Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

I turn on my heel and run away as fast as my feet will carry me.

My would-be kidnappers curse and soon their footsteps are pounding into the pavement behind me. I fly through the sleeping city, careful to make sure I travel in the opposite direction Cora ran. I hadn’t been sure they’d both follow me when another target was still within reach, but it seems their outrage over being duped by a little girl was strong enough to make them focus on me.

I know I need to find some place to hide, or some way to lose them. I’m small and fast, but my pursuers have longer legs and are probably in much better shape than I am. I can’t remember the last time I ate, let alone the last time I exercised for any reason other than survival. I turn towards the park in the center of the valley – the trees are dense and there’s little to no light, plus I’ve always had a talent for seeing in the darkness… at least I used to.

My adrenaline pushes me to sprint away from the men, even though my head is telling me to pace myself. I don’t risk looking over my shoulder, I simply run until my lungs are burning and my sides are splitting with cramps. Still, I don’t let myself slow down. I push through the pain and exhaustion, forcing myself to take longer strides, to move faster still.

I feel a slight flash of relief, when I reach the forest, bounding into the cover of the trees and veering away from the path. I leap over fallen logs and plow through the thick undergrowth, wondering if I should keep running or attempt to climb a tree.

An angry shout sounds behind me, and I realize my pursuers are closer than I knew. My heart stutters with raw panic, but I keep going, panting with the effort of drawing air.

Blood rushes in my ears, and though I can feel b.ranches and thorns scraping my legs, I don’t feel any pain. My frantic brain hallucinates the sound of a wolf howling in the distance, then two more join the cry and my eyes flit around the woods, searching for unseen predators. We’re deep in the forest now, and all at once I realize this was the worst possible place I could have chosen to flee.

I’ve always felt safe in the forest, but it seems my eyesight is not as sharp as I remember amidst this pitch blackness, and I’ve led my attackers away from the bustling city – from any witnesses or bystanders that might step in to help me.

I’m slowing down, no matter how hard I try to carry on. I was running on fumes to begin with, and my adrenaline can only do so much. No! I think frantically, keep going! If they catch you it’s all over. They’ll sell you to a brothel or to some monster like the Doctor. Nọ one will be left to protect Cora. You have to fight!

more, but in doing so I move too fast to adequately take in my surroundings. My foot

and I feel as if I’ve been punched in the stomach, my lungs temporarily frozen

then, panting for breath but looking down at me with sickening smiles. “Now look at what you’ve done, you stupid girl.” The first remarks, “How are we supposed to get a good

can take her to auction, so there’s really no reason to be delicate with her. We

besides I doubt a pretty thing like this is still pure anyw ay. You remember how she offered herself up for her friend. The little hussy is just

belt. “Don’t worry slut, we’ll make this good for you –

burn in my eyes. I

their cruel words fill me with a well of humiliation deeper than I can fathom. It’s not my fault I’m not pure, it’s not my fault I look this way.. it isn’t fair. What have I done to deserve this? Haven’t I suffered enough in my short

don’t know what to do. if I fight them they’ll hurt me worse, and if I don’t they’ll insist that I like it. I look around the forest, searching for some

they seem strangely familiar. They stand there motionless, their hands clasped as they watch the scene with my kidnappers unfold. Their wrinkled faces are drawn in frowns, but they don’t make a sound.

is she looking at?” The first man grumbles, sounding annoyed that my full attention isn’t

to comprehend that they can’t see the strange men, I’m still staring at the pair with desperation,

vision goes black for a moment, then fills with stars as I blink up at the men in

my throat. I vomit onto the ground beside me, and the

here, I don’t want to get it on me.” The

then I’m being wrenched across the cold, hard earth like a

body, to be knocked unconscious so that if I must be violated, I won’t have to remember it. Then something glints in my periphery, like silver and starlight. It’s