1

The girl dashed down the streets in the chilling cold weather with her heart pounding in her throat. She was terrified yet the hope of freedom pumped through her veins as adrenaline rushed in. 

"Hurry, Susie," she screamed lowly to the girl who was right behind her.

Susie was her only best friend in the whole world. They’d been friends for two years and they were planning their escape together. Fiona has worked so hard for it. She wanted to give Susie and herself the freedom they deserved.

Fiona threw a glance over her shoulder and there was no one behind her. It seemed like they lost track of them. They were lucky that it was raining, their scent was being washed away.

She came to a screeching halt in one of the alleys. Leaning her back on the rusty wall she panted heavily as Susie crouched down heaving.

Fiona was scared. This was their last chance. They had to make it this time. She must escape or else they'd sell her off tomorrow. 

Fiona heard heavy footsteps rushing her way and her heart dropped, her eyes clashed with Susie's as she got to her feet. Whipping her head to the right, she started running in the opposite direction.

She had worked so hard for this escape. She won't let them capture her. She couldn't bear to be sold in the auction. 

While running she felt as if her heart had dropped down. Hearing a low menacing growl, she threw a glance over her shoulder only for her eyes to widen as fear crept into her bones.  

A wolf was prowling right after them. 

Her heart jostled in her chest seeing the border of the neighboring kingdom at some distance. If they could just get there.

Susie lost her footing as she fell face first on the rugged ground. Fiona stopped running as she dashed back to the girl and helped her up, the wolf had gotten closer. Her heart churned in dread. It would catch up to them.

Fiona started running while supporting the limping Susie. “I’m sorry,” Susie murmured and Fiona’s brows furrowed. “Don’t worry, I’ll save you,” Fiona said, her tears washing away with rain.

“Forgive me, Fiona. I couldn’t leave Bruno. I’m…” She stammered and fell to her knees as Fiona watched her blanch. “W…what are you saying, Susie?” Fiona stuttered as chills ran down her spine. She still tried to help Susie up but she pushed Fiona away.

“W…we need to leave, our freedom is right in front of our eyes, Susie, please. Come on.” Fiona pleaded but Susie only sobbed and touched her belly. “I’m pregnant with Bruno’s child. I love him,” Bruno was the security at the pet house.

Fiona stumbled a step back as she refused to believe the truth. She abruptly turned around and a loud muffled yelp escaped past her lips when she collided with a hard wall. She fell back on her bottom as a painful hiss left her lips. 

"You piece of shit!" Her head snapped up and her eyes widened seeing Patrick standing hovering over her like a nightmare. She moved back on her hands and bottom.

But froze when she heard a snarl right behind her. A scream tore through her lips when Patrick grabbed a fist full of her hair and yanked her up to her feet.

Grabbing her throat in a vicious grip he squeezed her windpipe causing her eyes to bulge out as she clawed at his hands but to no avail.

They weren't supposed to come after her. Because she was cautious. She has been planning for this day for months. Only two of the other pets saw her and Susie walking into the restroom. They even knocked on the stall asking why she was taking so long as Fiona was helping Susie out of the window. This simply meant those girls might've found her suspicious and they rat her out. Fiona still refused to doubt her friend.

"Oh, how I wish to kill you." He snarled as his claws extended out. Tears escaped her eyes and she let them fall because they washed away with the rain. 

The cool breeze and his lethal hold made her body cold, bit by bit she felt like losing the sensations.

Just when her struggling slowed he threw her away with such force that her back crashed against the wall roughly knocking the breath out of her as she fell with a thud. 

Severe pain shot through her body but it seemed like Patrick wasn't done.

"If she hadn't informed us, we would've lost such a prized good," Patrick spat, pointing at Susie and placing his boot on the side of Fiona’s face as he applied force.

Her eyes widened and every cell in her body trembled in the ache of such a heartless betrayal from one of her kind. This explains why Susie disappeared just before the escape. But why? Why did she betray her like this? Fiona didn't feel the pain of the boot that was digging into her face but rather her heart was bleeding because of this cruel betrayal.

She saw that the wolf shifted into Bruno, picking up Susie and walking away as Susie looped her arms around his neck. They left Fiona behind with this cruel monster who hates her guts. 

It hurts. It was as if an acid-dipped dagger pierced right through her heart.

He yanked her up, his claws digging into the flesh of her arm and he was on the brink of shifting as he backhanded her brutally. His hold on her arm kept her from falling as he slapped her again and again to the point that her cheeks turned numb and she couldn't feel them anymore. 

Blood spurts in her mouth as it drips from the corner of her lips. Her eyes and cheeks were swollen and she was sure her face was all black and blue. The rain washed away the blood as she kept her eyes closed and tried to go numb.

He wasn't supposed to hurt her physically as per the Pet Mistress' order but Fiona was glad that he had ruined her face. Now no one would buy her in the auction tomorrow.

Though her plan of escaping failed. But somehow it still worked. Hope blossomed in her heart and for the first time, she was glad that Patrick beat her up.

She'll look ugly tomorrow and hence none of those monsters would buy her. She had heard that they like beautiful pets. That was why Pet Mistress never hit them in the face and used other ways of punishment. 

Fiona knew this act of hers would end her up in the slaughterhouse but somehow she knew pet Mistress won't let that happen. For her, money is very important, and losing a single pet would cost her immensely.

But still, with a face like this, she won't be bought tomorrow. 

Her limped body was held up by Patrick. He grimaced at her face before dragging her to the car. She didn't fight him though. She let him take her back.

The mission has been accomplished. No one would buy an ugly pet. She was safe for now.

The car came to a screeching halt somewhere in the weird scary area as Patrick dragged her out and walked to one of the houses.

He banged on the door hard thrice before it flung open and there stood a short old woman with violet irises. 

Fiona's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. It was a witch. Why? Why did he bring her to a witch?

"Heal her!" He said and the girl yanked her arm out of his grasp and tried to make a run but he grabbed her hair and jerked her back. Turning her around through her shoulder he punched her stomach with all his might.

A strangled groan escaped her parted lips. Her rounded eyes clouded with pain as she fell to her knees in agony, all her breath was knocked out of her system and tears caressed her bruised cheeks.

He grabbed her hair and lugged her curled body into the house as the witch closed the door.