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Chapter 2

Oddities

Elliot slowly awoke in the warm glow of mid afternoon daylight streaming in through a drape less window where it pool across his chest. His chest hurt but it was a far away kind of hurt, as if by a mostly healed wound. That pain led him to the next, a throbbing head that felt like it have been used by giants as a grinding stone. With a brief wince of pain he assessed the surrounding room. He wasn't in his own bed that much was very clear. It was a twin sized bed with black sheets and blankets. His upper body was being propped up by a miniature mountain range of big fluffy pillows. The room was fairly large for a guest bedroom. But why was he in a guest bedroom? After what had happened he should be waking up in a hospital room, which lead him to the obvious conclusion that this was someone's house, the look alone told him that much. Book shelves filled with books lined most of the available wall space. The ceiling light was off, but with the drape less window the sun light glared into the room, it lit enough of the room for Elliot to see everything. A dark smooth hard wood floor covered the room's bottom. An oak desk with a glossy finish sat nearby. It faced away from the wall and towards the bed; its surface contained littered heaps of papers. Many of which had been shoved half hazardly between the books up and down the shelves. Both sides of the bed stood the same style oak wood night stands with the same glossy finish, the one on his right side held only one thing, his black leathery wallet. Beside the wall sat very nice light leather bound chair that sat empty facing him. Elliot reached for the wallet but noticed that a warm poultice sat on several points along his body; one was also pressed and held to the side of his head presumably where the bat had struck him. A rag bandage was tied tightly over the lumping poultice where it ran under his jaw and back up over his head. The others Elliot slowly removed to inspect for himself then placed them back. He was highly alarmed to have awoken in someone's home without his own knowledge of how or why he was here. It could be one of the gang members had thought at the last moment that keeping him alive and well could make him a good play thing to do with what they wanted. He found nothing restraining him to the bed though and surely that's one thing they would have done right, unless they'd trapped him in this room? No... that made no sense, so maybe it wasn't one of the gang banging thugs.

Wincing again Elliot slowly tested the limitations of his body. He seemed to be able to move very well. If things got to out of hand he was even confident that he could even run if he had to, not fast but better then crawling he suspected.

Reaching over to his wallet Elliot discovered that nothing was missing, in fact more was here then there should have been, two twenty dollar bills had been neatly folded into the leather, one was blood stained.

Ok so they didn't want to rob me, or hurt me. Why would someone just help me themselves and not call 911? It was an oddity for sure. Something didn't fit here. But strangely enough he didn't feel as afraid or paranoid as he felt that he should have been or even normally was. Removing the three poultices from his chest Elliot eased into a sitting position to push off the black comforter to free his legs. Elliot's checks burned red with a flush, he was in underwear... and not his for that matter. These were a nice pair of black bad puppy brand name boxers that felt about two sizes too big. Someone had seen him naked... that was so embarrassing already. Elliot felt his heart galloping away now. This was very, very bad, or luckily good. What if someone was going to hold him prisoner here and never let him go? For some reason that he just couldn't fathom he just didn't feel that he was in a life threatening situation, he felt more safe right now then in his own home, Oddities indeed. Maybe he was drugged? The feeling of safety fled.

Elliot screamed mentally at himself not to think that way.

No Drugs, no drugs, no drugs.

He had to close his eyes and calm himself, just like his therapist had shown him. This had been the first time he'd had to do it in almost a month, which for him was great progress. He drew a deep, deep breath. Then slowly withdrew it. Again he repeated this through his nose, out his mouth. About the third time he caught something, a scent leaching out from deep in the room. It was a familiar scent. A deep lingering smell of trees... he took another breath... musk, and scented soap... it was right at the tip of his brain he knew he'd smelt this scent before, it was a rich and sweet musky smell. Elliot stood up from the bed and wobbled a moment before it hit him like a train. The wolf from the club; his scent was everywhere, from the bed to the walls, even deeply embedded into the very cloth of the blankets on the bed, it was almost arousing to be this deeply submerged in his scent. This must be his house and his bed room... but how? Had he been stalking Elliot when he got up and left? How did he avoid the gang bangers? Had he just waited until they were done beating him? Then come along and save his life...?

Oh my god. He'd thought his drink was drugged. What if that was why he didn't feel afraid, because he was all drugged? But that still didn't seem to mush together. After all he tested all his faculties and everything seemed to be working right, no foggy recollections other than that beating, no numbness, which he wasn't sure he would have minded watering down the soreness of his head and body.

Just Then Elliot remembered the screams and other sounds from that moment of struggle.

He was shaking now. Elliot didn't know what to think or do at this point, Either this guy Kyle was his savor and he wanted nothing more than to help him out of the goodness of his heart, Which Elliot had a hard time believing, but everything so far seemed to point to just that very thing. Even though not calling an ambulance for something as very serious as what had happened, and Elliot had no doubts that it had been nothing, less than life threatening, or this guy had other ulterior motives. Elliot had to be ready for that possibility. He would have to be ready for try and get out... run and hid ... He stared at the wall unmoving, lost in deep memories... he would have to survive... Like before.

A soft sound of a door far away opened and closed. Elliot's ears perked and he tried to listen. The murmur of voices lost far into the other rooms of the house. Elliot slowly moved to the door, and pressed his ear to the door. The murmuring quality of the voices wasn't much better but he could make out most of the exchange.

"...yes, he's fine, though I haven't checked him sense noon." came an unfamiliar female voice.

"Thanks again for helping him; I thought once or twice that he wasn't coming back; and speaking of back yes I am back early, I talked the boss man into letting me off super early, I told him that I was having family problems at home."

"Well that's not that farfetched anyway. You spent the last three days at his side," the woman's voice trailed off. How long have you and he been friends again? Because I thought I knew all of your friends."

A pause,

Elliot listened through what he knew was an uncomfortable silence.

Hey I got groceries by the way, the sound of heavy paper bags crinkled they were put down on a hard surface. "Hey you want to take a look and see if I got everything? I didn't have a list so I just had to guess."

"You don't even know him do you?"

"I never said that."

"But you're evading my question."

"No, I just haven't answered it yet. I met him last night... after my shift. He seemed scared and freaked out, and he was an interesting puzzle that I just wanted to put together.... But I didn't get to because he ran out the door before I could get more out of him then his name... that's when I saw his wallet sitting on his seat. So I took it and went after him. I was just going to us his address to take it to his home... but... well you know what happened after that... I lost control."

What the hell did he mean he lost control?

"I'm going to go check on him, thanks again for helping him. I owe you so much." The footsteps came closer, and Elliot's brain raced as he thought of what to do. He raced to the bed, ignoring the aches and pains, moved the blankets back in place, put the poultices back on himself, and closed his eyes just as a door desperate for oil squeaked open.

Listening intensely Elliot heard the sound of a heavy sign; it seemed to be lased with worry and regret. And despite his fear, it warmed him. It made him feel as if he was held in high regard to someone, like he was loved... There really was something about this wolf that made Elliot want to trust,, to let him in, to put down his chains of discouragement and pursue this handsome guy. The steps moved closer until they were so close that Elliot could feel his rich wild scent clogging his nose. He almost lost his breath, but managed to keep his breathing normal. Then Elliot realized that his paw was just under his nose.

What is he doing!?

Elliot panicked but then understood, the wolf was checking to make sure he was still breathing, it seemed like an odd thing to do, but so was mostly everything else that was happening. The light movement swirling the air told Elliot that the paw was gone. After a moment Elliot felt the bandage holding the poultice against his head removed, an instant later the poultice was also removed.

"You poor thing, people are such monsters" came the think husky voice close to his ear, it was a sad murmur of truth that Elliot knew all too well. A big hot sticky tongue started licking the wound on Elliot's head, at first it hurt, and then the pain was washed away as he marveled in the love and care that he was receiving. Why does this guy feel so much for me? He doesn't even know me. Then the licking was over. He was sitting now next to the bed in the leather bound chair; it creaked and crocked from his weight. A big warm muscular hand wrapped around his right hand. His pads were so smooth and soft and warm and commanding all at the same time, almost dreamy like. Fear again washed over Elliot. His hand started to shake.

And at once the hand holding his was gone. Knowing that his cover was blown, Elliot opened his eyes. The big gray furred wolf's eyes widened with surprise.

"So you are awake. I thought that you might be. You must be wondering what's going on, huh?"