Manifestation

Prologue

"Hold it nice and steady." My father rested his large hands around my small, shaky ones. "Just pull the trigger."

I drew back my finger and the arrow clicked out of the bow and soared through the air, finally sticking into a tree.

"I did it!"

"You did it!" Dad embraced me in a big hug. He pulled away, "Now next time, aim for the creeper."

I laughed as I drew my knife and forced it into the oncoming creeper's eye.

"We better get back, dinner is probably ready." He put his hand on the small of my back and we walked back to camp.

Debbi was snuggling with her boyfriend, Jeff, by the fire. He had joined camp a few months ago and they were already hitting it off. Mom served the deer meat to everyone around the fire. I sat down next to dad just as she handed us two paper plates with the roasted animal on it.

"Eat up, you're coming on a run with us tomorrow." Dad said.

I could feel my eyes light up. "Seriously?"

"You know how to shoot a cross bow now." He nodded.

I started to scarf down the food. Across the fire, I was Jim staring at me, a small smile on his face. He had always acted so strange around me, I don't know why.

Mom and dad got up before everyone was done and went in the house. I finished eating and went into the house to drop the crossbow back off at the armory. I heard voices in the kitchen.

"Hunter, you can't leave us." I heard my mother say, it sounded like she was crying. "She needs you. She won't listen to me like she listens to you."

I crept over to the door and listened.

"Listen, Luther...... he has been threatening me. It isn't safe for me here anymore."

"What about us? What about your family?"

Dad was silent. "I will find you guys again. If you leave with me, he will come looking. I promise I'll come back."

My mother broke into sobs.

"Jessica, it's ok-"

"Just go. Do it tonight. I'm not waiting."

I heard her start to stomp out of the kitchen and I hid behind a wall in the living room. A chair scraped the ground and I heard dad plop down in it.

He was leaving. I would be alone. He was leaving.