Hunter

XII

Jade was exhausted.
After a fitful rest, she couldn't seem to eat anything.
The turkey sandwich she was trying to eat sat there, only a few bites taken out of it.
Aric, meanwhile, was devouring his fourth sandwich, hungrily reaching for another.
Jade looked at him, rolling her eyes. "Boys. You're eating like you've been starving for a week!"
He didn't meet her eyes, staring at the table. He managed a weak laugh.
He had been away from his cousin for over three weeks now, and finding food was hard on his own. Especially when he had forgotten all the money.
The joke died in her throat and she frowned.
"Lemme get some more food."
Aric shook his head, food stuffed in his mouth. He talked with his mouth full.
"No! No, it's fine."
Jade rolled her eyes. "Aric. You're going to have more food." She cocked her eyebrow, challenging him.
He nodded slowly, finishing off his sandwich.
"Ok." Then he smirked. "If you wanna take care of me so bad."
Jade glared at him. "Shut up, idiot."

Jade checked the time on her phone.
7:00 pm.
She had slept the whole day away, only waking up to go to the bathroom or eat something.
She took a deep breath, going through her wardrobe for something that said badass. She threw clothes out of the way, thinking about what her mom would say if she saw her.
"Jade! You're acting like you've never seen a jacket before, throwing down it down like its a monster or some crap!"
Jade would've rolled her eyes at the comment, now she would've given everything she owned to see her mom.
She couldn't believe the nerve of that gang. What kind of people kidnap a woman like that? Ooooh, she couldn't wait until she could get her hands on them. She had been meaning to try out the moves her mom had taught her.
Jade sighed, still digging through her closet.
She pulled out a cream shirt, a warm windbreaker, and some stretchy jeans.
She grabbed some black Nikes and headed to the bathroom, getting a towel on her way in.
Jade jumped into the shower, turning the heat up.
Her thigh protested but soon relaxed.
She let the hot water run down her back, soothing down her tense body.
In a few minutes, she was out again, fully dressed, and she went into her room.
Jade rummaged through her closet, pulling out a gray denim backpack.
She stuffed her phone into it, along with a notebook, her charger, some pens, and a picture of her mom.
She packed the notebook, second-guessing herself.
Then she thought to herself, leaning against the wall.
This is so I don't forget this. I'll write down what happens, in case I need it.
She thought some more, thinking of the boy in her apartment.
Jade zipped up her bag, slinging it over her shoulder.
Aric was sitting cross-legged on the floor, head bowed over the book she gave him.
Jade sat next to him and he looked up.
"Shouldn't we get going?"
He nods. "Yeah. Now's a good time."
Jade hefted the bag on her back. "Maybe we should supplies."
Aric shook his head. "They'd just slow us down. We need to travel lightly."
"Hey, I'm kinda new to running from monsters thing so......."
He gives in, standing up. "Ok. What do you need?"
Jade pulled out her notebook and a pen, scribbling down a list.
She read it off as she wrote. "We need water, some food, maybe a change of clothes...... You wanna add anything?"
Aric shook his head. "I don't need anymore clothes." He lifted up two plastic bags from the floor.
Jade slipped off her backpack, unzipping it.
"Put them in here."
Aric obliged and Jade quickly grabbed her wallet from the kitchen.
"We need cash."