Hunted

Chapter 8

The next morning, I wake up at eight like usual and get dressed in my typical clothes. My black Hunting gear, to inform everyone that I'm an actual Hunter. The gear doesn't mean anything to me anymore. It used to earn me respect, but now it holds bittersweet memories.

A rap on my door interrupts my thought process. I open it and find an angry Tracy and Isaac. In-between them is Daniel. My eyes turn bright blue and I almost slam the door on his face. My fangs click in without my direction and he takes a step back, panic spreading though him.

"Well? Let me hear it." I say impatiently.

"That girl is just a friend. Mason introduced us, and I was forced to sit through dinner with her." I search his mind, but I'm blocked out.

"Why the barriers then?"

"What barriers?"

"The ones around your mind."

"I don't want you going around my head! Is that a crime?" He rolls his eyes and my eyes narrow in suspicion.

"Fine, but you're going to have to prove that you aren't cheating filth." I stroll out of the room and down the hall, letting the door slam behind me.

"Attention all students, please report to the theater." Ms. Keefe's voice fills the intercom. I easily find her in her office, guilt and indecision playing with her emotions. What is she doing?

I groan and lean against the wall. "Do I have to go?" It's going to be about me. I know it.

"Yes, but we can sit by the exit." Tracy grabs my arm and drags me out the building and into the glaring sun. She checks to make sure I'm ok, before pulling me in the river of people walking to the theater.

I sit at the way top of all the seats, Tracy and Isaac on either side of me, Daniel below us. "Thank you for arriving so quickly." Ms. Keefe searches the crowd, probably for me.

"I have some information to give to you." She pauses. "A Hunter was bit while taking down a gang of rogue Vampires. Ninety seven percent of his venom was inserted into our Hunter." Whispering breaks out.

"Since you all deserve to know who this Vampire is, her name is..." Ms. Keefe's eyes meet mine, guilt radiating from her baby blue irises. Panic surges through me and I grip Isaacs arm. "Elizabeth Embers."

Everyone looks around and their eyes find mine, surprise and anger surging through the crowd. Yelling and shouting erupts and I cower underneath everyone's hateful gaze, some reaching for their stakes. All of the emotions are just too much for me to handle. I rise to my feet and jump over the seat. I open the door and run out, tears trailing down my face.

I sprint to an alley close to my next class, a place where no one will find me.

Why would she do that to me? I thought she wanted to help me, not humiliate me in front the entire student body. My bloody tears drip to the beige concrete, creating small pools of light crimson. Drop. Drop. Drop.

My fangs have clicked in and I rub my tongue over them, the sharp points doing no harm. Why does everyone think I'm a monster? The first bell rings and I hear everyone start running to their classes. People pass the alley I'm in, but no one pays me any attention.

The tardy bell eventually rings, and the crowd dims. I then realize that I have to face reality sooner rather than later. I rise to my feet and wipe off my bloody tears.

I walk to the main school building, where I have the art of staking for my first period. Great. When we go out to track animals in the surrounding forest, it won't be animals they'll be tracking. It'll be me.