Secrets In The Shadows

Orion

Almost time, almost there my love.

I look up, admiring the now eight stars, soon to be ten, and then eleven. I finger my quiver and my pack of arrows. What kind of Hunter would I be without my tools?

Soon I've reached the parking lot of the store where he works. I check my watch. He should be out any second now.

Slam! I lift my head up at the sound of the back door opening and slamming shut. Conner stands there, in his civilian clothing.

I smile. I take out an arrow from my quiver along with a few strips of cloth as well as my lighter. I grab the arrow and tuck it underneath my armpit. Next I grab my lighter and click until an orange flame appears.

Quickly taking the arrow from underneath my armpit, I poke the arrow through the strip of cloth. I bring the flame closer to the cloth until whoosh!. The cloth is on fire, the flames alive and dancing.

I take my bow off my shoulder and hook the arrow through the notch. I keep an eye on Conner, I breathe in then breathe out. I pull the string until it's taut.

I am the Hunter

I release the flaming arrow across the lot and watch as it sails through the air and into Conner's shoulder. He staggers but before her can let out a scream, I've already notched two more arrows.

Twang! Twang! They sail through the air and hit him in the left arm and right shoulder. He screams. His body halfway on fire.

I notch three more and release. They embed themselves in a row from his stomach to his chest. He gurgles and there's a crackle as the fire quickly spreads. I notch my last two.

I pull back.

Suddenly he locks eye contact with me. His face shows recognition, shock and fear in a matter of three seconds. I see him mouth my name.

I smile, wishing I could wave at him instead. I release my last two and watch as they sail into both his eyes.

He drops onto his back, his entire body in flames. I shake my head in wonder at my such accuracy.
Those archery classes certainly came in handy.

I look up at the sky. Nine twinkling stars look down upon me. I smile and quickly start retreating from the crime scene onto my next one. The loud sirens of the police and fire departments indicating their arrival and soon to be another failure goading my mission even more.

.............................................................

I walk a couple blocks before arriving at my next destination, along with my next victim. I look up at the building, at the words Myers funeral home.

I enter, carrying my duffle bag with me. The bell jingling above my head. In front of me is a mahogany desk with a bell on top. I walk up and ring it.

"Hang on!" A voice from the back calls out. A second later rushing footsteps can be heard before Scott Myers, a pale skinned teen with curly brown hair and green eyes appears.

When his eyes land on me his brow furrow in confusion. " Oh hey, what are you doing here?" he asks. I clear my throat before answering. " My uncle died and we're looking for a coffin for him. My mom is at work so she sent me. Is there any way for me to take a look in the back at the coffins?".

He frowns. " Hey I'm sorry about your Uncle but...I'm not really supposed to let anyone in the back without my Pops being here but he's on his break".

Hmm, that's even better. At least he'll be found quickly

I blink at him, as if in shock at being denied and let tears fill my eyes and my voice slightly waver. "But But I have to pick out a coffin today because his death was so sudden and we don't have that much money for a headstone yet and we thought the burial would bring everyone enough closure. Please". I beg him.

He stares at me before biting down on his lip and sighing. " Alright, Alright. I'll take you back there just hurry up, I'm not supposed to let anyone back there while my Pops is out".

He steps from around the desk and heads through an open door to the back room, gesturing for me to follow him.

He leads me to the back of the room where rows of mahogany coffins line up against each side of the room as well as the middle of the room. Scott turns around and gestures towards them. "Look around and take your pick"

I stand there, looking at each coffin. After a while I hear a sigh from behind me. I turn around to find Scott leaning against a coffin lazily. "Are you done yet?" he asks.

I smirk. "Almost". I head towards a coffin near the wall and open up both sides. "Hey, what are you doing? You're not allowed to open these". Scott comes to my side.

When he reaches up to close the coffin, I let my finger go, grab him by his hair and slam his head into the wall. He grunts in pain and swings his arms towards my body.

I let go of his head momentarily to grab both his arms and pull them behind him. Holding them with one hand, I lift up my foot and place it in the middle of his back. I push my foot on his back hard while simultaneously pulling his arms away from him.

He lets out a scream of agony and soon I hear a pop! and his arms fall loosely from my hands, dangling there. He falls to the floor sobbing, turning around so his back is against the wall.

I stand there, looking down above him breathing heavily. I dislocated his shoulders. A smile adorns my face as I realize how strong I'm getting with each sacrifice. How so very close I am to achieving my goal.

I take a step towards him,and drag him by his armpits towards the coffin. He starts begging for his life. "Pl-please don't kill me! I'm-I'm sorry! You don't have to do this, please don't do this". Tears stream down his cheeks, out of fear or pain I have no idea. Maybe both.

I drag him inside the coffin. He starts to recite the Dear Heavenly Father prayer. I snort in amusement. Wrong God to pray to buddy

I place his arms crossed over his chest, knowing he won't be able to move them from that position. Done I step away, with my hand on the lid ready to close it.

I give him one final look. At the tears steadily flowing down his face. At the complete expression of terror. Funny, they all had terror in the end. Never hatred

I smile and shake my head in fondness at the memory of the other sacrifices. I close the lid with a soft bang echoing throughout the back room.

I look at the blood on the wall, left by the head wound. Obtaining an idea, I dip my finger in the blood and write a name in it, for both the police and Brandon's dad to find.

Done with my mission for the night, I walk out the funeral home and out onto the sidewalk. I begin the trek back to my neighborhood, smiling all the way. A lone thought in my head all the while.

Almost done, Almost time.