Chapter 1-Kicking and Screaming part one

I refused to let them drag me into that van. I absolutely refused to let them force me into The Gauntlet. Deep down, I knew that fighting back wouldn't work. But still I persisted to kick my captures over and over. I hit them with my fists...well tried too. I gave a frustrated huff as I tried to pull my wrists out of their ironclad grips, and cursed at them instead in fury at the failed attempts.

There is only one way out this. I thought in desperation, but that would mean showing my core. It might mean freedom, but totally out of the question. Because I knew my freedom wouldn't last long. That option is way too dangerous, and if the wrong person saw... I pushed down my fear at the thought of someone whispering into an even crueler persons ear about it. I couldn't help but shiver at the thought of being sold at the Black Auction.

Nothing was working against the Hunter's, so I screamed for help instead. Not my real scream that I knew wanted to show itself. Not even the least bit special in any way. A purely human scream full of fear and absolute terror that pleaded for some one to save me. For someone to at least try.

I looked to the people on the street as they looked at me in pity. "Please." I begged them silently with my eyes even as a part of me was filled with revulsion at the act along with the urge to slap myself, repeatedly. Because I knew they wouldn't even before I made eye contact with them. I watched in between my futile struggles as they hunched there shoulders and darted off into the night. As if they hadn't seen a woman being dragged into a van as plain as day.

I knew they were as scared a I was, and self preservation ran high in our culture for fear of the same thing happening to them. But it still made me burn with anger. "Fucking cowards!" I screamed after them. A bit of pride filled me, when a couple of the selfish fools flinched, and I much preferred  the anger than the fear coursing through my veins.

The huge black van was getting closer and closer, and I dug my heels into the old gray asphalt out of pure desperation, but they hauled me along none the less. I kept trying to stunt our journey as one of the Hunters opened the metal cage in the back of the van. In one last attempt to stop the inevitable, I thrust out my feet and tried to push off of the edge of the van opening. My heart sank as they just lifted me higher and threw me into the metal cage. And one of the Hunters got in after me to chain my wrists to the floor while I was stunned after flying feet first into a metal wall and groaned as I was sat up on a bench before I was further strapped in.

Rage burned in my veins as I reach for my inner fire only to have my magic slip through my grasp. All my rage turned to ice as I looked down at the heavily spelled iron cuffs around my wrists, and horror swirled in my gut as I swallowed hard and fully realized what people meant when they said that there was no escaped the Hunters when they caught wind of you. It made me feel even more helpless knowing that running wouldn't have gotten me anywhere and now I was trapped. By the very thing all Mystic children are warned about. The bougie men in our closets and under our beds.

If only I had listened instead of being a stupid kid. I might've done things differently. It made me want to bang my head against a wall, and my stomach dropped as I watched the cage doors close before the outside doors were as well and any bit of light disappeared along with my hope of getting out.

It was pitch black in the containment cell and I mentally yelled at myself in self hatred. You idiot, you fucking idiot. If only they hadn't noticed that you weren't marked. You would still be free. All by myself like the rest of the street urchins the world doesn't give two shits about. But I refused to let myself fall back into the dark pit of despair and give in. I will get through this and claw my way back to freedom no matter what. My only hope now is to find the right way through the laybrinth and ring the hellish bell that has been rung by so very few that have been able to reach.

I sigh and lean my head against the cold cell wall. It was cold, so very cold in that cell, and without my magic to keep me warm. Though I'm trying very hard to grasp it. This was going to be a very uncomfortable ride. It didn't help that I knew a camera was watching because even the Hunter's we're curious to see if someone was powerful enough to get out of the chains. Too bad for them. My life on the streets had taught me many things. The most lesson I learned is that no where is safe. No room is trustworthy. That their are cameras everywhere and people who would do anything for a bit of cash, and that you never show the aces up your sleeve.

The woods and forests and all the the wild places are the only ones that never try to use us for money or power. They only offered freedom and safety to those who were willing to do anything to survive. Mother nature is kind to all her children and welcomes them into her wooded sanctuaries. She was the only thing I trusted to protect me from prying eyes and let me shift without fear.

I'm always moving. Always on the run. Most of the time I just joined homeless  groups because they never asked questions, but people have a nasty habit of trying to help. So I ran and ran, which helps me stay one step ahead of those who would see me as something to put on display. I like being on my own. It's safer for everyone that way. No parents, no home. Just poor runaway Ash with only herself to rely on.

My thoughts drifted to The Gauntlet. I had a plan, one that would probably be impossible, but a plan all the same. The only solace with being found by Hunter's is that they take you to The Gauntlet and all the other players would drag your ass to the Black Auction to be sold like cattle or a priceless antique. At least people have a chance to be free in The Gauntlet. That is if you're able to ring the hell bell, but only for a year before you're forced to run again.

And I know they don't let the bell ringers go because they are so rare and the ones that catch them are greatly admired. My mother managed to ring the Hell Bell twice before my father caught her, which will probably make me more desirable if they knew that I'm a daughter of someone who conquered the laybrinth not once but twice. Pride and homesickness clashed in my heart as I thought of my fierce mother and my proud father who showed her his worth when he caught her. I missed them so much. I could feel tears welling up behind my eyes before I pushed them away.

My only regret is that I left without any warning or a good bye, but I will do my best to make my mom proud and ring that bell as many times as I can. Even though I know that my chances are slim.

Males and females alike. All daring to take a chance at having a year of freedom.

But there are also those who volunteer to run The Gauntlet, but there hopes are very different from the runners. They want a mate. A wife or a husband, and if you want a strong one that can survive. The Gauntlet is definitely the place to go.

I knew full well that Mystics liked that option more so they could so have a lifetime of freedom instead of a measly year, and all you had to do was catch a runner before they rung the bell and mate with them. But... both parties had to agree to the mating. I gave a conspiratorial smile to the darkness. The runners goal is to ring the hell bell, and the volunteers have to catch and convince a runner to mate with them, so they'll both be free.

My smile fades as I remember that people died in The Gauntlet too. Some by there own hand, others by the brutal environment of the laybrinth, and no one can do anything about it.

The Gauntlet only has two rules. Everything else is fair game. One, you can shift and use your powers as much as you want. Two, the mating can't be forced. The catch is that it only lasts five days. Survival of the fittest. Any runners who haven't reached the bell or mate are locked back up until the next Gauntlet. And volunteers that don't claim a mate join there former prey. The poor bastards. Being a volunteer can be a double edged sword.

Lucky fucking me. I thought sourly. I get fresh meat that doesn't know how the game works after me and the leftovers that would likely throw me under the bus to get to the Hell Bell as well. I sucked on a tooth in annoyance. Double lucky fucking me.

No matter what it takes. I will ring that damned bell.

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I wake groggily to hands yanking the chain from the floor of the van and dragging me out of the cold cell, and into a brightly lit parking garage. I'm instantly awake and on high alert as I looked around the empty parking garage. No doubt to make Mystics think that there is a city outside with plenty of places to hide, but my parents had told me that The Gauntlet was no where near civilization. So that those in the Black Auction didn't come sniffing around because it's on the corner of no man's land along the lane of diddly squat. I snicker at my observation. Those that came here before call it the first test of The Gauntlet. To see if anyone is dumb enough to think they can escape

I give an unimpressed look at my surroundings, and a wary one as I see a group of Hunters with a pretty brunette with calculating brown eyes and a doctor's coat standing in front of them. Must be the boss.

I'm distracted from my staring as I hear the clanking of another set of chains as another Mystic is pulled from the dark cell. I mentally kick myself at not noticing her in my panicked haze to try and get away. I stare at her and her amethyst eyes stare back at me, and I nod to her in commanderie as I see a vibrant bruise her cheek and a bit in her mouth. She must have put up one hell of a fight. The silver haired Mystic looks a bit shocked at my action before dawning realization shines in her eyes before she nods in return as she is lead to my side. An understanding has passed between us that says neither of us are alone in this.

I stiffen as strong, latex gloved, fingers grasped my jaw before turning my head one way, and then the other. My head is pulled back to the front and I glare defiantly at the woman who's holding my jaw tightly. "Open your mouth wide." The doctor commands me.

I clench my jaw instead and mentally tell her, "Hump a stump." And smirk when her nostrils flair in agitation. "Uh oh, someone can read thoughts." I watched as annoyance flashed in her eyes before letting my thoughts turn into vulgar insults, which earned me a hard slap across the face. Well someone has an attitude problem. Sorry lady, but I'm not scared of you. There are far scarier things in this world than her. I smirk at her again. Unfazed by the slap. I've been a hurt a lot worse than that, but refused to let the memories rise to the forefront of my mind. I don't want her figuring out what I am.

The doc narrowed her eyes, and the hand on my jaw tightened to an almost painful degree. I raised a brow. "I said open your mouth. Or I'll make you." "So scary. " I thought and rolled my eyes before opening my mouth. The doc gave an annoyed huff as she looked inside my mouth. "She passes the first health exam. Take her to the decontamination room." Take me to the what!? I thought panically as two of the Hunters that were with the doc grabbing under my arms before dragging behind them. So I was looking at my silver haired friend in terror as they did. All stubborn fire snuffed out in a moment.

"Let me go you handsy assholes!" But they ignored my desperate demand. I saw anger flash in her amethyst eyes before she tried to run towards me, but the Hunters held her down. Her muffled shouts followed me until they were cut off as we passed  through a set of metal doors. With white tiles covering the floor. They kept pulling me until they stopped in front of what looked to be a ring bolted to the wall and hooked my chains to it. They let me stand up, but still held onto me as two people with hazmat suits on appeared. I stood frozen in fear as they approach. What kind of creepy ass fuckery is going on.

One of them is holding a pair of scissors. I try to lean away it as far as the flying money's would allow me, which isn't very far at all. I tried fighting out of their grip, but they held me still as Mr. Scissor hand cut off my shirt. I let out panicked squeak as they cut my bra straps as well before unclasping it and put the butchered bra with the tattered remains of my shirt in a trash can the other hazmat suit guy was holding.

I was trembling as Mr. Scissor put down his scissors and reached for the buttons on my jeans. He halted his actions as my new and rather pissed off friend was dragged into the white tiles room as well. She didn't have the bit in her mouth anymore. Her eyes soon landed on my half naked form as they attached her chains to a ring close to me. Her eyes scanned over me and glinted with anger on my behalf. "Are you alright?" Her voice is sharp but has a soft undertone. I give her my best reassuring smile and her muscles relax a little bit. She also has her own set of Flying Monkeys to keep her in place.

"Is that the only other one, or will there be any more interruptions? It's hard enough to do my job when they look like I'm going to murder them." The voice is muffled from the suit.

"No, these are the only two." Was the gruff reply from of the monkeys hold Silver.

"So, what are you doing Mr. Scissor hand?" I asked, used the small amount of confidence I had built up while they had been distracted by Silver's robust entrance. Silver starts laughing as Mr. Scissor turned to look at me. A snort came out of his companion, and surprisingly the stone monkeys chuckled a bit. "What? I give people nickname, so I at least call them something instead of random person."

Mr. Scissor stared at me before asking me. "So what do you call the Hunters?" There tone showed genuine curiosity, so I happily abliged them.

"Flying Monkeys." At my words, Silver started full out cackling and the Monkeys immediately stopped laughing to glare at me. I gave an unrepentant shrug. I watched Mr. Scissor and his friend laugh at their expense. Silver was wheezing as her cackling turned in giggles.

"Nice one." She wheezing out between giggles. I gave a crooked smile. Most just told me I was a rude bitch with no manners. And of course it would be in The Gauntlet as I was half naked, when I found someone in the same boat as me that had the same sense of humor as me. "What's mine?"

"Silver." She laughed manically at our captures expense.

"Hah, mines better than yours." Well someone is at least proud of my nicknames.

Mr. Scissor just sighed and finally explains what he is trying to do. "I'm trying to remove your clothes before you wash."

"Well, why didn't you just that! It would have wasted less time!" I yelled at him indignantly.

"Yeah, Mr. Scissor. Why do never tell them what you're trying to do?." There hazmat friend mocked. Mr. Scissor was probably glaring at their friend as I lifted a leg so I can remove my tennis shoe and sock. I do the same to my other foot and look over to see Silver doing the same thing and gives me a wink.

The hazmat twins are arguing as I pull off my jeans to reveal monkey covered undies. "What a coinkydink. To bad they don't have wings or I'd call today fated." I told them with a nervous laugh that had the ones holding me chuckle a bit before letting me go. I heard a snicker from Silver. One of her Monkeys started cutting off her shirt, but she isn't wearing a bra.

"So here I am with monkeys on my undies." I mutter to myself. I hear a snort from Silver and looked to see she is completely naked. There is no sign of her underwear, which means she had none on to begin with. "At least one of us has no shame." She gave me a friendly grin.

"Your mouth has no shame." She countered and I grinned at her in turn.

"Said everyone that's ever met me."

"Too bad for them." I raise a brow at her words. "They're missing out on all the fun." I laughed as I removed my cheeky underwear and threw it in the box with my jeans. Right before freezing water is sprayed at us.

"Mother fucking shit balls!" I shrieked as my entire body is doused in water. I could hear Silver shouting her own curses. The water soon cut out and I glared in hatred at the hazmat twins.

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I rewrote this chapter and changed it to 1st person.

And Silver as my main character is referring to her.

You'll have to be patient if you want to learn both of their names.

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