Fair Game Short Story

Chapter One

Ferndale, Washington

“The door slammed. Things crashed outside my door. Mom screamed.”

            “How did that make you feel?” she asked the man for the hundredth time.

            “I loved stories about wolves when I was growing up.”

            “Mm-hmm,” she said, scribbling the words, ‘Teddy continues to ignore questions about feelings…reverts to talking about wolves,’ on her notepad.

            “They protect each other….,” he continued. 

Like every other session, his voice deepened, and he snarled and growled after each sentence. Then, sliding off the couch he assumed the familiar wolf-like stance on his hands and knees. “I wish I was a wolf.”

Not this again. If he lifts his leg, I’m calling the session. It was bad enough to have a grown man revert to childlike behavior in the session, but the wolf thing was next level.

Continuing the wolf act, Teddy moved around her chair, sniffing the air and rubbing his head against the leather. She kept an uneasy eye on him. She wasn’t comfortable with him being back there, but she’d learned enough about his triggers to tread lightly.

            “Teddy, please put my picture back on the desk.”

“I like blue cars.”

“Thank you. How about you come back over here?”

“Fine, but I don’t wanna lay down anymore,” he said, visibly agitated as he slammed the picture on the desk. 

The guards are just outside the door, she reminded herself. Still, calling them would likely set back what little progress they’d made over the last ten sessions. And with only two weeks left before her report was due, they couldn’t afford even a minor setback.

“Teddy, how did you feel when your Dad hit your Mom?”

Wolves again, she messily scribbled. The last fifteen minutes of the session drudged along. Usually, she didn’t feel this way about her patients, but Teddy was a special case. Somewhere deep in his psyche lay the answers she was searching for, but whether she could dig them out in two more sessions was uncertain. 

Finally, she thought as the three knocks on the door finally happened, followed by two officers stepping inside, indicating their time was up. As usual, they nodded to her and motioned for Teddy.

            “Next week, same time, Dr. Tilly?”

            “Yes, Teddy, I’ll see you then.”

            “Bye-bye, Doctor Tilly,” he said in the way a small child might say goodbye to their school crush.

Tilly forced a smile until the door closed, then cringed. It was unnerving to watch a grown man act like a wolf; however, it was downright creepy to hear him change his voice to sound so accurately like a young child. She’d be glad when this was over, regardless of the outcome.

            Moving to her desk, she sank into her chair, removed her glasses, and rubbed her eyes.

“Knock, knock,” someone said from the doorway. 

“Oh, thank God it’s you,” she said, looking up and feeling instantly relieved.

            “Were you expecting someone else,” he said, circling behind the desk and massaging her shoulders. “One of those days, huh?”

            “It’s Friday….”

            “Awe. How was he this time?”

            “James, you know I can’t talk about my patients.”

            “Yeah,” James said, pulling his hands away. 

“Please don’t stop,” Tilly said, taking his hands and putting them back on her shoulders.

James said he understood, but she suspected the doctor-patient confidentiality secretly bothered him. She’d never told him about any of her patients. She had always considered it professional pride to keep their secrets and carry their burdens. Still, she’d never had a patient like Teddy. Maybe she’d be better equipped to deal with him if she’d started her career in a psych ward.

The worst of her cases had come during her time as a military contractor. Those cases were challenging as they involved vets with PTSD, but that was a lifetime ago. These days her sessions more or less dealt with a midlife crisis or minor childhood trauma.

“Of course, if I don’t tell you who I’m talking about, technically, you won’t know which patient I’m referring to, right?”

            “Sounds reasonable,” he said, moving his hands from her shoulders to her temples.

            “I honestly don’t know what to do. Every Friday, we talk about the same story.”

            “Wearing on you?”

            “The gruesome details are, and honestly, I dread falling asleep these days. Every Friday, I have terrible nightmares….” she paused, instantly regretting the slip.

“I thought we’d agreed you’d tell me if you had any more.”

“Not now, please,” she said, gently touching his hand. 

James reluctantly conceded.

“I’m always the mother in his story,” she continued. “There are only so many times you can hear that a seven-year-old plunged a knife into his father’s back.”

            “Self-defense.”

            “What would you do if an alcoholic father came home every Friday and beat your mother in front of you before turning his attention to you?” she said gruffly. Clearly, this case was causing her patience to wear thin. He wouldn’t take it personally; still, there was no reason to treat him like the villain for asking a question.

            Instead of responding, he moved to her side and picked up the picture frame from her desk. He never misses a detail.

            “When did you put this here?”

            “Last week, after you surprised me with the car,” she said, caught off guard by the concern in his voice. “Why?”

            “I’m not sure how comfortable I am with your clientele knowing what kind of car you drive. That’s all.” 

            She studied his face. James was not the paranoid type. Maybe this whole thing with Teddy was wearing on him as well. 

“Okay,” she said, putting the picture in her desk drawer. Then, leaning her elbows on the desk, she sighed and put her face in her hands.

“I’ve never seen you like this,” James said, kneeling beside her.

“I have two weeks to determine if a 30-year-old is mentally competent to stand trial. If I say he is, he’ll almost certainly get the death penalty. On the other hand, if I say he’s not and he is, he might take another life. I can’t have that on my conscience.”

            “Jackie, you’re the best therapist I know.”

            “I’m the only therapist you know.” 

            “Beside the point. You’re a therapist with a conscience and a terrific judge of character.”

            “Lot of good that’s doing me. Whenever I ask him how he felt when his father hit his mother, he talks about wolves. It’s the same thing every time, ‘wolves protect each other.’ ”

            “Maybe hold your next session at the zoo?”

            “Very funny.”

            “Okay, enough shop talk for one day. You done?”

            “What time is it?”

            “Five. How about some Chinese takeout and a movie in bed?”

            He really does understand how terrible my day was. 

“Deal. I’ll lock up and meet you at home.”

            Takeout was great, and James was patient as he pulled her wandering mind back to the present time and time again. After dinner, they retired to the bedroom. He put on the movie, climbed into bed, and scooted close.

“I had planned to save this until after your sessions with you-know-who, but maybe this is a better time,” he said, handing her a tri-folded paper.

“Is this a joke?” she asked, cautiously optimistic as she looked at the travel brochure. 

“Not at all. You deserve a vacation. Fairbanks, Alaska, probably wouldn’t be your first choice, but I think you’ll enjoy it. I’ve taken clients to similar locations, but not Fairbanks. In a way, it’ll be our place.

Laying the brochure on the nightstand, she squeezed his hand and smiled. She could hardly believe he was talking about an actual vacation. James was probably the most anti-vacation person on the planet. After all, his job was to take people on exotic camping trips. To him, a vacation was a staycation.

“Don’t forget I have to go out of town early tomorrow morning and scout a new location for our team’s upcoming trip.”

“I had forgotten,” she said, yawning. She wanted to ask if he had to go, but the reassurance of his body against hers felt so good, and the question would probably come off wrong in her state of mental exhaustion. Moments later, she drifted off. 

Jackie Tilly awoke with her heart racing at the conclusion of yet another gruesome nightmare courtesy of Teddy Hardin’s weekly stories. She reached for James, but he wasn’t there. Oh yeah. Business trip. Usually, she’d enjoy the peace and quiet, but this ordeal had her out-of-sorts lately.

The weekend passed quickly, and she desperately wanted to take Friday off instead of facing Teddy. Instead, she went to work just like every other day. Her first patient would arrive at 9:15, which gave her time to down a cup of coffee and a Danish. Her last patient left the office at 3:55, giving her about 5 minutes before the dreaded three knocks. She took advantage of the silence to pray for strength and wisdom.

At 4:05, the knocks still hadn’t come, but a phone call did. She listened as the detective explained that Teddy had escaped after attacking his escort on their way to therapy. She probed, and he explained that one of Teddy’s guards was out sick, so only one person was available to escort him. The detective ended the call by warning her to keep her office door locked and asked if there was any way Teddy could know where she lived. Thinking about it carefully, she confirmed he couldn’t. Still, the detective insisted on sending an officer to escort her home.

Leaning back in her chair, she breathed a sigh of relief. On the one hand, having a potential killer on the loose was terrible, yet on the other, it probably meant their sessions had ended two weeks earlier than expected. When the patrolman arrived, she had just wrapped up her report for the judge, which read inconclusive.

Fifteen minutes later, she was home. She reassured the officer that checking her house was unnecessary. In reality, she didn’t want to explain the takeout boxes and dirty clothes on the floor. Shutting the door and bolting it, she kicked off her shoes and exchanged her skirt and blouse for pajamas. She grabbed a box of takeout from the fridge and headed straight for the couch, where she fully intended to spend the rest of the evening. Maybe, just maybe, she could avoid another nightmare if she fell asleep watching an uplifting movie. So, she picked War Room and settled in. Within minutes she’d drifted off.

Her eyes popped open as something clanged on the wooden floor. She lay frozen in place as her ears searched the silence for another noise. Nothing. Slowly, she sat up and scanned the room. Then she laughed as she spotted the mess on the floor. She’d fallen asleep holding the takeout box.

Heading to the kitchen for a napkin, she froze as she spotted the light coming from the bedroom. I don’t remember turning that light on. Grabbing her purse, she retrieved the can of mace and quietly went to the bedroom door. Peeking around the corner, she gave the room a quick scan. Nothing appeared out of place, but someone could be hiding under the piled-up bedding. So, crossing the room, she grabbed the edge of the comforter, yanked, and laughed nervously at the empty bed. Then scolding herself for being so paranoid, she dropped the mace on the nightstand and turned….

“Hello, Mama.”

She scrambled for the mace, turned, and squeezed the trigger as Teddy’s 250-pound frame slammed into her. Tumbling across the bed, she came to an abrupt stop as her petite body smashed into the wall. Silently she watched in horror as darkness closed in around the edges of her vision. The last thing she saw was Teddy crawling toward her.

“Wake up, Mama,” a voice said into her semi-conscious state, followed by two strong hands gripping her shoulders and shaking her violently. 

Jackie’s eyes slowly opened to find herself face-to-face with Teddy Hardin. Jerking back, she nearly toppled over in the rickety wooden chair, but Teddy steadied her. She strained against the restraints which bound her hands to the thin wooden supports between the chair’s legs on both sides.

“You were bad, Mama,” he said, frowning. “You hurt Teddy,” 

Dear God, help me. 

“Teddy, listen to me; I’m not your mother.”

“Stop it,” he screamed. “Stop lying.”

“Teddy, I’m not lying. Listen to me. You have to untie me where I can help you.”

“You don’t want to help me, Mama,” he said, acting like a small child who had their feelings hurt. “You want to send me away.” 

“No, Teddy, I’m trying to help you. Don’t you remember our sessions? Remember our talks when you told me about the wolves?”

“Wolves?”

“Yes, Teddy, the wolves. Remember? They stick together and protect each other.”

“Protect?”

“Yes, they protect each other.”

“Protect each other,” Teddy repeated, turning to her and reaching for the restraints. Then paused, but instead of untying her, he grabbed a rag from the floor, stuffed it in her mouth, and taped it.

“It’s almost time for Teddy to protect Mama,” he said, pulling her chair to the corner. He left and moments later returned with a large kitchen knife. She inhaled sharply through her nose, but he flipped off the light, crossed the room, and climbed into the bed.

She’d worked at the restraints for what felt like an hour when she heard the deadbolt turning. Oh no. James! Mmm. Mmm, she hummed. No use. James wouldn’t hear her, but Teddy might. Options swirled through her mind. She could try to make noise and probably wouldn’t get James’ attention; however, she could inadvertently wake Teddy if he was actually sleeping. If James came in before Teddy was awake, she might be able to stomp her foot and get his attention. 

The familiar thud of James’ bag on the counter was a welcome sound. A moment later, a faint light appeared at floor level through the entryway, which connected their bedroom to bathroom. After a few minutes, the sound of gargling indicated James was about to step through the doorway. Right on cue, the door opened, and James pulled a tee shirt over his head as he stepped into the bedroom.

“Jackie!” he exclaimed, rushing across the room and ripping the tape from her mouth. Catching the glint from the corner of her eye, she kicked James in the chest with both

feet, sending him one way and her the other. Violently, she smashed into the wall and thudded to the floor. Teddy sliced, missed James, and instead slashed Jackie’s leg.

            “James!” Jackie screamed.

“I’m sorry, Mama,” Teddy cried, dropping the knife and reaching for her leg.

Unexpectantly, her hand shot out and slapped his away. The chair was broken, and one hand was free. She clawed at Teddy’s face, which caused him to jerk back. James seized the opportunity and tackled Teddy. Although James had wrestled in college, Teddy showed tremendous strength, effortlessly flipping him over and mounting him.

Teddy screamed, “bad daddy,” as he smashed his fits into James’ chest. Again he raised his fists overhead, ready to smash James, but never got the chance. Instead, he released a blood-curdling scream as Jackie plunged the knife into his shoulder. Thrashing about wildly, he caught Jackie in the face with a backhand that knocked her down. Teddy scrambled on his hands and knees toward the door. James lunged for him and grabbed one leg. For his efforts, he caught a size thirteen shoe in the face. Scrambling over James, Jackie made it to the bedroom door in time to see Teddy dive through the living room window.

She jerked at the unexpected pressure on her leg.

“Hold still!” James said as he tied his torn shirt around the gash in her leg.

Suddenly, the weakness hit her hard, her arms gave way, and she fell onto the cold tile floor. James repositioned her onto her back and elevated her legs. After an uncomfortable ambulance ride, an hour’s worth of police reports, and more takeout, they were finally home again. She didn’t turn down the offer for a patrol to watch their home this time.

“What are you thinking about,” James asked, rolling over to face Jackie.

            “That I might be the one who needs therapy after this.”

            “The physical kind?”

            “Not exactly.”

            “Maybe after a good night’s sleep, you’ll feel better. How about we sleep in the guest room tonight?”

            “Yeah. I think so.”

All kinds of thoughts raced through Jackie’s mind. Rolling over, she grabbed James’ arm and pulled it around her. “Please, tell me you’re serious about the vacation?”

            “Absolutely. As soon as your leg heals.”

Chapter Two

Alaskan Wilderness outside Fairbanks:

James tightened the strap on Jackie’s snowshoes, and they headed into the woods along the narrow trail. He’d said the snowshoes would help, and they did, but her calve still burned. She’d laughed when the physical therapist said it could take a year or more for her tendons to fully heal. Now, nearly a year later, she wasn’t laughing any longer.

Jackie found her battling disappointment nearly as hard as she battled the knee-high snow. When James had shown her the brochure of Fairbanks, this was not what she had in mind; a sightseeing tour in a heated bus to see the Northern Lights, sure. Maybe even see an elk or two, but never had it crossed her mind that he would drag her on one of his crazy adventures. 

“James,” she called, in a tone she suspected he’d immediately pick up on.

“Just a little further, I promise.”

            As far as promises went, he meant well, but the man had trouble toning it down, as she’d found out firsthand in Afghanistan. At the time, he was a gung-ho soldier who viewed danger differently than others. She was a contractor attached to his team as an experiment to see if she could provide therapy in real time. Sadly, the government didn’t renew the contract after her second tour, but thankfully she ended up with something much better. Thankfully, James had decided to separate from the service and pursue his dream of providing guided camping trips to exotic locations. If his success was any indication, plenty of others took the same view of danger he did.

            “There’s…clearing…ahead…make camp,” he said, his words broken and barely audible over the now howling wind. 

She couldn’t make out the clearing through the heavy snowfall but hoped it was close. Even in the parka and extra layers, she was cold. Her mind drifted as she trudged along. She thought about anything and everything to keep her mind off her leg and the cold. To her relief, the narrow path soon opened into a little clearing.

“Wait here,” James yelled over the wind, dropping his bag and heading into the woods.

He returned less than a minute later with a four-foot log. Working together, one on each end of the log, they used it to drag the snow away and create a place for the fire and tents. After a few minutes, they had the snow piled high enough to create a surprisingly effective windbreak.

            “Start working on the tent,” he said before heading into the woods again.

As the minutes passed, she became suddenly aware of the nagging feeling at the edge of her mind. She’d had too many of these types of feelings during military convoys to ignore them now. As she set up her tent, she ran through reasons she might feel uneasy. It wasn’t the cold, despite the frigid temperatures. James had assured her the gear would protect her. She had just marked off being mistaken for an elk by a hunter when James returned carrying a large stack of firewood. He dropped it in the center of camp and disappeared again.

Experimentally, she pulled her 9mm from its holster and checked the clip. She placed it on safe out of habit and returned it to its holster. Guess I can cross bears off the list. Even if she couldn’t kill it, she figured a few shots from a hollow-point 9mm bullet should scare it off. She made a mental note to ask James about that. Securing the last stake, she moved on to the task of starting the fire. 

Surprisingly, the tender bundle she and James had made caught with one spark from her flint, and in a few minutes, she had a decent-sized fire. She wasn’t sure how long James would be gone, but he’d better hurry. Her stomach was growling, and best she could tell, there was no way to get takeout.

She’d just finished laying out her sleeping pad and bag when James returned with another bundle of wood stacked from waist to head. He must have seen the look on her face because he dropped the wood and got busy making dinner.

            “Won’t the smell attract predators?” Jackie asked as the sound and smell of sizzling bacon made her stomach growl. 

            “It could, but we won’t have leftovers, and the fire will keep them at bay,” he said, sliding her bacon cheddar slider onto a bun and passing it over.

            “Compliments to the chef.”

He smiled and toasted her with his slider.

“It took a while to gather the wood,” she said between bites. 

            “It took a little longer than normal. I wanted to find the lake. The map showed that it was nearby. I hoped we could cut a couple of holes and go fishing tomorrow before we hike out. What do you think?”

            “Sounds great.”

Her favorite childhood memories involved fishing in a stream or lake with her pops. And here, she had thought he’d just brought her to the middle of nowhere to spend the night in the freezing cold. 

            “So?” James said, stretching his arms outward and gesturing to the landscape.

            “Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees,” she said, peering through the woods where the last rays of sunlight bathed the snow-covered land in orange. “What did you mean by them?”

            “What?” he said, looking confused.

            “You said the fire would keep them at bay. What were you referring to?”

“I spotted some tracks,” he said hesitantly.

            “What kind of tracks?”

            “Human.”

            “And?”

“Wolves.”

“Wolves!”

            “It’s okay. I’ll stoke the fire every couple of hours.”

She took a few deep breaths and reminded herself that short of walking to the truck in the dark, she was in it till daybreak. 

“I’ll take every other shift, so we can both get some rest.”

“We have enough wood to last until first light. We just need to bring a few cords into the tent to keep it dry.”

Jackie finished stacking the wood while James stoked the fire. She set her alarm for four hours and nestled into her bag. In the quietness, the uneasy feeling tried to return. Pushing it aside, she drifted off.

            Jackie. Wake up. I need a hand out here. James’s voice said into her dreamlike state. Her eyes peeked open. She listened intently to see if it was real or a dream. Instead of his voice, howls filled the night. More wind, she thought. 

“Jackie!”

As quickly as possible, she dressed and went outside to where James was kneeling over the dying fire.

            “What happened?” she asked.

            “I overslept.”

“That’s why you startled me awake?” 

The howls erupted again, much closer than before.

“Nope, that’s why,” he said after they ceased.

“Please tell me those aren’t—”

“Wolves,” he interrupted, “and if we don’t—” his words cut short by a shadowy figure leaping from the wood line, smashing into his back and sending him headfirst into the wood pile.

Jackie’s adrenaline surged. Her pistol seemed glued in its holster. By the time she freed it, the shadowy beast had fled into the shadows. Moving to James’s side, she pulled back her mitten flap and pressed her fingers against his neck. Two throbs were all she had time to feel as more howls filled the night. Snow crunched all around the campsite.

            “James, get up,” Jackie yelled between gunshots. “I need your help.” 

Another shadow burst from the darkness, its form just visible. 

“James!” she yelled, sending two shots toward the beast. 

Panicked, Jackie, fired two more shots into the darkness as the last of the light extinguished. 

“Oh God, help me.”

You can’t fight what you can’t see, she thought, diving to the ground beside James. After everything they’d faced together, including dozens of convoys through enemy terrain, this was how it would end. The snow crunched nearby. She cringed as hot breath touched her cheek. Mentally she counted her shots. Six rounds. Laying on her stomach would make for a harder shot, but hopefully, protect her throat. Slowly she bridged, sliding her right hand and the pistol from underneath her stomach. Suddenly, a light shone brightly onto the back of her head. Oh, thank you, Jesus, she thought, suddenly hopeful.

            “Bad Mama,” the all too familiar voice called just before everything went black.

Chapter Three

“James, watch out!” Jackie exclaimed and pointed to the suspicious object near the road’s edge, but the vehicle continued on course. “James?” Turning, Jackie found the driver’s seat empty.

Perplexed, she turned back to the road as the world around her became a fiery hell that consumed the vehicle. Glass shattered in slow motion. She felt she could reach out and touch any piece she chose. Was this how it was with death? The awful sound of grinding metal filled the air as the massive military vehicle bucked. Jackie groped about for a handhold which wasn’t there. Ejected, she flew into the desert. Warm air flowed across her face. Shouldn’t I hit the ground? She didn’t. Instead, day changed to night, barren desert, to snow-covered land. As she neared the ground, a body lay in the snow. James! Suddenly she was deposited beside his cold, lifeless body. Hugging her knees, she rocked back and forth. Chills ran up her spine as howls filled the air. A hot breath on her neck sharply contrasted with the bitter cold. A huge shadow wolf leaped from the woods. She curled into a ball as its gaped maw closed around her.

Gasping, Jackie sat up abruptly and smashed her forehead. Wincing, she fell back onto the soft surface and gingerly touched the throbbing spot. There was blood, but not much. Take a deep breath and think. Last thing I recall was wolves and snow…James!

“James!” Last she’d seen, he was lying face down in the snow, unconscious.

Suddenly she felt desperate to find him. Reaching up, her hand traced along what felt like the top of a box. Her heart raced. The top was closed, and her left shoulder pressed against something hard. Oh God, please help me. Panicked, she rolled right and thrust her hand out. She’d expected to find herself boxed in but wasn’t. Reaching up, she ran her hand along the top outside surface. Of course. It’s a small bunk bed. He may be on top.

“James!”

Scooting to the edge, she swung her legs over. As she stood, something yelped and snarled. Jerking her foot back, she scrambled against the wall as a set of yellow eyes peered in, followed by another and another. Terrified, her body shook violently. What terrible horrors had she just awakened?

            “What’s all the racket?” a man yelled.

Across the room, a door creaked open, revealing a huge person with a lantern held high.

            “Please, help me,” Jackie pleaded, her voice quivering as the light revealed three snarling wolves at the edge of the bed.

            “Hey, you three, come on now,” the all too familiar voice said. “Out! You know better than to treat a guest that way.”

She might not be able to see the man’s face, but she’d never forget Teddy’s voice. After all, it had haunted her nightmares.

The two wolves furthest down the bed obeyed and slowly backed away, but the one near her face didn’t budge. Maybe it was the blood dripping from her forehead, or perhaps this wolf was the one whose tail she’d stepped on, and it was holding a grudge. Regardless it wasn’t obeying, and she was in trouble. At any moment, the beast would attack, and despite being terrified, she wasn’t going down without a fight. Her legs were coiled more tightly than a snake prepared to strike. When the wolf made its move, she’d kick it in the muzzle with all her might.

Despite wanting to turn away, she never broke eye contact with the animal. Without warning, it lunged. Jackie kicked with all her might, but the wolf wasn’t there. Instead, Teddy had caught it by the nape and was pulling it from the room. The beast snarled and dug its claws into the floor. Still, it was no match for Teddy. The door closed behind them, and she was alone in the darkness again.

In the excitement, she’d forgotten why she’d tried to get off the bed in the first place. Hopping up, she reached over the top bunk railing, hoping to feel the warmth of James’ body but knowing it was a long shot. Sure enough, the bed was cold and empty. Now that she knew for sure James wasn’t in the room, an unwelcome flood of thoughts invaded her mind.

What if Teddy killed him? What if he’s alone and wounded. Did he have a pulse when you checked, or was that your imagination? Teddy deserves to die. STOP, she screamed into her thoughts. That type of thinking only leads to hopelessness or revenge, neither of which Jackie would allow to control her. God, please protect James, she prayed into the silence.

Chapter Four

James’ head throbbed terribly as he tried to sort out his thoughts. The last thing he remembered was trying to revive the dying fire as howls filled the night. He’d called Jackie for help. She’d come, but that’s where the memories ended. 

“Jackie,” he called into the darkness. Nothing. She’s dead, something said in his thoughts. He needed to find her now. Slowly, he coaxed his frozen limbs to move. Standing was proving difficult. So he rolled onto his belly. Dirt floors? Saving those implications for later, he pushed up to his hands and knees, then knees, and finally to his feet. As he stood, his head bumped into something that clanged about in the darkness. He reached out to find what felt like huge finishing hooks hanging from the ceiling by chains. You’ll never get out, something said in his thoughts. Shaking the thoughts away, he continued searching the small room. Other than the chains and hooks, the room was empty. As expected, the only door was locked.

Pressing his back into the wall, he sank to the floor. Two things were painfully evident in the stillness: the frigid temperatures and the fact that he’d brought her out here. There was nothing to do about the second, but maybe he could control the first. Pulling his knees close to his body, he hugged them. He needed to think, but his mind felt slow and foggy. If he could clear his mind, he might come up with a plan of escape. After all, he’d had some survival training during his military days. Still, nothing he could recall seemed particularly applicable to this situation.

James’ adrenaline surged as something scrapped outside the door. This time, getting to his feet was no trouble. The door opened, and a big man holding a lantern stepped inside. He dropped a burlap bag on the floor, and to James’ horror, two wolves came in with him.

            “Sit,” the man said menacingly.

            “What have you done with my wife?”

            “Sit down, now!” the man snarled.

            “Where’s Jackie!” James yelled, pointing for emphasis. Big mistake. One of the wolves leaped and smashed into his chest. James stumbled back and cried out as a hook impaled his shoulder. Then, the shed erupted into chaos as both wolves attacked, knocking him off balance and causing the hook to dig deeper. His adrenaline surged, and he kicked, which caught one of the beasts in the chest, sending it rolling through the door.

“Enough,” the man shouted as he grabbed the remaining wolf by the nape and used his big body to keep the other one from getting back inside. Once outside, he pulled the door shut and left James alone, impaled in the darkness.

Chapter Five

Convincing herself to search the dark room had proven difficult. After all, it had meant sticking her hand into dark places in a room that belonged to Teddy Hardin. In the end, she’d won the thought battle, but sadly it turned out to be wasted energy. There were no windows, vents, not even a closet. The only way out of the room was through the door. She could imagine one of those wolves waiting, hoping she’d try to escape. 

Now that the search was over, she again faced questions about James. Was he okay? Was he injured? Worse? Uncertainty was to be the worst part of the ordeal thus far. Right now, Teddy was somewhere out there planning her and James’ fates. The thought was nauseating. Since in Teddy’s deranged mind, Jackie was ‘mama,’ she’d likely survive, but James, as the male figure, might remind Teddy of his dad. In which case, James didn’t stand a chance. She had to talk to Teddy and find out what happened to James and hopefully convince Teddy not to hurt him.

The thudding outside the room pulled her thoughts back to the present. Laying on the floor, she peeked under the door. Teddy was kneeling, and the darker of the three wolves licked his face and lips. Another tried to approach, but the darker wolf snarled at it. After a few minutes, the other two were allowed to show affection.

            She didn’t know much about wolves, but there seemed to be some sort of pack order. After each had a turn to show affection, Teddy left the room, returning a few moments later with a burlap sack. Jackie jerked away from the scene as three animal carcasses thudded on the floor. She cupped her hands over her ears to drown out the sounds of the wolves eating. She lay still, humming to herself for a long time.

Eventually, she got the nerve to remove her hands—silence. Then turning back, she peered under the door. She tore her eyes from the bloody mess on the floor to where Teddy and the alpha wolf lay a few feet away. Teddy’s head rested on the beast’s side. She watched the rise and fall of his head as the wolf breathed. For some reason, at that moment, tears welled up in her eyes as she watched the scene. An unexpected feeling of compassion came over her. 

The person on the floor looked like a man physically but was far from it mentally. He was still the terrified little boy, alone in his bed, desperately hoping today would be the day his father came home and loved him instead of taking out his drunken aggression on him. The emotions felt conflicting, but in a way, Teddy was still the little boy hiding from his father, and therefore, needed her help.

            Call out to him, a voice said in her thoughts. I can’t, she replied audibly. Call him, the impression burned in her spirit, followed by peace. Not fear, as she probably should feel, but peace. 

“Teddy,” she whispered. Nothing. “Teddy,” she said again, louder. Persist. “Teddy,” she called. His eyes opened. Scooting across the room, she leaned against the bed and waited. Moments later, boots scraped on the floor, followed by the click of the lock.

            “Hey, Teddy.” 

He didn’t respond. Instead, he looked at the floor like a child caught in the act of something they knew was wrong. 

“Teddy, it’s okay. Please, come over here and sit down.”

            “No. You hurt Teddy.”

            “I know. I’m sorry, but you left me no choice. Just like you protected your mama, I had to protect my husband. Teddy, James is not like your daddy. He’s a good man.”

            “The wolves….” Teddy tried to say.

            “No, Teddy, we’re not going to talk about the wolves. This isn’t about them. It’s about you. What happened to you was wrong, and no little boy should ever have to go through what you did.”

            Teddy got down on all fours, crossed the room, and got uncomfortably close to her face, staring into her eyes. The smell of blood was nauseating, but she determined not to turn away. After several tense moments, he lay on the floor and put his head on her lap. Reaching up, he took her hand and placed it on his head.

            What should she do now? Honestly, she had no idea. Laying in her lap was the broken shell of a man who was almost more animal than human. She’d managed to gain his trust, but what good would it do? Across the room, the door slowly crept open, and a wolf’s muzzle poked through. Her heart raced as the alpha wolf peered around the corner, snarling through bared teeth.

            Suddenly, there were two loud yelps outside. The alpha wolf jerked back, yelped, and fell limply to the floor. Teddy rolled onto all fours and stared at the door as it was flung open and slammed against the wall. James stood in the doorway over the wolf’s body, covered in shredded clothes, dirt, and blood, with a metal pipe in hand. He had a look on his face that Jackie had never seen but was instantly recognizable. It was the look of a man who’d resolved to do whatever was necessary to protect his wife.

He raised the pole. “James, NO,” Jackie screamed. Teddy charged. In an instant, it was over. Teddy’s body fell limply to the floor. James dropped the pole and fell to his knees. Tears streamed down his face, carving small channels through his mud-caked cheeks.

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