* Awareness came to me quickly. One minute there was nothing and the next minute, I was conscious. I looked around the room as I shifted on the cot. My palm settled over my rounded abdomen as I made sure my baby was safe. Strong movements relieved the fear that I had harbored. I pushed up off of the cot and looked down to see that I had been changed into white pants and a white shirt. It looked like a prison uniform. Even the shoes beside the bed were white and without laces. Who the hell had changed me and how had I been so unaware? I tried to piece together what I could remember, which was precious little. I stood up and made my way to the small sink, turning on the water. It blasted out of the faucet and soaked my pregnant belly. I adjusted it and splashed my face with the cool water. I used the towel hanging next to the sink and dabbed my face. There was a tray sitting on the floor and I knelt down to look at it. The jello was a mossy green and I poked it through the plastic, barely suppressing the gag that left my throat. The sandwich was dried out and the tea was watered down.

* Awareness came to me quickly. One minute there was nothing and the next minute, I was conscious. I looked around the room as I shifted on the cot. My palm settled over my rounded abdomen as I made sure my baby was safe. Strong movements relieved the fear that I had harbored. I pushed up off of the cot and looked down to see that I had been changed into white pants and a white shirt. It looked like a prison uniform. Even the shoes beside the bed were white and without laces. Who the hell had changed me and how had I been so unaware? I tried to piece together what I could remember, which was precious little. I stood up and made my way to the small sink, turning on the water. It blasted out of the faucet and soaked my pregnant belly. I adjusted it and splashed my face with the cool water. I used the towel hanging next to the sink and dabbed my face. There was a tray sitting on the floor and I knelt down to look at it. The jello was a mossy green and I poked it through the plastic, barely suppressing the gag that left my throat. The sandwich was dried out and the tea was watered down.
"You would think a facility like this would have better food." I murmured as I stood up and took in the room. I paced the length of it. Seventy five steps wall to wall. God, I wanted out. I didn't want my baby born into Donovan Wilson's waiting hands. I don't know how long I had been pacing when I heard the sharp sound of the hydraulics releasing as the door opened. Two men in all black with green guns were standing there, their eyes covered by goggles and helmets protecting their heads.
"Come with us." I stepped closer, steeling myself for whatever came next. Each man clamped a hand on my bicep as they marched down the hall. I tried to see how many people were locked up, but I couldn't tell. My heart pounded so hard in my chest, I feared I would throw up despite my empty stomach. Heat washed over me and my vision darkened. I was scared. Truly terrified. I tried to slow my breathing, but I couldn't because of the pace we were keeping. The man to my right slid a card through the door we stood in front of. It beeped three times then opened. We stepped out into the sunlight. I squinted at the devastating blindness. I looked around. The entire parameter was blocked by at least thirty foot tall concrete. But it appeared as though we were on the edge of the woods. I could hear birds chirping. Squirrels chattered to each other. Somewhere, an eagle screamed. Once my eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight I looked around more. There were five other women, dressed just like me, looking just as scared and haggard like me.
"Hello, ladies." A voice boomed through the air. I startled and looked around. "I bet you're wondering why we've brought you out to our own little piece of the Alaskan frontier." No one moved. No one spoke. "We are a highly technologically diverse organization. We're working on projects so top secret, our own government isn't even aware of it. Today, is what I like to call, live test day. Today, we test our projects. And you ladies were the lucky five chosen to assist us." Silence laid heavy as I held my breath, my heart ready to burst out of my chest. "I'm sure you're all wondering what you can do to help us; the smarter. The stronger. The elite." I hated his smug ass voice. "Well, ladies, today...today, you better run." It took me a minute to comprehend what was said. The men who had escorted us stepped back through the doors. They latched them and stood there. I waited. Run. He had said to run. We all heard the growl and the sound of a chain lifting. I watched as a gate opened. Sunlight glinted off the muzzle as it moved further into the sunlight. It was at least seven foot tall and when it flung its head back and howled, goosebumps broke out along my skin. My heartbeat slammed in my ear drums.
"Oh, shit." I breathed out. Two of the women took off and the third one spun around just as another one of the monstrosities from hell burst out of the gate and landed on her. Blood sprayed the white concrete.
"One down...four to go." I heard the laugh as my feet finally started listening and I took off into the woods. I heard sticks popping as the other women crashed through the woods. We all spread out, knowing it was our only chance. I heard the sound of branches scraping metal and knew they were closing in on me. I was the weakest link because I was pregnant. But I was also determined not to die today. I had to fight smarter because I didnt have the strength to fight harder. I darted off the trail I had been on and crashed through thicker overgrowth. I tripped and landed on a prickly bush. I scrambled off of it, my palms stinging. I heard the growl and stopped. Slowly, I turned and saw it. Red eyes tracked every move I made. Razor sharp teeth were on display. It didn't breathe. It was still. But I knew it was zeroed in on me. I kept my movements slow and steady, trying to crab walk backwards. There had been a small aclove that I had been trying to get to. My arms shook from the strain and sweat beaded my forehead. I mentally counted to three and then spun around, half running, half crawling. It leapt into action and clamped down on my ankle. I screamed in agony as the bone snapped. I flipped to my back and kicked out with my right foot. It smashed against the metal snout and while it didn't hurt it, it did release my ankle. I stumbled up and ran before my legs gave out. My blood soaked through the white pants and shoe. I crawled towards the outcropping of rocks. The pain was agonizing and I heard him as he ran up on me. My fingers swiped across a thick stick and I grabbed it, spinning to my back and swinging it with all I had. It made no difference as the monster stalked closer, its jaws opening wider to reveal the razor blade teeth. My hands shook on my makeshift weapon.
"Get away from me." I snapped through clenched teeth that wanted to chatter through the fear. It stalked closer, its nail sharp claws swiping at me. Its mouth stayed open and the thought came to me quick. I shot up and jabbed the stick down its throat, jamming it into the upper jaw. It shook its head but it was lodged firmly in place. I shoved back, rushing and slid on my back under the rocks. It was cooler and cobwebs choked me as I scooted as far back as I could, ignoring the thought of what might be in there with me. I could hear the robot trying to dislodge the stick and I closed my eyes, concentrating on the snapped ankle bone. I couldn't hide forever and I couldn't run on a broken ankle. I needed my wolf but she had been dormant since all this had happened. I listened as the robot from hell came closer and then closed my eyes when its paw swiped under the rock. It put its head to the ground and a red laser shot through the dark. It missed me, but just barely. It paced back and forth. The scream reached my ears and turned my stomach. Another one of us had been caught. Her terrified screams for help were horrific. The one guarding me took off and I breathed a sigh of relief. I was scared and tears leaked out of my eyes and into my hair as I laid there, trying to remember everything Gabe had taught me about fighting and survival. I didn't want to die here; to never be found and brought home. But as I laid under rocks, in the dark, one glaringly obvious truth started to unfold: I most likely would not make it home alive. *