There was a reason I lived in such a remote area all alone. I didn't want the visitors or noice. I wanted to keep my new life separated from the old. No matter what.
Once I'd given him a large enough head start, I gave chase. The dark sky lit up with lightning, giving me a clear view of my target. I dashed through the trees, quickly gaining on him. He looked behind him, checking how far behind I was. When he looked back in front of him, I sprinted out of his line of sight and up ahead to a cave I knew was there. I hid in the cave and waited him up.
He spun around confused as to how he had lost his pursuer. He wouldn't find me here, I smirked.
He sped up again, but before he could, I grabbed his shirt from my hiding place and pushed him up against the cave wall. I pulled his hood down and watched the panting man in front of me.
Surprised, but an absence of fear was clear on his face. He was used to this. To this type of life. The running and the chasing.
I didn't want those type of people on my land or anywhere near me.
"What the fuck do you think you were doing?"
He didn't answer at first. But then he spoke up. "Aren't you afraid someone might break in. Now that your place's left unguarded," he said cockily.
I shrugged, "There's nothing to find there anyways." Almost nothing. But I paid it no mind for now. They wouldn't find anything so soon. It was hidden pretty well.
The man frowned at my nonchalance. He'd — they'd — hoped to find something. "They are at the moment. Breaking in, I mean," he revealed.
Why was he telling me that. He didn't have to, but did anyways. I pursed my lips, "Let them. I'll deal with them later. Now you're gonna tell me what the hell you're doing on my land."
The guy gulped and tried to worm himself out of my grip. As the sky lit up again, I saw his face clearly for the first time. He was no doubt the guy in the car from a few days ago. "I know you. You came here a few days ago," I accused him.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he held eye contact. Trying to indicate he wasn't lying. He was though. I was certain of it.
"Cut the bullshit. You came here a few days ago along with a woman in the red suit. What are you doing here again. There's no way you got lost again."
His resolve faltered as I recognised him. Sighing he said, "We're looking for someone."
I hoped it wasn't me they were looking for, but I feared for the worst. How had they found me. I had made sure to cover my tracks with careful precision. I wasn't gonna go along with whatever they were playing at. Over my dead body.
I chuckled softly. It was ironic really, because technically I was already dead. "Who are you," I narrowed my eyes.
"Baylen."
It surprised me that he actually answered that. If they were truly looking for me, I wouldn't expect them to just give me their name. "What are you doing here, Baylen?"
"Trying to find out whether I'm talking to Bryce Devereaux."
I hadn't heard that name spoken in such a long time. It had been my name once. Not anymore though. Bryce Devereaux is very much dead.
"You're not. So if you'd please get off my land and never return that would be greatly appreciated."
Baylen tilted his head, "You see, your body language, everything really, tells me you're not him. Yet, every lead led me to this place. To you."
I shrugged, "Not my problem. Now please leave my property."
"Fine," Baylen scowled. "But let me get the rest first. They really are breaking in right now."
