The Last Hunter

Chapter 12- Into the Light

In my dream, I sat in my bedroom. I had run away from school that day. The demon inside me had ripped out of my chest and chased me out of class. I had tried to calm myself. I counted to ten, tried to breathe slowly, but it was no use.

I wanted to be home-schooled, but my mom had to care for my seven brothers, plus all the horses and cows around our property.

"I can help you with that," I'd pleaded. "I'll help you get it done faster, then you can give me the lessons."

"No, Rose. I can't. You need to see the world. You need to work through this on your own."

She didn't understand. No one did. Months later, we'd figure out that this medication was the worst thing the doctors could have possibly done. The medication, instead of getting rid of the darkness I felt inside me, it took all feeling away, leaving me empty.

Anyways, in my dream, I sat there, crying. My shoulder was bleeding. I knew that if I cut anything visible in short sleeves, my parents and doctor would see it, so I scratched my shoulders, legs, and feet.

Zabrina came in and sat down by me. This wasn't part of reality, but it had melded into my dream. She sat next to me and hugged me.

"I know how you feel. But don't do this."

I shrugged, making the newly formed scab on my shoulder crack and bleed. "It's my only outlet."

Then, Ryan walked in, and kissed me on the cheek. Zabrina picked up my knife I'd used to cut myself.

"No, don't!"

* * * * *

I woke up on the floor, sweating. Someone had put a blanket on me and a pillow on the floor while I was asleep.

I stood up and stretched. Zabrina was sound asleep, so I let her be so she could rest and headed off to find Ryan.

I had half a mind to go hug him after what happened yesterday, and half a mind to punch him after what happened yesterday. Instead, I planned to talk to him.

I walked to his room. The door was open. He was lacing up his shoes, almost done dressing. I knocked on the frame. He looked up.

"Hey, Artemis. What's up?"

I sat down next to him on his bed. "We need to talk."

He looked confused. "Is this about the kiss? I'm sorry if..."

I put my finger on his mouth, silencing him. "No, it's not that. It's Zabrina."

"What happened? Is her leg okay?"

I shook my head. "No, it's not that either. Just let me talk, okay?"

He nodded, putting two fingers together and 'zipping' his mouth shut.

I took a deep breath. "Okay, so Zabrina told me yesterday that you told her you liked me a while ago."

He looked relieved. "Oh, if that's all then..."

I turned to him, looking him in the eyes. "Will you shut up and let me talk?! Zabrina likes you! Well, more like 'liked you' before you broke her heart!"

He stared at me, dumbfounded.

I kept ranting on. "And to make things worse, she's a cutter! Do you have any idea how much you've hurt her?"

He looked me dead in the eyes. "I can't say I know how she feels, but I can say I am so sorry."

My tone softened. "That's okay. I do know how she  feels. Sorry to make you feel bad." I leaned my head on his shoulder.