[ N u m b e r] 8

[C h a p t e r] 1

Chapter one:

It was supposed to be another day of hunting, just like any other day. The ten of would gather in the center of the village (that miraculously was made in the top branches of trees) with weapons we made. We would come up with a plan that no matter what happens it would always work itself out in the end.

Steven was the leader of the Hunters. He told us the plan once it was made by the twins, Brandon and Bryan who were the scouts. On good days we wouldn’t have a need for the watch outs, Justin and Tate, whose jobs were to protect the specific hunter and or gatherer they were assigned too.  Me, Xavier, Adele and Steven were the hunters, Summer and Taryn were the gatherers and the healers. 

“Alright, Me and twin Potters will go to the South Post, Evens, you and Nightwing will go to the East Post, Woods, you go with Snow to the North post, and Knight, you go with Shagg and Leavitt to the West Post.” Steven drew the diagram out on the dirt with a long stick one of the twins found while returning.

“Everyone get into position and remember, don’t kill more then you carry. If anything happens, signal us using the bird call or by using the mocking jays, understood?”

There was a slight nod of agreement passed amongst us and that was when we all split up, using the trees as protection.

We were passing the creek the villagers nicknamed Killer Creek for the vampires from the black gate would hang around there looking for an easy meal. Tate and I kneeled in front of a bush; he held a pebble in one hand and gently tossed it into the water. A few animals scattered out of the area and back into the forest.

“Nightwing,” Tate began but stopped suddenly when the air. It was rushed and hurried.

A dark form with distinct red eyes glanced around the river bank. Pressing me against him, he leaned back against the tree, hushing me.

Out of the blue, a loud, piercing bird song erupted into the air. The vampire was distracted long enough for us to take our leave into the tree tops.

“Shouldn’t we head back to the Village?”

Tate shook his head. “No, if what Justin said was true then we need to regroup quickly.”

“What did he say?”

Tate sighed. “He said, ‘they're coming after us. Regroup and head back together. It’s too dangerous to go out alone.’”

My eyebrow furred. “They? As in the Man Hunters?”

Tate only nodded his head. My heart dropped into my stomach, my blood running cold. “What if they really are after us, Tate?”

For once Tate didn’t have an answer. “I don't know. As for now, let’s get a move on. I don’t honestly trust Xavier to protect two valuable members of the team.”

The clearing was up ahead and already Tate was getting angry.

“Wait here, Nightwing.”

“No,” I was about to protest but the look in his eyes told me not too.

“I’m serious Tiger Eyes; don’t follow me till I tell you to come down.”

I kept still as he ascended down. The clearing was unusually empty.

“I don’t get it. . .” He mumbled looking around “they should have been here by now.”

My eyes began to scan around the clearing. A rustling from behind the bushes made my skin crawl. Tate’s head snapped towards its direction and slowly made his way towards it.

“Tate? Is that you I hear or is it Tiger Eyes?”

I let out a slight sigh as Summer Nights and Taryn Leavitt came out from the bushes. 

“Where is Knight?”

“We don’t know. Xavier said he was going to go look for you guys but since you’re here. . .”

Tate groaned. He looked at me and motioned me down to join them. I slid slowly down the tree trunk and into the sunny field.

“That bird song came from the Potter twins. Steven was with them so I don’t understand why he didn’t give the call.” Summer mused lightly, her eyes flaring with fear.

“The Man Hunters . . . have found us.”  Tate said slowly.

“They must have gotten Adele and Justin before they found us.” Taryn mumbled now even more worried than ever.

“Alright, here’s what we got to do, we have to head back to the Village and-“

“No, Evelyn don’t you understand-“I was startled when Tate used my real name and not my nickname or last name.  He only used it in important matters and this was one of those moments.

“We have to-“He was cut off when a low chuckle erupted from the tree tops. Dark, shrouded figures appeared from every which end, surrounding us from any escape.

“Tiger Eyes, listen to me and listen to me good,” Tate began to whisper as the leader of the circle, Vladimir came from the group. His chuckle was low and he made sure to drag it out.

“I want you to run as far and as fast as you can.”

“What about you?”

“Don’t worry about me Eve! Just run when I tell you too and don’t look back, understood?”

I frowned but nodded my head anyway.

“Hello children,” Vladimir mumbled eyeing each and every one of us.

“Vladimir . . .” Tate sneered, standing in front of Summer and Taryn.

“Now, now, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Tate pulled out one of his spears that made entirely of sharp stones and a piece of hardwood.

“Very well, the Master wants them Alive.”

Time felt like it slowed down. Everything happened in a blur. One minute, Tate was trying to fight off one of the vampires, the next thing he was being restrained and yelling at me to run. My heart was practically pounding in my ears as I began to run away from the scene.

I wasn’t sure where I was going but I was headed in a direction far from my home. I knew if I went there they would have followed me and killed every one there. Jumping over branches, ducking through the loose vines, I made sure my legs wouldn’t give out on me anytime soon.

I was blinded by a ray of light which caused me to trip over an overly grown tree root. My body tumbled down a hill and into a ditch where my head slammed against a stone. A ringing noise rang in my ears as I tried to lift my head up from the ground. My head wobbled from one side to the other as I tried heaving myself up from the ground.

Looking down, my eyes locked with the bloody stone. I groaned knowing now they would be able to sniff me out. I yelped when my ankle shot pain up to my leg. I apparently twisted it the wrong way and having my leg fall on it the opposite direction didn’t help matters much either.

I went to reach one of the vines that were just out of my reach when a cold hand grasped mine.

“There you are, dearest.”

I groaned when Vladimir hoisted me up from the ground and threw me onto his cold shoulder.

“Oh dear, you’re injured. We mustn’t have that. After all, Master wouldn’t be happy and if the Master’s not happy,” He trailed off laughing lightly at the thought.

“N-no,” My voice shook, I didn’t even try to escape. I was too tried and my head felt like it was going to burst at any moment.  “I don’t want to go.”

“I know that darling, believe me I do,” His voice was dripping with sarcasm, dragging on with each syllable. “But you see, what the Master wants, the Master gets.”

I groaned loudly as he began walking towards the tall iron gates that separated the forest from the Vampire Republic which ruled majority of the world. Before I passed out, the last thing I saw was a bright light coming from the opening of the gates.