Chapter 29: Chapter 29
The sounds of marching feet pricked Angel's ears and his eyelids flipped open. His entire frame tensed as he stood up, directing his gaze first to the human still out cold on his bed. He had patched him up and wrapped a rag around his stitches with Kurt’s help, hoping now that the weakling have the strength to complete his assignment.
He strode to the side of the bed and pulled off the blanket covering him from the stomach down to see if there were any signs of bleeding, but there were none. He let out a sigh of relief, cover him, and walked to stand close to the iron bars.
Uniform guards in army gear spilt in with Mathew in the lead. He started to point at Weres in their cells and one by one the guards fired a shot at them, causing them to drop to their knees. Studying them quietly he noted there was no show of pain just instant docility.
Angel clenched his jaw, understanding they were being drugged to keep them manageable. He cursed mentally, trying to think of a way to get out of getting injected with the poison. If they did the same to him, there was no way he would be able to save Aaron. And thus, his plans would be blown to hell. He gritted his teeth when Mathew halted his actions about ten cells to his and walked straight to stand by his cell. Two armed guards followed him. Angel lowered his eyes to the ground, knowing even though Mathew was not a hot head like Daniel he was also maniacal. He just does his own with lesser fuss. And Angell wanted to appear as cooperative as possible.
"Why is the human still alive?" Mathew asked. His voice was calm but chilly.
"Leverage for the boss, boss," Angel replied.
"Leverage?" Mathew repeated in a quiet sardonic tone.
"To draw out his boss, boss, " Angel replied again. His heart thudded fast in his chest.
"You don't think if they needed him he wouldn't have been thrown in here? Or you think you are a master of strategy now, Angel?"
"No boss, I'm just following orders. If you want him killed, I will do it now, he is wounded and halfway there—" Angel said.
"Wounded?" Mathew said seemingly pleased with that piece of information.
"Yes, boss," Angel said.
"Show me, " Mathew ordered. Angel felt his heart drop. Other than the bruises on Aaron's face caused by his punch. The only other wound was the slit on the lower part of his stomach and he couldn’t possibly let him see the stitches. If Mathew discovered their plans, Aaron's corpse would not be the only one on the floor in the next minute.
Angel strode to Aaron and pulled off the cover. The human's clothes were soaked with blood and dirt and reeked of alcohol but the entire pit reeks of blood, unwashed bodies, and body waste anyway, shadowing the stench. Humans may not be able to tell the difference but the Weres could.
Angel lifted Aaron's shirt showing Mathew the rag wrapped around his lower stomach. Mathew chuckled.
"Nice attempt at saving him. I’m certain you must have infected him or something. Poor bastard. You should have finished him off now he is going to die an agonising death. Lose the rag, and let him bleed to death. Also, carry him and follow me," Mathew said. Angel nodded and did as if he was going to do just that but didn't.
Aaron opened his eyes, meeting Angel's gaze. With the look in his eyes, Angel knew he had been listening to his conversation with Mathew. He looked scared as hell and also as pale as death. His eyes were red and the left eye Angel punched had a blue-black ring around it now. Angel gave him a reassuring nod. Aaron swallowed.
"Take this one too…" Angel heard Mathew say as he lifted Aaron and turned around fast enough to see the new Were, Freki, drop to his knees. He avoided looking in Kurt's direction, noting he was not taken.
"This waste should be killed once and for all…" Mathew said, glancing inside Wolfe's cell. "Shot him," he added. And the guards fired a shot at Wolfe who was cowering in one corner of the room. The big Were fell sideways to the floor on impact. Mathew chuckled. Angel could detect glee in the sound. The guy was a psychopath but then he was a Rufus after all. Angel thought as he ground his teeth to contain the violent surge of anger inside him.
"Do you want us to take him too?" one of the guards inquired. Mathew turned and shot the man in the thigh. A loud yelp resounded in the enclosed space.
"If you need to ask me that stupid question, you shouldn't be here as a guard," he resorted calmly then yelled, "of course not, you moron! He is a half-witted werewolf! What the fuck would I need him for?!"
The entire place went deathly quiet. They all knew the bastard could choose to kill them all and walk out of there as if nothing happened. Angel often thought Daniel was a lesser evil and that was saying something.
Angel watched as Mathew took a deep breath and started to walk back to the end of the cell towards the exit. The guards quickly followed him. He stopped in front of Blaze's cell and pointed at him too.
"Take this one too," he said calmly as if the outbursts a second before never happened. The guards exchanged a quick glance before obeying him.
Angel recalled Antonio Rufus saying he would not be taking any Were in close association with him but then Mathew doesn't always do as he was told. He supposed that was why the guards shared the furtive glances.
Angel trailed behind as the guards lined up all the drugged Weres, flanking them and leading them all after Mathew. Only when Mathew walked out of the exit door did Angel risk a glance at Kurt. His friend gave him a curt nod. Angel reverted his gaze forward then said under his breath.
"If getting you to the island looks as if it may never happen, do you think you could walk?"
"I - I think so, why? Aaron whispered.
Angel lowered his eyes to meet his and replied, "You may have to escape while I create a distraction." Aaron swallowed. “You know … in case he tries to kill you himself,” Angel said, ensuring he knows he was in danger. Aaron nodded in understanding. His eyes mirrored his terror.