Hide And Seek ( Alex Goot Elle Fowler Sam Tsui )

Chapter 23

Elle took out an arrow from the quiver, raising the bow into the sky, stretching the string towards herself. The light caught in her eyes, and she squinted slightly, estimating the distance. Alex was right beside her, telling her to raise the distance again.

" Do I release it now?" Elle asked, not looking at Alex while she spoke, keeping her eye on the deer in the distance.

" Not-"

Elle's fingers slipped and the arrow shot into the air. Alex let out a gasp as it veered off course, he had yet to add in wind speed to the equation, and it was not going to hit the deer.

Neither of them said anything, just watching as the arrow dipped down, landing a foot away from the deer. The animal instantly kicked up its legs, rearing itself and running away, leaping into the distance. Alex exhaled loudly, getting up from his crouched position.

" Sorry, my fingers slipped," Elle apologised, getting up too. She brushed the leaves off her back and flicked an insect off her shoulder.

They were trying to hunt some animals, to provide the black market with more food. The government stores ran out a long time ago, during the purge and before the invasion begun. The citizens still fought for food.

But now less.

It was just a hunch, but Alex and Chrissy were pretty sure that the reason why food shortage was gradually not becoming a problem was because the British were bribing the people. Giving them food in exchange for information.

Nonetheless, they still had to help and hunt. Any source of food was probably good right now.

" Never mind the deer, we'll find some other thing to bring in," Alex assured her, taking the heavy quiver of arrows from around her shoulders.

Elle sighed, kicking at a stone near her feet. The stone rolled away, to where the arrow was lodged in the dirt. Alex knelt down, his knee on the dirt as he gently dug the arrow out of the soil, cleaning the arrow head with his fingertips.

" My standard is lowering, " Elle sighed, frustration evident in her voice. She swung her bow around, trying not to make herself feel too guilty.

" With practice your bow and arrow skills will come back again," Alex insisted, flipping the used arrow in the air before deftly catching it again.

A sudden sound silenced the two of them. The crunching of the dried branches behind them. Alex breathed out shakily, handing the cleaned arrow to Elle, hand resting on the holster of his gun.

There was a loud, low growl, which shook Elle and Alex to their bones.

Alex and Elle started to move backwards, away from the noise. They only heard that sound once in their entire life, and that was when they were six.

" Oh my god," Elle whispered, her hand shaking slightly as she loaded the bow once again.

" Shoot for the heart. You can't miss it," Alex mumbled. The sounds were getting louder, and nearer. It smelled fear, it smelled them.

The trees in front of them shook violently. The bear was coming closer and closer to them. Elle raised her bow, stretching the string backwards.

Alex closed his eyes, trying to listen for the sounds of the bear. He had to estimate how big it was, otherwise Elle would definitely miss the heart. The sounds of its huge paws was loud, and there was four footsteps. It was on all fours. They had to get it standing up for an easier shot.

But that was not of their decision, nor could they control it.

" Elle, it's on its four legs. Aim at the body, to the side of its right leg," Alex directed, placing his hand on her arm and lowering the bow, adjusting the position.