Rejection Denied
Finish Line

“HELP!!” A voice shrieked. “PLEASE HELP!!”

“Who is that?” Mia asked, sniffing the air. “I can smell blood, but I don’t know who’s.”

“And why the fuck should we care!? Keep moving, Mia.”

“HELP ME!” The voice cried out. Mia moved toward the plea.

“MIA, STOP!”

“Someone needs help, Aviry. We can’t leave them—”

“The hell if we can’t! Now run, Mia.” I urged.

Mia ignored me and continued forward. “Mia listen, you’re acting like that one chick in every single scary movie. SPOILER, WE DIE IN THE MOVIE!!”

“Relax, Aviry, I’m just going to check it out.”

“And then you’ll turn around and get stabbed through the throat! Give me back control!”

“HELP!!!” The voice cried out.

“Look over there, I see her. It’s Jessie, Derricks Champion.” Mia crept up behind a tree. We could see Jessie crying in agony. “Her foot is caught in a bear trap.”

“Well, that sounds like a PFP. So, let’s get moving.”

“What is PFP?” Mia wondered.

“A personal fucking problem! Now let’s go.”

“I’m going to release her, and then we can go.” Mia ran up to Jessie, despite my pleas and threats to have her put down if we die. “Pst, Jessie, keep your voice down. I’m going to help—”

“AVIRY! Please…Please help me!” Jessie reached for us.

“Sshh! I need to replace the release button first.” Mia dropped down and searched. She pushed dry leaves and debris away from the trap.

SNAP!! SNAP!!

“Shit, someone’s coming.” Mia searched frantically.

“Please don’t leave me.” Jessie whimpered.

SNAP!! SNAP!! the footsteps were coming closer

“Fuck this, Mia. This is the part where she escapes, and we die trying to be good fucking people!”

“I found it!” Mia slammed her hand down on the release, and it sprang open. Jessie opened her mouth to scream, but Mia covered it. “We need to run. Can you handle it?”

“I…I can try…” Mia helped her stand and dragged a limping Jessie behind her.

“Mia, she’s slowing us down. We need to let her go.” I pleaded.

“I can’t do that, Aviry.” Mia stopped and bent over.

“Get on my back. It will be faster.” Jessie climbed on, and Mia ran as fast as she could.

“Aviry, I can feel myself weakening. I need to give you back control.”

“What!? Now you need me to…Mia, you’re on my shit list now.”

Mia closed her eyes, and I was pulled back into reality. The weight on my back decreased my speed, but my legs kept going.

“Thank you, Aviry. I would’ve died back there.”

“More like should’ve…” I scoffed

“Aviry!” Mia scolded

“Mia, I’m about to drop this bitch. We lost our advantage, and now they’re riding our asses.”

Jessie spoke up again, “I know. You were right. Derrick pulls me into this shit without caring about how I feel. I hate this entire competition now. I never should’ve volunteered. I have two nephews waiting for me at home. Their parents died last year, and my mother is too sick to care for them.”

“So why would you do this to them. Why would you risk abandoning them!?”

“I’m an omega in my pack. I barely get paid. But If I become a luna, I can offer them so much more.”

I scoffed, “I’m sure they want you alive and there for them. Rather than—”

WHIZ!

An arrow flew past my head and pierced a tree.

“Shit, they found us.” I zig-zagged from left to right. Trying to avoid being shot.

“Aviry put me down, you’ll die—”

“Don’t fucking tempt me!” I swerved to my left and ducked behind a tree. I dropped Jessie on her ass and began digging up dirt. “We need to hide our scent. Hurry up!”

I slapped the moist soil on my skin and scrubbed it in. I washed my hair in it and rubbed some in my ears. Jessie did the same.

“HA HA HA, I SMELL YOU!” A deep voice chuckled. “I smell your blood, little wolf!”

Fuck, I forgot about her foot. What now Aviry think. We can’t run; we’ll get caught. I could leave her. No, I can’t do that now; she has a family waiting for her. I know what it’s like to be alone as a child. I wouldn’t wish that for anyone.

What else…

“Diversion…” Mia whispered. I could feel her fading. That run pushed her limits. But she’s right. Bring the attention to me and take down the mercenary.

“Jessie, I need you to stay here. If you play the hero, you’re on your own.” She nodded.

I covered myself in more dirt. And crouched down to survey the area, I saw nothing. I needed to be on higher ground. The tree had few limbs I could reach if I stood on her shoulders.

“You’re trying to hide your scent, little wolf. But your blood smells so sweet and inviting.” The voice came from my left.

“Come here, help me up,” I whispered. She complied, and I reached the branch and lifted myself over. The next one wasn’t as high, and the leaves reached down lower for cover. I climbed up and perched myself. Looking down below, I could see Jessie, clutching her knees.

SNAP! CRACK!

I looked over to see my target. A burly brute with rocky skin. He stomped over closer to us and paused.

“I know your close little wolf. Come and play with me.” The man sniffed the air. “My name is Geo. What’s your’s?” He walked closer toward us.

Jessie’s foot slipped beneath her, and she whimpered.

Geo knocked an arrow and approached the tree. He was nearly underneath me. He stepped closer and pulled back on the bow. “Time to play, little wolf.”

“Not today, bastard!” I jumped from the tree and landed in front of Geo. Surprised, he jolted back and released his arrow without aiming. “Did you mean to miss? I bent down and picked up a thick stick.”

“Ooo, a new toy.” Geo purred. “Tell me, would you like to play with me?”

“Sorry ugly.” I shrugged my shoulders, “I’m defective.” I shot forward. And hurled the stick at his face. It pierced into his right eye.

“AHHH, YOU BITCH!” Geo roared.

I ran to him while his head was down. Using my left hand, I grabbed the stick that was still in his skull and pulled down.

SLAM!

I slammed my right fist into the side of his face. But his skin was so tough, it barely registered.

“It’s going to take more than that wolf!” Geo sneered. His right arm curled in and whipped out into my stomach. I flew back and landed on my side a few feet away.

I looked up to see Geo knocking another arrow. He aimed it at me and released it.

WHIZ!

It landed a few inches away from my head. “Ha, it’s hard to see with one eye, isn’t it,” I asked sarcastically.

“YOU WILL DIE TODAY!” He shouted, charging forward. His thundering steps shook the ground beneath me. He was quick for his size, but I managed to dodge his attack as he slammed his foot down. I rolled away and quickly sat up.

Whiz!

Another arrow was released. It barely stung as it nicked my cheek.

Geo took a big whiff, “Your blood smells divine!”

Ok, what’s up with the blood palate? I mean, I get excited when I make others bleed, but I don’t want to relish its taste.

How the hell can I kill this guy. His skin is too thick, and he’ll bash me if I get too close.

“HEY!!” We both looked toward the voice. Jessie’s voice, she was leaning against a tree with a large rock in her hand. “You ugly bastard. Come and get me first!” She pitched the rock forward, distracting the beast.

I looked down and around for a weapon and saw the last arrow shot. Keep it up, Jessie. I slowly reached down, taking ahold of the pointed arrow.

“I love the missing eye look. I think Aviry did a great job!” Jessie mocked. Where did all of this courage come from?

Geo roared and reached back for another arrow, but his quiver was empty. He searched around. And I took this as my chance. I dashed forward and rammed into him as hard as I could with my shoulder. Not my best idea. We both tumbled onto the ground. He rolled on top of me and snarled in my face.

“TIME TO DIE—”

SHANK!

Geo’s last words were cut off as I shoved the arrow into his throat. He slowly looked down and reached for it, but I stuck two fingers into the opening and dug around. Blood spluttered from his mouth as he fell to the side. I sat up and backed away from the dying corpse until my back hit the trunk of a tree. I wiped my fingers in the dirt and searched for Jessie. She ran to me and crouched down.

“You did it, Aviry. You saved us now let’s get out—”

Jessie’s body slightly lurched forward. She stopped talking, and we both looked down to see an arrow protruding from her chest. She fell forward, her head landing on my shoulder.

“NOOOO!” I screeched. I was shaking as I held her body and rubbed her head. “JESSIE, GET UP!”

THUMP!

I looked over to see Geo. He was lying on the ground, his bow in his hand. The arrow that was lodged in his throat was now pierced into Jessie’s Chest.

“A…life for a …life,” Geo said faintly as his head fell to the side.

“OH, HELL, NO!” I laid Jessie’s body against the tree and crawled over to the bastard’s body. “You don’t get to die peacefully now!” I climbed on top of his torso.

SLAP!

He was barely conscious but still alive. “She was just trying to survive in this fucked-up world!”

SLAP!

“She had a family, you fucking savage!”

SLAP!

“NOW THEY’RE ALL ALONE!” I growled.

I struck my hand forward into the wound of his throat. I grabbed whatever squishy matter was there and ripped it out. My mood was full-on murderous.

I blacked out entirely. Only glimpses of images registered. There was blood everywhere in one. In another, I was clawing and scratching at Geo’s face. And in the final image, I was screaming at a headless corpse.

“AVIRY!” the scent of chocolate surrounded me. Two arms encircled my body and pulled me away from Geo. “Baby, calm down. Please, it’s over.” Cay’s calming voice warmed my heart. I relaxed into his hold. I hadn’t realized my claws were extended and were thrashing around.

“Cay…” I whispered. I laid my head against his chest. His heartbeat soothed my own. “He…he killed her.”

“Shhh, I know, love. Please rest. I’ll take us back home—”

“NO!” I pushed away from him and stood tall. I looked behind him and saw Jessie lying peacefully against the tree. “We are going to finish this fucking event together.”

“Nova already won Ave—”

“I’m not finishing for that reason! Jessie deserves to cross the finish line. Now help me or fuck off!”

I walked over to Jessie and pulled the arrow from her chest. Water droplets fell from my eyes as I wiped the dirt from her face. She didn’t deserve this fate. Why do good people suffer when they try to do the right thing? I pulled her into my chest.

“I’ll make him pay for this. Your family will reap the benefits of your sacrifice.” I crouched down and scooped her into my arms.

“Aviry…let me carry her,” Cay asked with sorrow in his voice.

I shook my head, “No, just guide us home.”

We walked in silence. In a way, nature was her funeral procession. The soft glow of the sun shone above us through the leaves of the trees. The Birds sang their final song before the night, and the bee’s made their way back home—a place Jessie will never see again.