Bound

Chapter 2

It was almost night time and I had walked for what felt like an eternity, I found a nice set up for the night, I sat back and looked up at the night sky. I always loved looking at the stars, I always loved looking at the stars, I always had an interest in astronomy ever since I was little, I was infatuated by all the planets and how there could be so many wondrous things out there that we don't know about, "I wonder if there is someone living in Mars right now" I thought to myself. That's when I felt it, I felt a tingly sensation run down my spine. I whipped my head around but all that greeted me was darkness, I pulled out my dagger and stood, waiting, for what exactly I don't know but what I do know is that something with eyes was watching me. I knew that whatever was watching me wouldn't be take down with a dagger but I couldn't turn to my other weapon it was to dangerous, so I stood there but nothing came out of the darkness to face it head on, so I sat back down, weapon in hand, "I am sure as hell not sleeping tonight", I said out loud to no one.

Sure enough I did not sleep a wink, I didn't have a mirror but I could already tell I had bags under my eyes. Whatever was watching me last night did not make an appearance but I could still feel its prescience, my dagger was still gripped tightly in my hand, I knew I didn't need the dagger but it gave me some feeling of comfort. This was gonna be a long day.

I could hear the sound of cars and I knew I was near a motorway, I was gonna have to turn around and find a different route, I can't be seen in public, I'm sure St Mary's has already sent out a search warrant for me, my face is probably plastered on every window. I have to find a way to get to the Docarres Forest which is one the other side of town without getting caught. It was never hard to spot me in crowds, I have bright, curly, ginger hair which goes as far as my waist and I have freckles splattered all on my face. I have a curtain of black lashes covering the lightest shade of blue. My mom always complimented my eyes by saying they are like a river of thoughts, she had to explain what that meant as I was clueless, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her, I hope to see her soon.

I turned around and went back the way I came, I had to find another way to the Docarres Forest, I looked at my map which was now crinkled from being squished in my backpack. There was another way to get there, but it would mean a longer journey and I would have to find a boat which was not gonna happen any time soon. I had no idea where you would even get a boat, oh and another problem is that I don't even know how to sail a boat.
"Hey", I sung around ready to fight whoever greeted me when I saw a boy, around my age who was rather lanky, with short hair as black as charcoal and with the biggest brown eyes I had ever seen, he was rather attractive but right now that was the least of my worries, there was a person here, right in front of me who probably knew who I was and was gonna take me back to the facility, over my dead body. "Who are you?", I said, trying and failing to keep the quiver out of my voice. "I am Ren, and you are?", he said, he looked at me with such curiousness on his face, like I was some new species of some sort and he was trying to figure out what I was. "My name doesn't concern you", I said hoping he would take the hint and leave me alone, but this just interested him more. "Why are you in the woods alone?", "First of all that's none of your business, second of all I could ask you the same thing and third of all who said I'm alone?" I know I was probably coming across as rude, but I had more important things to do than stand here and talk to this insanely good looking boy. "I'm actually hunting, my father sells the animals that I kill and he gives me some of the profit, it's not the prettiest job and it sure is tiring since I have to drag all the animals I catch back to my jeep to drive to the other side of town". "Wait you're driving to the other side of town?" I asked, trying not to sound desperate and failing terribly. "Ya, you need a lift?" Normally in a situation like this any normal person would probably run as fast as they can because, you know, stranger danger, but I am definitely not a normal person and I was desperate, like, really desperate. "Yes please". And just like that I went walking with a complete stranger, who, little did he know, had the lives of kids on his shoulders.

After what felt like hours, Ren finally caught some rabbits and a boar and we were now walking to his jeep. I couldn't help but think, what if I'm walking with a murderer right now, but, somehow I knew that wasn't the case. There was something special about Ren that I could not quite place. He was definitely strange, he would not stop talking. I don't think I've met someone who talked as much as him, I would say he talks more than Taylor and I didn't think that was possible, but who am I to judge? I'm strange to but I'm a different way. It was definitely nice to have company and to not be alone with my thoughts, so, I guess having Ren around is not so bad.

"So, you gonna tell me your name?" Ren asked after being quiet for a total of two seconds, the look I gave him must have told him more than words could, that I was not in the mood to talk, but I haven't been in the mood to talk this whole journey and that didn't stop Ren from talking. "You know you're awfully quiet", Ren said while picking a leaf off of his jacket. "And you're awfully annoying", I said pinning him with a look, he only laughed. "I get that quite a lot". "How long have you been hunting for your father?" I asked, I was genuinely curious. This town definitely wasn't poor so usually only the man or woman of the household would work, while their kids go to prestigious schools and wear over priced clothes they only wear once. Most people in this town are snobby rich people who wave their cheques in your face but not everyone is like that. So I was definitely surprised to see a fifteen year old hunting for living. "For two years now. My dad lost his job when my mom died, I was only thirteen. My dad fell off the rails a bit so in order to survive I got taught how to hunt by my neighbour and so I went out and caught whatever I could: rabbits, deer, even boar if it was a good day and I sold them for money. I soon realised I was good at what I was doing, so ever since then I've been hunting. My dad helps out now by selling whatever I catch". I felt bad for Ren, it must have been hard to provide for your family at such a young age. "So, you have any brothers or sisters girl without a name", Ren said with a smirk, he had dimples, girl get yourself together. "No I'm an only child, it was just me and my mom growing up, my dad wasn't in my life", "oh I'm sorry", "I'm not, I had the best life growing up, my mom always made sure I had everything I wanted. When times got tough she made sure I got the help I needed". It was quiet for sometime, the first time in a while. I couldn't handle the awkward silence so I was about to open my mouth to break the silence but Ren bet me to it. "This is my jeep".