The Fate Of The Marked

Chapter Twelve

Those words didn't shock me as much as they should have. I had known, thanks to the woman and Luka, that the Hunters wanted to kill me, but that didn't stop me from nearly falling over. The Hunter slipped the smaller knife back into the folds of his long coat and pulled out an ever longer blade. It was curved halfway down and glimmered black. Something silver was carved into the hilt, but I didn't want to get close enough to read what it said. Focusing on it made me feel dizzy. I took a large step back, but there was no way out of this without passing the two Hunters. I had a feeling the gray wall was solid. I had trapped myself. Instantly, I mentally slapped myself. Why hadnt I just turned back? The only way out was up and over, but I knew I wouldn't be fast enough. Calling for help wasn't an option. My hand touched the middle of the dumpster. The Hunter's nostrils flared. I gripped the thick handle behind me, ready to pull myself up.

Time seemed to slow down, allowing me to take in every detail. The hunter moved forward, cruel glint still in his eyes. Panicked, I looked around and saw a piece of broken gutter dangling down close to my face. I grabbed it and snapped it, wielding it like a sword. It wouldn't last long against the Hunter's blade, it was too short and thick for me to have a good grip. Desperately, I turned and yanked myself up so I was standing on the dumpster. I felt air slip by my back, and a second later, the sound of metal flying through the air. The Hunter laughed. I baked away as much as I could, willing for someone to look and see me.

There was no way to get up the wall without turning away from the Hunter. Even so, I would only be trapped on a roof. The only way out was to get through he and the other Hunter. He stared at me and shook his head slowly, pacing a little. I thought of Luka, and how he had said they weren't supposed to hunt kids.

"Do not make this a game." He purred. " I do not like having to catch my prey."

I swallowed. The Hunter seemed to hear, and smiled again. I tightened my grip and readied myself. I knew the blow was coming before I saw it. His sword scraped across my shins, breaking skin. I heard a sickening crack and realized that it had hit bone. The pain came seconds later. I bent over a little, clamping my teeth down on my lips so I wouldn't scream, but refused to fall. My legs trembled and the world spun. Healing it would only make me weaker and I needed me strength to get away. I straightened.

"Tisk, tisk." The Hunter said tauntingly. "You should never leave your legs exposed."

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a silver object that looked like a jagged star. A Throwing Star. He hurled it at me, but I ducked. It implanted itself into the wall, inches from where my head had been.

"Or your throat."

I moved to the side but he followed my movements. Blood dripped down, soaking through the bottom of my jeans and staining my shoes. It pooled by my feet. The sight made me feel sick. Adrenaline had pushed the pain away for now. The other had turned from his post and was looking at me. His eyes were completely white, and the sight startled me so badly, I nearly lost my balance. The first Hunter turned a little and I took advantage. I lunged and yanked the star out of the wall and threw it as hard as I could at him. It hit his straight in the back of his neck and logged itself there. Slowly, he turned back around and glared at me.

He jumped onto the dumpster as I scurried back. The Hunter landed a few feet from me and raised his blade, without pulling the star out of his neck. He wasn't bleeding and didn't seem affected.

"You shouldn't have done that, boy." He growled. "You'll only get a harsher punishment later."

He came at me first, slicing for my chest. I pulled away, as if I had done it before, and swung the pipe for his head. It connected with a solid crack and the Hunter's head hit the brick wall. I jumped down while he was dazed, snatching the sword from his hand as fast as I could and bolted for the only exit. I stuck the hilt on my stomach and let the blade penetrate the gray mist. It burst like a bubble. The Hunter with the white eyes tried to grab me, but I swung the blade at him and he backed away. As soon as I was in the street, I dropped the sword, only pausing for a second.