I'm Coming

THANE

Thane slowly wakes up but when his mind goes back to Valerie, he jerks but quickly realizes that he's chained to a wall. He strains against the chains, causing the metal to whine but it doesn't snap or give. Rage and worry burn through him as the door in front of him suddenly slides open.

He stops struggling when he sees his father walk through the door with a blank look on his face. His father silently looks him over before saying "I'm glad you're alive, my son." Thane remains silent as he glares at his father in hatred.

His father seems unaffected as he nods and says "You have two choices. One, you agree to work for me and protect the City from the Ragers or... Two, you remain here chained to this wall like the monster you are now."

Of course, he wants me to be the perfect killing machine... Thane ignores his words and asks in a low voice "Where's the woman?" Thane's father finally has a change in his stock face as he frowns and asks "The woman who was with you when we found you?"

Thane slightly nods his head, afraid to hear his father's next words but he has to know. His father sighs and says "I was told she was shot and killed. She was left there for the beast to devour." Thane roars out in anger, straining against the chains as his eyes turn solid black from his rage.

He'll kill them, he'll kill them all!! Thane's father takes several steps back and watches Thane with fear and awe on his aged face. His father starts to smile like a crazed man and he says "Yes! This is what I wanted to see! This is the monster I want."

Thane growls out "Fuck you" But the old man could care less. With Thane like this, he can control all those on the council. He will have control of the entire City! Thane watches in disgust as the bastard in front of him broadcasts his thoughts on his face.

Thane struggles to control himself as he says "You knew... you knew all along that most of the 'Ragers' were harmless..." Thane's father snaps back to reality and scoffs as he says "Of course I knew! Do you think I'm an idiot!? They're a curse, an inferior species that deserves to be wiped out!"

Thane glares at his father but against his better judgment, he begs his father "Please save the woman I was with. If you save her... if you save her, I'll do what you want." His father snarls at him and says "I had my men burn her dead body after they left. She is nothing but ashes."

Thane feels his whole body grow cold as his father calls for someone. Someone walks in and hands his father a jar of some kind before leaving again. Thane numbly watches his father turn back to him and say "These are her ashes."

Thane's body tightens with uncertainty and despair as his father opens the jar. Thane's heart begins to widely beat in his chest as he watches his father with horror. His father tilts the jar over and pours all the ashes out onto the ground.

Thane tries to cry out but nothing comes out when something in the ashes catches his eyes. It's a necklace... the necklace Valerie always wore. Something in him breaks as everything in him turns ice-cold. His eyes remain locked onto the beautiful necklace as his father walks through the ashes to stand in front of him.

His father comes to a stop and says "You'll do well to remember who you belong to son. You've disappointed me but you can make it up to me." Thane slowly looks up to the monster who calls himself "father"

Thane makes a vow in his heart that as soon as he can, he'll kill this bastard and everyone else in this forsaken hellhole. His father seems unable to hold his glare for long when he sees how black and cold Thane's eyes are.

He takes a step back and says "I'll be back when you've made the right decision." Thane silently watches him leave without a single word. He doesn't even blink... He tightens his fists and strains against the chains again until he hears them whine again. His muscles tighten and flex, straining against his black shirt but his face remains emotionless.

He takes a slow, calculated breath before silently straining against the chains again. The metal cuts into his skin, cutting him and making him bleed but he doesn't feel it. He doesn't feel anything but the desire to kill his father and all the men who dared to touch her.

~~~~~~~~~~

VALERIE

I groan again and roll over to my stomach. I cough and look up to see that it was now daytime. I slowly push myself up and notice with surprise when my wound doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it did before. I push myself up and sit down to look around in question.

Where's CheeChee? When I don't see any signs of him, I look down at my chest and see that other than being severally bruised and red, I no longer have a gaping hole. I pull out my last bottle of water and down the whole thing before packing my bag and standing up.

I slip on my bag and make the same high pitched whistle to call CheeChee back. I look up to the sun and around myself a bit before I start heading back to the City. As I pass through the trees, CheeChee swings through and lands on my shoulder with more fruit.

He places them in the bag as I keep moving. I don't know why but... I feel like I have to get back to Thane as soon as possible. It's a feeling that's under my skin and it's telling me to hurry. Right now, all I have is my black tank top on with my black pants and boots. I'm covered in old blood and dirt but I don't stop. I can't.

Hold on Thane, I'm coming.