New Beginnings Volume I - The Hunt

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Chris ordered pizza and instead of champagne we had orange juice. It may not be the fanciest way to celebrate but I wasn't complaining. He told me stories about his past, about his first missions and strange creatures that I never thought could exist. But hey, who was I to judge? I was cleaning the mess we left in my kitchen when I noticed I recieved a text. "We're going out for a movie and maybe some pizza after, want to come? - Faye.". "No, thanks." I replied and the moment I hit send I heard the door bell. " It's open." I said and saw Mrs. Grandwood walking in.
Grandwood : "Seems like someone had a party."
Hanna : "Ah, yeah. Chris wanted pizza." I said smiling. She smiled back.
Grandwood : "How are you my dear?" she said putting her hand on my shoulder.
Hanna : "I'm fine." I said optimistic.
Grandwood : "Good. I'm glad to see you smiling again."
Hanna : "Yeah, anyway, Mrs. Grandwood may a I ask you something ?"
Grandwood : "Sure dear."
Hanna : " What do you think will happen tomorrow ? Since it's a full moon. "
Grandwood : "Don't worry my child! Everything is going to be just fine, I assure you." I looked at her for a moment, still a bit worried.
Hanna : " What if they mark me? What do you think will happen then?"
Grandwood : "Oh, beeing marked is an awful experience. "
Hanna : " Yeah, I know. Living with that scar ... "
Grandwood : "Oh, not just that honey. I mean physically, it's horrible. The mark is not just any symbol that shows you've been caught performing magic, but it's also used to weaken the victim untill the hunters decide to finish you. It's killing you from inside out, leaving you helpless and in pain, but yet not dead for good. They like to torture their victims. The reason for that is because faes and aslo witches have this huge amount of magical energy and they cannot be killed by the hunters unless they are ill or defensless. If you've got marked it's the worst scenario to be a fae or a witch."
Hanna : "How's that ?" I said with a frown on my face.
Grandwood : "Well, like I said, fairies and witches have this magical energy inside but other species of supernatural beeings would die instantly if they would get marked. But it's very rare for hunters to mark anything else than a fae or witch."
Hanna : "What about werewolves ? I mean, they can heal themselves right?"
Grandwood : "Yes, that might give them more time. The species with healing abilities are also badly affected. But eventually they would die because of the pain or in some cases they would stop healing and bleed to death." My eyes widened and I could feel my insane hearbeats.
Hanna : "Aha ... ok. Well, it was nice talking to you but If you'd excuse me I need to get my homework done."
Grandwood : "All right. I'll see you tomorrow honey." she said and left. I waited for her to get far enough and then rushed to my car and started driving. "Ok, I get there and then what ?" I said to myself. Then it hit me! I knew exactly what I had to do even If I knew what the consequences were.
The sky was starting to turn blue as the last rays of the sun started to vanish. I arrived and stormed out of my car, running towards the entrance. As I was getting near the door I realized what I was doing was insane, but I ignored all the senses and feelings telling me to get the hell out of there. I pushed the door open then walked in and noticed he was leaning against a wall with his eyes closed. He quickly got to his feet as he heard me walking in.
Derek : "What are you doing here?" he said confused with a low voice. I could notice he was breathing heavily and he had a sweaty forehead. I stepped closer and reached for him, touching his forehead.
Hanna : "You have a fever. " He pulled my hand away.
Derek : "I'm fine. " he said trying to seem convincing but failed to do so. He bit his lip and let out a low pain grunt, and then looked away, still struggling to keep his breath normal. "Melissa gave me some pills, I'll be fine. "
Hanna : "No! No you're not. Derek listen to me!" I said and moving my head to face him again. "It's from the mark, and you know that too. It's killing you."
Derek : "No, it's not."
Hanna : "Yes it is! Stop denying it. I know it's hard to accept it and I know you are scared, I'm terrified too." He looked me in the eyes a couple moments.
Derek : "And what do you want me to do ? Hm? There's nothing to do Hanna, and you know that too." I swallowed hard.
Hanna : "Yes ... it is. " I said looking down. "I can help you." I raised my look to see what his reaction would be.
Derek : "How?!" he said in a both low and desperate voice. I sighed loud.
Hanna : "Do you have any candles?" I said looking around the room. He nooded and lit a few candels. "Get on the bed." I said and he slowly sat down. "Get your shirt off." He lifted his eyebrow and gave me a slight smirk. "Just do it." I leaned forward to get a better look. It looked more like a fresh tattoo than a burn, resembling the hunters' mark. I softly touched it and felt the high temperature of his body. He frowned in pain. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes then I concentrated all my energy, flowing from my body to his. The gems on the bracelet started to vibrate and were glowing. I was again feeling drained out of life but It was a natural feeling considering the situation.
Soon, the air became unbreathable. The heat coming from the bracelet was burning my hand, but I didn't stop, even thought every part of me was begging for me to do so. I could feel something warm sliding down my lips. I had a nose bleed again. This time it climbed down all the way to the base of my neck. I couldn't hold much longer, but I couldn't give up now. It would mean all the effort was for nothing and I would risk putting Derek's life in danger. What I didn't think of was that it was mine which was threatened more now. A breaking sound made me open my eyes and struggle for air. Everything started to darken. I lost my balance and I could feel the pain of hitting the cold floor. The last thing I could see were the shattered pieces of what were once the gems of my bracelet. I soon went out cold.
Beeing uncounscious was pretty much like dreaming. I remember seeing all these things ... some sort of cells, empty cells with bars both in the left and right on a dark hallway. It soon became just a simple hallway, with no more other cells or a clear ending. I kept walking forward where there were stairs that led to some sort of basement. I don't know why I got down there, it was like something was dragging me to that place. As I reached the end I could see a bigger cell, with high, thick bars. I took a step closer, and that's when I saw them - these two orange-almost red eyes staring at me from the dark. I wanted to run but something was keeping me from moving. I could also see it's creepy smirk, revealing pointy fangs. It looked more animalic than human and all I could see were the eyes and teeth so I presumed it was an animal. The loud growl that was echoing in my head confirmed it. I was terrified by the sight. I shut my eyes and then ... I heard a voice. I couldn't recognize it or understand what it was saying but I struggled to. There was another one now, two voices ... no, three! The number was growing fast. All sorts of sounds around me ... I felt like I was standing in the middle of a rushing crowd. And I wasn't wrong. I opened my eyes back to see the white ceiling - I was in a hospital. Nurses were in a rush, trying to make room for the injuried pacients. "Oh, you're awake." A male nurse said walking to my bed. "How are you feeling ?"
Hanna :"I ... I'm ok, I guess..l" I said in a low voice, still feeling drained.
"Ok, just don't talk and get some rest. I'll inform your friends and relatives that you are awake."
Hanna :"Thank you ... Klevins" I said reading the name on his shirt. "It's Alex. Klevins is my last name."
Hanna :"Ok, then thank you Alex. Tell me, was I out for a long time ?"
Alex :"Well, it was quite a loss of blood so yeah, kinda. I also heard that It's the second time you suffer a great blood loss." I smiled.
Hanna :"Yeah, we have a history. "
Alex :"Ok, now I should really let you get some rest." He said and left the room. I remember closing my eyes and listening to all the footsteps before falling asleep again. I didn't dream about anything, or if I did I can't remember a thing. I was looking around the room for over 15 minutes when they allowed me to get visitors. It was Lana and Jo that came to visit.
Lana :"Hey, how are you ?" She said and sat on the bed.
Hanna :"I've been better. But hey, almost dead sounds better than actually dead so ... Anyway, where are the others ?"
Jo :"Irene is on her way here. I sent a text to Faye because she wouldn't answer her phone but she didn't reply."
Lana :"Scott is looking for his mother to see if she got your results while Stiles and Malia went to get coffee."
Hanna :"And Derek?" I said impatient.
Jo :"They said only two visitors at a time and he let us come in."
Lana :"Yeah, he's waiting outside."
Jo :"Ok we don't want to tire you so if you need us we'll be outside."
Hanna :"Ok, thanks!"
Lana :"No problem." They both smiled and left the room. I was checking my email on my phone when the door opened. I looked and saw Mrs. Grandwood with a smile on her face but also, a smile that hid concern.
Grandwood :"Hello dear." She said softly.
Hanna :"Hey."
Grandwood :"Feeling better ?"
Hanna :"Sort of." I said with a light smile. "Is there anything wrong ?" I said as I saw the surprised look on her face.
Grandwood :"Ah, no dear. I was just worried about you."
Hanna :" Mrs. Grandwood I may be on drugs right now but I'm not stupid." She sighed and dug her hand deep in her bag.
Grandwood :"Do you have any idea what you just did ?" She said and got out my golden bracelet. All the white gems were missing and I could see the other ones had fissures. "Your vital force was stored inside. Without it you're ... it's ..." but she couldn't get any other word out.
Hanna :"Dead?" her eyes filled with tears but she held them back.
Grandwood :"I really have no idea Hanna of what would happen now. How did you managed to do this anyway ? What happened ?" But just as she said it Melissa McCall entered the room with some papers in her hand.
Melissa :"I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave the room, I need to talk to my pacient alone." She gave me one last look and got out. "Here we go again." She said to me and I smiled. "For some strange reason your results are good this time too, but we'll keep you under observation for more."
Hanna :"All right. Thank you for everything." She smiled back.
Melissa :"You have some visitors waiting. You want me to let them in?" I nooded. "Who would you like to see?"
Hanna :"Umm ... everyone?" I said with a grin on my face. She sighed and looked around.
Melissa :"Just don't tell anyone, ok?"
Hanna :"Mhmm." I said and giggled. Scott entered, folowed by Stiles, Malia and Derek.
Scott :"Hey! How are you doing ?"
Hanna :"Heey. I'm fine, I'm ok."
Stiles :"What did the doctors say?"
Hanna :"They'll keep me some more under observation but I believe they'll let me go home tonight."
Malia :"You need anything?"
Hanna :"Nope ... I'm okay."
Malia :"Ok." We basically stared at each other for the next few minutes.
Melissa :"Scott! Can I have a word with you ?" She said sitting in the doorway.
Scott :"O-ok. What about?"
Melissa :"It's ... a family matter." They both went outside.
Hanna :"Actually if I think about it I am kinda thirsty. Could you get me something to drink ?" I said to Stiles.
Stiles :"Yes, I'll get you some water."
Hanna :"No, actually I would like something else. Like ... apple juice if possible."
Stiles :"Ok. I'll see what I can do." He said and left the room.
Hanna :"And I'm kinda hungry, could you get me something"
Malia :" Of course. What would you like ?"
Hanna :"Some fruits maybe. '"
Malia :"Got it." She said and left. Only Derek was left in the room, and that was basically the idea. I had to talk to him about what happened and I couldn't do it with everyone around.
Hanna :"Derek ... " he raised his face and looked at me. "Are you ok ?" He nooded.
Derek :"It's you who you should worry about, not me."
Hanna :"You know what I mean ..." He lifted his t-shirt and I was shocked to see - or better said not to see! There was nothing there, not even the tiniest scar.
Derek :" I don't know what you did... " he said and grabbed my hand. "But whatever it was, I am forever grateful!" But our talk was soon interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and I saw Scott walking in. He quickly let go of my hand.
Scott :"Ok, so you can go home now."
Hanna :" Thank god. " They let me change my clothes and get my stuff.
Hanna :"Ok, I'm ready." I said as I walked out of the room. "Where are Jo and Lana?"
Scott :"They left some time ago with Mrs. Grandwood."
Stiles :"Hey, I've got your drink."
Malia :" And I've got your fruits."
Hanna :"Ahm, thank you guys but I don't think I need them anymore."
Stiles :"Man, and I really struggled to find this." I gave him a pat on his shoulder and laughed as we headed for the exit.