The Hunted

Shots

Alicia's P.O.V

I step back. The soldier. He came back. We all stand frozen for what feels like forever. I turn around. Hugh. His stands with his focus completely on the soldier. I reach for his hand. He holds it in his own then looks at me. His eyes show fear and panic.

Travis steps forward, holding his hands up in surrender saying "Just calm down alright. No one need to get hurt.". The soldier moves until he stands directly next to Mr Salazar. He points the gun directly at his temple. He says "The old man needs to pay. I was nice to his daughter. I was kind to his daughter. And this is what he does to thank me. He tortures me and keeps me locked up in a basement.". Travis nods and says trying to keep his voice steady "I know. It isn't fair. He shouldn't have done that-". The soldier cuts in and says "Yes and now he deserves to pay.".

I hear Hugh mutter under his breath "Shit!". I feel his hand leave mine as he limps away. Travis keeps arguing with the soldier "Please. Don't do this. Let him go. You do this and you're just like him.". The soldier shouts "He deserves to feel the pain!". Ofelia steps forwards and pleads with him "Stop. Please! Stop!". The soldier flinches but keeps his stance. He moves his hand to face Ofelia and says "I'm sorry." then pulls the trigger. Hugh steps behind him and tackles him to the ground.

Mr Salazar drops down next to Ofelia. Ofelia's been shot. Blood seeps through her clothes. The man who came out with Nick bends down and tells Mr Salazar "Apply pressure to the wound. It will stop the excess of blood. We need to get her in the cars. We need to leave.". Mom, the man and Mr Salazar lift Ofelia up and move her towards Travis' car. I look towards where the soldier was previously standing. In his place is Travis and Hugh. They are beating the life out of the soldier. Hugh punches furiously at the soldier's face and Travis stands kicking at his ribs. Mom runs towards them, grabbing Travis by the shoulder she shouts "Stop! Travis that's enough!". Travis slowly backs away and turns to face my mom. He stands frozen. Hugh continues to beat at the soldier my mom yells "Hugh this needs to stop! Get off of him. Please!". My mom continues to plead with him but Hugh can't seem to hear it. I make my way towards Hugh and kneel beside him. I wrap him a hug. His arm keeps beating down but they slow down. I hug him tighter and he stops returning the hug. I can feel him crying on my shoulder.

Hugh's P.O.V

Why couldn't I stop punching. He was down. Why didn't I stop? I pull away from Alicia and stand up. I look down at my hands. They're covered in blood. The soldier's blood. On my hands. Alicia bent over and placed her hands over his neck. She checked his pulse and looked down. She didn't need to tell me. He was dead. I killed him. I should've stopped when Travis did. I should have stopped long before that. He will come back. I reach into my backpack and point my gun to his head and shoot. a thin line of blood trickles down his forehead.

I slowly make my way to the car. There's not enough space for all of us. Maddie starts to say something but her words don't reach my ears. I walk over to one of the other cars in the garage and break the glass with my elbow. Sure it hurt but I ignored the pain. I opened the door and bent down to hotwire the car. One strike, no start. Two strikes, no start. Three strikes and the engine turns on. I hop into the car and drive it over to Maddie. I say quietly "Now there's space. Get in.". Chris and Liza hop into the back seats and Alicia sits down in the driver seat. I look at her quizzically but she points for me to sit in the passenger seat.

No one says a word. We all get into our cars and drive. Alicia follows behind Travis.

We end up at this modern looking house by the sea. The man introduced himself as Strand and said "Anything here is yours. Clean yourselves up and get ready to leave. We all walk in. The view is terrific. You can see the shoreline from the house. It's beautiful. I wish I spent more time taking it in. Chris dove into the freezer and grabbed ice blocks from the fridge and offered the box to Alicia. Alicia offered some to me but I waved them off. I can't eat right now. If anything I'm going to go and throw up. I walk away from the kitchen and pass Liza hugging Chris tightly. I look over in their direction and I see the hem of Liza's shirt come up. Bite mark.

She's saying goodbye.

I walk away to give them their privacy. Alicia looks over at me and without speaking I can tell she's concerned for me. I give her a small smile then walk into another room. This must be Strand's study. Books piled upon books. I pick up one of them and flick through. Blank. I pick up a pen and place them into my backpack. Something to do to fill time later, I think to myself. I look down the window and see Liza making her way to the cove with a gun in her hand. I sling my backpack back on my shoulder and walk down to the stairs following Liza. I pass Alicia and Chris but I completely ignore them and walk straight down.

Maddie, Travis and Liza stand there. Travis begging Liza "No! No. NO! What about Chris Liza? You can't leave him. We can figure this out!" Liza holds his hand and places the gun in his hand. She hold his hand with the gun to her forehead and says with tears streaming down her face "You need to take care of him now. You tell him I love him.". Travis shakes his head in denial, refusing to make the shot. He's weak. He can't do it. I limp forward and take the gun from Travis hold. I hold it to Liza's head, she looks up at me and says "You take good care of Chris for me.". I nod. I can't seem to get any words out. I can hear Travis yelling behind me "NO! No! No! NO!". She keeps her gaze on me and smiles saying "Thank You.".

She kneels and keeps her gaze with me. I keep my eyes on her. There's so much love there. All this is for her family. She's doing this to protect Travis and Chris. They will be protected her death will not mean nothing. I'll keep them safe. It's my job now.

The gun feels so much heavier than it is. I breathe out. I can do this.

I pull the trigger.

The sound shakes the earth.

Another life gone.