I’ve watched Silver these last few weeks. Dad has been sick for a while, but lately, he’s been even weaker. I could see in Silver’s eyes that he knew our dad was passing soon. I try to remember the Silver from my youth. At one time, he was a good person. I don’t know what changed him, but now he’s pure evil. He’s not anything or anyone that I would want to mess with. He would watch our dad, and I could tell there’s no love there, he was just waiting, biding his time, waiting for Dad to die.
My dad saw it too. He knew what Silver had become. He’d warned me time after time to get out of here while I could, but I never listened. I couldn’t. But now is my time. My only shot. I take one last look at my father and step out onto the ledge. I scale the side of the building, the bulky backpack making it harder and even more awkward than all the times I’ve practiced. I walk the ten feet, holding on to the side of the building with my fingertips pressed into the rough brick. When I finally reach the fire escape, I step quietly onto it, remembering each and every step that creaks and grinds at my weight. When I finally get to the bottom and let myself drop to the ground, I finally release the breath I’ve been holding.
I look up at the window I just escaped from. I don’t know what I expect, maybe a sense of freedom, but it’s not there. Only deep grief that I’ve left my father for them to bury. He deserved better. He deserved more. But I have a promise to keep. His dying wish. I force myself to look away at the Klamath mountains, which are only visible because of the full moon. I run then. I run as fast as my legs will let me and I don’t look back. It’s going to be risky, because I’m running straight for New Law Territory, the one area that the Eaters will not dare to follow me.
Chapter 2
Penny
It seems like I’ve walked for hours, but I’m not sure it’s been that long. The need to shift is strong and I’m barely able to keep my spirit bear from coming out and running the rest of the way. The only thing stopping me is the smell of the coppery metallic scent in the wind. It’s the scent of blood, hunger, of evil. It’s the smell of the Eaters. I know they are nearby. It could be a coincidence, or it could be they already discovered my father dead and me gone and are already tracking me down. I want to shift and run as fast as I can but I don’t. I can’t. There’s no hiding my white bear, not at night and not with the moon out like it is. I would be discovered quickly. And if I’m caught, I’m dead. I don’t think I’ll ever get a chance like this again.
I tug at the hat on my head to make sure it’s covering my white-blond hair. Without it, my hair is like a beacon in the night and could easily be seen if I hadn’t had the forethought to cover it. I walk quietly through the forest, looking every which way, my nerves about to get the best of me. Every sound, every snap of a twig, every animal noise has me trembling and on edge.
The closer I get to New Law territory, the more nervous I get. The feud between the New Law and Eaters has gone on for a long time. I’m in a bad position, because if either club finds me, I’m done. My father was one of the founders of the Eaters and that alone is enough reason for the New Law to kill me if they find me.
But I’m desperate. I have to escape Silver and the plans he has for me. At first, I thought he planned for me to become one of the working girls at the club. But if that were true, it would have been a blessing compared to his real plans. He allowed me to stay a virgin just for this reason. I was always surprised that he kept his men, his club brothers, away from me. But now I know why. He plans to sell me to the highest bidder. He’s watched me grow up, he’s my half-brother, my blood relative, but that means nothing to him. No, money is more important.
Lost in thought, I keep walking. I keep thinking of my father and I still can’t believe I left him like that. All I can do is pray that the Eaters will bury him, give him a proper service. But I’m not holding my breath. I try to watch where I’m going, but also keep my head down. I walk so long that I come to an opening of the forest. There’s a big building at the opening and I can hear voices. I discover quickly that I’m in New Law territory and not just their territory, but I’m on the land that houses their clubhouse. If they find me, they will kill me for sure.