The Prey

Nightmare after nightmare

I woke from a nightmare screaming. I couldn't remember what it was about, as if the memory of it evaporated as soon as my eyes opened. I heard footsteps rushing towards me and I quickly put my arms infront of my face as a defense mechanism.
"Lisa, its okay its me." I heard a soothing voice whisper infront of me. Dane, damnit.
"Thanks for scaring me shitless, you ass." I snapped "Where did you come from?"
"I nodded off in the corner of your room." He said nervously, as if I was going to beat him for that fact alone. I felt around the wall for the light switch which I found after a while and filled the room with a dim yellow light. Dane and I both jumped back when we discovered how close are faces were. As I jumped back I hit my head on the wall.
"Shit."
"I am so sorry." He murmured. He looked awful: His eyes were blood shot and tired, he had creases on one side of his face from where he slept and, most disturbingly of all, he had a bruise on his chin from where I punched him during training. I felt worse than he looked. I crawled over to him and kneeled in front of him. I gently placed my hand underneath his chin and inspected it. It was only a little swollen, but very bruised. "I'm so sorry." I whispered, still astonished by what I did. I guess I underestimated what I was capable of and that made me frightened.
I guess Dane saw the fear in my expression and he lightly kissed me on the forehead. Wait.
"What?!" I thought out loud. Crap.
"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you feel uncomf- sorry." He stumbled over his words. I would be lying if I said it made me feel uncomfortable. It was quite the opposite, it made me feel safe and secure. He had that effect.
"Shut up." I whispered before kissing him back. I've known him for a few days but, yet, I trust him. It's funny what you do when you know you could very well die any day. When I, quickly, break from him hid eyes are wide and he looks comically shocked.
"Shut up." I repeat and trudge back to my bed, turning my back on him.
At least five minutes of silence pass before I choose to look at him again and he was grinning like an idiot. Is he ok? Do I need
To call someone? Does he need to take any pills?
"You're creeping me out." I state nervously.
He clears his throat and his face glows red.
"Seriously, are you okay? Do you want to breath into a bag? What's happening?" I question.
"Hmm, what? I'm fine. Just happy." He says still giving me that "I just won a million pounds" smile.
"What has got you so cheery?" I ask, genuinely concerned.
"Are you serious? Did the last ten minutes just happen in my mind?" He laughs stupidly.
"That? You're seriously ecstatic over THAT?" I demand.
"Yep," He chuckles "I think I like you." Please, someone, give me strength to deal with him.
"I think you're sleep deprived. Now go to your own room and go sleep for a few hours, or days." I order.
"Aww," he sighs and trudges towards the door but stops and quickly presses a kiss to my cheek then sprints out of the door before I can retort.
"I HATE YOU!" I scream down the hallway.
"If you hated me you wouldn't have snogged me." He says after popping his face around the corner of the hallway so that no one else can hear. I roll my eyes at him as I slam the door shut. From outside I can hear him laughing hysterically. What now? Sleeping was pointless, my mind was occupied with more important stuff, like keeping my friends alive, what I'm going to do about the killing thing and yes, admitedly, I was also thinking about Dane. I paced across my room repeatedly, muttering nonsense only I would understand. I bite my nails raw until I'm relaxed enough to sit down. I noticed a small band in the corner of my room. I approached it cautiously. Dane's watch. I smiled to myself, as if this small token brought order to my disorganised world. It kind of did. I checked the time: 4:34 am. No point sleeping now. I'll spend my time wisely, thinking and exercising.
Time passed and soon enough the watch let out an annoying beeping sound. 6:30. I thought nothing of it and continued
Doing press ups.
After another hour I was knocked out of my exercising trance by a scream from down the hallway. I got up and harvested all my energy to sprint towards the sound. I turn the corner and am met with a sight that i will never get over for as long as i live. Phoebe and Sienna stand, crying into each others arms with blood oozing out of each of their lips. Chance kicks and shouts at a shivering body on the floor.. Dane. I run over to him and barely miss a boot in the face.
"CHANCE, STOP IT!" I scream from the top of my lungs.
"Its his own fault." He growls at me without moving his eyes from Dane.
"YOU'RE KILLING HIM!" I shout, using my body to shield Dane from another blow to the stomach. His foot clashes into my throat and i try to screech out in pain but it makes my throat worse. I shoot Chance a glare that says "back the hell up" and without me saying anything he turns his back and marches away confidently.
"What happened?" I choke.
"He didn't get up on time so Chance came to us to punish Dane but he wasn't having it and after we both got cut in the mouth he said that Chance shouldn't punish him by abusing us so he took the punishment and more for us." Phoebe blubbers.
I hesitantly turn to Dane. I was still wearing his watch, the reason why he was in this mess. Blood was pouring out of his nose, lip and forehead and spilling on to the tiled floor. His eyes were shut and blackened and his body was a complete shivering wreck.
"Dane?" I managed to whisper.
His eyes opened slowly as if they were being forced together "Hi." He whimpered but it seemed too much and he said no more.
"Dane!" Sienna screamed. No. No. No. He cant do this. I check his pulse, faint but its there. I use several panicked hand signs to signal to the two girls that they need to pick up Dane and follow me since I can barely talk. I keep it together until we get to my room but something about being there with him, broken, made me lose it. I collapse next to his body and find breathing difficult. Maybe it's my throat or maybe its the fact that Dane looks like, well like he's dead. Phoebe and Sienna sob in the corner.
"Will he be okay?" Phoebe asks, composing herself. I look at her with tears brimming in my eyes. She gives a nod that shows she accepts that I just don't know. He could be bleeding internally and that I cant help.
"You studied this kinda thong didn't you?" I ask Sienna.
"Well, yeah but-" she stammers, but as if a surge of energy, adrenaline I suppose, shot through her, she transforms and she drops next him. Time is scarce, so are supplies but I'm not letting him down without a fight.