Running from Shadows (In progress)

Chapter 1: Escape into Danger

"But I could," I say, half to myself.

"How?" Ashley asks, then turns away as I change my hand into a wolf paw.

I reach out and the sea of red goes crazy. It can't get far enough away from me. Odd, but I bet it might work. I have one last problem though.

"How will I get in though?" my friend whimpers. "She's my sister. I want to be there too."

I contemplate saying she can't and she'll just have to deal with it, but I guess I'm not that cruel. "I want to try one more thing. Put your hand on mine."

I slowly put my hand back in the field. The beams are indecisive, jumping towards our hands and then away, but fortunately they're more afraid of me than hungry for her, so they never touch us.

"I think it'll work," I smile at Ash, handing her my clothes after stripping down to nothing.

She frowns then turns again as I transform. It's not true that werewolves can only change on the full moon, just that they can't change on the new moon. Even the slightest sliver can allow us to change, although I am strongest on the full moon. Or that's what my dad said. He also said it was very painful to try to turn on the new moon, so I've never tested it.

Sadly, she can't telepathically connect while I am changed, and I can't talk to her comfortably, but she knows what to do and she clambers on my back as I set off through the waves of red.

I just hope the transmitter didn't send its patterns to a database, or we're already screwed.

As we get to the other side Ashley giggle. "That was really cool!" She gestures back at the blanket of red, dancing streams of light behind us as they slowly return to their former places.

I nod, agreeing with her. But part of me thought it was just a lot too easy. Why would they have made it so easy for me to get across if they wanted me so bad? Unfortunately, it was too late for me to have second thoughts, so I pushed the thoughts out of my mind.

"Caia? Wolf or telepathic? We can't do both.." Ashley said. Her voice was a little shaky, but she masked her nervousness well and I doubted if I could have picked up her fear if I wasn't in wolf form. Wolf was safer. But my friend needed support and I'm pretty sure she would pick a human over a wolf to lean on anytime. I changed the rest of the way.

"Cay! Warn me next time!" she squealed, covering her eyes and whirling around, holding my clothes out behind her so I could take them.

"Why? I don't see why it bothers you so much to see me change." I complained.

"Have you ever seen yourself change?" she asked, turning to face me again. "It's kind of scarring."

"That's mean." I said, faking a defensive tone. "It's still me. It's natural."

"Not really. In case you didn't notice, you're the only one left who can do it. It's not so natural anymore."

I knew she was teasing, but her comment struck a nerve and I flinched. My dad and I had been the last two, and lets just say he didn't get away like Ashley did.

"Cay, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way." She was so concerned she looked like she was going to cry.

"It's fine. Really," I lied, then added a little harsher than I'd meant, "We should go."

"Cay, wait," She stumbled after me.

I so did not want to hear her trying to apoligize for something I'd already forgiven her for. I reached for the doorknob.

"Cay! Stop!" She yelled. I turned around at her tone just as the door swung wide open and a tall, pretty man looked down at me.

"Ah, but pease don't stop. I wish I had known you'd stop by or I wouldn't have sent those two morons to go get you." I glared defiantly at him as he spoke.

"Look how pretty you are," Eris said, grabbing my chin and turning my head from side to side. "You definately don't take after your father, the ugly mutt." He beamed at me as if waiting for me to approve his joke. I spit in his face.

His hand reared to slap me, but I dodged and grabbed his arm, twisting it around until I heard his shoulder snap out of place and watched him yelp in pain as he fell to the ground.

"You, sir, have no business name-calling." I knelt down and whispered in his ear. "If I remember, you and my father were good friends. That is until you decided it suited you better to get rid of him. I guess that was a lie." I stood back up. "I hope you rot." I punctuated my words with a kick to his side then marched past his wreathing body, beckoning for Ashley to follow me.

Wow! What was that all about? she asked, wide-eyed.

Nothing you have to worry about. I said sharply.

That was definately not nothing.

I said don't worry about it.

He knew your dad, and you totally broke his arm, and you called him a traitor, that is definitely something I have to worry about, you're my best friend Caia, you can tell me anything. She said, running her sentences together excitedly.

I whirled around so suddenly that she ran into me. In a harsh whisper I calmly explained, " Ashley. I said not to worry about it. It doesn't matter, and it doesn't. Concern. You. You have your little secrets Miss Freeze-when-anyone-mentions-this-place. Well consider this my secret and leave. It. Be." I spin back around and march off, feeling extremely guilty and blocking it from my friend as I marched down the hallway. Now let's go.

She jogged after me, looking around for the first time. I-I'm not sure if I can do this, Cay.

I'm sorry. I really did feel bad, though I refrained from sharing the emotion telepathically. Ash, I really didn't mean it.

No, I know. But this place... I just can't. I thought I could do it, for Aislin, but I can't. She turned towards the door and I grabbed for her arm.

A wave of petrifying fear washed over me. I couldn't move. Every shadow in the hall harboured something evil, every stone was closing in around me intent on suffocating me, crushing every ounce of air out of my lungs. Ash! STOP! I get it okay! I screamed at her.

She wrenched her arm away. "Sorry," she murmered apoligetically at me. Then she was walking away. Her tiny body was visably shaking. I had no idea how she coud move at all though, seeing as her fear had completely paralyzed me.

Ashley! I know it's hard, but try to block it out.

I can't.

Yes you can. Look at me Ashley. I took her hand and she tensed involuntarily at my touch.

You can, Cay. I can't. I have to go. She yanked away hard.

No, let me help you Ashley! I cried as I tryed to force my sincerity through her psychic block. She was desparate now and she sent every ounce of her emotions through our line, not holding anything back. I had thought the glimpse I'd had was bad, but this. This was ten times worse.

I dropped to the floor, my mouth opening and closing but no air moved through my lungs. I couldn't breath. Everything was black. Someone coughed and a bright light switched on, blinding me. I felt rough hands on my wrists.

Stop! Ashley! I cried, barely remembering where I was, barely able to tell her memory from reality.

I projected a memory of my own through her dark one. We were sitting on the beach. The bright sun was just peaking up over the horizon. Everything was serene and peaceful. I was pretending to be asleep while she brushed her fingers absently through my hair, singing softly.

I felt her relax. Ashley?

Don't stop. she whispered. I held her hand and led her down the hall, projecting images to her.

Ashley. I'm sorry, but I need your help now. I don't know this place. I broke softly into her consciousness.

She drew in a shakey breath then said, I think I can now. Thank you Caia.

She opened her eyes and pointed over to a far corner. See that staircase?

Um. I stared hard at the place she pointed, as if my stare would magically make the stairs appear. No. Should I?