Page 123 of Awakened
So, you’re a man? Interesting. And yes, you are clearly a creep. I’ll be changing your name accordingly.
Secret Creepy Douchebag(s)
Well, now, that contact name is just getting out of hand. I will bid you goodnight before I dig myself into an even longer nickname.
You’re mirroring my burner? Wow. You just keep earning your name. Good night, Secret Creepy Douchebag(s).
INTERLUDE
Mission 1 - Quincy, IL
Rain.
So much fucking rain.
My paws sunk into the mud as I tried to dart in between rows of corn. With only another acre or so until I reached my mark, I slowed. The Howlers had provided the time and place. It was up to me to find the server’s location.
When I received the first bits of intel regarding this mission, I was excited to have a tangible way to get back at the Old Church bastards. Once I was alone in the middle of nowhere Illinois? Not so much.
The wind blew the hard, icy rain up my nose, making it difficult to breathe. It was so dark, impossibly dark. My better-than-average sight did me little good when my eyes were full of muddy water.
Hot showers and coco. Hot showers and cocoa. Just got to make it through this.
The closer I got to the utility shed, the brighter the area got. Blinking rapidly, I tried to clear my vision. Everything about the weather kept me from using my natural wolf senses. I quicklyrealized that my human body would be better able to navigate the shed’s perimeter.
I also realized I had no clothes.
No one’s supposed to see me anyway. Naked B&E it is. Just more incentive to not get caught, right?
Focusing on my human form, my body started the uncomfortable process of snapping back into shape. Fur-free, the cold rain and wind were even more severe, making goosebumps rise on every inch of bare skin.
“Fu-ck. I didnotplan this well.”
I did my best to remove the caked mud from my eyes, but it was slow goings with filthy hands. Looking down, I cringed at how ridiculously bright my skin glowed in the limited light provided by the storm.
Two things were clear.
1) I needed to get some fucking sun.Who was I? Casper?
2) I needed to roll around in the mud to create a filth jumpsuit.
Landing on my back, I heaped handfuls of muck on me, making sure to cover every inch. The smell of manure turned my stomach, but it didn’t stop me from covering myself in shit.
Those fuckers are probably getting a kick out of this.
Running the mud through my hair to darken my blond locks, I inched toward the shed. A tall fence topped with barbed wire surrounded it, so there was no going over.
Not noticing anyone in the immediate area, I cautiously followed the edge of the fence, looking for a weak spot. On the backside of the shed, a link was missing at the bottom. Thanking the wildlife that created this opportunity for me, I tugged it to make the hole bigger.
When it was wide enough to shimmy through, I got on my belly and army crawled. The sharp edges scraped off spots of my soil suit, but luckily, they didn’t break skin. Pulling myself up into a crouching position, I examined my legs. Pale white shone through three lines down the side of my leg.
“Fucking Adirtas.”
Moving flush with the shed’s wall, I passed the AC unit and swiftly kicked the connectors, shutting it down. I tip-toed to the door, scanning the surrounding area. Twisting the handle, I fully expected it to be locked, but it swung open. I couldn’t help but think it was a setup.
Scanning the ceiling, I watched in horror as a camera turned and locked in on me. If everything went according to plan, the Howlers would be watching. My hands instinctively moved to cover my breasts. Feeling the wet mud under my palms, I stood straighter. Who was I hiding from? Smiling, I flipped the camera the bird.
The room was only five by five, with one large cage holding several servers. With no cold air blasting from the vents, the temperature was warm despite the freezing rain outside. The closer I got to the cage, the more I could feel the heat radiating off the servers. Those suckers were hot.
