43 Ch 43 Detour (2/2)

I wanted to head back to Derrick, having heard enough. I scoured the workstation they had set up, finally spotting a screwdriver for the other half of a splint. It took precious time sliding it out silently.

Heading back to Derrick, I stayed at a half shift, so my black fur would keep me from being noticed. I kept my side against the wall this time instead of following the scent trail the men had left coming and going. I found three small cracks in the wall, one of which might be big enough to squeeze through, though I doubted it went anywhere.

Once I was close enough to smell Derrick, I set the bag down and continued along the wall. They had mentioned fissures we could escape through, if I could find them in the dark. The space we had been left in was a natural room. There was an alcove off on the one side. It narrowed down into a shallow crack. I was pretty sure we both could slide through it. I leaned into it as far as I dared, catching the barest scent of someone familiar.

I hurried back to the bag, bringing it closer to Derrick. I think I shifted and dressed in record time.

”Rick? That you?” Derrick hissed.

”Who else silly?” I whispered back. ”I managed to knick a few things but we have to go. I'm going to check your arm then we move, and fast! I'll fill you in in a bit.”

He didn't ask any questions. I debated whether to fix Derrick's arm now or later, finally deciding he would move faster with it splinted. I grabbed the screwdriver and the piece of slat that I broke off the pallet, and a few zip ties.

”Now Derrick, I'm going to splint your arm. If it's only fractured, no problem, but if it's broke, I might have to set the bones, and that'll hurt.”

”Set away,” Derrick said, ”because it feels like more than a fracture.”

I reached out until my hands felt him. He moved them over to his busted arm. I felt from his shoulder down, feeling the bump where the break was. Shit. At least it was only one bone in his upper arm.

”Is your other arm ok?”

”Yeah, but the shoulder hurts.”

I put my shoe in his good hand, adjusting it so the toe was pointing toward his mouth.

”It ain't pretty, and it won't taste good, but bite down. We can't afford for you to scream out. Oh, and try not to pass out. Here,” I said, helping with my shoe. ”Ready?”

He mumbled and I moved the bone. As much as I sympathized with Derrick, I hoped his muffled cry didn't bring anyone to check on us. It felt like a clean break, and I was hoping I had it set right.

Derrick had passed out with my shoe in his mouth. I took my shoe out and went to work splinting his arm. I tightened the wooden slat and wrench against his arm using the zip ties, then ripped up my undershirt to tie his arm to his torso. I used one strip for a makeshift splint to support his wrist, keeping everything snug against his body.

It took a bit to wake him. He groaned. I opened his mouth, tilted his head back a little, and dribbled in a bit of water. He coughed, and I held my hand over his mouth.

”You did good,” I whispered. ”I'm done, set and splinted. We have to move, now. Hope you're ready,” I whispered in his ear.

I led him to the alcove, carrying the bag of stuff that just might save us. I guided him into the back of the alcove, keeping my hand on his head, going from memory and smells to guide him down.

”You're going to have to roll a little. I'm going to go first to help you down. I'm not sure how far.”

I pulled out my phone and held it through the opening. There was about a four foot drop. Easy for me, harder for Derrick, but not impossible. I put my phone away, whispered directions to Derrick, and helped him down.

Now, which way to go? I had to pace around for a bit while Derrick sipped on some water. I finally made a decision, based partly on the old trail that smelled of John. It smelled stronger on the one side. I was putting together more of the story.

”Look, Derrick, I grabbed a brick of their drugs, but I don't know what they are or what they'll do. I was thinking one, we would have evidence, and two, a little bit might help your pain. I don't know, it's up to you. I have a little of the herbs I make my tea with, might help a little but probably not enough to actually make a difference. I'm going to give you the herbs for now, and after we get to where we know we're safe, you can decide if you want to try the drugs.”

He didn't argue. I opened my medicine bag, my fingers feeling the stone. I took a moment to pray to Spirit Wolf. Holding the stone, I dumped the herbs out before replacing the stone and putting the bag back around my neck.

”Hold them under your tongue for as long as you can. Stuff gets absorbed faster that way. Swallow them down after a bit.”

”What, you're not going to make me drink wussy tea?”

”Nah man, you'd never live it down! Now shush and come on. We have to move fast. I'm going to risk a bit of light. You go in front at your best speed. We'll rest later.”

I pulled out the flashlight and put what was left of my shirt in the bag. I tied my shoe laces together, draping my work boots around my neck. Derrick handed me the water bottle. I nodded. I didn't want to leave any trace behind. Luckily there wasn't any dirt, only stones, so I didn't have to worry about us leaving a trail they could follow. I came up on Derrick's relative good side so I could support his body and shone the light in front of Derrick's feet.

I stopped to peek into every opening we passed as Derrick went on. If we needed to hide quick I needed to know where would work. I also kept an eye open along the rough flooring for any pockets deep enough to lay low in, and rocks big enough to take cover behind.

I thought we were making half-way decent time, until I heard voices behind us. I turned my light off immediately, making Derrick cuss as he stumbled.

”Stop,” I told him. ”We have to go back a bit.”

”Why?”

”Because there was a fissure back there we can hide in. Hush. We have to move quickly.”

I pulled him back to the fissure, pushing him through. I only kept the light on for a second once we were inside before turning it off. They were too close. I pulled Derrick to the side.

”Up,” I whispered in his ear. I moved his good hand to the ledge I had seen. He could barely reach it with his fingertips, hissing as his reach pulled against his bad side. I tossed the bag up then boosted him up, letting him climb me like a ladder. I stripped quickly, knotting my jeans into a ball and tossing them up, along with my boots. I shifted, took a running start, and leapt up, claws scraping against the stone. I shoved Derrick in as tight as he would go against the far wall. I shifted a leg to move my clothes in, then curled around him with only my back covered in black fur exposed to the opening.

Even Derrick could hear them at that point. I heard his breath hitch. He was laying on his sore shoulder with his splinted arm on top.

We laid there, listening to them pass. It sounded like two of them. They might have seen our light, or heard of voices from a distance. I dared a ”shhh” in Derrick's ear when he squirmed a bit.

Wolf patience. I kept Derrick still. They had to give up on finding us, and I wasn't sure they would. Sure enough, a third man went by. He was taking the time to shine his light in every fissure, every nook and cranny, but he didn't shine it up as high as we were.

It made me think. I could leave Derrick here. There were enough snacks and water to tide him over for a day. I was more worried about the pain in his arm. He might make sounds if he fell asleep. I might have to guard him while he slept.

I waited until I was sure the men were gone. Unfortunately there were only two directions they could go, the unknown way out or the way back to their lair. I wondered if I could make it back and out, bring back help for Derrick, all before he gave himself away. I could at least sneak back, see what I could find.

The alternative was wandering around, hoping to find that hidden way out. I shifted so my voice wouldn't be weird and, whispering, filled Derrick in on what I had planned.

”You sure you can stay awake for a bit?” I asked him.

”Yeah, but I wanna go on record that I think you're stupid for doing this.”

I laughed quietly. ”I'll be back. Trust me.”

I shifted even as I dropped the six feet down, landing silently. Wolf leaving his den I thought with a laugh.

Not even Derrick heard me leave.