Assassin of the Forest

Chapter 4: Nightmare?

Regan and Martin went back to the receiving room, laughing and telling each other jokes.

Stefan stared at them disapprovingly and spoke to Martin, "Have you told her?" he asked in a cold tone.

Martin nodded and grinned, "She said yes."

Stefan nodded, frowning and shuffled some papers in front of him.

Regan sighed and Martin turned to her, "If anything happens, I'll come in there personally and get you out." he promised.

Regan nodded and pulled out a chair, slouching in it.

Stefan took a deep breath and pointed at the papers, "Sign." he commanded.

Regan took the pen and scrawled her name on the dotted line. "When do I start?" she asked, her tone weary.

Alice, another of Martin's advisers, told her, "Two hours."

Regan shot up, "What?! Two hours?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" she dashed out of the room and ran to her room.

Quickly she threw some clothes into her backpack and looked around her room. Orphaned at a young age, she had never had any personal items except for the keepsakes that she had from hers and Martin's adventures.

Seeing a picture of her and Martin when they had gone on a mountain hike she reached for it to put it in her backpack then paused, realizing it wouldn't be a good idea.

She sighed and slung her backpack over her shoulder, leaving the room.

Martin met her as she was wandering through the halls and smiled encouragingly at her.

She tried to smile back but instead felt her lip quivering. She looked down and bit her lip.

Martin hugged her tightly and rested his chin on her head. 

Regan breathed in deeply and wrapped her arms around him.

"Please tell me this is a nightmare." she murmured, tears welling up in her eyes and her voice breaking.

Martin closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry Regan." he whispered.

Regan looked up at him and lost herself in his swirling brown eyes. "Do I have to go?" she asked softly, tear slipping down her cheek.

Martin brushed her hair back behind her ear and wiped her tear away.

"I'm gonna miss you." she breathed, holding his hand on her cheek with her hand.

"It's only for a little." Martin told her, looking deep into her ocean-blue eyes.

She nodded and looked down, shoulders slumping. Her backpack slid off her shoulders and Martin bent to pick it up.

A bullet whistled through the air where his head had just been.

Regan, acting quickly, knocked Martin down and half-ran, half-crawled in the direction the bullet had come from, down the hall near her room.

Dashing around the corner, she noticed the discarded gun and the figure in black running away.

Putting on a burst of speed she ran after them. The chase was on.