There Was Blood

Chapter 10

My feet ran over to the table at the front. It crawled with dust, but I wasn't buying any minute of it. My finger pressed the bell that settled on the surface. No answer. Then I pressed it once more. Still no answer. Finally, my hand restlessly ponded on the bell as if my life depended on it. Because it did. Doug pulled my hand away. If he didn't, I wouldn't have stopped anytime soon.

"It's not working, Danny. I don't think anyone's here." I sighed.

"What are we going to do then?" Out of the blue, a noise reached my ear. Everyone else turned to the source as if they heard it too. A head peeked from around the corner.

"Are you here to kill us?" They questioned faintly. Ruby sat down to their level.

"No. We are looking for a book that might help us. Do you know anything on the origins of The Hunter's Game?" She couldn't have said it more politely. Ruby had a real talent for kindness. Something I tried to possess in my time but didn't get me far. The person peaked their body out more.

"You mean this book?" He pulled out a cover that read; The Hunter's Game and How It Came to Be. Our faces glowed from enthusiasm and comfort. Before Ruby could grab it, he shoved it back behind the corner. "I'll need something in repay."

"What do you want? Name it." I chimed in. He pointed to the bell that sat on the table behind us. I lifted an eyebrow. My hand reached for the bell and passed it to the now creepy man around the corner. Nonetheless, it was worth the book that could save the lives of everyone who wanted help. Belle cracked the book open. Cait and Ruby dropped their chins on each of Belle's shoulders, scanning over her shoulder quite literally. Just as I glanced down at the book, Doug dragged me away from the crowd.

"You still don't know all the story."

"What?" I inquired as if I was coming out of a hazy fog.

"I tried to kill Cait because she ditched the group and took all of our supplies right before midnight of the last night. It's what she does. She leaves and takes everything with her. There wasn't a trace of her. When I finally found her, I knew it was my chance for revenge." He finally coughed up. I shook my head.

"Why are you telling me this now?" He placed a hand on my shoulder. Doug actually looked concerned for once.

"I'm trying to warn you. If you don't keep an eye on her, she'll leave and take the keys with her." I didn't believe one second of it. Cait might have been strong willed and hard headed, but she was no quitter and thief. I sauntered back to the group who now hovered around page 187.

"Did you guy find anything?" Ruby pulled herself out of the pages.

"A guy named Julian Hayes brought up the idea of The Hunter's Game to the mayor of Bayside. He said it would get rid of overpopulation and earn more money from weapons and everyday survival equipment. Somehow, he was so convincing the mayor agreed and so it began. There's even a picture of the guy. He looks young." I made eye contact with the book. The words appeared as if they were stamped on by a typewriter. Had it really been that long since The Hunter's Game began? The picture displayed old-timey drawings with scratchy pencil markings, but I recognized that face. That was the same guy I saw fighting animals at my house. He's the one I chose Cait over. Now, I don't know if I made the right choice. His skills were kind of sloppy though, so he wouldn't have fit in the group.

"Wait! We have to go back to my house. Where Cait and I first met, where this whole group began." Cait dropped her gaze.

"What? Danny, no. You know what we had to do to get out of there, I'm not going back." Cait protested. I clutched her hands to calm her down just in case she might have thrown a punch at something.

"Do you want to find the last key or not?" Cait took a deep breath.

"Let's go."