry claws with have me reaching Kahlan in no time.
     Within minutes the bar is filled with Josh's family and extended family. I didn't think so many people would show up just for me, knowing very well what's in store for tonight. It's heartwarming.
     "Listen up!" Joanne booms, effectively silencing the room. "We're gonna bare our fur tonight for the red headed beauty. We've all grown to love her like our own pup and we won't stop howling until she's back home. If you're not ready to battle magic for her, say so and leave. You won't be looked down on."
     To my great joy, no one moves.
     Joanne smiles with sparkling teeth. "Bring her home!"
     "Awoof!" The building cheers in response. They chant over and over, "Awoof! Awoof! Awoof!" and tables shake and the floors rattle with stomping feet. The room's excitement has my heart pumping and I stand at the ready. Josh says something that spreads from ear to ear and when it reaches me, I finally understand why he had that sly grin earlier.
     "Round 'em up, people!" Joanne roars, and everyone moves to the exit in a flurry. They run out into the night in different directions and Josh ushers me out, too, to lead me to his car. I get in without a fight.
     "You know where she is right?" Josh asks as he buckles up. He starts his car and revvs the engine. "Lead the way." The tires squeal as we speed off and I smile at Josh's hoot. Kahlan's connection with me tugs and yanks me around and I steer Josh in the direction I'm drawn to. We have to abide by traffic laws and take strange turns and sometimes hit dead ends, but I know we're going the right way. It would have been easier for us to run, but when more cars join us, I see why we didn't. There are lots of us. A sleek gray convertible that pulls up next to me is packed with hungry wolves and they raise their fists at me.
     "Red!" They shout in unison. Another car pulls up on Josh's side and they shout, too. "Red! Red!" Their nickname for Kahlan is simple but effective. I roll down my window and howl into the night and my friends join in with gusto. I keep my upper body out into the cold night and point where we need to go, shouting to make sure Josh gets it. The cars that have joined the team honk and scare the night owls on the sidewalks. It's thrilling.
     A fairy zooms to my side and gives me a wink, flying backwards to look at me. "Tonight sounds like a night to use fairy dust, no?"
     I laugh and give them a high five before they zip higher into the sky, disappearing to human eyes. I look up and find the fairy... and dozens of other flying creatures. It's marvelous and makes my heart sing. My eyes fall to the buildings whizzing by and I see Johnny hopping from roof to roof to keep pace with the procession of speeding vehicles behind me. He throws me a swift wave then holds up a fist. I never expected he'd join this fight yet here he is.
     Another howl leaves me, this time hopeful, as I truly see the army Josh had in mind for the night. Hoots and hollers join in as the cars go off-road, leaving the city. Slowly but surely we're getting closer to Kahlan. We can do this. We're going to get her. With the help of all these creatures- these creatures that love Kahlan as much as I do- we can actually succeed.
     Eyes swallowing the darkness, I slap the top of Josh's car for him to speed it up. I'm coming, Kahlan. We're coming for you.