Conditional Rescue

**nightbeasties** · 06-11-2008,01:32 AM

From a thirty minute writing prompt comes this little story. I think it could be the start of something more. It could be a nice love story/adventure or something, all with a supernatural twist.

**

When she awoke in the wolf exhibit the first thing she thought was, This is like the movies.

Then, as she sat up slowly, brushing the leaves and twigs out of her tangled red hair, she saw them. The group of wolves, cowering in the corner farthest from her.

They're afraid of you, her inner voice told her. Wolves are afraid of you.

She stood and brushed the crud off her legs. She could see how she might have gotten into this zoo enclosure, there was a pile of rocks that led up against a high wall; she probably climbed over that wall by way of a tree... or something, and found her way down. But getting out wouldn't be as easy.

She took a step forward to get a better view of the zoo outside this pen- the pathway still empty, the sky barely registering light. It was almost sunrise, and soon enough keepers would be around. The park's lights were still on and dimming by the minute.

Looking down at herself, at the scratches on her leg, she didn't want to know what had transpired over the night. She had only been a werewolf for two months. Last time she locked herself in the basement of her little house. This time... she'd been too late, had miscalculated how long she had til the turn came.

One moment she was bringing groceries into the house, the next, she was here. With wolves staring at her like she was an alien, and she felt a little guilty. She whispered to them. “It's okay, guys.”

What looked to be the Alpha whimpered, but he stayed upright, and the four others were all down on their bellies.

“I – uh- didn't mean to intrude...”

Her eyes still searched for a way out. She spotted behind the wolves a little door. A doggie door, she thought, and sighed. She'd have to crawl through there... and hopefully find herself a way out.. maybe some clothes.. anything, she just had to get out of here.

“Hey!”

A man's voice startled her, and she thought she'd jump clear over the wall and out of her skin. She spun around and saw him standing at the front of the exhibit staring in at her, a guy about her age, large sidewalk broom and dustpan in hand, staring at her.

Suddenly very aware of her nudity, she quickly placed one arm over her breasts, and crouched, legs tight together.

“What the- what! Who- lady, what the hell....” He dropped his broom and stepped back.

“Please.” She pleaded, “Please how do I get out of here?”

He was watching the wolves now, who were watching him, then her, then him again. He pursed his lips. “Ma'am.” His voice gave away a Southern lineage. “You know werewolves aren't allowed in the zoo, city ordinance.”

She nodded. “I know, I didn't mean to...” She felt her voice shake and then realized what he'd called her. “Hey! Don't call me ma'am! I'm only twenty-five!”

He blushed. “Sorry...” He fished in the pocket of his overalls. “I have a key to the back... if you want to go through that door.”

She took a step toward it, and the wolves shuffled back away from her, toward the door themselves. “Wait, no...” She paused. “Can you help me here?”

He shrugged. “It's not like I carry meat on me, sorry.”

She stepped toward them again, and this time they nearly fell over one another trying to scramble away from her as she made her way to the door.

It pushed open easily, just like a doggie door, and she crawled through as lady-like as she could naked and without a hope of being graceful about it.

She found herself in a small concrete room, water dishes to one side, and a nice big door. She could tell it was locked and waited. In a moment she heard the sound of footsteps, of a latch being undone, and then the door opened.

She breathed a sigh of relief as the man averted his eyes and held up a pair of large coveralls. “Oh thank you!” Pulling them on, she then smoothed her hair and stepped out into the dim food prep room, and closed the door behind her.

The smell of meat was strong, though none was present. It nauseated her, and she found it ironic that only last night she probably hunted down some innocent creature and ate it raw.

“Look, Ma'am-” He paused and corrected himself, “Miss. Miss, I know it's Halloween today but aren't you a little old for pranks?”

“I told you, I didn't mean to be here. My basement was equipped for the last moon, I was prepared... I just...”

“Still getting used to it huh?” He seemed to sympathize. “I get that.” He looked at his watch. “You need to get out of here. I'm off right now, I can drive you to the gate...” He looked at her, his eyes were sympathetic now instead of shocked, and, she noticed, they were incredibly blue.

“I would be forever grateful!” She reached her hand out. “I'm Lainie, by the way.”

He smiled, “Grant.” He didn't take her hand.

She hesitated, wanting to pull away too quickly, and instead tried to act normal. So he was creeped out by her. Big surprise.

“Follow me, wolf woman.” He led her out and to a back road behind all the pens and cages, where the trees provided a nice canopy, and where a zoo maintenance shuttle waited.

**

They sped along the empty back roads, and to the employee entrance where he stopped. “Listen...” he said, “Lots of people will be arriving soon- any minute really. The keepers get started early.”

“I can't get caught here. I'll lose my job if I get arrested.”

“Yeah.. I figured.” He accelerated again. “I'll take you out the tunnel entrance, no one will see you.” He turned to her. “On one condition.”

Lainie lifted an eyebrow. “Conditional rescue?”

She thought he blushed again. He spoke up, “I'd love to have your phone number.”

“You just saw me naked and now you want my phone number.” She said it flat and stared ahead. “You know, I think I will take my chances...” She opened the shuttle door and her arm was grabbed as the little electric vehicle came to a halt.

“No! I didn't mean...” He definitely blushed then. “I'm sorry, I just- I'm not any good at this stuff.” He released her arm and smirked. “In fact I suck at it.”

There was something genuine in his countenance. Lainie realized he really was awkward... but nice. Good looking and after all, he had gotten her out of the pen without calling security.

“Maybe.” She said, “Maybe I will give you my number. But answer something first.”

“Why'd I help you?”

Lainie nodded.

“Let's just say people like you and I are not understood in this world.” He reached out, touched her hand. His fingers, despite a rosy enough complexion, were ice cold.

As it donned on Lainie- she whispered. “Vampire.”

He softly smiled and she noticed the eye-teeth now. “Yeah. But it's cool if you don't want to deal with that...”

She took his icy fingers in her hand. “Got a pen?”