The Hunter [completed]

NINE

Time stood still. Not a single sound was to be heard from animal or men. I was the first to jerk myself out of the invisible chain pinning me to the floor.

A pair of heavy black, muddy boots stood by the pond. Next to it, lay something small and black. I walked over to it and picked it up. It was my knickers. "What the flying fuck?" I screamed, momentarily forgetting where I was and that he might still be around. "Look," Danny said and pointed towards the edge of the pond. There, between thick reeds and dead water lilies, floated his distinct green jacket.

Christie gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Sean looked like he was still processing the image, trying to comprehend the meaning. "Did he... do you think he drowned?" I managed to ask after composing myself. Danny looked me dead in the eye. "I don't know... maybe..." Christie turned away, and with a weak voice she said; "After so many years he was reunited with his father."

She ran off back to the cabin. I followed suit, dropping the knickers as I zigzagged through the bushes. I didn't want to stay a minute longer, and I never wanted to see that accursed pond or the hunter and Jack ever again.

I could vaguely hear that the lads were discussing amongst themselves what to do about what they had found, but I didn't want to know. I didn't want to hear it mentioned ever again. I made my way to the front of the line and shut everything out. I brought out my iPod in order to get myself on other thoughts. The trip from the cabin to the parking lot was made in half the time.

We waited approximately half an hour for our parents to arrive. I jumped into our car the moment my dad stopped it, along with Hannah, Christie and Lee. Sam, Sean, Jess and Danny drove with Sam's dad. The ride home was uncomfortably silent, but thankfully it was my dad and not my mum who picked us up. Mum is in general very social, and my dad isn't.

I was back safe in my bed after a shower, absentmindedly cuddling my cat Emmett, when mum popped her head in. She took a seat on the edge of the bed and smiled at me. At that moment everything that had happened forced itself out. The words fell like rain, and at one point I started crying. Emmett, having his sleep disturbed, got up and stalked away in protest. Mum hugged me tightly and told me that everything was fine now, but I wasn't so sure.

She came down half an hour later, telling me she had spoken with Sam's dad. Sam had told him everything, and together they had informed the police in that area. They had said they would go and have a look for him. "Do you think he drowned?" I asked her as she yet again was sat on the edge of my bed. "Hard to say. But don't spend too much time thinking about that now. Try to get some rest." She kissed me goodnight and walked out, closing the door behind her. No matter how hard I tried not to think about it, I couldn't help but to try and put the pieces together in my mind. When I finally fell asleep, I dreamt of dark, bottomless waters and a vague, pale creature playing a hauntingly beautiful melody on his violin.