Hunter Prey

fifteen

my heart nearly stops.

"Excuse..excuse me?" I murmur, bewildered. She sighs softly, letting her needle and yarn fall to her lap. "Come close, child." She pats her lap.

I stare, and don't move. "I'm fine where I am." I assure. She doesn't fuss, shifting a bit in the chair.

"It is hunting season, did you know?" She states, and I gaze at her, befuddled. What does that have to do with-? Is she implying I'm being hunted?

She goes on. "If the beast wanted you or your relative dead, you would be." Her tone is low, almost monotone.

"He is a peaceful beast. Unless provoked. Unless it's hunting season," she pauses, leaning forward. "And you arrived just on time."

My eyebrows furrow. I turn to Warren. He's not looking my way. He looks almost unaffected by his mother's words, if anything, more concerned about protecting the hidden nook, thus discombobulating my perception of whether or not he's a good or bad guy here.

I glance back at Aurora. "What're you-?" I stop myself short. "Why?" I ultimately decide on murmuring.

She smiles. "Why? My dear, life is full of many things. It throws things left and right, even center. We're all here to survive, and in order to survive, you must protect yourself and your loved ones," she softens just a bit. Just.

"I don't wish malice on you, or your sister, dear." She croons softly. "You two are precious. Fresh lives undeserving of being feasted on." She leisurely begins to knit again.

Now she's just confusing me. Is she going to sacrifice me and my sister or not?

Vines leisurely emit from the cracks in the walls, out of the concrete. Aurora doesn't notice it at first, but I do. And so does Warren.

"He's here." He whistled.

The light bulb flickers off.

It's silent. So silent. The only thing audible the breathing of all four of us in the room. And then a fifth.

I swallow thickly, meeting those very same eyes that haunt me.

It all happens so quickly. And quietly.

One moment I'm squeezing my eyes shut in an abyss darker than the absence of light itself, the next I'm laid on a mossy patch of grass, the moon gazing down at me, the light caressing my skin through the leaves of the trees, the soft tendrils holding my skin captive as I gaze up in a daze.

The beast sits only a foot away from me, shrouded in shadows that conceal most of his form, watching me.

"Are you going to hurt me?" I whisper, the events of the day weighing heavily on my body.

He tilts his head faintly.

He doesn't respond for a long moment. I don't expect him to.

He then shakes his head slowly.

I purse my lips. Then what else could he want from me?

"You only wanted me? Not my sister?" He lets out a huff, the fog of warm air hitting my skin before he nods.

I'm half relieved half confused.

I sit up slowly. "You spoke to me." I murmur, suddenly recalling what happened not too long ago. I look up at him, his head tilted to the side.

"Hunting season?" I repeat his words. A glimmer of his pearly whites, sharp canines poke out when he grins faintly.

Oh boy.