Hunting The Wolves

Chapter07: Accepting.

Selva's POV:

"Selva?" A familiar voice called from the other side of my bed room door, "It's Josh, I brought you dinner!" He said, his voice raising up a bit to make it sound cheerful. I did not answer. I heard his words, but they did not register. I've been like that for the last week, my body left the house, went to school, and came back, but my mind was still in that office, at the Taylors. 

"Come on cousin, you got to eat." Josh spoke again, his statement came out more as a plead. I still didn't answer.

My mind kept going back to what Mr Taylor said. I kept thinking about Luka, no wonder he didn't want to talk to me, he must hate me. He must think I'm as bad as Joey Matador- I can't find in myself to call him father or dad, for the truth is he isn't. But what if I end up like him? I shiver at the thought.

I've been trying to understand Joey's story for the past few days. I remember being told by my mother that evil is made not born. If that is the case, then why is Joey evil? Yes, the Taylors lied to him, yes they did something awful as killing his parents, but they raised him, Daniel was his brother, even if he was angry how could he kill his brother? How could he let Luka go through the same thing he went through.

Luka... I sigh, he probably doesn't want to talk to me, he never wanted to talk to me in the first place. I don't know why, but the thought of not talking to him again made my heart tighten. I shake my head trying to shake the thought out of it but it didn't work. I thought of those blue orbs of his, they are so blue, so deep, so ...

"Selva!" An irritated voice yells, only it's  not Josh, it's uncle Jimmy. "Open this door, or I'm breaking in."

I roll my eyes and get up to open the door. He faces with a determined look but it fell for a second when he saw my face. God! What I must look like!

"Get dressed." He orders with a stern voice, but with eyes filled with sympathy and I dare say guilt.

"Where to?" I ask my voice barely audible. 

"Somewhere you haven't been to in a while." That was the  mysterious answer he gave me, and I was far too tired to argue or to question more. I go to my closet and retreat a dark blue sweatshirt and black skinny jeans. I then go to the bathroom where I take a moment to study my reflection. The big brown eyes I have from my father were bloodshot decorated with bags telling of my lack of sleep, my hair was a mess, and even through my tanned skin you could see how pale I was.

I tear my eyes from the mirror and I take of my clothes and turn the shower on. I step right under it not waiting for to warm up.

.

The drive was silent but tension filled the air. I kept my eyes on the road trying to predict where we're going. The sun was just setting outside, and it spread a pink and orange color on the blue sky, it was a beautiful painting.

After twenty minutes of driving I found out our destination, it was a shooting range.

"You haven't practiced in a while, and I thought it was a good time, you need to clear your head." Uncle Jimmy announced when we got out of the car. He then walked towards the trunk and opened it. He took out a leather brown briefcase with our family symbol carved on the top. He locked the trunk and we headed towards the shooting range.

There was a bald guy at the front desk, maybe fifty years old, barely taller than I am, strongly built and watched us from behind his reading glasses with cold amber green eyes. My uncle shared with him a nod and a small smile to which he did not react.

We went straight to the back, it was an open shooting range and though the darkness had started to settle in the targets were quite visible due to the bright lights on both sides of the range.

My uncle lays the briefcase on the ground and opens it. It had a crossbow, not any crossbow. It was the one my mother's, the one I used when I first started training. I haven't seen it since she ...

"Ready?" Uncle Jimmy asks.
. 

The arrow leaves my bow and launches through the air cutting the wind, but it passes the target and bounces of the wall behind it instead.  I groan in frustration, this is the fifth time this has happened to me since we started, not one of my arrows has gotten anywhere near the the target, it's like I'm cursed!

"You're not focussing." My uncle states. "You're mind isn't on the target."

My eyes travel to the heavens in a dramatic eye roll. "So you're saying I should be thinking about the target instead of the murderous father you forgot to mention? What a marvelous idea! I haven't thought of it." By the time I was finished I could lick the sarcasm off my lips.

"I didn't mention him because your mother didn't want me to, besides what would it have changed?" He says defensively.

"It doesn't matter what it changes, he's my father I had the right to know." I state angrily.

"I couldn't tell you, she didn't want you knowing about him." He says.

"But why?" I yell my question at him. I don't even know where I found the power to yell.

"Because she didn't want you to try and find him." He answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, but an interrogative look from me told him I needed further explanation. "He's a dangerous man."

"Really? Why would you say that?" I say sarcastically.

He gives me a flat look before he continues. "She didn't want you to find him because she knew that not only would he break your heart, but he could hurt you physically."

After he finishes silence settles in. I use it to think about what he had told me. Did my mother think I would look for him even if I knew he was a murderer? If she was still alive would she have told me anything?

"We should go home." Uncle Jimmy breaks the silence with that suggestion. I agreed with him with a nod.

Not long after we found ourselves in our car, ridding home.
.

Darkness filled my room, the only light came from that beautiful round disk in the skies. The night was beautiful, the full moon hid behind the traveling clouds every once in a while, and the wind blew the trees and played delightful music while the crickets sang along, and so nature created a beautiful night song for those who are willing to hear.

I was willing to hear, yet I couldn't. I was tired and wanted to sleep, yet I couldn't, my mind simply wouldn't allow me to. It was nearing midnight and I was wide awake with thought I did not want to have, an image I wished to shake out of my head. Two blue orbs staring right into mine. I wonder does he hate me? Does he think I'm just like my father? I turn to my side, why do I care what he thinks?

He seemed to dislike me at the first day and every day since. He does probably hate me. I involuntarily wince at the thought.

I stare blankly out the window when a idea hits me. A crazy idea, a stupid idea and possibly a dangerous one, but I didn't care. I jump out of bed and quickly change into black jeans, a navy blue shirt and a black jacket. I tie my hair in a messy bun and put on my black boots. I also take out my climbing gear, specifically the rope which is attached to a hook. Then I head to the window then hesitate a moment biting my lower lip. I can be stupid, but not as stupid as going without a weapon. I go to my bed and pull a briefcase from under it. I open it to find the familiar 12 knives with our family logo on the handle. I take four of them and slip two in each boot.

I then walk back  to the window and attach the hook to it's edge and throw the rope out. I climb down the wall using the rope in few moments and jump on the ground with a thud. I leave the rope for when I sneak back.

In fifteen minutes I found myself in the woods. I walk around it aimlessly enjoying the darkness and the fresh air. After ten more minutes I find myself in the most breath taking place.

The moonlight reflected on the glass like surface of a lake. I didn't even know there was a lake around here. I sat on a rock under a tree admiring the view. The forest seemed to grow thicker on the other side of the lake. The place was so quiet and peaceful, but soon it was not.

I heard the sound of a twig braking first, so I turned my head in the direction of the sound and was greeted by a familiar figure.

"Selva?"