The Hunt

Part 16

THE HUNT

PART SIXTEEN

Katia

I watched as Elsie strolled over to where I was with a huge grin. With one leg hanging down the dark hole beneath me, I was so tempted to just jump down into the darkness.

Suddenly the room got darker and I looked up at the sky lantern. A huge grey cloud was roaming over us. I looked back at Elsie and she was pouring herself a glass of champagne by the side of the room.  

I stared at my fear, not even affected by the sight of me. Me? That's a different case. I had to bite the insides of cheeks to stop my lip trembling. This girl took away my family from me...now she wants something else, and, yeah, I was scared.

"Not so immune now, are you?" Elsie said. I looked back at her as she sipped from the tall glass. Her raven hair was longer than I remembered - something I once envied.

How?

"Katia - the girl who lost everything." Elsie let the glass slip from her fingers, letting the champagne spill everywhere, and a thousand pieces of glass with it. She took a step towards me. "But it's not like that, is it?" she hissed.

Silence. I forgot about the angels standing around me with their beaten wings. I wanted to jump down the hole beneath me, so badly. But I couldn't.

Literally. My whole body was numb, and even though the fear was still there, it wasn't the fear that froze me to the spot. It was Elsie.

I tried to move again but it was useless. It was clear Elsie was using.her power, so I decided to weaken her. I tried to move again and again, and my plan was working until she stepped forward and her hand hit my face.

I felt blood rise to my cheek, but I refused to show any weakness. I swallowed the small amount of blood from my lower lip. It healed quickly.

Then, I jumped. I fell into darkness for a spilt second before I hit the ground. I landed well, considering the darkness around me. I used my smell to guide me around.

A beam of light opened up and I saw someone jump through. Probably an angel.

"I'm impressed, Katia."

Definatly not an angel. I reached to my boot and pulled out a small knife. It was in my palm, at the ready to strike. I walked backwards until my back hit something. I pulled the chain on my wrist and it stopped at this point. I walked around it.

"Hiding, Katia? Come on, angel."

A light flickered on and I looked up.at a single bulb flickered on and I saw an angry Elsie was running at me. I hacked at the chain and a huge spark flew everywhere. I heard Elsie's chilling scream before the sparks calmed a little.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my mouth. My instincts kicked in and I spun around. Elsie waa grinning at me.

"I was hoping you would put up a fight."

She threw a punch at me but I dogded it. I let out a winded gasp as she kicked my stomach. I whipped my leg around her ankles and she fell. I climbed on her and held my knife high.

Before it struck, I heard someone clear their throat behind me. Elsie smiled as I faced the intruder.

"Sorry, am I inturrupting?" Tom asked.

"No, no. It's okay," Elsie said. She rolled and I fell off of her with a small yelp. Elsie chuckled and pecked Tom on the lips.

My eyes were starting to water as Tom stared at me. I blinked back the tear as words echoed through my mind. Pathetic, lying player!

I stood up, hiding the bit of my heart that sunk. So what? I hate him.

Instead, I got the knife and struck the chains, but it hit the floor right by the chains. They all flew loose and Elsie screamed. She hit me again and I flew across the floor.

"Elsie, when are you done?" Tom asked. I heard Elsie run to me.

"Sink the ship at midday. She'll be dead by then." Sink the ship? But there are innocent families on this ship! Then, a kick landed on my head. I blacked out.

I woke up on an uncomfortable stone bed. I groaned and lifted my head up. It felt way too heavy so I rested my head back on the cold, hard stone.

My eyes flew open as the memories came back to me. I sat up quickly and squeezed my eyes shut to stop the dizziness. We were on a ship and...and they were going to sink it!

I looked around the same room with stone beds and stared at the other angels. Most were sleeping but only a few were awake.

"Hey," I whispered. Two angels looked up at me. "They're going to sink this ship. We need to do something."

"We know," one said. "Elsie lead an attack on the crew and the passengers are held hostage."

"Yeah, okay. Do you know where we are?" I asked.

"I thought you were the Sherlock here," the other angel said bitterly. I ignored her.

"I don't know," the first angel said. "But there has to be a way to escape, right?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said. "What's your name?"

"Marian."

"Okay. Call me Lauren," I told her. LNow, there has to be an emergency door somewhere. Elsie would've hidden it well, but look for-"

"Found it," Marian annouced. She walked to the sealed door a few feet away. "It's impossible to open, though."

"Use the chain," I suggested. Marian scratched at the sealed door but it did nothing. Even with the unbreakable chain. Then, an idea popped into my mind. But it was risky.

"Okay, I've got an idea. But you're not going to like it."

The fire grew and angels around me were holding back fear. If no one would come, we would all die a very painful death. I faced the door, waiting.

Come on, come on.

The door swung open and guards rushed in. They demanded how it started. Every angel let out a chilling scream and the guards started to untie the chains on their wrists.

All angels followed the guards out of the room. Three guards came to escourt me out of the blazing room. We were all led down the hallway. No one but guards were in the hallways.

We were shut in a new room. No.chains but no windows. It was lighted by a candle in the corner. Not the best idea for a bunch of girls who just started a fire...

I checked all the angels, to see if they were okay and to count them. Eleven. That meant Marian was missing. I hoped she didn't get caught.

"What now?" an angel asked me. She was pretty - obivously - but the candle light made shadows across her heart-shaped face.

"Now, we wait," I said. "I swear to you all, I will kill Elsie. And when I do, run. Okay?" Each angel nodded, apart from one.

"What about you?" she asked.

I shurgged. "I don't know." But I did. I knew Elsie would keep to her word, as would I. It's just who gets who first that matters.