The Dark Hunters

Chapter 19

Livy POV

Pound, pound, pound.

I jump at the sound of someone knocking on my door. I calm myself down, and tell myself it's just someone at the door.

Wait. It's them. Dave. He contacted the organization. They are already here.

I throw some medication things in my bag, just in case, and grab my black, leather, fingerless gloves. I slip them on.

"Open up Ms. Foster." A stern, deep voice growels.

I gulp and slip my Unveiler in the compartment with the communicators.

The pounding starts again. "I must insist you open this door. We will not hesitate to blast the door open." The gruff voice growls again.

I sling the backpack over my shoulder, jump out the window, and onto the tree just outside my window.

I climb down as quickly and as quietly as possible. I move without sound and I hit the ground lightly.

I wince as I hear my door being blasted open. It's an open field from here to the safety of the woods. A good half a mile.
I will definitely be seen no matter what, and they will catch me. An open field is too exposed. They'd catch me immediately. I'll just have to be faster then them.

I run to the stables behind my house. Luckily, no one is there. Only my tan and brown horse, Penny.

"Penny." I whisper into her ear. "I have to leave. Right now. And I need you to take me. I cannot do this on my own." She neighed in reply and I hop onto her back, bareback.

I kick her side, click my tongue against the roof of my mouth, and whisper, "Go! Go! Go! Run Penny, run. No matter what comes after us."

We take off. It only takes a moment for the people who busted my door, to realize I am running.

"Pleh em." I mumble in Elven language. (Yeah that's right, I know Elvish.) Which means, "Help me." Elvish is basically saying words backward.

An arrow whizzes past me, nearly missing my shoulder. I cling to Penny's mane, and urge her to go faster.
Now, we are almost half way and they're gaining. I sneak a look back and see them all riding horses. Shooting arrows at us.

I jerk her mane to the left as an arrow shoots past our right side.

"Nur ekil eht dniw ynnep." I whisper in Penny's ear. Meaning: Run like the wind Penny.
She pushes her speed.
We're still ahead of them.
We're nearly there.
We're both still alive.
We're doing good so far.
It's still dark and nobody can see very well.
That is why it's amazing that one of them got a direct hit.

I tumble head first over Penny's head. Pain careens up my arm, left shoulder, and the worst, my leg.
Penny slumps down next to me. Her eyes open in a blank stare.
Dead.
Penny is dead.
Dead.
I swallow the bile rising in my throat.
They killed her. They killed Penny. They killed my horse.

I lay next to her. Looking into her dead eyes. She got me this far. What a loyal horse. A loyal friend.

Suddenly, I remember where I am, I look up. The forest. The trees. I can just make out the outline of the them. Close. I can almost make it. 10 feet away at the most.

I hurt from the fall, and am still getting over the death of Penny, as I try to sit up. I am greeted with a blade to my throat.

I gasp and squint, trying to see my attacker in the darkness. I see the faint silhouette of a man.

A tear slips down my cheek. I am furious with all of this. Why can't they just let us go? Why can't we have our own lives?!

I choke down a sob, at the thought of never seeing Penny alive again, or never seeing Braden again.

"Stand up." The man growls. I try to detect his voice, but I've never heard it before.

I try to stand up, but agony takes control of my leg, and I cry out. The blade pierces my throat as I do.

"I can't!" I spit at him. "I would be able to if you ignorant blockheads, hadn't killed my horse!"

My leg is broken. I can't move it. It. Hurts. So. Much.