The hunters

Intro

There comes a time when everything you thought you knew is proven wrong. When all your believes are tested and shown to be false. When everything you love is taken away from you in a moments notice. There comes a time when you become me, Madison Parcs.

Chapter one

I looked at the gray sky, overshadowing my world. It was filled with smoke, hatred and leftovers of a gruesome war. My mother once told me of a time when Canada wasn't such a desolate place to live in. When people weren't treated horribly and there was actually some form of justice left. She told me that the rich hadn't completely taken over; she said the murdering of a child wasn't as common then as it was today. She told stories of a place that seemed like paradise compared to this nightmare of a place I'm living in. 

The place I live in is so far off the grid of Human morality, it shouldn't even be registered. The slaughtering of children, the brutality aimed at the poor and the unattainable pedestal that rich people are placed on, is all just part of everyday life. Worst of all the hunters, hunting down future generations. They're designed to keep the rich wealthy and the poor, worst of than they started at. They were designed to make your life hell before you even had a chance at living it. Sometimes when you can think of the possibility of escaping the world of extreme poverty that I live in, that most of us live in, you realize they'll hunt you down till the last drop of blood is drained from your veins. 

Even if you manage to be one of the few lucky ones on your thirteenth birthday, you face adversity from not only the world, but also pieces of yourself that refuse to move on.

I rolled out of bed hearing my mother screaming "Madison, it's time." I tried hard not to crush my four year old little brother Pete, who was currently sleeping in a sack turned into a sleeping bag. My head was still fuzzy even though I'd been gazing at the sky for ten minutes, before my mom called. "Madison, I keep telling you the hunters are here. You have to leave with them. Now!" I got out of the house my parents had built out of branches; we were currently missing a roof. 

I saw the two hunters waiting for me. Like some hunters they had a tragedy or comedy face mask melted onto their faces. The comedy mask, had a repulsively high cheeked smile, but the eyes of the hunter gave out how he truly felt, empty. No soul, no heart, just a black hole ready to suck the life out of anybody. Meanwhile the tragedy faced, showed a very deep frown, but again the shine in the hunter's eyes let you know he enjoys his work. The tragedy faced man said something, which came out as a muffle due to the fact that there were no mouth holes. I wonder how they eat? The comedy one gave a sound that seemed to sound like a grim laugh, and then he viciously thwacked me on the head and shoved me making me lose my balance. 

They took me around the streets, picking up more kids as we went. By the time they were done, there were twelve of us kids. They took us to an arena. It was an ornately decorated place. The chairs seemed to be made of the softest fabric I'd ever had the luxury of sitting on my whole life, wood. The walls of the arena were gold and at the front of the arena were five people placed on a pedestal, much higher than I could ever hope to get to their chairs were made of some cushiony fabric. I felt a twinge of jealousy. 

The group of five people was made up of two women and three men. There a red, curly haired woman with milky white skin, almost like it'd never spent a day in the sun. She was dressed in a stunning blue dress, fitted at the waist that flowed to the floor. The other woman had dark brown medium length hair placed in intricate braids all over her head. She had light brown chocolaty skin and was wearing a beautiful white dress that was fitted to the top of her body. But also flowed to the ground. One of the men had long straight blond hair flowing down his back. He was dressed in a black suit; from what I could see, he had very angular facial features. Another one of the men had dark skin, he was bald but he wore a white tux and had an aura that made him glow. The last man had a rounder face, tan skin and black sleeked back hair. His eyes were dark and he was wearing a blue suit the complemented him very well.  

The five different people gazed at the twelve kids seated in front of them. The blond man called out a name. "Ashley Astrame." A tiny girl went up; she had raven black hair and piercing blue eyes. The blond man kept speaking "Ashley, do you have a talent you'd like to display?" He said this in a way that made you think he doesn't like his time wasted. Ashley began to sing a song I'd never heard of; however the song was sung so beautifully that I ignored the obscurity of it. 

The five also looked quite amazed with her presentation. The black haired woman spoke up. "That was simply gorgeous, quite amazing really." The five adults started deliberating with each other. Some of their comments were heard. "Her voice is beautiful." "Yes it is but just look at her; do you really think she could sell? I would never buy anything made by her." "May is correct, the girl looks average at best, and did you see the way she walked towards us she looked like she had two left feet, absolutely horrifying. I would not pay to watch that atrocity on stage." The black haired man shuddered as if to prove his point. May the red haired woman continued on further. "With that type of clumsiness she wouldn't even make decent hunter, let alone a singer. Her talent is simply a waste" 

The blond man then spoke. "She could possibly be a background singer, not in the spotlight, but her voice would still make an impact." The bald man agreed. "Yes, that seems quite fitting for a girl like her." 

The group of five turned to Ashley. The bald man spoke. "Ashley, do you accept your destiny as a background singer, and promise to train for the next five years of your life." Ashley, who was in tears, nodded her head. I had a feeling she was hoping for more than just being in the background. 

Ashley was escorted out of the arena by a hunter. For the next five years of her life she would always be in constant peril. The hunters were now out to get her. 

Many others went up some meeting the same fate as Ashley, some going back to the bottomless pits dug for them since birth. Others meeting the gruesome destiny of becoming a hunter. I tried to see how they felt like, perhaps its how my sister Maisie felt when she had been forced to join the hunters. My family never saw Maisie again, but we heard stories about her. Stories filled with the murdering of children who weren't even seven years old yet just for the fun of it. 

I snapped out of my thoughts when I realized it was my turn. I took a deep breath and tried to walk to the podium with as much confidence as I could muster. It felt ridiculously silly in my rag like clothes. The woman named May began to speak "Madison, what talent do you have to display." I looked at her blankly, narrowing my eyes so she could feel my disdain of her. 

Her head scrunched up in confusion trying to read the look on my face. "Well." She said clearing her throat. 

I uttered some words. "I. Don't. Know." The five judges stared at me annoyingly. 

They soon began to deliberate. The blond man who was named Julio started. "Such a waste of a pretty face, she could have been so spectacular." The judges spoke in more hushed whispers, my heart continued to pound within my chest. Then Jason the bald man finally said "even if she's not a good model it won't matter, because if she's as stupid as we think she's as stupid as we think she is, then she won't survive to see tomorrow at the arms of the hunters." I glared at him sharply. 

"I beg to differ sir. I believe if I'm stupid then you must be an absolute moron. How dare you sit there and pass judgement on the rest of us. Have you ever had to work a day in your useless life? Wait don't answer that question because you probably haven't. And I don't even expect you to understand what I'm saying right now, because you lack the IQ points to." By the time I was done fuming Jason was ready to strangle me.  

Julio spoke, "Young lad y enough with your outbursts, one more word from you and I'll make sure the hunters take care of you