Werewolves and Vampires

Chapter 39: Caleb

“As you may have noticed, I’m not one to play games with. I’m not afraid to hurt or even kill you,” he said quietly, a hard edge to his voice as he narrowed his eyes at me and leaned closed to my face. “Unfortunately, the killing will have to wait a while.” He leaned back, keeping his knife at my throat for another moment before pulling that away as well.

“Why is that?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Because I’m going to need you for a short time…and then I can kill you,” he said, showing me his sharp teeth before he turned around and began to leave the cave through one dark tunnel.

“Where are you going?” I shouted after him. But he didn’t answer. He just kept walking until I couldn’t see him anymore.

I slumped forward, bracing myself painfully against the metal cuffs. Sobs wracked my chest as I yanked uselessly on the cuffs again.

I cried for a long time before the pain in my head grew too much and I passed out.

********

I woke up feeling worse than before, the back of my head was killing me and was too tender for me to lean my head back comfortably against the cave wall, and my ankle was throbbing painfully. My hand had stopped bleeding at least, but there was blood that had ran down my arm. I know, because my coat had been removed so I was left in my jeans and hoodie.

Odd as it was for him to do that, I was weirdly grateful. Sitting by the huge fire was incredibly hot and uncomfortable, even in my hoodie and jeans. I'd have melted by now if I had my coat.

I looked around, but I was still alone so I decided I’d try to get my bearings.

I awkwardly reached behind my head with one of my chained hands. I gently ran one finger along the back of my skull, feeling some damp parts that had to be blood and more crusty parts that I was sure was dried blood spots. No cracks or bumps though. I turned my head to peer at my cut hand, blinking in the fire light. It was covered in dirt and small pebbles, and the cut was wide but thankfully shallow.

I continued on with my body assessment and looked over my knees. They didn’t seem too bad, just a little bit scratched up, which I could see quite well through the tears in my jeans.

Carefully, I tested my ankle by slowly stretching and moving it in a circular motion. I got about halfway around before there was a sharp pain. I whimpered, biting down on my lower lip to keep from screaming as I let my foot fall to the ground. I vowed not to do that again, and seeing as I was most probably going to die, that didn’t seem like such a hard vow to keep.

Since I was done with my check-over I had nothing left to do. So I glanced around the cave, trying to figure out where everything was in case, by some slim chance, I was able to escape.

I’d most definitely be able to use my nose to get out of here, but if I had to run with Caleb chasing me…I didn’t think my ankle would let me get very far.

I grimaced suddenly as Caleb walked into the cave.

“Hello, my dear,” he smirked, unsheathing his knife as he sat cross legged across me on the other side of the fire. He pulled out a rag and started to wipe his knife clean of blood, and the image was so familiar to me that my head spun in the most sickening way.

“Stop calling me that,” I groaned, wishing I could curl into a ball on the floor where no one could ever hurt me or touch me.

“Fine, Lila,” he mocked.

“How do you know my name?”

“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time now and I’ve been watching you. It’s kind of obvious that I’d know your name by now,” he said casually, looking down at his knife as he wiped it.