Why'd they take his shoes of all things. His head lolled from his shoulder down to his chest and he hissed in pain, quickly righting it and feeling his muscle spasm at that too. He produced a wet sound and his mouth filled with metallic froth. He spat in disgust only to have it happen again, leaving him gasping for air and a furious burning sensation down his right shoulder into his arm. He rolled his eyes and looked down at the burnt fabric and spreading stain. A weeping sore pulsed occasionally sending a nauseating shock into his stomach. He was trying to heal. He wasn't dead but based on the amount of blood he was coughing up he was close to it. Blood was dripping down his cheek. His head throbbed. His ears still were ringing, fading in and out from the closeness of the blast.

And why. That woman shot him without remorse. Struck him in the head with the gun. And tied him up. He could feel the knot behind his back where he lay on the bathroom floor. They felt tacky like electrical cords. A makeshift solution. They must not have had anything better. He could see the girl who had been crying, her corpse half propped in between urinals as an extra cruelty. Her mouth was slack, white fingers curled together tightly in a hideous look of pleading between her binding. Bright red blood still dripped from her chin. So he hadn't been unconscious long.

He rolled onto his back, doing his best not to yell out or vomit but it did bring on another coughing fit and he had to remain there while awhile to catch his breath.

"One of them woke up."

Chris heard the shuffle of shoes on tile as a boy not much older than him pushed himself upright and placed a book he'd been reading on a sink. He'd been in the circle earlier, checking IDs. He tilted his head up, calling out again. "Did you hear me?"

"Yes- I heard you." A voice from the vent answered. "Bring it over, then."

The boy bent next to him and held a gun to his face. "Fight me and I'll kill you. It's that simple."

Chris found that comical considering he was fighting just to get enough air into a lung currently. His bloodied feet slipped on the floor which only seemed to annoy the boy. "Get. Up."

Chris tried again.

"So, the other one was human." The girl with golden blond hair, the one that had been begging her mom not to hurt Gabby was sitting in a chair in the other bathroom. Chris was forced to his knees but he didn't stay that way. He didn't have the energy.

"I think so." The boy ducked his head when the girl covered her mouth, a quick sob.

"Poor thing. W-we'll need to pray over her." Chris realized she was glaring at him as though this was his fault. As though they weren't the ones who shot her.

"Give me the knife."

"What are you going to do." Chris rolled his eyes up. Gabby. She was also sitting in a chair. At first glance it looked like she and the other girl might be having a regular conversation, although a tense one, but her feet were bound together and her arms were behind her. He could see a bandage over her arm.

"H-he wasn't one of the ones that hurt me. I told you the truth, Claire. I'm not sure what he is." Gabby's voice was strange. Oddly high pitched and sniffling.

"I believe you." Claire had stood, her face pinched and her eyes pink. "But he survived. James?"

Chris tried to jerk away as James bent next to him, a rust spattered knife in one hand and slide it along his forearm. He grimaced. He could feel the burn, sharper than usual as his body weakly tried to fight the injury. Chris doubted he had the strength.

Claire had jerked away. "Blue. He's a demon for sure."

"That's why you cut me?" Gabby asked in the same weak voice. "You didn't trust me. Even though this is your fault."

Chris' vision kept going in and out of focus. He could see Claire kneeling in front of Gabby. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I don't know why they came after you but you're safe now. I just need you to answer a few more questions. My mom-"

"I understand. Whatever I can do to get out of here."

Chris didn't understand. He coughed again and shut his eyes to keep the dizziness at bay.

"How did you convince them to let you down off the mountain."

"I-I didn't. They sent me, like I said. They wanted to get more information and I'm expendable. They said they'd kill me if I tried to run. It's only because you recognized me that-" At this Gabby started to cry.

She couldn't really be doing this. What had she told them so far?

"And this one was supposed to watch you? Why not just send him?" Chris felt the toe of a boot against his side and a dull pain as it rolled him. Chris didn't want to listen to any of this.

The crying extended awhile. "I told them I wouldn't run but they didn't trust me yet."

"A test."

"Yes. If you two..." The conversation was bleeding in and out again.

Pain. He opened his eyes. The girl was standing over him now. He could smell something burning. Iron. Some kind of long black metal spike, embers glowing at the end.

"-we'll have some time to question him."

"So he's alive but not for long?" Gabby asked pitifully. Was her fear for herself or him? It was hard to tell now.

"Correct. They can't survive a wound like that without food." Good to know. He wished she'd be more specific. Do I have minutes? Hours? "If you hit a major artery or the head, they die, but something that can heal might just take a matter of days. In an hour they'd be upright. But we learned something about the demons. The iron in the center of these bullets stops the healing process. It will be-" but she stopped and bent close to him. Her expression became more and more disgusted the closer she got. A trembling finger tugged at the collar of his shirt and he coughed, a bubble of blood splatted across his mouth, making her stumbled back a step.

"Gabby I need you to answer another question."

Gabby sniffled. "Ok, Claire. Anything you need if I know the answer."

"You told me before your necklace was from a really good friend. So why is he wearing that." The voice was so quiet he could barely hear. It sounded on the verge of tears. "Please give me a reason for that."

"Because- because-" Gabby stammered and then nothing.

No. Chris heard the boy kick something and start cursing and the girl was crying. She'd convinced them. She'd nearly convinced him this was all a lie. She was going to be safe.

"I can't- I can't James. You have to do it. I can't. Not to her."

"I don't fucking want to either."

"Please don't make me- you didn't know her like I-"

"Ha! Don't know her- Claire you have no idea what you are talking about-"

"Stop. Stop- what are you going to do to me." Gabby's voice had lost all the whining sniffling. There was just fear behind her words. The world started to come back into focus for him. They were going to hurt her. "You brought that in earlier but you said you wouldn't explain unless you had to."

"If you actually answer our questions, nothing." James said firmly. "We don't want this either."

"You've been corrupted by the Demons. You have to purge what you know a-and maybe we can save you but you need to cooperate."

"Demons, huh?" There was an odd edge to Gabby's voice. "So you are going to torture me, and maybe- maybe let me live if I tell you something you want to hear." She started to laugh. It was way too high and loud. She sounded insane.

Why would she laugh? Don't provoke them more!

"Fucking idiots. You want someone to talk you need to promise their life. What? No, James, I'm saying I'd like you to cordially invite you to take that thing and stick it up your ass." It was quiet and then he heard the other girl crying, shoes clacking away. Gabby's voice carried after her. "Are you seriously running when its your faul-" her words ended in a shriek.

"Pl-lease don't." She was coughing and gasping. No more laughter. "What if you don't even believe me?"

James' words were flat. Chris couldn't even understand the question. Gabby screamed again.

He could barely lift himself. He was suddenly back hiding in the closet of Gabby's house, listening to the thumping outside and then her screaming. That same overwhelming shuddering in his limbs, too weak to move and yet somehow shifting brighter and brighter. Mariah's chanting in his head, telling him to be stupid.

The boy was reciting something in between the questions.

She screamed again and he could feel his claws, long and sharp tearing at the cords around his feet. The room started to go in and out of focus, all at once too bright and loud and then blinking back to normal. He staggered up right, leaning heavily into the wall, the gurgling pant turning into a lower, gravel sound as he went. Stop him. Stop him. Stop himstophimstophimSTOPHIMSTOPHIM

It smelled like burning flesh, a bright instrument was in the hands of a boy he barely recognized. His eyes blurred in and out. Gabby on the ground now. Tears, blood on her lips and running down her nose. The smell, overwhelming. Eyes. Eyes on him surrounded by white. "Don't! Don't hurt him!" The instrument was on the ground, forgotten. "Get back on the ground!" Bright, bits of burning- "Don't touch her..." Chris wondered at his own voice. He really did sound like a demon. Kill him. Killhim."He's been shot once it won't stop him!" "Fucking back up!" The boy turned the gun on Gabby.

Chris lunged.

He sank his fangs into the boy's easy yielding throat. His trachea popped against his tongue and hot blood sprayed into his nostrils. He pulled the entire chunk of flesh away from its owner with a splattering shake of his head. He let it fall from his teeth. The body bent at the knees and then backwards. He couldn't see his expression.

Gabby screamed on the floor, her voice breaking into a howl. "Fuck- fuck fuuuuuuck"

Chris watched the death twitches. He spat both their blood onto the wall. The red fluids from the open neck were starting to boil instead of spurt. Gross. A familiar feeling. How stupid for this to be the reason he couldn't stay conscious. He was laughing between coughs. Chris slid down before it could overtake him. Both the dying boys laid together on the floor.

It was the dead girl he kept thinking of. Her blank eyes in her round, pale face still streaked with dried tears. What would they have done with the body. He'd gone through so many scenarios of how they might have let her live, this random girl who walked into the wrong event looking to make friends. Monsters didn't mind collateral. And that's exactly what James was. He'd only killed a monster. Or so everyone kept telling him.

Chris held a tissue to his lips, wiping away spit and blood as he'd had to do what seemed like every couple of minutes for the last few days. He had to keep reminding himself if was his own blood at this point. There was no way it could belong to anyone else days later.

He'd been given his very own room to convalesce, usually reserved for more important visitors to the Lodge. Of course even though he didn't technically have a roommate he was never left alone. Chris'd woken up in a van to Mariah bent over him, blood across her cheek and tears in her eyes. She'd smoothed his hair back in a surprisingly gentle way and informed him she'd murder him if he died on her. That unfortunately had made him laugh. It really, really hurt to laugh. Since then, he could expect to see his mentor passed out in the plush chair by the window or stalking back and forth in front of the TV taking phone calls. She never offered any sort of affection as comfort again but just having her intimidating presence helped lessen the illogical panic that occurred like the he first smelled the cleaning solution for the toilet.

"You finish your food yet, Sugar?"

That was the other thing she was doing. Stuffing as much food in as he could possibly swallow. Pain and the fact that everything he ate tasted like blood made his appetite poor but the fastest way for him to heal was to eat. He always had something in front of him at this point.

"Working on it." His voice sounded rough, but not as bad as it had a few days ago. "Little dry."

"You're just bitching because you think you can do better."

"I know I can do better." Still he did his best to tear a chunk off the peppered meat and not think about how easily his teeth did so even as a human.

"Heroes should eat better. I'll tell Steph."

"I don't feel like a hero. I feel sick. Anyway, it sounds like you were the actual hero. I only killed one of them you..." he trailed off. If Henry told it right Mariah had become, upset, when she found him barely breathing on the tile and caused a blood bath that would have put The Lily to shame. He'd heard from Gabby before how she had killed the man who attacked her on campus without a hint of remorse of hesitation. It really did make him think she was in the wrong career path. Maybe that was why her temper was so bad most of the time.

"I had back up and wasn't shot." She looked up from whatever demented scarf she was knitting and swallowed a third of her illegal beer. "Might as well get used to it. When you are feeling up to it, Sheira already promised to start including you in some of the council meetings."

"Really?"

"I mean, you'll be there to observe and need to keep your trap shut but-" she pointed her bottle as the bandage covering his chest. "I think everyone will approve of an Alpha with some real scars. The others might be brought along to a few as well, but you're the name everyone is hearing about." Her grin was wide.

"How about Gabby. Did the plan work for her?"

"I haven't spoken to her much."

"Don't you share a literal room."

Mariah cocked her head. "Yes."

"Well-?"

"Well she's spent most of her time recuperating too. Those burns might not be anything for us but she is a human remember."

"I... of course."

"And she's mostly been with Hannah and Prim." Mariah waved it off and then snorted. "Why? I feel like you are actually asking me why she's not been to see you much."

Chris didn't respond. He'd seen her exactly twice since they escaped from the ordeal and both times had been brief. He'd barely been awake. He didn't think she was expected to see him but had thought maybe she'd want to. He at least preferred not to talk about what happened with everyone else because they all treated it like some kind of adventure but she'd been there. She'd known it was anything but exciting.

"I can make her, if you want."

"Please no-" Chris sat up too fast in bed and winced. That was exactly what he didn't want.

"You sure because-" She was already heading to the door but lucky there was a knock before she got there. "Speak of the devil." Mariah who had been guarding the door extremely well despite her size relaxed and allowed Santi and Gabby to enter.

"I come bearing gifts of even more food. And look who I found in the kitchen? You mentioned you hadn't seen her-"

"Funny that's just what we were talking about." Mariah noted. "Seems to be on your mind."

Chris' face burned. "Ok ok. I- thank you for the additional food. Lets not worry about that."

Gabby placed a tray down, a far off look in her eyes. "Huh? I wasn't listening. Did someone ask me a question?"

"I was just pointing out-" Santi started again only stopping when Chris sent a sharp look his way. "thaaat I needed to be off so you're welcome for the food bye."

"Oh, yeah, and I have an errand so your timing is perfect." Mariah snatched an apple and gave it a sniff. "Gabby you mind sitting with him until Henry gets up here? Whole bullet in the lung thing, need to make sure we don't need to rush him to the infirmary you get it."

Gabby seemed to just have realized where she was and did a full circle. "But- wait, Santi had... oh. Well, hey." She gave him a small awkward wave as he struggled to get himself out of bed and pull a shirt on.

"Sorry- I didn't know you were- bandages look worse then they are I swear-" he broke off in a coughing fit. He had no choice but to spit. "Disgusting. I'm so sorry."

"Chris, literally don't worry about it. You're the only person I know that would apologize for that." She was still standing near where she'd left the tray with her hands behind her back. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed her until now. How could it be his heart still beat this fast just from seeing her? He wanted to wrap his arms around her again. He didn't care if it hurt. But something stopped him.

"Did you want to... sit?" He glanced at the bed and made sure to pull the blanket all the way up but to his surprise she took a seat on the chair instead. He remembered her burns, probably hidden under her long sleeves. The Gabby that took flying leaps onto his bed without his permission might be weeks away still. She turned to look out the window and ran a finger across the frame.

"I should have come to see you but walking very far was a struggle for awhile- um- Mariah mentioned you'd been seeing Hannah though? That's good."

"Oh yes." Her smile was faint. "She's been interacting with the whole pack. She was disappointed you haven't been out much after hearing all the stories."

"Stories."

"Yeah. They are getting crazier by the day you know." She twisted the bracelet around her wrist. The same one that cut him earlier. He wondered what she'd think if he asked Mariah to ger her a new one.

"I'm guessing Santiago may have something to do with that."

A real smile, finally. "I know. It was shocking to me too. Were you aware that one of the guys had a broad sword?"

"Guys?"

"Oh there are multiple now. Six, to be exact."

"Santi..." Chris shook his head.

"Hannah drew you something. Apparently it's herself. So that's... sweet?" Gabby laughed. "All she likes to draw, it turns out."

"How are your legs and your arm."

"Much better. I mean... bad. But you guys have some killer medicine here."

He scowled. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to stop him sooner. What that piece of shit did..."

"Lets not." Gabby's smile was strained, eyes wide. "I mean, that's all anyone wants to talk to me about down there and its..."

He let her trail off. He understood not wanting to talk about it. He honestly didn't, except with the one person who had also gone through it. "No problem. I ah, wanted to asked you a question."

"Shoot. I mean, sure." She grimaced.

"The necklace, I think they wouldn't care now who wore it. I mean, if you would like it back that is you don't have to-"

Gabby's face softened. "Honestly it felt strange not to have it." Chris removed it from around his neck. But when he tried to put it on her she pulled away. "I got it."

He looked down at her, and then his own hand. Something felt off. "Gabby, is there a reason you won't touch me?"

"What?" She looked alarmed. "No- I mean- I was worried about hurting you."

"By letting me put on your necklace?"

She stared at him, a determined look, and then stood up and climbed onto the bed. "Well?"

He looked at her blankly but followed her.

She was sitting with her arms crossed but to his surprise when he sat down again she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. It was brief but still made a warm relief spread through his body. He wished he could kiss her. Really kiss her, but obviously that wouldn't be an option for awhile. He smiled at her but she looked away.

"Is it stupid that I missed you? I know its only been a few days..."

"Nope."

He entwined his fingers with hers and went to rest his chin on her shoulder. "I wanted to know if you spoke with London. Did the plan work- are you getting-"

"The plan?" She pulled away from him, a horrified look on her face. "That's what you're worried about?"

Chris leaned away, startled. "Gabby what's going on?"

She climbed off the bed, wrapping her arms around herself. She was trembling.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"I- I don't want you to touch me."

He felt a rush of embarrassment but understood. "I... yeah I could see that. That was too much for-"

"No not like that. I mean." Her eyes squeezed shut. Tears clung to her lashes. She inhaled. "I mean at all."

"At... all?"

She nodded.

He felt cold and lost at the idea as he ran through their interaction trying to find something grievous enough to warrant this. He was at a loss and slightly panicked. Chris stared at her helplessly. "But what did I do?"

"No- you didn't. I didn't- I thought." She gritted her teeth. Her eyes were locked on the ground. "I thought I was better than other humans but- but I've been lying."

"Lying?"

"I've been so afraid this whole fucking time."

"I know- everyone was acting so angry and-"

"No. Chris. I've been scared of you too."

That made him pause. "But you've been hanging out with all of like its normal- you made it look easy to be everyone's friend." He frowned, a truly nauseating thought striking him. "Gabby you kissed me. Are you saying you didn't want to do that?"

"No. I wanted to do that."

"Then what are you saying." His confusion was quickly becoming frustration.

"I... I'm saying when I told you I wasn't scared and I accepted you I was fucking lying. I thought I was the exemption to the rule. I thought I was better than other humans and if I just kept telling myself that a-and keep you separate. The others could be... but you were always different. I would keep you human in my mind. B-but then I watched you kill him with your teeth-"

"Do you think I wanted to do that?? Do you think I'm not horrified and-and disgusted with myself? I did that to protect us!"

"I know-"

"He was going to torture you for who knows how long and kil-"

"Chris I knew him and I watched you kill him in front of me and now I can't pretend anymore-"

"That I'm not a monster?! Say it. Just say it."

She still couldn't even look at him. "I pretended you were a human in the truck. That was the only way I could get near you. That's why I never wanted to draw you. I wish I only knew you as a human. I wish I didn't know what you are. I'm so sorry, Chris."

"I-" He only felt empty. She was standing there and holding her hands so tight her knuckles were turning white. Now she looked like she had hiding in the corner of the truck, pulled into herself. He wondered briefly if he'd imagined all of this. For the first time he didn't want her to be ok. Everything already hurt. He found himself glaring. Pain flared in his chest again.

"Do you hate me, Gabrielle?"

"No. No that's why I was trying to-"

"Then I don't get it. You could have just left me alone years ago. But sure, you were bored."

She was looking at him at least, pale faced.

"But why again now? Was it was fun to continue playing with me? Was it funny each time I opened up to you or believed you when you said you liked me?"

"No."

He put a hand over his face. "So I was just a test then? To prove to yourself you were a better human than the rest."

Her lower lip was trembling. "No, Chris."

"Then please explain because I don't understand what benefit you got from lying to me about-" his voice wasn't working quite right and he had to clear his throat. "-about wanting to be friends with me. The actual, me. Why would you lie, Gabby?" He felt like he was pleading with her for a good reason to make this all better.

She always went mute at the worst times.

"If you won't tell me, you could have at least kept this to yourself and gone off with London and never have to see me again but, what, you felt guilty? And you can't stand feeling uncomfortable, is that it?"

"Chris, I'm sorry."

"You're selfish, Gabby."

"I know but-"

"I'm having a hard time understanding why you are bothering to tell me this at all." He started to cough. "Please just leave." He told her in between gasps.

"Chris-"

"Leave."

She exhaled slowly, stammering over her words while he struggled to catch his breath. "I thought I could get over it since I-I think I lov-"

He started to cough harder. He was such an idiot. It was his fault for believing he was worthy of anything from her in the first place. He was the same as the others to her. His felt his eyes starting to burn and hoped for a malbren only to remember he was already human. There was nowhere to go.

"Chris? Did you hear me?"

"I told you to leave."

"But it's the truth!"

"Just stop trying to talk your way out of something for once!"

"But-"

"Gabby, get the fuck out of my room."

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