Oliver x Reader || tpn fanfiction

Chapter 9 - Yuugo

Pov ???

This child, this enigmatic and elusive figure, was unlike any I had encountered before. Their appearance had an air of mystery, leaving me both curious and perplexed.

The scarcity of deliveries had left me longing for fresh challenges. My hunting instincts craved a worthy opponent. But this child, they seemed to possess an uncanny ability to conceal themselves from sight, leaving me to wonder if they were a master of hiding.

What puzzled me even more was the bow they wielded. In this realm where children were typically armed with guns, this bow was a rare and peculiar sight. Its craftsmanship was extraordinary, and the arrows it launched were unlike any I had seen before.

As I gazed at the arrow in my claw, I marveled at its elegant design. It bore a delicate Y/I letter, etched gracefully into the wood. I couldn't help but speculate on its significance. Was it a personal mark of the archer, a symbol of rebellion, or perhaps a declaration of war?

The child's audacious actions had ignited a mixture of emotions within me. First, they daringly seized my prey, employing cunning tactics to divert my attention. Then, they took aim at me, challenging my dominance.

Dismissing my initial boredom, I decided to pursue this intriguing adversary. The thrill of the hunt surged through my veins as I watched the boy flee in desperation. He was running for his life, or so he believed.

Yet, amidst the chase, something caught my eye from the periphery. A fleeting movement in the underbrush nearby piqued my curiosity. Could it be another child, startled by my presence? If so, they chose a terrible hiding spot, for the boy would soon be captured anyway.

Carelessly, I approached the bush, parting the leaves with my claw, only to find it empty. Confusion momentarily clouded. Who is so stupid and snatches my prey away right next to me?

Who was this mysterious figure, crafting arrows with such precision and using them as a cunning distraction? I had never faced an opponent like this before, and the thought both intrigued and unsettled me.

Yet, I couldn't afford to panic. The scent of the wounded boy's blood lingered in the air, guiding me as I paced back and forth. I knew I would find them eventually.

With a mix of admiration and sarcasm, I addressed the hidden archer. My words echoed through the forest, challenging their attempt at concealment. "I must applaud your bravery for saving the little boy, but do you honestly believe you can hide forever? I'm well aware that you're perched in the tree above me. The boy's wound gave you away." A smirk played on my lips as I locked eyes with the two children above.

Then it happened, faster than my instincts could react—the arrow shot toward me with deadly precision. I barely managed to evade its path, feeling the rush of adrenaline surge through my veins.

"Run!" one of the kids shouted to the other, and they split up, making a desperate attempt to escape.

However, in that fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of the assassin's face. The look in their eyes sent shivers down my spine—unyielding determination emanating from their piercing, expressive eyes.

It dawned on me then: they had every intention of taking my life. My eye, they aimed for my weakest point, a realization that left me pondering whether it was mere coincidence or if they somehow knew my vulnerabilities. I couldn't dismiss the fact that they were unlike any foe I had faced before, and it only fueled my desire to hunt them down.

Their h/c hair flowed gracefully as they leaped off the branch, seemingly unafraid of the consequences. But it was that very fearlessness that worried me the most. This encounter held an aura of fate, and I could sense that our destinies were now intertwined.

No longer just another prey, this enigmatic archer had become a challenge worthy of my pursuit. I vowed to track them relentlessly, to make them taste the same fear they had instilled in others. Their grit and determination would be no match for my cunning, and I would revel in the moments they begged for mercy.

An exhilarating thrill surged through me, anticipating the chase ahead. The hunt was now tinged with excitement, as I eagerly awaited the confrontation that promised to be unlike any other. This was the beginning of an enthralling game—one that I intended to win at all costs.

Pov Y/N

The gentle sound of light snoring filled the small room, but sleep eluded me. Despite the darkness outside, my eyes remained slightly open, fixated on the ceiling. I shifted carefully in bed and turned my attention to the window, where the stars shone brightly, though the moon was conspicuously absent.

In the midst of my sleeplessness, questions swirled in my mind, causing a knot of complexity. Why must our lives be so tangled, so burdened by the relentless cycle of being bred for food? I wondered if there were free souls somewhere, unafraid of the constant threat of being consumed.

A pang of longing surged through me, yearning to be among those free souls. Why did my fate have to be so harsh and unyielding?

In this world, I was but a puny person, yet somehow, I had managed to find allies. Still, uncertainty gnawed at me—would our efforts be enough to effect any change?

But there was a flicker of hope within me, a determination not to succumb to the cruel destiny imposed upon us. Despite the odds, I was willing to try, to challenge the status quo and strive for a better world.

With my eyes lingering on the stars outside, I closed them, seeking solace in the memory of my mother's song. It had been years since I last heard her sing it, but in moments of quiet like these, it resurfaced, wrapping around me like a warm embrace. The song carried a sense of calm and security, a nostalgic reminder of her loving presence.

As the melody echoed in my mind, it eased the restlessness that kept me awake. I felt like a young child, cradled gently in my mother's arms, shielded from the worries and fears of the world.

Gradually, the burden of troubling thoughts lifted, allowing the tranquility of the song to guide me toward slumber. I knew the journey ahead would be long and arduous, but for now, I could find respite in the soothing embrace of my mother's memory.

Through the dense forest, the teenager's breaths came in ragged gasps as they sprinted, a torrent of emotions swirling within. They couldn't fathom why they had chosen this particular route, but now, with each step, a growing sense of regret washed over them. It wasn't physical fatigue or dwindling stamina that plagued them; it was the resurgence of painful memories they couldn't control.

The more they ran in that direction, the more vivid and chaotic the memories became. Blurred fragments coalesced into faces, their family's faces, pale and bloodied, writhing in agony on the floor. Helplessness consumed them, unable to intervene in those haunting moments.

One memory was etched sharply in their mind. They saw themselves cradling Dina, staring into nothingness, paralyzed by shock as their loved ones slipped away. The memory of leaving their brother Lucas behind haunted them too, filling them with a sense of guilt and shame.

As they found themselves back in the reality of the forest, the weight of their past overcame them. Desperate to escape the screams and cries echoing in their head, they covered their ears and squeezed their eyes shut. "No... no... John, stop... Lucas... LEAVE!" they muttered and yelled simultaneously, attempting to drown out the haunting echoes.

Seizing the gun from the ground, they turned around, overwhelmed by the futile desire to return to a past that could never change. In a quiet but resolute voice, they acknowledged the finality of their decision, realizing that there was no point in dwelling on this "stupid" journey anymore.

A peculiar feeling stirred within them, as if someone else's eyes were seeing through their own. They understood that this was the last attempt they would make for that person, for Yuugo. With this revelation, a sense of closure washed over them.

Awakening from the nightmare, I found myself in a cold sweat, the lingering emotions still raw. The name "Yuugo" hung in the air, as if a haunting presence had visited me in my sleep, leaving an indelible mark on my soul.