The Hunter (on hold)

Chapter 1

Dedicated to Luvtasticfifi for the awesome cover! 

*Kate's point of view*

"Holy shit! What the hell was that?"

Scared shitless that what I had just dreamt was real, I sat up frantically looking around to make sure I was still in my bed next to my fiancée, David. I put a hand over my frenzied heart and let out a breath that I was holding with a deep sigh. David was sleeping peacefully next to me, oblivious to my nightmare and outburst. He, unfortunately, is a pretty heavy sleeper. I glanced at the clock. It read 4:29 am. "Crap", I mumbled as I let myself fall back into the comfort of my warm cotton sheets and pillow. It's going to be a long day at work tomorrow, I mean today. My mind was now going in a thousand different directions. Who is Liz? What happened to her? Why was this man hunting her down? More importantly, why did I have this dream?

Unable to process what my mind was rambling, I glanced over at David. I couldn't help the smile that graced my lips. He is so beautiful and I still wonder how I got so lucky to have him love me so much. We have been together for nearly two years and engaged for the last six months. Subconsciously, I started twirling my engagement ring around my finger. I picked that up as a nervous tick, something that I do when I'm over thinking, worried, or nervous. I leaned over giving him a light peck on the cheek, whispered that I love him and let my mind go blank, hoping to doze back into, this time, a dreamless slumber.

When the alarm went off at 7 am, I groggily rose out of bed. I heard David chuckle. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. You look like you went out and partied after I fell asleep last night."

"Haha, very funny. No, I wasn't partying, I woke up about 4:30 from a nightmare."

"What kind of nightmare? Why didn't you wake me?"

"You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn't have the heart to wake you."

I then proceeded to explain to him the nightmare with every detail I could remember. David just sat there listening intently until I was finished, his eyes never leaving mine. His head just nodded in understanding about what I was telling him. I am most comfortable with him and can tell him anything. He has an open mind and has never judged me nor has he ever dismissed anything I say. I can pour my heart and soul to him with no worries or regrets. He always helps me look for a solution to any problem I bring to him without being rash or chastising me. This is one of the reasons why I love him so much.

When I was finished, the first thing he asked me was what I thought it meant. I told him I honestly wasn't sure. I've never had a dream that was so vivid and clear, like I was right there in the scene. This one though, was presented to me as if I was a bystander watching from the sidelines. I've also never remembered so much detail from a dream after waking up. I can't imagine that it was real since I'm not a psychic or anything and hell, I don't even believe in that kind of stuff.

As we pondered, we realized that neither one of us knew a Liz. As a last resort, I reminded David of what she looked like, hoping maybe he would recognize one of her features. He told me he knew of no one fitting her description and features. Coming up with nothing, we decided to just let it go and start getting ready for work.

David is an attorney for a small firm just outside of Philadelphia. He has been with them for a little over 3 years now. He loves it and I couldn't be any more proud of him. I am the manager of a clothing store in the local mall. I started working there 5 years ago in sales, working only the weekends while I was still a senior in high school. After high school, I started community college pursuing a business degree. I figured I would continue to work at the store to help pay for college. When they offered me the management position with a beautiful starting salary, my college education took a spot on the back burner.

After showering and brushing my teeth, I straightened my shoulder length auburn hair and applied light makeup. I only wear enough to accent my features, I don't like to wear a lot of it. I dressed in a pantsuit, put on earrings and my watch (I never take my engagement ring off) then went downstairs to make breakfast. I put the coffee pot on and then grabbed the newspaper from the porch's front step. Wanting something light to eat, I settled on a half of grapefruit with a pinch of sugar. I sliced a bagel and placed it in the toaster oven for David since he's not much a "fruit for breakfast" kind of person. As I was pouring the coffee into the mugs, I heard David thumping down the stairs. I let out a light chuckle at how ungraceful he can be, but I love him all the same. I set the coffee mugs on the kitchen table next to the sugar and creamer. Then I grabbed his toasted bagel and spread cream cheese on it as he turned on the small kitchen television. He loved watching the morning news while I chose to read the newspaper during breakfast. I sat down with my grapefruit and started reading.

Usually I would head straight to the comics but today I found myself wandering to the obituaries first. I slowly scanned through wondering if I would find a Liz, Elizabeth, or any other variation of her name listed there. Not seeing her name, I then rescanned to check all the ages of the deceased. No one under the age of 64 was listed. 'Well that's good, I guess', I thought.

"What's good, sweetie?"

"Oh, I didn't realize I said that out loud. I was just going through the obituaries and didn't find a Liz and everyone listed is over 64 years old."

"Honey, don't let it eat you up. I'm sure it was nothing but a bad dream."

"Yeah. I'm sure that's all it was. I just can't get over how real it seemed."

"Well, how about after work tonight, we go out for dinner then when we get home, I can help you take your mind off that nightmare and leave you dreaming of only me" he exclaimed while winking at me.

I walked over to him and sat on his lap wrapping my arms around his neck. "That sounds like a fabulous idea" I told him while planting small kisses all around his jawline and neck. He leaned in and kissed my lips, slowly and sensually, deepening it so that our tongues met with pure passion. Breaking the kiss, I leaned my forehead against his. "I love you so much, David."

"I love you too, Kate."

"We need to go. I have to be at the store early for the delivery. And you need to figure out where you are taking me tonight." I said with a wink as I rose from his lap.

He helped me bring the dishes to the sink and kissed my forehead. "It will be a surprise, we'll go as soon as I pick you up from work tonight."

"I can't wait. Let me finish up here and I'll meet you in the car. Will you go and start it so the heat will be on when I get out there? Pleeeaaassee?" I dragged out, begging him with my puppy eyes and pouty lip. It usually does the trick, he can't resist my pouty lip.

"Sure thing" he said grabbing his keys and jacket and heading out the front door.

I finished washing the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen counter from the small mess I made while preparing breakfast. When I was done, I ran back upstairs to grab my purse. Walking to the front door, I forgot the kitchen television was still on so I went to turn it off. While reaching for the remote, I was shocked into stillness, tears flooding to my eyes. Staring back at me from the TV was a picture of a missing young girl, about my age. I couldn't concentrate on what the reporter was saying, all I could do was stare.

"Baby, we have to go, what's taking you so long?" David yelled from the entrance to the kitchen.

He noticed my stilled stance, remote still in my hand frozen in midair, and the tears now falling freely down my cheeks. Running over to me he grabbed my shoulders, facing me towards him. "What's wrong, what happened, are you ok?"

I looked at him with my tears still falling. I couldn't get the words out that we're now stuck in my throat. Closing my eyes and steadying my breathing, I replied, "It's her."

"Who?"

"It's Liz"

He looked over at the TV. "Oh, shit!"