EXISTENCE

CHAPTER 8: The Game

Hawa kept running. She didn't look back.

It was raining; it was as though the night sky acknowledged what she felt and pitied her. How could this happen? Were the murders her doing? Was it her darkness that had reached out to these so-called "followers?" All she knew was one thing.

She couldn't let the family that had shown her so much kindness get caught up in this.

She turned at an alleyway and sat against the wall, catching her breath.

"Well, well. Look who finally decided to show herself."

Hawa's eyes widened. She took one look up and saw a figure with slicked back blonde hair, tied up in a small ponytail. He wore a jacket and jeans, whose color couldn't be determined in the darkness of the alleyway. The man carried himself in a seemingly aloof manner, hands in his pockets, shoulders slumped. He spoke with a British accent.

Hawa focused her attention. "You...who are you?"

"Of course you wouldn't know me. Why would you, seeing as this is our first meeting and all?" He stepped out of the dark and into the dimly lit area. "I'm going to assume the good officers did you a favor and wiped your memory."

Hawa just stared at the man. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The man smiled. "Oh? Have you really forgotten? Did you really forget about the man who tried to kill you?"

Hawa remained silent.

The man laughed. "My, my. It's hard to get over how soft you've gotten, Eve. Or is it Hawa, now?"

Hawa stood up, her hand slowly enveloping in darkness. "What is it you want with me?"

The man feigned pity. "Want with you? I simply want my old friend back."

She glared. "I think we both know just how eager you are at having friends."

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The boys were running as fast as they could. The rain was pouring down heavily on them.

Adam struggled to keep his hoodie on. "Of all the days it has to rain!"

Juan looked back at him. "I know you can't stand to get wet man, but you gotta at least try!"

Adam glared. "Easy for you to say. You're an ice man, you're probably enjoying this!"

Gabriel looked back and glared. "Shut up, both of you! We can't lose focus!" He shifted his attention to the path ahead. "She definitely wasn't acting normal. I think Adam was right about her."

Juan glanced at Adam, who was silent. The sharp, focused look in his eyes was back; the kind of focus a hunter has when he's out for his prey. He opted not to say anything to him, and decided he ought to focus on their main priority; catching Hawa.

Adam's thoughts were a mess. He thought of Rym and how intent she was on proving that Hawa was her friend; his mother and how happy she was to have another person she could call family; his friends who doubted whether she was truly evil or simply another person of consequence.

What am I supposed to do?

He thought of his father; he always knew what to do. With his father, there wasn't any doubt; do what needed to be done, when it needed to be done.

That's right. I can't doubt myself. I need to be as I always have, don't I? As long as my heart's in the right place.

He stopped running. He felt something – a surge of energy he'd never felt before.