There Was Blood

Chapter 7

A girl squirmed around with her mouth muffled with tape. She acquired my dirty, blonde hair, but blue eyes in contrast to my green eyes. She had plump cheeks and a button nose.

"Well don't just sit there, Doug, take the duct tape off." He took it off gently, but the girl still quietly grunted in pain. She said her name was Ruby in a gentle, high delivery.

"Do you remember your last name? Or your age?" Cait asked. She shook her head but paused. Then a light bulb flickered on.

"I'm 12, I know that."

"Ahhh 7 years younger than me and Danny here." Cait declined an invitation to speak Doug's name, but he also was 7 years older. "What happened with you and those two girls who... I'm guessing kidnapped you?" Before she could answer, shots were heard from closer than safety. I checked the rear view mirror and revealed the same two from the playground. Except they possessed a small, pricey vehicle and a craving for revenge.

The two girls lined up with us on my left. A shotgun was lifted, pointing at my face. I put the tires to a screeching end. My hands swerved the Jeep into the other direction. "This has got to lose them," I confirmed. In the back of my head, I knew I was wrong; they seemed very skilled at The Hunters Game. Like they'd been doing it for years.

I turned the car onto dirt through the woods, trying my best not to crash into the trees. Deep into the forest was a big area of only dirt. I pushed hard on the brakes, and settled down, trying to catch a breath.

"Here! A place to stay. Is everyone ok?" I inquired, hopping out of the death trap. Cait looked a bit mad, but I don't think she should've been talking because I saved our lives.

"So, uh, what were you saying about who those girls are?" Doug asked Ruby who was now sitting on a log restlessly. Doug and Cait gathered around the child with messy jeans and a ripped red shirt. I, on the other hand, built up blankets upon blankets for us since Doug left the tent at our previous stop.

"I was taken by them when I was 9. At first, we became friends because I was too young to be killed and also I was just wandering around. Then they overheard that my sister was going to find all the keys and put an end to this game. They thought I was a spy on the inside, so they decided to tie me up and get rid of me at the next lake they saw. And so, I met you guys!" She cheered, reaching out for a hug. Doug reciprocated the gesture, but Cait avoided it. She didn't let me hug her either.

"Well, now, you're with us. As long as you don't kill anyone from the group," Cait shot a dirty look to Doug, "You can stay. I'm all for ending the game anyone. This is the team to help with that." I bounced onto the bed of soft blankets before making eye contact with her. She seemed to have an out for Doug, but not in a devilish way.

We all gathered warmth from the cold air. I had a peculiar dream about ducks when I was rudely interrupted by a face right next to mine. The same face I saw on the playground and on the road.