Hunt

Chapter 25: Walking the Line

"Wait. Are you absolutely positive that is what they said?" Paul asks, having just listened to my account of what happened.

"Yes. Word for word," I reply, "This splinter off of the Silverlock pack looks like they can cause a lot of damage. I don't know how many share that sentiment."

"Shit..." Paul grumbles as he beginning to pace the room. "Well it's a good thing you caught this early. It at least gives us time to get the word out to the others. I can't imagine what would've happened if you didn't catch them tonight."

I turn towards the door, the mud still on my clothes was beginning to harden. "It's great timing really. All of this happening right before the full moon is just perfect," I say sarcastically. Glancing through a window I can still see that it's raining quite hard outside. Shame I didn't have my car with me. "I think I I'm gonna go get some rest. Got school in the morning."

Paul waves me off as I open the front door. He was still pacing, looking deep in thought. "Get home safe Kyle, I'll let the others know what's going on. Be sure to watch your back out there, who knows who's watching these days."

By the time I return home the mud had been mostly washed from my clothes. The pouring rain showering me off quite well. Walking home I make sure to keep my head on a swivel. More so than usual. Not being able to rely on my ears was adding to the stress and pressure of walking home alone at night. I'd have to risk being more conspicuous and looking over my shoulder more than I'd like to.

There weren't any lights on in the house by the time I get back, luckily it seemed everyone had gone to bed relatively early. Popping my screen out I slide the window open, quietly hopping into my room with a wet squish from my shoes. I quickly and quietly begin changing out of my wet clothes, as the light flips on.

"Hello Kyle." Julie's voice rings out like a bull horn through the quiet room, "Having a good night?"

I spin around in shock, my rain soaked shirt halfway off. My hand drops to my holster out of pure panicked instinct. I nearly draw it but force my hand to stop as I recognize the threat as my sister sitting cross legged on my bed. "J-Julie?!" I nearly shout, catching myself at the last second, dropping my voice to a shouted whisper. "What the hell! What are you doing in here?!"

Her eyes quickly dart from me, down to the gun on my belt, and back up again. The realization visibly hitting her like a ton of bricks. Her eyes widen like she does before she gets loud. I quickly close the distance, clamping a hand firmly behind over her mouth.

"Not. A. Word." I whisper to her, "Okay?"

I wait until she's nodding her head before I slowly release my hand from her mouth. Without skipping a beat she begins asking question after question. Machine gunning them so fast that I can only make out two from the long list she asks, "Kyle what the hell is that?! Is that a gun?!"

I drop my head in defeat, "Yes. It is."

"What in the world would you need a gun for?!" She shout whispers, "What have you been getting yourself into?! This is way worse than before!"

Standing, I back up to my dresser, quickly grabbing a dry shirt. "It's just for protection Julie. For when I go on my runs."

"Oh yeah?" She crosses her arms, standing from my bed, "Your late night in the pouring rain runs? C'mon Kyle! Even I can smell bullshit when it's sitting right in front of me!"

"I am telling you the truth!" I protest, "I was just on a run tonight, honest!"

"Do mom and dad know about this? About you going out for these so called 'runs?'" She questions. I could tell she wasn't believing anything I had been saying.