Another Dreary Hunt: Forbidden Studies

4 O'Clock: Return

The thick air rushed back into my once punctured lungs, filling up with that beautiful force of life. The faded thoughts in my mind becoming clear, coherent, I sat up to feel the wind on my face. I took a moment to revel in it, the cool air running through my hair - I was scared I would lose that forever. That was when I noticed the sobs, gentle and quiet, as if being muffled. I slowly opened my eyes, a tricky task as a crust of blood stuck my eyelids together, and saw her.

Rom was sitting in the grass before me, her body lax and mouth tightly closed. I saw the streams of tears running down her hardened cheeks. "R-Rom-?" I tried to ask, until I was silenced by her pouncing on top of me. I fell back into my bushy grave, the girl crying into my chest. She was quiet, but I felt the grief that swelled in her heart as each sob was long and seemingly exhausting. I raised my hand and stroked the back of her head, staring up into the dead swaying branches of the woods. They were my confirmation, I was definitely alive. No afterlife would allow something so twisted and rotten. Yet jut behind them were those mysterious diamonds, the stars hanging distantly above us. Unchanging, undying.

After a few minutes Rom began to calm down, her shaken voice attempting to speak. "I-I thought I l-l-lost you..." She looked up at me with those crystal blue eyes. "I didn't know what to do."
"Well, I'm still here. It'll take more than some quicksilver bullets to kill me." I laughed, the tension causing a slight pain in my chest. "I'd never leave you alone like that, you know I wouldn't." I smiled, running my thumb through her hair. "You'd better not," she sniffed, "But in case you do..." She lunged up and planted her lips on mine. My eyes widened in shock as I pulled away slightly, before gently returning the kiss. It lasted for what felt like hours, just the two of us in limbo. A swirling, pleasant dream where nothing could harm us. Our fears, our pains all drifted away, if for just a fleeting moment. She broke away, "I've been meaning to do that for a while." a smile danced across her face. "Well, don't stop now!" I laughed and pulled her back, for if we ceased we would fall back into that nightmare.

After we eventually stopped Rom stood and brushed the stray leaves from her robes, helping me up as she did. I struggled but eventually managed to take a few steps forward on my own, Rom watching on. "We need to get you back to Byrgenwerth, you need rest."
"That's the most sensible thing I've heard all night." I laughed, standing up relatively straight. "Do you think those...Things will still be looking for us?"
"We can't rule it out, so let's stay off the beaten track." Rom took the lead, charging ahead into the thicket. The darkness was beginning to recede as dawn approached, making the forest easier to navigate.

Silently we both decided not to talk about the kiss back then, whether it was to save us from distraction or because we were both too awkward. Regardless of the reason, it helped. I felt the little fitters of glee in my heart, a quiet comfort for the two of us. But as we were not talking, freaking out over the sparks of love, we could listen for the growls. Low rumbling tones which creeped through the vegetation before us, I grabbed Rom and pulled her behind a log. We saw a creature, white robes dangling from its hunched, bloodied back as its wirey white fur waved in the foul breeze. It's face was no longer human, I wondered if it even had eyes as the creature's head was split down the middle. Rows of yellow teeth lined the edges of the vertical mouth, I could see its green breath as it looked around. Rom was shaking, tears forming in her eyes as two more crawled from the darkness, one holding a torch and sporting a brooch.

Rom's POV

I knew them, they were some of the last students to volunteer for the hunters. One was a girl of just eighteen, the other was her brother. Now they were snarling, sniffing like bloodhounds - Searching for us. Our friends, now the enemy. I wondered what would become of us, would Chess become one of those things sooner or later? Is there any way to save him?

Perhaps. Perhaps...Oh God, perhaps...

Chester's POV

We hugged close to the log as they drew nearer, their hoarse breath in our ears. I looked to Rom, whose eyes were bolted forward, and by her head long white claws clicked against the wood. I froze. The long fingers tapped along the bark as I saw its drooling head crane over, right above Rom. She noticed as its saliva dripped onto her, she could not move yet I felt her grip my hand tightly. It was almost painful as a deafening silence now surrounded us.

Rom's POV

Do not scream. Do. Not. Scream. DO NOT SCREAM. Its head was so close, its breath filled my lungs and I felt I would drown. I slowly looked to my left, too scared to even breathe, and saw Chester looking at me. His eyes told me what I already knew, "Be quiet!" he was silently screaming.

But how could one be quiet, as the bloodied claws of a former friend brushed against your shoulder - Their rotten fangs clamping down on your arm.