Black. Black was the only thing I could see. You never truly value something until you've lost it. These thoughts struck a distant memory in me and I was pulled back into my past self. The one who was lost and scared, the one who wandered the forest looking for something, anything to help. But even seven year old me knew that help wouldn't come. That sense of hopelessness struck me once again but anger quickly followed.

I was acting like a child, sitting here wallowing in self pity. Hell, some kids wouldn't be doing what I was doing at this moment. Sure, Ryker probably has no clue where I am and has no idea that I'm even alive. But I am and I know that he will look for me anyway. Just because he's a stubborn 2oo and something year old coot and also because he is my mate. Plus, I love him and if it were he that was kidnapped, of course I would bust my butt searching for him so hopefully my feelings will somehow reach him. I highly doubt it but a girl can dream, right? Sighing, I thumped my head against the mattress. I wonder how long I've been gone.

It's a curious thing, time that is. It's a force that is as powerful as the Goddess herself, maybe even more frightening. It's the enemy that I can never defeat. The years that I've been captive, Time was the biggest butt of all. It moved slowly, sluggishly as if I were moving in mud. However, the moments spent with Ryker flew by in a blur and I felt regret for acting the way I did. To be honest, I knew I wasn't the best person to hang out with but that didn't stop me from fixing my attitude. Does this make me a bad person? Probably. This was motivation enough to leave this place alive so I could put on my big girl pants and start acting like an adult.

Now you want to be good, Rei scoffed.

"Yeah well, being here gives me a lot to think about since it's so boring." I flipped over and buried my face into the mattress, but instantly regretted as the smell of mold and something like pee filled my nostrils. I jumped off of the bed and landed on my butt on the cold floor.

"You would think that I would be immune to such smells but that was just gross." I made a noise of disgust in the back of my throat. "It's terrible. I've become a big sissy."

There's nothing wrong with being one.

"No but I don't have time to be one." Standing, I brushed my clothes off, finally noticing that I was just dressed in a large shirt with the hem falling to my upper thighs, glad that I was dressed in underwear also. "I'm really losing it Rei." I groaned and paced the floor.

Calm down. Take a deep breath and relax. I stopped mid pace and closed my eyes. I followed her instructions and took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

You calm? I smiled.

"Calm as a cat on catnip. Thanks."

Ironic how you use a cat as an example. Dogs are supposed to hate cats you know, Rei pointed out.

"We are werewolves, Rei. It's different for us. Besides, that's just a myth."

Wolves are just glorified dogs you know.

"If that's the case, then we are higher than the average dog. Therefore, we do not have to hate cats." I started walking around again with less vigor, laying my hand against the wall and dragging it along as I walked. The bumpy surface was cold to the touch and it made me feel lonesome. Shaking my head, I continued on but about forty minutes of feeling every crevice and small mysterious holes, I could not find anything that would help me in escaping.

"Alright! We are royally screwed." I had just thrown my hands in the air in exasperation when the door squeaked open. Twirling around, I bent down in a slight crouch. I smelt the familiar scent of smoke and disease. Leon had paid another visit.

"I see you're quite restless," he mused. I smiled dryly.

"Your observation would be correct. Now what do you want?" I heard him tsk. Suddenly, I felt his presence right behind me.

"Aren't you at least a little curious as to why I'm holding you in here?" His breath brushed against my ear and I had to hold in a horrified shudder.

"I can't say that I really care," I responded deadpanned. His arm wrapped around my neck and squeezed, cutting off my oxygen. Yet I didn't react at all.

"Oh you should because in a month, you're going to become one of the most powerful wolves on the planet. Not even the Alpha King will be able to do anything." He sounded gleeful as he whispered in my ear, and I wanted to turn around and punch him so hard in the face that not even he would be able to recognize it.

"And do you know the reason, my love?" He loosened his arm slightly so that I could answer. Inhaling quietly, I answered him.

"I don't have an inkling of an idea what you're talking about."

"Well my dear, isn't it your birthday next month?"

"So what of it?" He giggled and it made me want to vomit. It was just too creepy.

"You get the best birthday gift ever! Your powers." I stiffened further in his grasp.

"I already have my powers, you crazy oaf." A punch to my ribs was a warning to shut up.

"No darling, you're real powers. What you have now is just a tidbit to what you actually possess," he pushed me away from his chest abruptly before turning me around to face him. He was so close that I could feel his hot, damp breath on my face. "Imagine it like this, the powers you have now is like a single raindrop from a storm cloud just full of millions of other drops. Right now you only have access to the one little drop of rain. However on your 21st birthday, the cloud that is containing the rest of the rainwater is going to start pouring, unable to contain it any longer,

"So you see Kei? The powers you have now is only a single raindrop. Soon the cloud is going to burst and there's nothing you can do."

He held me closer, his nose now brushing against my own. I didn't move, talk, or hardly even breathe for a full minute. The only sound was the even breaths of Leon who seemed to be waiting for my answer. Finally, I let out a small sigh.

"First off, no I don't see. What don't you get about me being blind? And secondly, you really are a crazy son-of-a-gun, aren't you?" I pulled back my fist and punched him as hard as I could in the face. Taken by surprise, he let go of me and must have flown across the room and slammed into the wall as a loud crash echoed around the small room. Shaking my hand, I strode over to where the sound came from and kicked out with my foot until I felt a leg. I pulled back expecting a hit but was shocked to find that nothing happened. Almost timidly, I poked him again with my toe before freezing for his reaction. Still nothing.

Maybe you knocked him out? Rei questioned.

I don't know. He hasn't attacked yet so maybe I did. If so, our luck hasn't run out yet. Scooting around his body, I feel my way around and guide myself with the wall. Reaching out blindly, my hand comes into contact with something soft. As if bitten, I pull back and hold my hand to my chest.

Don't tell me that was his hair. Crazy bad guys do not get soft hair.

This one does. Now feel above him. I think that's where the door was located. Reaching my hand out, I once again touched what seemed to be his hair which was soft and it felt wrong that this evil person should get soft hair. Moving upward however, my fingers came into contact with a cold surface with ridges that felt like the door.

Okay, so we figured out that this was the door. It still seems to be intact and therefore any hope of us actually getting out of here went below zero. Again. A groan made me pull back and take a few steps back as Leon began to stir.

Hurry, punch him in the face again.

I would but I don't know where his face is!

Then just swing your fists woman!

Without a second thought, I pulled back my fist and let it go but sadly it never made contact. At that exact moment, I felt his hand enclose around my fist, stopping my attack. Not a moment later I found myself flying across the room and slamming against the wall, my head snapping back.

I should get a medal for most times getting slammed into a flat surface, I thought to myself. I felt my own conscious begin to wane and if I could see, my vision would be black around the edges. Faintly I heard footsteps coming towards me but I no longer had the energy to move. They stopped besides me and a voice spoke right besides my right ear.

"You will get your powers and you will do what I say. So you better enjoy your stay because it's going to be a long month," I didn't reply - more accurately I couldn't. I hardly even heard his retreating footsteps and the slamming of the door behind him.

Slumping against the wall, I held in my tears and welcomed the blackness that made me numb.