Prey [Ambassador's Pick ONC23]

08. Survival

My knees buckle, slamming to the floor as my hand flies to my mouth.

I knew Jeremy was dead, but seeing it first hand is a shock I could never have prepared for. Sobs rack my body as I kneel on the ground next to my fallen friend. His eyes watch me, lifeless and sad, and I have to resist the urge to lean over and try to close them.

None of this feels real. How can I be in a room with the dead bodies of two people I cared about? How can the floor be covered in blood and brain when mere hours ago we were concerned about dust? How can people be so evil that they would kill us? That they would hunt us down like animals?

I feel the bile rise again before I can choke it back down. Vomit splatters the floor, mixing with the other disgusting bodily fluids that cover the parquet. My legs shake as I try to stand up, weak from the events of today and the fact that I haven't eaten since morning.

I only make it three steps when someone grabs me from behind, one hand blocking the scream that wants to burst from my throat, the other wrapping around my waist.

"It's me, love," a familiar voice whispers. The grip around my heart loosens as I turn around and look into Seth's aqua eyes. One is slightly bloodshot, with mottled grey underneath it – the beginnings of a black eye. His once blonde hair is now an auburn, and the nasty cut on his temple still looks as though it needs stitches.

But he's here. He's alive and in front of me.

The relief I feel is so enormous I can taste it. The tightness in my chest eases, allowing me to breathe properly for what feels like the first time in hours.

"Seth," I choke back a sob, the rollercoaster of emotions that swirl through my belly make it hard to speak. "You're okay."

"And so are you. When I saw Julian and Jeremy..." He trails off, unable to finish his sentence. "We need to get out of here, Sadie."

"How?"

He glances around furtively, his ears straining for any noises. When silence is the only thing that greets him, he drags me towards the kitchen and straight into the storeroom where the now clean table mocks us for our naivety.

We should have left the first time we saw it in all its blood stained glory.

"I think we should stick to the road that we drove in on. It's the safest route and we know it eventually leads to the gates. We should go now, before they come back." Seth squeezes my hand tightly, his eyes searching my face while he speaks as though checking for any injuries.

"What about the wild animals out there?" I argue. "What about Celia? We can't just leave her."

"Those animals are nothing compared to these men, Sadie. I heard them speaking when they brought Jeremy's body in. They're hunting us down. They're enjoying this."

"I know." I lean my forehead against his chest, relishing the sound of his beating heart beneath my ear. "How did you manage to get away?"

"A gun shot woke me up," he explains. "Took me a minute to understand what was happening, but as soon as I saw Julian and heard another shot, I hid behind the bar. I literally just made it when they came in with Jeremy."

My heart clenches at the thought of Seth crouching behind the bar, mere meters away from the men that were looking for him. If they had found him, he'd also be dead now. "I can't lose you," I whisper.

"You're not going to, love. I'm going to get us out of this. But, we need to go now."

"But Celia-"

"I'm sorry to say this, Sadie. But right now, my main concern is you. I know she's your friend-"

"My best friend," I interrupt.

"But, the likelihood of us finding her in the dark is very slim," he continues as though I didn't speak. "And I'm not willing to risk your life on the miniscule chance of us actually running into her. Right now, our only shot at survival is to get out of here before those guys come back. If we go bumbling around the bush looking for someone who may already be dead, we're basically offering ourselves up on a platter."

As logical as his argument is, the idea of leaving Celia to fend for herself makes me sick. I can't bear the thought of her out there alone, being chased down like a rabid dog while Seth and I make a run for safety. Celia's like family to me and I don't want to lose her either.

When I remain silent, Seth plays the only card he knows will trump all others. "Marcus needs you. You have to get home to him."

"That's cruel, Seth." My voice catches on his name. I blink the tears away and look him in the eye.

"If I have to be cruel to get you out of here then so be it. It's your choice Sadie. Marcus or Celia?"

He lifts an eyebrow, waiting for an answer, his hands tightening around my arms. I can see he already knows what I will say. He knows me too well to think I would ever put anyone, even him, above Marcus.

But the choice leaves a sour taste in my mouth and a heavy rock on my heart. The tears start falling as I nod my agreement and regret grasps hold of my lungs, making it hard to breathe. I hate myself for it, for how easy it is to put my brother first.

Even if I do survive this night, I'll never forgive myself.

Seth takes my hand and leads me out the storeroom, heading towards the kitchen door. He cracks it open slightly, listening for any sounds outside. Only eerie silence greets us, amplifying the loud squeal of the door as he pushes it all the way. I flinch, my hair standing on end as I wait for the gunshot I'm sure is coming.

After a few excruciating heartbeats, Seth clearly deems it safe enough to continue. He exits first, pulling me along behind him as we step outside. He bends down and grabs a loose rock, propping up the door so it doesn't make noise when it closes. We take a few tentative steps, pausing every few seconds to listen out for any hint of danger.

Clinging to the wall, we make our way round to the front of the house, where the cars stand with their deflated and sad tires. The sight sickens me to my core. The poachers never intended on letting us go, no matter how much we begged. This whole night has been a game for them, from playing that creepy song right down to hunting us. It would have been easier for them to just kill us on the spot, but they're having too much fun toying with us.

Sick bastards.

Seth squeezes my hand, jolting me back to the present. I hadn't even realized that I'd stopped moving. We inch along the front wall until we're just in front of the cars. He glances both ways before making a run for it, dragging me along with him. We reach Jeremy's car and duck behind it, hearts thumping so loudly they drown out everything else.

He presses his back tight against the metal door, still warm from the heat of the day. In the dark, I can just make out his silhouette, the soft curve of his nose, the sharp line of his jaw. His eyes close briefly as he lets out a deep breath.

"Okay love, are you ready?"

I'm just about to answer when I feel a hand grab my ankle.

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Word count ~ 1322/17684