The Binding (ON HOLD)

Chapter 3

"I don't want to go with you.", I say vehemently. The words do nothing to stop Hunter. He hasn't used his magic yet to lock me into place and that surprises me. Maybe he thinks in my weakened state I won't be able to go far before he catches up with me. My back hits the wall and Hunter reaches the same platform I'm on. To my relief, he stays as far away as the platform allows us.
"Doctor Carrington told me your name is Soren." Out of all the things he could have said, I didn't expect that. An attempt to strike up a normal conversation. "You ran away from home? Why?"
"I didn't want to be an Espíritu.", I explain. As soon as the word leave my mouth I wonder why I am telling him this. I should just try to get away and have Doctor Carrington explain everything to Hunter.
"The testers were going to come by my school and I knew I was one, but I didn't want to go to the Academy. I still don't want to go there. I ran away to hide from them."
Hunter cocks his head. "Is there a particular reason you hate us so much?"
My hands are trembling, and I think Hunter is aware of this. "I don't want to have any part in killing. The Academy trains people to become hunters and murderers."
Hunter laughs. "If you hate hunters, it's no surprise you're so reluctant to give me a chance. That's literally my name!" I frown.
"Can you deny that once you leave the Academy, your services are given to the military, who will then use you to fight wars and hunt people?"
My question sobers Hunter up. He studies me carefully, looking for something. "No.", he says. "I can't deny that for the most part, magic is used for violent purposes."
I nod. At least he was being honest. It was the first quality I could respect about him. "I don't want to be the source of the power that kills people. I would rather die than cause the death of hundreds of other people. Once you reach a certain number of people you killed, chances are you killed an innocent person. I don't want that."
"So you ran away at age eleven and hid for the past four years?" Hunter's voice is incredulous. "You were actively planning on dying? You wanted it?"
"And then you come along and destroy it." I'm glowering at him, but I can't help it. Hunter is still staring at me as if I had suddenly announced I was a djin, with a mixture of fear and incredulity.
"I can't believe you planned your own death.", he mutters.
"And I will do it again." It wasn't meant as a threat, but Hunter whips his head around and locks eyes with me.
"What do you mean?" There is a tremble in his voice. I can see his hand going to his chest, where his heart lies, as if the thought of my death was causing him pain.
"I would rather die than be the cause of other people's death. Our bond changes nothing in that regard. I will die before I set foot inside the Academy. Can't you just let me go?" I can hear the desperation in my voice, but I don't care. I am desperate. This is my one shot to stay alive.
Hunter stumbles forwards, to where I am standing. He stops a foot away from me. His hands are trembling now, too.
"No, I don't- I don't want to lose you. You can't leave. I won't let you. Where are you going to go?" His words are falling out of his mouth. Mine feel stuck in my throat.
"I don't know. I never do. But I will manage." Said out loud, I realize how incredibly sad that must sound to him, someone who grew up surrounded by the luxuries the Academy offers.
"What if I promise you, you wouldn't have to stay at the Academy? What if you stayed elsewhere? Would you stay? Would you give me a chance?"
I shake my head. "That doesn't change anything about what my power will be used for. Or the fact that you ate my heart without permission."
"I know. I know it was the wrong thing to do. I shouldn't have done it. I was stupid, and I will spend the rest of my life regretting what that did to you. Why don't we take everything one step at a time?", he pleads. "You stay here until the doctors clears you. In the meantime, I will talk to my professors, see if I can find a place for you to stay at. If there is a non-violent way for me to use my magic. Give me a chance to work this out. Please. Stay. Just three more days. If you still want to leave in three days, I will personally see to it that you are set free." I flinch at the sound of his last words. Set free. As if I was a prisoner.
"Okay." I don't believe the word that comes out of my mouth. Neither does Hunter, apparently. His eyes widen, and he opens his mouth.
"Really?"
I nod. "Yes, I will stay. Three days, but not longer."
"That's all I need.", he assures me. A wide smile spreads on his face. He runs a hand through his hair. "You're staying. Wow. I can't believe you're really staying. And you are not going to throw me out of your room?"
"If you annoy me, I will."
"Fair enough." Hunter hasn't stopped grinning. "Man, I can't wait to tell Elena and Marc about this."
Usually I would have asked who Elena and Marc were, but in that moment a wave of tiredness sweeps over me and I sway where I'm standing. Hunter notices the change immediately.
"Are you alright?" he asks, a line forming between his brows. This constant surveillance is already getting on my nerves. I was told that Elementars are very protective of their Espíritus, sort of like a masterchef to his secret ingredient, but this was a little over the top in my opinion.
"Fine. Just tired."
"Let's go back to your room. Do you want my help? I mean, would you mind if I- do you mind if I-?"
"What, Hunter?" The words come out a little bit harsher then intended. Hunter swallows.
"Can I touch you? If you need my help getting back to the room, I'm going to touch your skin, even if I try not to."
"Couldn't you just use your little wind magic?", I ask.
Hunter's face drop. "Yeah, I guess.", he mutters. I wave him off with one hand.
"Never mind. You were bound to get a shot or two during my stay. We might as well do the first one now." For some reason I found it touching that he had been willing to use his magic to help me, because I didn't want him touching me.
Hunter takes a slow step forwards and carefully wraps one arm around me to prep me up. His hand touches the skin of my upper arm and we both tense. Hunter lets out a small groan, his eyes closing unintentionally and we he opens them again, there is a shine to them. "I can't believe you are still producing energy when you can't even walk on your own."
I don't react to that statement and we shuffle towards the door. This time, I get to take the elevator. We receive a couple of strange looks, but no one stops us until we reach my floor. Doctor Carrington is standing in the doorframe of my room, talking agitatedly to a nurse. We he sees us, he hurries towards us.
"Ms. Adler, what are you doing out of bed?"
To my surprise, Hunter jumps in to cover for me. "She was sick of lying in bed. She's been in that bed for three weeks, Doctor Carrington. I'm sure you can understand."
Doctor Carrington's eyes fly from Hunter to me and back to Hunter. "Well, you two seem to have worked out your problems quickly. Ms. Adler, I understand that you were impatient to get out of bed, but please ask me the next time you want to do so."
"I will, Doctor Carrington.", I promise. The doctor nods.
"Let's get you back to bed. You look like you might fall over any minute." He comes to stand on my other side. As soon as his arm is around me, Hunter steps back. I shoot him a surprised look, but he doesn't react and just follows me into my room. I lie down in bed and Hunter falls into the chair to my left. I close my eyes but there's a tension in my stomach that won't let me rest. I crack an eye open and turn my head to where Hunter is still slouching in his chair.
"Are you planning on staying here all day?"
Hunter looks up. "I thought you were asleep." I don't say anything and wait for him to answer my question. He shrugs. "And yes. Where else am I supposed to be?"
"I don't know. But I can't sleep with you in the room." Hurt flickers across his eyes. To my surprise, he doesn't resist, simply takes up his chair and walks to the door.
"I will be outside, if you need anything." Before I can say anything else, he leaves the room and closes the door behind him. I push the imagine of his grey eyes when he heard me saying I wanted him out of the room out of my mind and snuggle deeper into the blanket. It's something I haven't done in a while. Soaking up the comfort of being in a warm, soft place, I fall asleep within minutes.