Who: Dani What: Flashback to the night she was taken, current to her escape from Midnight Casino Where: Red Rocks territory/Midnight Casino When: 5 years previous/current Status: Narrative
Five years previous, Red Rocks Pack compound
She was at the head of the group, leading the women and children away from the compound. Her heart was thundering in her chest, fear spiking to a level that was almost visible on the surface, but Dani had to keep it together. There was an undercurrent of worried tension in the group already, and she had to keep everyone calm. Wide-eyed children clung to arms, legs, clothing, shuffling along as quietly and quickly as was possible.
There was a large storage shed with a dug out, earthen cellar where Dani planned to leave them. Word had come down that there was to be an attack on the compound, the two main domiciles and out buildings open to attack since the majority of the pack was patrolling the borders. Ryan had told her to take everyone to the cellar before sunset. It wasn't a long distance, but organization was an issue.
Determination kept her moving forward, circling the group, pushing stragglers along. Her words were firm but kind, the urgency of the situation obvious from her tone.
The door to the shed was open and the group was bottle necking, a crowd gathered that swelled as the center made their way inside. "Get down to the cellar as quickly as possible," Dani said in a voice loud enough for the group to hear.
It was when her own voice died out that she heard it. A cackle, almost like that of a hyena or a jackal. Her head whipped around, and she squinted into the dusk, moving instinctively toward the edge of the group. Her arms splayed, and she began pressing everyone in toward the door. "Hurry."
The cackle came again, with a rustling in the brush. The group continued to stream into the shed. As the crowd thinned and shrank, Dani pressed in through the throng, sliding sideways to grab one of the loaded shotguns from the rack near the door. They were for emergencies. This qualified. She weaved her way back outside, then grabbed the arm of her brother's girlfriend. "Lock it and get everyone downstairs. I'll meet you." The woman started to object, but Dani gave her a hard shove. "Now."
She cocked the rifle, still holding it across her body. She heard the heavy bar slide into place across the door, and she felt her heart race harder. There had to be a patrol nearby. They'd hear a shot. Her breath was shallow, but she worked hard to keep her fear under control. She'd get the patrol over to the shed. Everything would be okay.
The sound of paws pounding the ground came at her from all directions, but she couldn't see. The dark was gaining, and she muttered a curse. Dani pulled the shotgun up and butted it against her shoulder, taking blind aim to her left, where the sound was closest. There was a yelp, a distinctly canine yelp, and Dani worked the slide back and forth in a quick movement. It wasn't quick enough. A searing pain shot through her arm, the feeling of teeth sinking into bone drawing a loud shriek of pain.
She lashed out, kicking, swinging, but it was to no avail. At least three coyotes were on her, snapping jaws and gnashing teeth, dragging her away from the shed. When they hit the scrub line that bordered the compound, Dani couldn't fight anymore. She felt herself lifted from the ground, the shotgun left behind long ago. She knew she was bleeding, and bleeding badly. Whatever, whoever was carrying her was mid-shift, that mid point between human and animal. She was slung over their shoulder like a sack, and while she attempted a half-hearted struggle here and there, she knew she couldn't get away.
Her mind drifted, hoping that a patrol had gotten to the shed, hoping that there was some kind of protection in place for all those people. Jimmy's girlfriend was a were, so she was a good line of defense, but not enough.
Her thoughts went to Ryan. It was only then that tears came. Dani knew that the coyotes were going to kill her. It broke her heart, thinking of him mourning her. She pressed her eyes closed, thinking harder and harder on him, sending her love. She hoped he could feel it.
The abductor dropped her hard on the ground, and Dani knew they were at the edge of the pack's territory. She could hear more movement, feet against the ground as they headed toward her. Muffled, mumbled, whispered words were spoken, far enough away that Dani couldn't make heads or tails of what was said. The last thing she remembered was her own echoing shriek as they cut into her, bleeding her dry.
Present day, Midnight Casino basement
Dani peered out of the small space she'd crammed herself into, waiting for the security guards to leave. They were doing their last pass of the night, since morning would break soon and they would be required up on the playing floor. She'd planned this for months, years. She had to get out. Their bullshit about her being a new vampire was just that; bullshit.
When the guards had turned the corner of the hallway, Dani slid silently out, pressing herself against the wall for a three count as the camera positioned in the corner swung away. With a burst of inhuman speed, she darted around the corner, into another blind spot. She kept constant time in her head, knowing when she needed to move, how, why, where. She'd rehearsed it over and over again. This time was no rehearsal, and if it didn't work, she wouldn't get another chance.
She kept moving, through the labyrinth of halls, headed for the sewer outlet. If Raymond had done what he'd said he would, the grate leading to the storm drain would be open. She pressed forward, sprinting with all her might. Ahead of her the door to the access room was wide open, and she kept running. With a quiet jump, Dani leaped through the open storm drain and landed hard on one knee at the bottom of the pipe. She waited, looking up, and saw Raymond's face smiling down at her. She smiled back before he slid the grate closed.
Dani pushed up to a stand, peering around her. It was west to Red Rocks. She took off at a brisk run. It hadn't rained for weeks, so the large pipes were barely wet.
Navigating was harder than it had seemed, especially when she couldn't look above to see where she was. Dani had always had a good sense of direction ingrained in her from a young age, but there was something else driving her toward her goal. Something magnetic. She had to get back. She had to know if everyone was alright. She had to know her brother was still alive. She had to know that Ryan was alive.
When night finally broke, Dani moved to the surface, using much more speed than she had been below. She found her way to the road that led out to the territory, and ran as hard as her body would let her. When she hit the border, she stopped, waiting, wondering how long it would take the pack to pick up her scent.
Not that they'd recognize it anymore. She wasn't human. She was an enemy.