Solum

Chapter III

Even in the dim-lit room, Aria could see the soft, rhythmic tapping Reagan would make against the bars. She could tell he was nervous, she'd be lying if she said she hadn't been either. That her nerves hadn't kept her up all night, tossing and turning about all the possible outcomes today's events would bring.

As instructed by Caleb, the two had been waiting, quite anxiously, for night to fall. Supposedly, that was when the pack would begin their attack and their plan would go in motion.

The sun was beginning to set. Aria was made aware of this by the lack of sunlight that emitted from the barred window situated beside her cell. The bright yellow light that usually shone was steadily being replenished by nightfall.

The tingling feeling she had once felt was quickly starting to creep back on her. The time was coming but as usual she couldn't bring herself to feel relieved. Instead she felt the dreadfulness that had consumed her the day before.

Just as Caleb said, not one guard had entered the little room. Not even to bring them a meal or put fear into their eyes, by terrorizing an inmate at their choosing.

Before she knew it, a small and barely audible knock came from the iron doors. The knock was so discrete in fact, Aria wouldn't have noticed it if she hadn't been keeping her ears open for it. Just one of the legion of instructions Caleb had left them.

Aria breathed out a sigh to push aside her nerves and looked around, searching for the silver key that was given to her. Once she found it, she reached her arm through the bars until her hand was positioned just above the lock.

She looked up at Reagan. His eyes met hers and he nodded his head and gave her a reassuring smile. Taking in a deep breath, Aria forced herself to push the key further into the lock.

The small click sound that it made sent a small chill down her arm. She was hoping that the key wouldn't work so that the plan would fail. She pushed back the knot that had formed in the back of her throat and pushed open the cell door.

For a moment, Aria was stunned. The doors that had been a barrier and kept her locked away all these years were finally open. An accomplishment such as this required some sort of rejoice but she couldn't bring herself to. Everything in her screamed for her to close the doors back up and throw away the key.

"Aria?" Reagan spoke softly, his concern made aware by the look of confusion on his face.

"I'm sorry," She picked up the key and made her way to the other side of the room where Reagan was being kept. She unlocked the door. Looking into his eyes, a series of emotions flooded her. She'd never been able to touch him before.

Aria reached her hand out and lightly caressed his cheek using the back of her hand. Reagan stepped closer and engulfed her into his arms. He nuzzled his face deeper into her hair, "You don't know how long I've been waiting to do this."

She could feel the tears that slipped from his eyes and hit her skin. His embrace brought a warm comfort, something she wasn't used to. Aria breathed out, "Me too."

Reagan pulled away, "We should get going." His jaw was clenched. Aria nodded, she could see the new-found determination in his eyes. He grabbed her hand, leading them down the room that no longer kept them captive.

As they made their way down the hallway, Aria looked around at the others who were in their cells. In a cell to her right, a girl who looked no older than herself sat in a corner. The girl looked up at her. Her face was bloodied and bruised. She eyed them curiously as they walked past her cell.

The two of them stopped in their tracks when they heard a deep voice unexpectedly call out to them. Aria looked around searching for the source of the voice.

"Over here." The voice beckoned to them. They turned to their right seeing someone standing in one of the cells. The absence of light prevented the person's face from coming into view. Walking closer to the cell bars, Aria could see that it was a boy, who appeared to be about Reagan's age.

He walked over to the bars and grasped them tightly. "You've got to help me," he pleaded frantically. A look of panic stitched onto his face, "I'll do anything."

Just then the door creaked open and Caleb entered the room. "What's the hold up?" He questioned.

Reagan motioned to the source of their hiatus, "He wants us to get him out of here."

The whole time the stranger's gaze had been fixed onto Aria. He appeared to be curious about the girl with the strange eyes. His eyes never left hers, that is, until Caleb walked over. It seemed that Caleb's sudden movement caught him off guard because he jumped back in surprise.

After recomposing himself, he spoke, "I can help you guys."

Reagan eyed him suspiciously. His senses were on alert and he sniffed the air. "What pack are you from?"

The stranger became rigid. He straightened out his composure and puffed out his chest. "Region five, pack nine," he boasted in a military-style fashion, "I was one of their finest warriors."

Caleb looked to be impressed but he shook his head regardless, "Our plan is already risky enough. Another person would only add to that." He looked at him apologetically before turning to leave.

Aria took one last glance at him and turned to follow the others. Before she could take a step, he grabbed her arm, his claws digging deep into her skin. Hearing Aria wince in pain, Reagan turned around. He let out a small but threatening growl. The boy released his hold on her and retreated further into his cell.

He looked between the three of them frantically. "I-I'll howl," he told them. He took a step forward and smirked seeing their confused faces,"Yeah that's right, I'll growl until every last guard rushes in here."

Reagan stiffened, he glared at him with a deep hatred. Though his glares did nothing to faze the boy, in fact, his smirk actually deepened. The boy's seemingly in control composure hadn't been enough to fool Aria. She could hear the desperation that laced his words and see the worried look in his eyes.

"What's keeping them from killing you too?" Caleb replied.

The boy shrugged his shoulders in a carefree manner, "I'm dead either way." He leaned his right foot up against the wall.

Caleb shook his head, muttering obscenities to himself, "Fine." He unlocked the cell door and made his way out the room.

The boy walked out of his cell, trying his best to avoid Reagan's scrutinizing gaze. As he was passing, Reagan blocked his path. He sized him up and whispered menacingly, "Hurt her again and I'll kill you myself." With that, he placed a protective arm around Aria's waist and the two followed Caleb out of the room.

The group stealthily maneuvered their way through the pack house. A large brick building that was situated at the center of the territory. Right now,the four of them were in a large hallway on a level above the room that held the cells.

Caleb took out a map of the area as well as some blueprints of the structure. "Right now we're here," Using a black marker, he placed a circle around the lower region of the blueprints.

"And we need to get here," he informed, pointing to an exit on the side of the building, "Now there's a dumb waiter on this hallway that leads to a small bunker. Once we get there, an exit will be waiting for us," Caleb briefed them.

"There aren't any guards in the building, mostly pack members but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be quiet. Once we get outside we'll be surrounded by guards on all sides. Understand?" Caleb didn't wait for a response.

He walked down the narrow corridor, the rest of the group followed behind. Aria held onto her arm, the claw marks in her skin had already begun to clot but it didn't relieve the throbbing pain she still felt. She stared at the person responsible. He had been quietly walking in front of her and Reagan. He seemed to be alert, paying close attention to his surroundings.

Feeling her stare, he turned around and gave her the same quizzical look as before. Reagan turned to Aria, his eyebrows furrowed in concern, "You okay?" Aria held his hand in hers and gave him a reassuring nod. Reagan responded by placing a kiss on the top of her head.

Aria smiled, his embrace appeased any nervousness she felt. "Here it is," Caleb announced. He stopped in front of a wallpapered wall and felt around it. "This dumbwaiter used to serve as a discrete escape exit for when the pack was under attack, until they built a bigger one," he explained, "I just need to find it." He placed an ear to the wall, "Found it."

Caleb knocked on the wall and took a step back. Just then a section of the wallpaper slid up, revealing the dumb waiter. Caleb smiled at the group. "Ladies first," he gestured a hand towards Aria.

Aria let go of Reagan's hand and walked over to the dumb waiter. She placed one foot inside the chute and then another.

The ride down was short lived. Aria canvassed the room she was now in. It was big and gray, shelves of canned goods lined the walls. A couple of couches and beds were randomly scattered about. A small television was located in a corner along with a microwave.

Caleb was the last to descend down the chute. He walked over to a couch and plopped down. "Make yourselves at home, we'll be here a while," he told them and began his search for the remote. Aria and Reagan did just that on a couch adjacent to where Caleb was sitting.

"And why's that?"

Aria whipped her head to see none other than him talking. He quirked up an eyebrow in the air as he eased himself into one of the sofa chairs across from them.

Not looking up from his search, Caleb replied, "Well, just outside this door," he pointed to an exit on the west side of the bunker, "Are some guards at their post. We have to wait until they're relieved of their duties to make our move. It'll take a couple hours."

After finding what he was looking for, Caleb leaned further into his chair and switched on the tele. "How many of them could there be? We can take them," Again, it was the same strange boy who spoke.

Caleb turned around, a somewhat irritated look on his face. "Look here, uhh-,"Caleb racked his brain, "What did you say your name was again?"

With his jaw clenched and a blank look on his face, the boy replied, "I didn't."

"Alright then hothead," Caleb dragged out in a mocking tone, "They have numbers." He let out a chuckle, "Besides, they're in a lot better shape than the three of you."

Aria had to admit it, Caleb was right. The three of them were in no condition to pick a fight. Reagan was still much too thin and if he did shift his wolf would be the same way. Even the boy didn't appear to be fairing much better off.

Reagan pulled Aria into his lap. This was their first time being so close to each other and Reagan made it his mission to touch her any chance he got.

Aria didn't mind though, in fact she enjoyed feeling his skin against hers. It gave her comfort to know that every time she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, his body would be right there to welcome her.

"What if they check in on the prisoners and see that we're missing?"

The vibrations coming from his chest made it known to Aria that it was Reagan who posed the questioned.

"The pack is already stretched thin enough with fighters. They won't send anyone down there unless they have to. They're too busy trying to protect the pack from intruders until the rest of them return from the coven. No one ever comes in here so we'll be safe," Caleb answered, he thoughtlessly flipped through the channels until he decided on a cartoon.

"This," he waved his hand around, gesturing to the bunker, "Is sound proof so feel free to make all the noise you want."

Reagan nodded and began to stroke Aria's hair affectionately. The boy had been watching the two intently from across the room. His focus was mostly on Aria, he seemed genuinely intrigued by her. Though he didn't care to admit it.

Aria opened her eyes feeling his gaze. His eyes looked cold and uninviting. His face was blank of any emotion. She wondered what interest a guy like him had with her. He hadn't even bothered to apologize for what he did to her.

"I don't like the way he looks at you," Reagan whispered into her ear. The stubble on his face brought a tickling sensation on her skin. "He's been eyeing you down this whole time." Aria agreed. The way he looked at her made her feel like she was the most hated person in the world but at the same time, a puzzle that needed solving.

Due to his heightened hearing, Aria knew he'd overheard Reagan's comment. Even so, he did nothing to address it. "Me too," she told him.

Reagan turned Aria around in his lap. This way her back was facing the stranger and her front facing his. He pushed back a black strand of hair from her face. She bit her lip nervously and looked down at her hands. Using a finger, he lightly pushed her chin back up.

Reagan inched his face closer to hers, hesitantly. He looked into her eyes before placing his lips onto hers. The kiss was passionate and filled with all the adoration for her that he had accumulated over the years. He pulled back, a grin on his face, "I've been wanting to do that since I first met you."

Aria smiled. He had taken her by surprise but she was glad that he did it. Even she herself had been eager to kiss him as well. "I love you Aria, never forget that," he breathed into her hair.

"I love you too," she giggled, placing a small kiss on his cheek.

Reagan placed her head onto his chest and ran a finger up and down her back. "Looks like we have a fan," he laughed. Aria rotated her head to see the boy still staring at them. He hadn't even made an effort to conceal the fact that he was watching them.

Keeping his eyes locked on him, Reagan placed small kisses on Aria's neck. Undoubtedly a resultant of his jealousy. Aria knew Reagan wasn't much of the jealous type, so this guy's starring must have bothered him a great deal. "Just ignore him", she told Reagan.

Caleb looked down at his watch, two hours had already came and gone with barely a notice. 

"Time to go guys." 

He scurried around the room making sure to put everything back in its original place. It was best not to leave any evidence. Reagan and Aria got to their feet.

"Go out through this exit and make a left. There should be a row of flower beds on the north side of the territory. Follow it and it'll lead you into the forest." Caleb advised.He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a vibrant purple plant. It's petals were droopy and reminded Aria of tiny wings.

"Don't let its beauty fool you. It's called wolfsbane. Each of you take a petal and place it on your tongue. Only for a second, it should help block out your scents. Any longer and it'll kill you." Caleb explained, he held the plant out in front of them.

They looked at him wearily but eventually did as they were told. Without it, they were dead either way. It was either risk being killed instantly or die a slow painful death at the hands of a werewolf and they chose the lesser of the two evils.

For such a deadly plant, the flower left a sweet taste lingering on Aria's tongue.

"It's actually not that bad," Reagan voiced her thoughts.

Caleb laughed, "That's good. If it was bitter you'd be dead." He picked up the map of the territory as well as two backpacks filled with supplies and handed it to them.

"This is for you Aria," He pulled out a charm necklace. The jewelry , a silver color, sparkled in an array of colors. A crescent moon with a beautiful alexandrite stone was nested on the chain. Symbols had been marked onto the back of it.

He placed it around her neck, "It's enchanted, carved out by the fates themselves. The rarest jewel of them all. No matter how lost you are, this necklace will always guide you."

Aria pulled him into a hug, the tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you for everything,"she told him. Her only regret was having to leave Caleb behind. She would miss him deeply. The kindness he showed her was something she would never forget and vowed to repay him back someday.

Caleb pulled her back so that she was at shoulder's length. "Hey, no crying remember, today's supposed to be a happy day. Who knows maybe we'll cross paths again someday," he said and wiped away her tears.

He turned to Reagan, parting with him a farewell hug and the three of them were on their way.

******
So what do you guys think of this new guy? Anyone wanna guess what his name is? Let me know what you guys think down below. And remember votes are highly appreciated.