The Hunted

Chapter 3

Faiths hands rose up to her forehead, just now feeling the bruises that the unconscious man on the ground had caused her. She then stumbled to her feet, dusting the dirt, and mud of the ally ground off of her. The man who saved her now was standing above the man on the ground, but looking directly at her, the same way he looked at her this morning. It was now nightfall, and the looming sun disappeared over the buildings of the allyway. She could see hardly anything but his bright, glowing blue eyes.

She still felt the presence of danger radiating off her skin, it acted as if it were trying to worn her, but she shook it off. She had just almost been killed, of course she is going to feel a bit wonky for awhile. "Thank you." Faith spoke, her voice small, frightened even. Sure She she wasn't the most tough girl, but it was unlike her to sound so weak, afraid..

The man let nothing go. Faith could see no indication of emotion whatsoever from him. She shifted awkwardly. The imige of him lifting her assailant with such ease as if he were simply a loaf of bread flashed through her mind again, it just wasn't possible. 'A Terminator!' She thought but then mentally slapped herself. 'Stop nerding out'

She decided that this night had already been much more then she could process. "Well, as fun as this was, I'm going to go home now, I need to make sure my friend is ok." She said. By now her father is definitely starting to worry about her, she's always home before sundown.
"Thanks again really, you saved my life." She said, truly grateful as she turned to leave.

"No need," he spoke not able to see her face. She stopped walking, and turned back to face him. He was now closer to her. She was amazed by his eyes. They stopped glowing, but still remained a extraordinary blue. She could sense the tension in his voice. She then looked around. How did he know she was here? Had he been following her since she bumped into him today?

"Look, obviously there is something different about you." She started as she stepped closer to lock eyes with him. "Normal men can't just lift people over there heads, and toss them twenty feet.."

He tiled his head, observing her for the first time. She indicated that she was walking a thin line, and must tread lightly. She became defensive. "Honestly I won't tell anyone what happened here, at least the part that involves you anyway. It's the least I can do." She said with a smile.

"What about what you did?" He asked, stepping closer. She suddenly felt claustrophobic.

'The pipe' she thought. One moment in was on the ground, the next it flew into her hands. A chill went through her, as she looked up at him. 'I don't know what that was', She spoke honestly, her gaze falling to the man layed out across the floor. She knew that she wasn't sorry for hitting him across the face. 'That smug had it coming,' she thought.

"Unfortunately i do." he said stepping even closer to her. Curiosity filled his expression. "It usually takes others years to simply compel something to them without the use of there hands, or at least a charm"

He was certainly glad that he found her before she became a real danger.

Fear sparked in her again. She didn't understand his intentions. one minute he's saving her, the next he's treating her?

'What do you mean?!' She asked, fighting the erge to step away from him. She felt that if she backed away, it would show weakness, and fear. She had the sense that running from him would do no good, he was some sort of freak that had abilities that she couldn't even begin to understand.

"I know what you are, even if you haven't figured it out yet." He spoke again, but this time his voice was full of distaste, and hatred.

Confusion overwhelmed her. "What I am'? She thought. 'Why is he speaking to me like I'm some sort of alien creature that he's just discovered?'

"Look, I really just need to get home." Faith said as she turned to leave, but he gripped her arm roughly before she could.

"Thats not going to happen." He spoke factly as his gripped tightened when she began to struggle.

"Why are you doing this!?" She asked, wide eyed with fear.

His lips formed into a smirk as his eyes began to glow even brighter then before. Blue orbs flew around her, as she tried to comprehend what was going on. She suddenly was ripped away from him, and being pulled into a swirling blue vortex, but she heard his voice one last time before losing complete Consciousness. "It's my job"

~~

She awoke shivering. She was cold, and the ground she layed on was ruff, and damp. She could feel the pain of scraches, and cuts across her legs, back, and face. Twigs, and leafs layed under her. 'Where am i?!' She questioned herself as she opened her eyes to see that she was in the woods. She sat up, looking around in utter confusion. Wasn't she just in the ally way,.. with Beth?. She back agenst a tree as she remembered the blue eyed man. Did he knock her unconscious, and bring her out here into the middle of the Forrest? She scanned the area but she saw no one, nothing. Just Forrest. She stood up, then stumbled. She felt weak. She grabbed the tree for support. She searched for any signs of familiarity, but there was none. She had never been here, wherever this was.
"Hello?" She asked? "Is anyone out here?" She yelled, her voice echoing along the Forrest.

She decided to start walking. Trees surrounded her in every detection, and she didn't know which way led back to town. Events played back in her mind. Beth, The allyway, the pipe, the blue eyed man, the way he grabbed her, the way she felt being dragged back into the Abyss.. Was she going crazy??

She walked for minutes, hours even. She had her arms tucked into her Tshit to keep herself warm, unfortunately it didn't help much considering she wore shorts. The full Moon lit up the night sky, giving the Forrest a Mystikal Allure. He thoughts went to her father. He was no doubt worried sick about her. This was no way for him to spend the new years. She was determined to keep going no matter how tired she was. She needed to keep moving.

She eventually heard the faint sound of music, and laughter. For the briefest moment she ignored it, she figured her mind had just been imagining things. But as she continued walking it became louder, more believable, and before she knew it she was running in the direction it came from. She slowed down, she guessed she reached town, though not her town of course. She lived in the city, and this town was obviously out in the Wilderness. She arrived at the back of what she guessed to be a barn. She was about to walk around it when something under her foot cought her eyes. She bent down to pick up the wrinkled, and wet newspaper. There was something odd about this paper though, it was ruff.. thick, and dark yellow.

The head letter read.

~Three woman found guilty of the dark arts, to be burned at the stake tomorrow at sundown.~

FAITH snorted, 'this is one hell of a practical joke' she thought.

She continued to read the newspaper, and her confusion only grew.

~HAPPY NEW YEAR! IN THE YEAR OF OUR FATHER 1697.~

~~~

Newly updated chapter! Hope you like it as much as I enjoy writing it. Much love <3 Mariska98 <3

Edited chapter.