HUNT, OR BE HUNTED

CHAPTER 43: THE HEARTBREAKER

I was a leader. Not just any leader, but their leader. A leader of a new, undeniably indestructible species. We were special, because we were the last ones, the last of our kind. It didn’t bother me that there was only just a few of us left-it was enough to cause perpetual devastation to those who deserved it. And those who deserved it?

The humans.

I looked like one, thought like one, acted like one. But inside, I was not human. I was a monster, a part of me that I could never change. And whatever you couldn’t change, you had to live with it. There was no other option-it was what I was, and what I forever would be.

You have to live with something you can’t change.

That actually meant me. I had to live with myself. I could either accept it, or spend the rest of my days lurking in the shadows. I chose to accept. Why?

Because I realized I was different. I wasn’t human, so no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, there was no way I could blend in. It was just impossible to be something I wasn’t.

I never thought all of this would have happened. I never thought that I was some sort of beast-something half-human, half-panther. I never thought of myself as prey, as being someone the humans were willing to kill. I never thought that I was to be a threat to all mankind, that I was to be put down permanently. Nor did I ever think that I was going to be a leader.

The moment I found out that humans-the species I thought I belonged with-turned against us, all I felt was anger. Not fear, not sympathy for my own kind, but anger. It wasn’t just any anger, it was the kind of rage that boiled your blood and triggered something demented in you.

So here I was, feeling different, feeling more powerful than I had ever felt in my life. There was nothing to be afraid of. I had everything. If they wanted to fight, we would fight.

But before we could just charge blindly towards the war that was on its way, the first thing we had to do was to hunt them down. We had to hunt them down without being seen, without them being aware of it.

Silent. Unseen. Unforgiving.

 Like a panther. 

###

She awoke. Her breaths came out hollow as she blinked, as if trying to remember where she was. A bead of sweat rolled down her chin, leaving an obvious stain on her red bedspread. She didn't move a muscle, but her brain was spinning. All the memories seemed to have come crashing down on her. Not one at a time, but all at once. She remembered how she lost her mind, what had happened to her, and most of all...

Him.

Everything led back to him. He was the cause, yet also the solution. The one who destroyed, yet also the one who could cure her. It wasn't anger she felt. It wasn't even hatred. Yes, he hurt her. And yes, he left her. But she didn't despise him one bit. 

In fact, the thought of him made her heart skip a beat. How could she do this to herself? How could she blame him for what she had become? How could she just hide away in misery when the better option was to start anew? If only she had forgiven him...If only she had just gave him a chance. What if he was waiting for her the whole time?

Something stirred beside her on the bed. She turned to the dark, elegant figure, the thoughts of him beginning to fade as it all began to sink in. A very familiar broad shoulder poked out from underneath the covers.

Sh-. 

She ran a hand through her unkempt hair, held it there. 

Sh-, sh-, sh-.

She looked down at herself, almost immediately feeling the bile rise up her throat. What the hell had she done?

"Dana?" he groaned, rolling over slowly to his side. His beautiful lashes caught her attention as his eyes fluttered open. "Wha-what time is it?" he asked, his voice husky.

"Go back to sleep," she got up, slipped on her white T-shirt. She knew he was watching her every move.

"Come back here, beautiful," he drawled, and he reached over to put a cold hand at her hip. She shivered at his touch, hoping he didn't notice.

No, this wasn't right. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't the one she wanted. He wasn't the one she loved.

"I just wanna kiss you all over," he was standing behind her, his steely abdomen pressing into her back. His arms began to slither around her. "Dana-"

"Kora," she snapped loudly. "The name is Kora," she said, shoving his clammy hands away. The look on his face was something she would remember for the rest of her life. It was a shocked and hurt expression combined. She looked into his eyes, as if she was staring right into his soul. 

"My name is Kora," she repeated curtly. 

She bent down, grabbed her shorts off the marble floor, turned on her heel, and walked away.

###

Jacque didn't understand. What had just happened? How could she have just suddenly...remembered? He was so confused, it was making him furious. 

Did that mean she didn't love him anymore? Did that mean...because Dana was gone, that everything just seemed to have never happened? After everything he had done for her, after last night, and the night before...and all the other uncountable memories of her that would last with him forever...

"Get out of my house, Jacque," Kora said from the threshold. She had her arms folded in front of her. She looked stern, but still beautiful. "I need to be alone."

He ran his gaze over her-she was definitely the most exquisite creation of God he had ever seen. He was so in love with this girl. 

"How...what happened?" Jacque said after a while. "What happened to...us? One moment you say your name is Dana, and the next you're...this," he made gestures with his hands.

"You preferred the other me, didn't you. The good, kind-hearted, sweet Dana. Well guess what, that girl is gone. For good this time," Kora sneered at him.

"Do you really think I fell for you because you were sweet and all that? Did you really believe that I fell for you because I liked you that way?" Jacque began to step towards her. "I fell for you because you are everything to me. You mean the world to me, Kora."

"Don't come any closer," Kora warned. "Just get out. I want to be alone. Just leave me alone."

"Kora, please. Just give me a chance to explain," Jacque stood where he was, held both hands out at chest-level. "I just want you to know...I love you."

"Leave me alone, Jacque," Kora averted his gaze. "Just go."

"Tell me you feel the same way," he sounded so pitiful. "Tell me you do, baby."

"Jacque-"

"Look me in the eye, and tell me you feel the same way," he took one step closer. "Kora, just...I just need you to give me a chance. I want you, and I want to be with you."

Kora was speechless. What was she supposed to say? Jacque was madly in love with her. Could she just break his heart like that?

"Tell me that I mean something to you," he put a rough hand on her smooth cheek. "Tell me you feel something, at least something for me. After all we'd been through...I lost you once, Kora. I don't want to lose you again."

She had to tell him. She just had to.

"I can't," she pulled away from him. "I can't, Jacque. Just go, please."

"Why-" Jacque began to raise his voice.

"Because I don't love you!" the words exploded out of her.

His mouth opened, as if he was trying to say something, and then he closed it again. Snatching his jacket from the table, he shoved past her, walking briskly towards the front door.

She heard the wooden door slam, hard, and then the powerful rev of his car engine.

The tyres made a loud, high-pitched screech as he drove away.