The Hunt

6

Back at Hell House, Jack relaxed a little. They grabbed some liquor from the store and sat in the den on opposite sides of the couch. He didn't want to push the man, but something wasn't right, they drank the cheap alcohol quietly before finally, Jack sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"I bet this is all very confusing to you huh?" his voice was light but the sadness in his eyes was anything but.

"August is a bully and everyone else is scared shitless of the little angry man. Nothing confusing about it"

"Ah well no, you're quite far off...he's not a bad guy, sort of...this is all just stuff from the past. You don't need to know all the ins and outs of Tremaine drama aha...anyway I was thinking about our new fitness regime and I really think we'd all benefit from morning runs, 7am sharp because from what I can tell from the Training Camp brochure, there is going to be compulsory exercise" Charlie let Jack talk about whatever brought him back to the world from his pit, it so happened to be The Hunt.

They sat for a few hours chatting about everything to do with the sport, Jack wanted to hear more about Charlie's time in his school team and although he hated to talk about his teenage years- he let the man in a little bit and shared his time in the woods searching for the Golden Idol.

This peace didn't last long, the front door smashed open making Charlie jump up, his hands ready, as August barrelled into the room.

"You stole my boat!" he screamed, his face bright red and veins pulsating in his thin neck.

"You didn't help! Jack was getting attacked, you all sat there like it was nothing and he seems to be the only one who gives a shit around here!" Charlie screamed back.

August didn't give him a second more to argue, he charged straight at him and pushed him to the couch with such force the wind was knocked from his chest. He wheezed for only a second before a couch cushion was suffocating him and August was yelling something in French. The little fucker was trying to kill him, Charlie's mind screamed. He flailed his arms around for purchase and pushed hard against the other man's arms, he was strong- way too strong and didn't budge.

"August no!" Jack's voice came from somewhere far away and eventually light flooded in as Charlie sputtered for air and sat up.

Jack had lifted August up by the waist. He deposited him onto the ground with wide eyes and hands outstretched.

"I'm...oh god I'm sorry but you were gonna kill him...August" Jack's face was stricken with panic, guilt and pain as August stood stock still.

"Don't you ever touch me" he all but whispered before letting out a mournful wail. He smashed into the coffee table with his fist as shards of glass splintered and spread around the floor.

Books were thrown to the ground, chairs were knocked over. August was angry at Charlie, at Jack, but he took it out on the room with force. The entire place was trashed in seconds as if a hurricane had torn through it. Charlie felt fear flare up for the first time watching the man, this was what everyone was so afraid of- he was completely unpredictable. Charlie tore out of the path of danger and ran straight up to his attic room, his heart thundered in his chest. He felt trapped, with no more exits, he climbed onto his bed and pulled the blanket over his head like a child.

Charlie wasn't sure when he fell asleep, but he did. Sometime early morning he woke with a pounding headache and a want for something in a tiny vial. He listened at the hatch for the longest time, ear pressed against the cold wood, and when he was met with only silence he eased the ladder down slowly. His small bag was packed with his meagre belongings and he tentatively lowered himself to the empty hall. Nothing was amiss, there were no signs of August. Only when he padded downstairs did he hear any sign of life as two people were talking in hushed voices in the living room.