Running in Circles

To be fair, there was a bright side to your current situation.

One; you had found out that Ellie and Dina had, had a run in with these people beforehand. Two; Tommy was still going solo but the WLF didn’t seem to have made the connection that the three were together yet.

So, all in all, you had gotten some relatively useful information from the handful of conversations you overheard. You knew of Ellie and Dina’s last whereabouts, and had heard of Tommy’s as well. Unfortunately for you, Joel didn’t seem to get the whole ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ mindset you’re aiming for and was instead angrily glaring at you as the two of you were tied together and were shoved into the back of a ute.

It wasn’t your fault that you had the grace of a dancing elephant and had accidentally alerted the small team of Wolves of your whereabouts; causing Joel to attempt to come to your aid, only for his prosthetic to get stuck in one of the fucking holes of the metal mesh and end up toppling to the ground.

So, now here you two were, awaiting your punishment as you were whisked off to where ever the fuck these people were taking you.

Idly, you hoped it was their base – it would help save you some time in trying to find out information and whatnot. But you also supposed that it would make it ten times harder to escape.

Sighing, you continued to pout as Joel continued to give you the stink-eye. Wonderful team work right here.

Either way, it seemed that you two weren’t getting out of this situation anytime soon.

You felt something cold press against your neck and you snarled, eyes narrowing threateningly as your head whirled around to face the man who’d shoved his nose against your neck.

“You’re an omega,” The man stated bluntly, though his eyes held a familiar look of lust highlighted by a sense of awe.

“Fuck off,” You sneered, growling lowly in your throat.

You knew very well how rare omegas were nowadays. You were also painstakingly aware of the kind of treatment omegas got when it came to organisations such as these ones – a whore to bare children.

Even before the outbreak, there was the unrealistic belief that omegas would always give birth to strong alpha children. You had no idea why this existed with modern science showing how genetics doesn’t work that way.

But regardless, you felt your shoulders tense and you brought them up to your ears to help hide your scent glands from the others. You could see Joel’s lips pull down into a frown as the man unconsciously shuffled closer to you.

Things certainly weren’t going as planned, but that’s just life you supposed.

Sighing, you absentmindedly watched as the scenery rolled past as the truck sped across the plains of Seattle. You kept one ear on the conversation around you, but ultimately paid no mind to it as the three ‘guarding’ you starting yapping on about how you were an omega. You weren’t particularly too fond on where that little talk was going.

Huddled against the side of the ute, the wind tangling your hair, you let your thoughts wander.

You couldn’t really see any possible way of getting out of the current situation. Your and Joel’s hands tied tightly behind your backs, and your packs shoved against the opposite side of the ute. All of your weaponry had been taken off your person, but you were pretty sure that you had a knife in your shoe, but you couldn’t exactly reach it without gaining attention due to the awkward angle your hands were at.

Regardless, it seemed like you were stuck until you were able to move a little more freely… So probably once you were loaded off of the ute. Which meant being loaded off at whatever base you were going to. Which meant people. Lots of people. People who would shoot your brains out without a second thought if you retaliated.

Well, shit. This wasn’t looking too good.

You wondered if you were being taken to Isaac. If you were, you likely wouldn’t be getting out alive, not if Isaac had any say in it anyhow. Well, at least there was some hope for Joel if that was the case… On second thought, there wasn’t. Joel was the fucking cause of all of this bullshit.

Speaking of Joel, you felt an elbow jab you harshly in the side. You turned around to hiss at the other, but stopped short at the seriousness clouding the Alpha’s gaze.

Joel’s eyes flickered away from you for a moment before focusing back onto you and then repeating the action. Getting the message, you turned so you could see what he was looking at, and right there, hanging out of one of the men’s pockets was a knife.

You felt your eyes brighten as you calculated how you could snatch it off the other. Unfortunately, it looked like the man would have to lean forward a little bit so that the knife would clatter to the ground. But if you could catch it, then he’d never know.

Bitting your lip, you ran over your options… There weren’t much really, and the most effective would be pretending to go into heat – a very dangerous idea since you weren’t too fond of being touched with the intention of being raped, but then again, you were pretty sure everyone else felt the same way.

Letting out a soundless sigh, you forced your body to relax, letting your legs unfurl from where they were squashed underneath you, and letting your head loll to the side invitingly as you leaned against the man’s leg – the man with the knife.

“Oi, is she okay?” One of the beta women asked, her brows furrowing as she took in your lax face and half-lidded eyes.

“It’s probably just an omega thing,” Knife-Man snorted. You repressed the urge to roll your eyes, wishing that the guy would just fucking lean over to check on you so you could snatch his knife.

Taking a deep breath you channelled your scent to thicken, forcing some semblance of desire into the pheromones. Any alpha worth their merit would be able tell the difference between arousal and longing, but these people were arrogant and so they surely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

“Nah, something’s definitely wrong with her,” Another man said, leaning forward from his position next to the beta woman across from you to snap his fingers in your face. “Oi bitch, what’re you doing?”

You felt that cold nose bury into your neck once again and willed your shoulder to stay relaxed as you quietly grabbed the knife before it hit the ground and hid it behind your back. “She’s… aroused,” Knife-Man said, lust colouring his voice. You shuddered as your felt his nose press along your scent glands, but stayed still.

Suddenly, a growl ripped through the air and you startled at the threatening aroma that surrounded it. Joel shoved his way next to you, baring his teeth at the alpha who’d had his nose shoved against your throat.

The alpha smirked, eyes feral as they raked over you, completely ignoring Joel. You didn’t like that look. Not one bit.

Abby trotted alongside Manny, their shoulders bumping every now and then as they made their way through the bustling base they’d unceremoniously arrived in.

“Do you think Mel’s okay?” Manny asked as he pushed past the tent flap that led into the make-shift medical bay.

Abby repressed a sigh. “I’m sure she’s fine, we’ll be seeing her in a minute anyways.”

Mel and Abby had… drifted, to put it quite simply. Neither of them really ever got along, but ever since Jackson, Mel had basically flat-out avoided Abby as all costs, only ever to be seen if she were forced onto a mission with Abby.

Abby couldn’t understand it. Mel had wanted what she did, had helped scout for Joel and even pushed Owen to help out mor. Fuck, she’d even refused to help Joel when (Y/N) had asked. So Abby just couldn’t understand why Mel was being such a bitch about it.

Sighing, Abby pushed her frustration and anger to the side and instead pushed through another flap that led to Mel. She would make sure that Mel was alright – for Owen at least.

“Speak of the Devil,” Nora greeted as Abby stepped up to the gurney where Mel was being tended to.

“Hey guys,” Mel greeted, her eyes flicking between Manny and Abbys, but not quite meeting Abby’s eyes.

“How you doin’, Melon?” Manny asked as came to stand next to Abby.

“Just a few more—” Mel winced, her hand tightening its grip on her kneecap as one of the doctors behind her continued to thread the wound on her back together – “stitches, and I’ll be good as new.”

Nora let out a soft snort. “You guys need to convince this girl to relax.”

“Hey Mel,” Abby called. “Relax.”

Mel shot her some finger guns. “You got it.”

Abby couldn’t help the smile that flittered over her face. It felt like things had returned to some semblance of normal between them two, even if just for a moment.

“Hey, um, I need some muscle, so can you two give me a hand with something?” Nora said, ultimately breaking the little moment of peace. Abby felt her eyes narrow at the evasive request, but nodded along as her and Manny were lead outside of the tent.

“Have you had a chance to relax?” Manny asked as Abby shut the door behind her. Abby let herself trail behind, not particularly wanting to be present as those two dance around each other like clueless idiots.

“I’m shipping out to the west side hospital in a few. Orders are to get everything.” Nora sighed. Abby decided to cut in before Manny started another one of his lectures about taking care of yourself and all that bullshit.

“How’s Mel…Really?”

 “Well the baby’s vitals were a little elevated….But, I’m not worried.”

“Someone should get word to Owen. He’ll wanna be here for her.”

Nora didn’t respond until they were outside another door. “I need to show you guys something… Follow me.”

“What is it?” Manny asked, suspicion starting to cloud his voice as he pushed through the door after Nora.

Abby couldn’t help the wrinkling of her nose as she was hit with the pungent smell of rotting flesh and distressed scents that came from dozens upon dozens of body bags.

“Oh my god,” She croaked, bringing her hand up to cover her nose. “Are these all ours?”

“Yeah. And more coming in by the hour.” Nora stopped aside a body bag placed on the ground. “You can’t tell Mel. Alright?”

“Nora…?” Manny said, concern dripping from his voice as Nora crouched down to the bag.

“Just…Not yet.”

Abby could feel dread pooling in the pit of her stomach as Nora waited for her and Manny to step up to her. “Who’s in that body bag?”

Nora bit her lip before she bent over and unzipped the bag, pushing the fabric away to reveal—

“Holy shit… It’s Danny.” Abby had to look away. Seeing her friend’s lifeless body stuffed into a bag churned her gut, and she fought to keep the bile from rising in her throat. Abby felt panic cloud her mind as Owen suddenly took up her thoughts.

“Where’s Owen?” She demanded as she turned back to Nora, making sure to keep her eyes off of Danny’s pale skin.

“I don’t know.” Nora said helplessly, rising to her feet. “A few days back, there were some Scar sightings out by the marina. Danny and Owen were sent on a sweep. And this morning, the guards found Danny collapsed by the perimeter fence… He’d walked himself back, with a bullet in his stomach.” Nora’s eyes were getting glassy and her throat was obviously closing up as her words started to become shaky.

Manny’s hands shook slightly as he cursed in Spanish, bending down to zip up the body bag and relieve Abby of the sight of their dead friend.

“Isaac talked with him until he passed but… As far as I can tell, there’s no units going back that way.”

“So what about Owen?” Abby frowned. “Did you asked Isaac what happened?”

“Yeah, I tried! But he gave me that fucking look and then he told me to keep quiet about it. Which means you can’t say shit.”

“Owen’s a big boy. I’m sure he’s fine,” Manny said, giving Abby’s shoulder a pat of reassurance.

“Where’s Isaac? I’ll be discreet.” Abby said, challenging Nora to refute her.

“Last I heard he was in the apartments… But, there were these two travellers who were taken in this morning. As far as I’ve heard, he’s been busy with them.”

“Who were they?” Manny frowned.

“I don’t know – didn’t even get a look at ‘em. But there was a pretty big commotion at their arrival.” Abby nodded, Nora took her silent acceptance and turned around to head back outside. “Let me know what you guys find out.”

“Of course,” Manny promised as he stepped outside, Abby following as Nora closed the door behind them.

“Fuck man,” Manny sighed as he and Abby made their way to the apartments.

“Tell me about it.” Abby agreed as they jogged up the steps and stopped at the sight of Marco, who stood from his seat out front of the entrance. He raised a questioning brow at the two of them.

“We’re looking for Isaac.” Abby relayed.

Blowing out a puff of smoke, Marco chuckled. “He’s a bit busy, but go on inside. I’m sure he’s got time for you.”

When they walked inside it was completely silent. It was odd. Usually people would gather around the table out front and gamble, but today there was no one.

The rancid stench of distress, blood, piss and faeces, seeped through the air as they walked through the hallways, people that were huddled inside the cells and barricaded doors shuffling as far away from them as they could, as they made their way to Isaac.

“I don’t miss this place.” Manny huffed. “Fuck… Always hated the smell.”

Abby silently agreed as she came to a stop outside one of the barricaded doors Manny had stopped at. “Yeah, but after our morning, I wouldn’t mind a few minutes with these guys.”

“I hear that,” Manny sighed, pushing off the door frame and continuing to make his way through the halls.

Abby rolled her eyes. She knew Manny wasn’t a big fan of torture, especially when it came to people that hadn’t had any effect on him. But she wouldn’t call him out on his bluff.

Strolling up to the man guarding the elevator, Abby nodded at his greeting as he stood up and pulled out his earphones.

“We need to go up.” Abby said.

“Isaac’s in there,” he said, gesturing to one of the torture chambers that was once a bathroom.

“Oh. Do you know if he’ll be long?”

The man shrugged. “He said to get him when you two arrive. C’mon.”

Abby cast a curious look back at Manny as they padded over to the door and watched as the man knocked before pushing open the door and coming to stand next to Isaac. “Sir, Abby and Manny are here.”

Abby felt her shoulders tense at the sickening familiar scent of distress, she could see Manny’s face twist in confusion too. But neither of them could be sure for Isaac’s seated figure obscured their view of his latest victim.

Laboured breathing filled the silent room, as Isaac waved the man off, who scuttled back outside at the dismissing.

“I guess I should thank you,” Isaac said, his voice cutting through the thick tension of the room as he stood up. “You certainly left your mark on the two – an amputated leg and a crooked spine.” Isaac chuckled darkly.

Abby heard Manny’s sharp intake of breath beside her as Isaac moved around the figure tied to the chair, revealing their form as he grabbed their chin harshly and jerked their head to the side so they could see him.

“Really (Y/N), I never thought you’d be captured so easily.”