My Friend the Hunter

PROLOGUE: I Should Probably Forget but I Can't

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I was fourteen when the war started.

"Maya Kenwood!" A deep voice announced, scanning the area for any raised hands.

I kept a straight face and nervously lifted my hand. The choosing had begun, my very first choosing to be exact.

Three different groups and each had a different goal. Group one: run in and deploy the bombs. Group two: stand guard and watch for any enemy figures. Finally, group three: watch and wait for the second group to arrive back and then, set off the bombs. If they did not arrive back within seven minutes, they were assumed dead and the bombs would be set off regardless.

The line I stood in contained around a dozen elves of our age proximity, 11-14. Many older elves sat and watched as their younger counterparts were being sorted. Most of the older figures were sent out as spies to find out the trolls locations. Trolls used to move alone, but since the war erupted, many began moving in large groups. This was beginning to become a big problem for us.

Three fingers went up as our leader settled on my chosen group. I tentatively walked forward and looked towards the accumulation of elves assigned in group three. Looking around the area, I spotted my friend Lila. My eyes widened as I saw her being placed in group one. The exhale I let out was shaky as I looked on with dread. It was unlikely she was going to make it.

Being elves we were a bit slow, yet our strength and magic made up for it. Lila has always been a slow runner compared to others of our kind. An elf with low speed and strength, but she had great ability with magic. She always tried to teach me spells, but they always evaded me. It was something I was not proud of, an elf who could not use magic.

I am a half-breed, though I do not know what else I am. Half elf, half who knows what. Im slightly taller than the others and my brown curls make me stand out like a sore thumb. A 'normal' elf usually had straight, blonde hair with piercing blue eyes. I had unruly brown curls with dull green eyes.

I heard a stomp and after two beats of calming myself, I started stomping along with my brethren. As we continued our steady rhythm, a deep growl reverberated within the dense forest  in front of us. The operation had officially begun.

"Okay guys, you know the plan. Move as quickly as you can and don't get caught." Our group leader spoke out.

As for our full out operation, the goal is to kill as many trolls as we can. Being assigned at this young age used to be highly uncommon. However, since an unknown disease began to spread a couple months back, our species had declined horrendously.

We call this disease 'numbers'.

This disease isn't typical of any other known illness. Once you are seen with a little panel of numbers on your right shoulder, you can begin counting your days till death. The numbers can range from a mere ten days to a year for your time left. No one knows how you catch the disease and without that knowledge, there is nothing to prevent it.

I looked forward at the rusted old building surrounded by a canopy of trees. The spies had found that this was a prime place where the trolls hung out.

My group members and I stood side by side as our leader went down the line. I was handed a metallic remote with a small circular button. A feeling of nausea washed over me as I knew its intended purpose.

Although we were assigned to kill for a "good cause," I could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of guilt.

I looked to Lila again and she gave me a thumbs up. Before I could respond, group one was given a command. All I could do was watch as they ran towards the building. Suddenly, Lila tripped and fell to the ground. I could not hide the wince my body emitted. Before long, all of group one were inside. Nothing but wits and magic to defend themselves.