Hexed - A Black Magic Novel

Chapter 5 - Hunted

He sat facing the window, his hands folded and his mind already in thought. Calculating every outcome, every choice the boy could make. He tapped a digital screen on his holocommunicator. Suddenly, as if materializing out of nothing, A screen appeared. "Show video feed, 1600 hours." He commanded. The screen lit up as it began showing an image of him. The mage. The one who escaped. Who managed to incapacitate the strongest human-animal experiment, The Fox. The longer he is out, the more chaos he will bring. He thought. I will NOT let him escape me again. "Call General Hart, and message Chief Holden. We have a mage to find." He said with a note of fury and vengeance sparking like embers within his voice. "Yes, sir." The holographic screen chirped as it started to send a call request.

-=-{:[OXO]:}-=-

As Hudson stared into the wet chasm below, he saw an amusement ride, as for me, I saw certain death. He decided to show me a cliff which goes down to a lake which ran into the Rivers' land. "What?" He asked. "Scared of heights?" I didn't want to seem weaker than he thought I was. But he'd see through lies. "A bit." I managed to finally tell him. He laughed and grabbed my shoulder. I felt cool metal chilling me to the core. He has a prosthetic limb? I questioned. "Ah, don't worry," he replied, somehow answering the question, he continued. "It wasn't from THIS." He managed to nearly push me off of the cliff, but at the last minute, he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. His laugh rumbled down the chasm. "I'm sorry for doing that to you, just wanted a little laugh before we both go down." "Both?" I asked. "Do you see anyone else who would go down with me?" He asked, seriousness weighing down his voice. I managed to shiver, not because of the wind or the cool air, but of him and his daring task to cheat Death without consequence. His smile sent even more tremors down my spine. "Now, you coming or what?" He asked. Not happening! The voice roared, but my mind sparked. This can prepare you for Helix. If they send hunters after you, you'll be prepared to face them without fear. So, without another word, I grabbed Hudson's arm and jumped into the wet, jagged mouth of Fear itself.

-=-{:[OXO]:}-=-

I opened my eyes to blinding fluorescent lights above, I smelled chlorine bleach. I tried to move myself into a sitting position, then realized I couldn't move. Paralysis. Most likely from the cliff jump. I Thought. A nurse walked in, a closed smile on her face. "It's good to see you're awake, Mister..?" Don't trust them, they might trace you to the deaths of your parents. "Winston, Seth Winston." I replied, remembering the name I had told Hudson. "Ah, right. Your friend has been asking about you ever since you arrived. Let's see.. Paralysis from rock impact due to jumping from a cliff. Tsk tsk. Boys are way too dangerous these days. Do you have a number to contact?" I remained silent. "The pain must be hard to bear." She said softly. I managed a nod. She sighed and walked out. A few seconds later, Hudson ran in. "Seth?! you alright?!" Another pained nod. "Shut the door." I said. He did so and walked over. "They're dead, Hudson." His face turned pale. "Who's dead..?" He asked. "My parents.." I replied. "Is that why you were so shaken when I met you at the barn?" I nodded. "I have.. a lot to explain." Silence. "My name isn't Seth Winston.. and I'm not normal either." No answer, just a nod. "My name is Evan Riley.. and I think I'm being hunted." I looked at him, then stared at the fluorescent lights again. He sighed. "Alright." He finally replied. "Wait," I questioned, "aren't you concerned about what I just told you?" He nodded. "I'll ask about it later, I'm gonna go check when you're leaving, okay?" I nodded, and heard a shuffle of feet and a door open and shut. I kept staring at the lights, as if they'd somehow help me in some way. I heard the rush of a door suddenly open, then a quiet hush as it was closed. I thought it was Hudson, but the voice was different when they came in. "Mr. Winston?" The new voice asked. He's not here as of now, please return later. The voice mocked. I sighed and turned my gaze to a gold badge. My heart stopped cold. "Chief Holden?" I asked. He was taken aback when he realized I knew who he was. Then he slowly reached for his two-way radio. What is he doing?! My voice asked. "Holden to base." He said as he pressed a button on his radio. "Base to Chief, what's your status?" The radio responded. "Tell Vance we found him." He commanded. His eyes shifted to me. Suddenly, the door opened. Hudson stopped mid-stride when he saw Holden. Holden suddenly reached for his pistol, but Hudson pinned him down before he could wrap his hand around it. "Evan, you alright?" Hudson asked. "Wait, Evan?!" Holden realized. Hudson slugged him on the side of his face. "You know him?!" Hudson asked. Then came the stampede of footfall. "Crap!" Hudson swore. He then picked me up. The IV was pulled out while doing so. Holden managed to get up and aim his pistol at me. "Knowing him or not, I have to do my job." Holden stated. Shock him! Paralyze him so he doesn't kill us! The voice commanded. "I'm sorry." I muttered. "What?" Holden asked, but was brought down by Hudson. "Alright, let's move!" Hudson ordered himself. He burst through the doorway without breaking stride. Teleport! The voice commanded again, but I was frozen. Physically and mentally. The rushing adrenaline and the increased terror bumped my heart rate by miles, I soon passed out.

-=-{:[OXO]:}-=-

They both knew what they were.

Mages.

They spent days trying to find their child, but no sign of her appeared. Durante suggested they sleep for a night, then think of a plan of action in the morning. She reluctantly agreed.

Then came armored men, swords drawn, fists clenched. They grabbed Durante first. He struggled and managed to throw the first soldier away from him. He hit the other soldier, knocking him unconscious, but more have arrived.

Knowing this, she got up, grabbed the sword from the unconscious soldier and helped Durante attack the remaining soldiers.

Suddenly, a gunshot screamed into the air.

Durante, still standing, had a bloodstained hole in his chest, directly at his heart. He turned his gaze to her, and a soldier behind him swung with all their might. Durante's head dropped against the stone ground beneath them.

The man she loved, the child she conceived, both taken from her.

The soldiers died faster than he did.