Hunted

Chapter 1

"Now, Lexi, I know you don't want to be here but I promise you, it's for the best. Your parents left me in charge if something were to happen to them." My Grandma said, driving to her house.

I sighed as I pressed my forehead against the cool window, staring out as the scenery flew by. Barely seeing anything due to it almost being nightfall.

"But something did happen to them, Grandma!" I argued. "A man murdered them. And he's after me too-"

"That is enough of that nonsense, Lexi." Grandma scolded me. "Yes, your parents death was a tragic one. But it was no man that killed them. It was some ferocious beast. Maybe a bear?"

I shook my head, glaring out the window. "I know what I saw. Or who, I should say."

Grandma ignored me as she drove, a constant sigh escaping between her old lips. I was only staying with her because she had no one else up in that old cabin of hers. I'm sure my parents will of her keeping me if anything happened to them didn't apply anymore due to the fact that I was now twenty years old.

But it was nice to finally get away from that nightmare. I could not go one more day being there. It was just an every day reminder of what I had, thankfully, survived.

I remember those piercing cold, blue eyes as they stared down upon me. Making my blood run cold, yet for some reason I couldn't look away from them. Something strange happened with the man, that if you had blinked you would have missed it. His cold eyes flashed a bright yellow. I have never seen something like that ever.

I can still hear his laugh, his voice inside my head. It was a constant reminder that left me always looking over my shoulder no matter what.

He chuckled, blue eyes bright with pure excitement. The thrill of the chase.

I felt myself get tackled to the ground. Feeling the dirt and rocks smashed against my face as a heavy force pushed me into the ground, then as soon as it was on top of me it was gone.

Still chuckling, I glanced up at the man who circled me. Eying me like a piece of meat.

"Didn't," I coughed, struggling to get to my feet. "Didn't your Mom ever tell you not to play with your food?" I asked the man, my legs giving out and falling onto my knees.

His smirk grew into a full on smile. Blue eyes on mine as his head tilted curiously. He kneeled down so that he was eye level with me, His finger was under my chin, making sure he had my full attention.

"Didn't yours tell you not to provoke your hunter?" He asked, a chuckle escaping.

"I'm not scared of you." I glared, though it was a lie.

I was terrified of this man. My heart was banging roughly against my ribcage, the seconds passing by as this strange man stared upon me. Hunger filling his blue orbs. But he didn't need to know that.

"I beg to differ." He whispered. "I can smell the fear rolling off your skin." He skimmed his nose along my neck, breathing me in.

"W-What do you want from me?" I whimpered, my courage completely gone.

"Ah, my pretty little pet," The man chuckled. "What I want from you is your life. Your family betrayed me. I seek revenge. Killing off your entire family is what gets me up in the morning. And I'm so sorry, dollface. But you're next. I'll make it quick." He grinned.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see my early fate. Gun shots were heard off in the distance, men yelling and dogs snarling. I looked up to see the man glaring down at me. He grabbed my face roughly in his large hand.

"This is not over, dollface." He growled. "I will come back for you."

With that, he disappeared into the woods. Blackness consuming him.

"We're here." Grandma's voice snapped me out of my daze. "Home sweet home."

I lightly shook my head as I grabbed my bag, sliding out of her little car and slinging it around my shoulder. Staring up at her little cabin in the woods. Kind of reminded me of a horror movie, the way the tall trees hung over my Grandma's house. Also, she had no neighbors.

"Come on. It's getting pretty chilly out tonight." Grandma waved me in.

I nodded as I hitched my bookbag higher onto my shoulder, jogging up the porch stairs and stepping into her cabin. Warmth breezed against my pale skin, raising goosebumps from the quick weather change. Funny, I never realized how cold I was.

"Why don't you settle in upstairs in your old room while I make supper, hm? I left it exactly like you  had it when you were just a little girl." Grandma smiled, rubbing my arm soothingly.

"Thanks." I kissed her withered cheek before heading up the stairs.

My old room was at the end of the hall, the only room that had a blacony. I had fought my older brother for it when we were just youngsters. He had disappeared the night before our parents died.

I threw my bag onto the full size bed and dropped down on it, staring at the wall. Eying the books that laid on the shelves by my old computer desk. Glancing around, I noticed that Grandma had cleaned up in here. She had gotten rid of most of the toys that I played with as a little girl. Except for one.

I picked up the brown wolf off my nightstand, cradling it close to my chest as I shut my eyes. I named the wolf Balto -How original, I know- and it was my all time favorite toy. I made sure I took the best of care over him. Balto was my only friend growing up, he was there when all the kids teased me. When Mom and Dad would fight.

Sometimes I wished Balto was real. So he could be my savior, always watching over me.

But I'm twenty years old now. Life has shown me that there are no heroes coming to save anyone. It was just you against the hard, cruel world.

My eyes widened and my heart slammed against my ribcage as I heard the sound of a wolf howling. It sounded rather close. Almost like it was hanging out in our backyard. Well, technically it could be since our backyard was the woods.

I threw my legs off the bed and dashed down the stairs into the kitchen, almost knocking over my Grandma.

"Oh, honey. You scared me." She placed a shaky hand over her heart.

"Grandma, did you hear that?" I asked her, running to the window. Trying to see if I could spot a wolf in the black night.

"Hear what, honey?" She asked, setting up the table.

"That wolf!" I nearly shouted, eyes still scanning the woods.

"Oh, yes. There are plenty of them around here. Don't go wandering into the woods, you hear? They won't bother you unless you bother them." Grandma warned.

"Trust me, I don't plan on going anywhere near those wolves." I leaned against the windowsill, giggling lightly.

"Sometimes, you just can't help it, though." Grandma muttered. "Almost like fate drags you together."

I tilted my head, eyebrows furrowing. "What are you talking about, Grandma?"

Grandma's eyes widened, then smiled as she waved it off. "Oh, nothing, honey. Just your crazy, old Grandma going on and on about whatever. Don't mind me." She laughed softly. "Can you bring the soup out? I need to sit for a moment." She asked, sitting down at the table.

I nodded as I headed into the kitchen, grabbing the soup off the stove. My eyes looking out the window once more as I felt another pair of eyes watching me. But seeing nothing.

"It's all in your head, Lexi." I muttered to myself, taking the soup out into the dining area. "All in your head."