Hunter Prey

twelve

to say I feel uneasy is an understatement.

Don't get me wrong, the old lady and her son, are the sweetest. In fact, we learned there names: the woman, Aurora, her son, Warren.

They've both lived here for a very long time. In fact, their house has been in the family for generations. Learned that thanks to Aurora telling stories to distract me and my sister's minds, which, granted, did help, until Warren brought out a shotgun from the basement and disappeared into the kitchen.

Besides that, the home is pretty cozy. Inviting. Aurora gave me and my sister a bowl of stew, gave us a blanket. The older woman had also kindly offered her washrooms for us to clean up—and even wrapped my ankle.

It's all oddly comforting.

But I couldn't chase away that nagging feeling of unease. My lashes flutter as I'm returned back to the present, Cece's voice breaking the silence.

"What is it?"  She quietly murmurs, curled up with a blanket around her shoulders by the fire.  Aurora doesn't react at first, simply knitting.

She lets out a breath. "What is what, honey?" She gives a gingerly smile. "The thing in the woods." Cece whispers, her eyes glued to Aurora.

I shift a bit in my spot, a little antsy.

"Nothing you should concern yourself with, dear." Aurora mutters, her knitting growing in pace. "It is something I should concern myself with! That thing was, probably still is after me and my sister!" Cece lets out, furthermore releasing a shuddering breath. "Please."

Aurora lets out a soft sigh, her knitting ceased. "The beast of the forest is...nothing to take lightly, girls." She whispers.

"He blends in dauntingly well with the foliage. Disguised as something people coo at, than scream at." She pauses. "He protects his land, in a way. Well, in a sense..he is this land. He breathes through the trees, and if you listen quietly, you can feel..perhaps even hear the thrump of his pulse." She exhales softly.

"He was dormant. Inactive, for the last few decades.." she shakes her head. Cece, by now, furrows her eyebrows, probably thinking this is some sick, twisted joke.

"Are you..are you messing with us?" She scoffs, her irises glossy. Aurora's mouth dips as she frowns. "Do not be foolish, child. The beast is no light matter." She mutters.

I watch as Cece shakes her head, standing up on her two wobbly feet before going into the spare bedroom Aurora claimed we could rest in.

I sigh softly, a flux of different emotions crashing down on me all at once. One thing was the loudest, though. We should've never came here.

The minutes of the silent night drags by very leisurely. It's almost infuriating. I haven't moved an inch from my spot, in stubborn refusal. It took Cece dragging me into the guest room for me to even consider getting a wink of sleep. Frankly, I would love to get some sleep. I'm a person who loves sleep. But tonight sleep hasn't welcomed me with warm arms.

In fact, it seems like something else wants me in its arms.

I gaze at the closed window, the curtains pulled, blinds shut. It's silent in the old house. Too silent. Cece is in a deep sleep, exhausted from the prior events, slumped in the middle of the bed.

The unease keeps nagging at my skull, nearly eliciting a scream from me. It won't stop, I want it to stop. It has me on edge, and edge so painful it feels like nails against a board.

I bite my lip, fidgeting with my fingers. Everything has to be okay, right? Warren has a shotgun, he's a big guy. He seems really sweet and pretty darn protective, so we should be safe...right?

But Aurora did say the..thing, was dormant.

Before me and Cece came. I sigh softly, I knew this trip was too good to be true.

My eyes turn glossy at the thought of everyone not making it through the night, of anyone getting hurt all because me and my older sister wanted to have bonding time on a small trip.

Of the thought of me not graduating college, of the thought of never seeing my parents again. At the thought of not..

*Thwap*

My entire frame ceases all movement and my breath falters. The air tastes stale and the atmosphere is heavy. What was that?

I've watched entirely too many horror films, heard too many stories, to even think about investigating the noise. That never ends well.

A few hanging minutes go by, but before I could even consider relaxing, even a bit, a very creaky, leisurely floorboard creaks heavily under a hefty weight.

I swallow thickly. Something is right outside the door.

My fingers gently grip on the blanket around me, as if it's a shield. I glance at my injured foot helplessly, feeling every bit useless.

There's not anything in reach to defend myself, if I have to. I glance at Cece, a newfound panic making itself known in the center of my chest, my lungs constricting with the effort of remaining steady.

I gently shake her leg, a lump stuck in my throat too thick to speak. I bite my lip, my eyebrows knitting in concern when she doesn't do much but stir.

I flinch as I hear the door behind me slowly creak open.