Running from fate

Chapter 1

18 YEARS LATER...

1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I counted along with my feet as they pounded along the floor. 6, 7, 8. Just keep running. 9, 10, 11. DON'T look back under any circumstances. I quickly duck underneath a thick tree branch, the same time an arrow is shot through the air, barely missing my neck. 12... 13... 14... I push myself faster along the dry bumpy floor of the forest. Twigs scratch at my bare feet but I don't let it bother me. Right now all that matters is that I get away from the approaching hunters on my tail. I've been like this, on the run for as long as I can remember, never truly being able relax or not have the urge to look behind my back. Since I was a child I have been hunted by both human hunters and supernatural beings alike. It's something I'm used to by now. If I'm perfectly honest I almost enjoy the run for freedom.

A branch I don't notice catches on my already ruined top, causing it to rip as I tug on it as I run, leaving a large tear in the material on my right side. This results in my extremely pale skin being exposed to the cool night air.

These particular hunters have been on my back for the last week, never giving me the opportunity to rest or feed. As the days pass by I can feel myself growing weaker, there is too many of them for me to fight in my position without my true instincts taking over. The best option for me right now is to run until it is safe.

I pass a few more trees which all look the same before making a sharp turn to the right, winding through many trees, all of similar heights before I again change my course of direction away from the hunters.

When at a reasonable distance from the large group of assassins for the supernatural, I stealthily climb up a tree, opting to hop from one tree to another, to throw them off my tracks. I continue like this for a while before coming to a stop, to wait and see if the group of trained killers are still behind me.

I listen out into the woods for a few minutes, hearing nothing but the natural sounds of nature. I use my extended hearing to listen out for the sounds of the groups heart beats, or their breathing but hearing nothing. Even though my hearing may tell me one thing, I still opt to stay up in the trees for my own safety. Its not that I am incapable of fighting the group of trained killers, but more so that my body is too weak to do so. Even as I was running through the woods, my pace was much slower than it would be if I were fully rested and fed.

I attempt to get comfortable on the extremely comfy tree branch before giving up and sitting still as I feel all the bruises, cuts and gashes on my body slowly heal, leaving patches of dried black blood on my skin. I lean my head back on the trees trunk, closing my eyes as my supernatural senses go into overdrive as I attempt to heal, still being overly cautious of potential hunters appearing.

I sit like that on a tree branch up high in the green tree, still as a statue for a couple of hours. I need to start moving soon, before I know it, it will be day time once again and I cant risk being outside then. All this running would have been for nothing if I was only going to be caught in the sun. Slowly but surely, I begin to climb back down from the tree, using my different sense to my advantage as I move in my weakened state. Until I am able to feed, running though this large scape of forest is going to be impossible. First things first, quickly hunt for a meal before trying to find shelter for the day.

My feet gracefully land on the dirty ground without a sound before I slowly and quietly begin to walk away from where I was hiding. I keep my ears peeled for a potential noise of any hunters having found me or for an animal to feed on.

Fortunately, I do not hear any hunters. However, I also cannot hear any sound of wildlife for miles. It doesn't help that I am currently stuck in the middle of unfamiliar woods, not really knowing where to go.

I walk for a couple of miles, being extremely careful with every step I take before I finally get a signal of some for of wildlife near by. In the distance I hear the sound of an animal scurrying through the forest, not particularly being careful of what they're doing or what may happen to them.

I slowly walk int he same direction which I heard he noise before noticing a fully grown male rabbit hopping along on the floor. This will have to do I think to myself. The rabbit will be able to help me keep my energy levels up for long enough that I won't have to worry for at least the next couple of days.

However I have never let myself be without a good source for this long before so I cannot be too sure.

Killing the adult rabbit should be easy considering how much power I hold over it. Usually when hunting I would turn this into a sort of game. But this time my hunger consumes me too much thy that cannot be an option.

When I notice that the innocent rabbit stops moving to look at its surroundings, I leap into action, roughly landing on the rabbit to prevent it from moving. The creature cries out and attempts to escape, but I don't give it enough time before I am allowing my sharp fangs to sink into its neck, killing it instantly.

I drain the now dead animal of all blood, as I feel the blood slowly making its way through my system. My body begins to quickly repair itself as I feel my senses sharpen also. As a whole when I finish with the creature, I begin to feel a lot stronger and more myself than I have for the last couple of days. Exhaustion is still a serious issue, but other than that I feel much better. I'm certain that my eyes have also changed back from a vibrant deep red and back to their eye catching silver.

I quickly look around for a place to bury the small animal, not wanting to leave it's dead body lying randomly. After finding a place at the base of a tree truck, I get on my knees and use my hands to begin to dig a deep enough hole to bury its body.

I sit back up, looking to reach the bunny, stroking its head and placing it in the hole. "I'm sorry" I whisper before slowly covering it's body back with the dirt.