Sergio comes closer to me, hungry lustful eyes trained on to my chest. I growl at him and confusion flickers across his eyes, they flash back to their normal blue for a split second, before returning to cruelty.
“Blair it’s me,” that’s Sergio’s voice but not his face.
“Let me go you bastard,” I spit as his hand gets too close to my hips.
“Blair please.” He sounds broken and close to tears, “It’s me, Sergio. You know deep down that I won’t hurt you.”
I take a deep breath and search my soul. My eyes, ears and mind are saying that he’s lying. I look to my heart which tells me to see what’s really there. I open my eyes and my head hurts. Everything seems fuzzy, like I’m viewing it through glasses that aren’t right for me. Sergio’s face is fixed in concern but it flickers between his human face and his hunter one. Black eyes and pointed teeth flash over blue eyes and normal teeth.
It’s confusing and I don’t know what to think, everything is clashing with everything else. I stare at my Sergio’s face; his blue eyes, familiar features and stubble over his jaw. The fuzzy screen lifts and I see Sergio sitting in front of me.
“I’m sorry. Hallucination,” I burst out and feel the support of the rope.
If it wasn’t for that rope I probably would have fallen out of the tree. Sergio gets closer, slowly and cautiously, and raises his hand. I tense but when he just touches my cheek I relax.
“I’m gonna get you all better, I promise Blair,” he says and starts to climb down the tree.
“You can’t leave me,” my voice is almost a hiss.
“Trust me. I’m only trying to help.” His voice gets fainter as he gets further down the tree. “I’m going to find Crystal and Kotey.”
I fight uselessly against the rope around my waist. When I realise I’m not getting free I slump against the tree trunk. A few yellowing leaves fall down to the ground below me. I strain my ears to hear anything but I know it’ll be a few hours at least.
I have nothing else to do so I sleep. Although I think the correct term would be cat-nap. I sleep for about an hour, wake up because I’ve heard something – or thought I had – and then go back to sleep. The whole process repeats itself and I’m actually awake to see the sun rise.
Underneath me I think I can hear Sergio and the others, but it’s more than likely the hunters and their Dogs. I stay in the tree for that reason and plus I can’t undo Sergio’s knots. I slump against the trunk and feel the scratchy bark under my shirt.
“I know you’re up there and that you’re hurt. Little girl we just want to help you get better,” the voice sounds slimy and persuasive but also somewhat familiar.
I manage to ignore them; they still get me to come down. For all I know they could be hallucinations and I’ve found the best way to beat them is to stick my head in the sand and ignore them.
I close my eyes and stick my fingers in my ears. I even start humming under my breath but I don’t think it works. I can still hear their footsteps; it’s almost as if they want me to know they’re there. It reminds me of a cat I once saw. It had been chased up a tree by a dog and the dog sat at the base of the tree and waited for the cat to come down. I don’t know what won the life or death wait but I hope it was the cat. I can’t get comfortable and my foot and water are rationed but I’m determined to wait them out. I can do that, I have to or I’ll never see my boyfriend or my friends again.
My hunger turns to actual pain as the day wears on. I can smell bacon as my unwanted tree-sitters start to cook. My stomach thinks my throat’s been cut and I bite hard enough on my bottom lip to draw blood. I draw my knees up as close to my chest as I can get and hug them close. I can do this, I’m a survivor … but that food just smells too good.
YOU ARE READING
Project: Hero
Teen Fiction"You might be a killer, but I don't think you're a monster." The government has taken over the nation in a totalitarian state. But there are a select few who stand in its way. And that is those with the moon Tattoos. Each possesses a strange power a...
