Captured By The Dragon
Episode 30

Malcom – third

Dylan’s guards swept through the forest surrounding his house twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night. Malcom made sure his men weren’t seen, but it was getting harder as the hours went on. His men seemed more on alert, more aware of the potential threats that surrounded his home.

Their waiting soon paid off. Dylan left with a bag in his hand early the next morning. He looked as if he had gotten no sleep as he threw himself in the drivers seat of one of the cars in front of his house.

It was strange to see such human cars in the shifter lands. Everything else was so different—they looked entirely out of place. Dylan seemed to be one of the few that embraced them in this land.

Malcom and his team watched the car pull out of the driveway and drive down the road until it was nothing. An odd thing happened when Dylan was out of sight, his men relaxed. Their movements were less tense and a little lazy. They stopped pacing the area as intensely as they had been before. Some of them even sat down for a long break.

Malcom glanced at the men around him and they gave him silent nods.

It was time.

Patara – first

I tossed and turned all night. When I did finally get a bit of sleep, I only dreamed of his face. The way he smirked at me as if he knew all of my secrets. Even ones I wasn’t even aware of myself. Why did that entice me more than it had before?

It was disarming to be looked at like that. Ridiculous and foolish for him to even toy with me from just a simple look—

Oh, who was I kidding?

I quickly got up when I heard him move around the house. By the time I dressed for the day in a light dress and sweater—he was gone. I watched him leave through a small crack in my curtains. He looked exhausted and I couldn’t help but wonder if his night was similar to mine. Did he think of me all night?

I laid across my bed and tried to take the silence for what it was and prayed for sleep. Eventually, I drifted off when my mind finally allowed me to rest.

I don’t know how long I had been sleeping when a loud noise made me flinch awake. It took me a moment to realize someone was screaming… no, more than one person.

I hurried out of bed end peered through the window to see cheos below.

I hurried out of bed and peered through the window to see chaos below.

A group of men dressed like soldiers were attacking the ones that guarded Dylan’s house. My heart started to race at the sight, I hurried to the door to lock it when a man pushed his way in.

“Come, we must hide you before they get in!” He said urgently as he reached for me.

I recognized him from the day before. Dylan seemed to trust him enough, he was the one that swore to check the outer forests for rogues. I didn’t have time to question my own trust of him, which was nonexistent, I hurriedly followed him out of the room and down the hall.

The shifters that we saw yesterday must have had friends nearby! They must have known what Dylan did and now they were here for revenge!

I followed the guard down the stairs to a dark room in the back of the house. Dylan hadn’t taken me to this part of the house yet, and I hadn’t really ventured here on my own. The space felt… odd. It made my skin crawl just being there.

Distantly, I heard the fighting continue. The guard opened another door and shoved me inside before I had a chance to see it or say anything.

But—I soon realized that there was nothing to see. It was so dark, I couldn’t even see my own hand in front of my face.

My entire body froze up when I heard the man click the lock in place. I reached for the door and pulled on it, but it wouldn’t budge. He locked me inside!

I backed away slowly, but I soon hit the wall behind me. He must have shoved me into some…dark closet.

My breath was so loud, I felt as if I was losing air the more I breathed. I didn’t like being locked in small places—I closed my eyes and tried to imagine myself far from here.

It became impossible when I heard the sounds of shots. They were the loudest things I had ever heard. It rang through me the closer they became.

My shaky hands gripped the wall as I slid down. I covered my ears to block out the shouting and the demands for my location.

“Where is the girl? Where are you hiding her?” They screamed.

I tried to hold my breath in case they might hear me. Shifters always heard better than humans, didn’t they?

If Dylan was here, he would tear them apart one by one. He would make sure I was safe—

“Patara?” A male voice shouted. I quickly uncovered my ears. How did they know my name? Was that one of Dylan’s guards to tell me it was safe? I held my breath and listened for more.

“Patara? Are you in here? We’re here to take you home!” The man shouted.

Home? Was this some sort of trick or test? I saw soldiers when I looked out the window—who were they? What did they want with me?

“Don’t be afraid.” The voice said, a little calmer. It was then that I realized that all the screaming had stopped. Only the sound of shuffling feet moved through the house but no other fighting.

Fear soaked every inch of me. I knew inside that these men did not work for Dylan. What if they were soldiers that had gone rogue and wanted me for themselves? Why else would they know my name and that I was here?

“Patara.” The voice said again. “I know you’re in here somewhere. Your mother and father are waiting for you back at the police station.”

My heart stopped dead in my chest— police station? My parents?

I moved against the door and pressed my ear against it, desperate to hear more.

“We got your phone call. We tracked it to this location and waited days for Dylan to leave. Please, come out and we can get you home before he returns.”

That did it. They had to be telling the truth! Who else would have known about the call?

“I’m in here!” I banged on the door. Over and over.

I heard stomps across the hardwood stop at the door. They yanked on the knob a few times before they shouted, “Step back!”

I quickly moved back and gripped the wall as they kicked the door in.

Above me stood a tall, board shouldered man with a look of relief on his face when he saw me.