Hunter's Return

Chapter 25: Victoria

Hunter's POV

I have lots of explaining to do, but I was right in saying that Leonora was my daughter.

It all happened a lifetime ago when I met Victoria, my wife.

That lifetime ago was literally a long time ago. Okay, about a century ago. During that time my hair was mysteriously white but black at it's roots. Maybe it blackened because of the darkness from my soul.

I was in my tree hideout when she came to visit me one day. I didn't want to have a big relationship with her because I had a disease called Sanguinis Sitim wherein I get blood thirsty.

"Hello Hunter," she said, coming through the door. Victoria's brown hair that day was fixed in a high ponytail. She was also wearing a white tunic, pants and white flats.

"Victoria," I snarled, sitting down next to a desk.

"How are you, my darling?" she asked.

"I've said it before, stop calling me darling!"

"Haha, your raging makes it cuter."

"Grrr... I'd kill you right now if I could." I paused for a moment to pick up my small knife. "Anyways, what are you doing here?"

Victoria walked over to me and bent down. "I just wanted to visit you silly."

"That's it? Why didn't you visit your friends instead?"

"Because you're my friend and I care for you."

"Well you shouldn't, because this friend of yours could kill you at some point in the future."

"I don't care Hunter."

"As if I could provide a family for you. Can't you see Victoria? Our child would never love me: a bloodthirsty animal who can't resist the sight of murder."

"Because I believe that there's still some good in you."

"The only good that I have left is how good I am in being bad."

"That's not true Hunter. I know that you'll make a great father."

"You have no idea what happened in the past."

"I don't care about the past. You should let go of it and start anew."

"You don't understand, I could kill the child."

Victoria leaned closer to me. "I know you wouldn't harm anyone."

"UGH! CAN'T YOU SEE?! I COULD KILL ANYONE, ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY SENSES WORKING! THIS DISEASE COULD DRIVE OUR FAMILY DOWN TO DEATH, LITERALLY!"

Victoria hushed me. "There's no need to worry about that."

"You're crazy and it's weird," I said as I stood up and walked away from her.

Victoria laughed. "I love you."

I stopped walking and my heart started beating like a mad drummer. Did she actually mean that? Those three beautiful words were like music to my dead soul.

I turned around and walked back to her. Victoria's smile was gleaming as I neared her.

"D-did y-ou really m-mean t-that?" I stuttered, love struck.

She kept on smiling. Victoria leaned even closer and kissed me on the lips.

She did acctually mean it. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. I pulled her even closer as we just stood there.

At one point she hugged me tight, although we were still not letting go. It felt right to do this but wrong at the same time.

I felt a feeling I haven't felt in years: love.

Finally, we ended our sweet kiss.

"I love you Hunter," she said.

"And I love you too."

(Time skip)

I paced back and forth inside the waiting room. I blew the nail of my thumb for it relieves anxiety and makes me feel calm.

I feared that the nurse would come and bring to me some bad news.

I had no choice but to sit down on a green chair and wait.

Suddenly, a nurse in his green uniform burst through the door. He simply nodded his head with a mix of fear.

I quickly stood up and followed him through the double doors that he came through. We walked past bloody carts of dangerous operation tools and ex-rays filled the corridor we were walking through. I felt uneasy with the sight of the red substance.

Finally, at the end were two doors with a tiny window on each. The nurse still said nothing but gestured me to open the doors.

My hands were shakey when I twisted the knobs on the door. I gently swung them open and saw Victoria carrying a baby in her arms.

My worried mood changed into happiness. I neared the hospital bed and leaned towards Victoria and the baby... Girl.

"She's beautiful Hunter," Victoria said.

"She is, what would you like to call her?"

"Let's name her Leonora."

"As long as that name makes you happy, it will make me happy too."

Suddenly, my happy mood shattered like broken glass. Looking at Leonora made me feel... Different, a feeling I haven't felt in a while.

I went around the hospital room looking for a sharp object. I went into the bathroom and found some scissors in the first aid kit.

I clutched the object in my hand, ready to do... Something with it.

Victoria looked up and noticed my expression. "Hunter, what are you doing?"

I ignored her and continued to do what my mind was telling me.

As I neared Victoria and Leonora, I raised up the scissors and dug it into my wife's heart.

I came to my senses to see that terrifying scene.

Victoria didn't yelp. She simply didn't react to the fact that she was loosing some blood and the fact that I did that.

I quickly pulled the scissors out of her chest and pleaded to her not to die.

"It's o-okay H-Hunter," she weakly said.

"No no no, I'm not gonna let you die!" I said as tears were making my eyes cloudy.

Victoria leaned closer to me and kissed my cheek. "Take c-care of L-Leonora f-for me."

Then her eyes slowly shut; they were never to flutter open again.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and turned to Leonora who was crying too. I picked her up, placed her in a small cardboard box and melted away in the shadows.

I fled into the woods with a plan. There was a small cabin that belonged to an old friend of mine. We were never in touch anymore and she hasn't seen me in forever.

I emplaced the box with the young Leonora inside it and knocked on the door. I then morphed into a snake and slithered away into the trees.

I became one with the forces of darkness and hate. I have protected Leonora for now but I can't protect her from one thing: myself.