Love for a Hunter

Chapter 5: Rebellious

(Those who listen to the song, please lower the song for your own safety)

Jah-quel

I heard the hammer of pistols and rifles click back, ready to fire as their owners aimed their sights on me, the stench of the bloodthirsty Hunters was nearly comparable to the monsters they swore to fight. Malik said to me, "Jah-quel, my friend, please return to.."  I interrupted him, "To my cell? My self-imposed caged?" Anger took my still-coming emotions, getting stronger and stronger as if a storm was gaining more power before it would reach the shore. "I'm not losing everything in this vicious cycle of my family! I gave Humanity a chance with weapons that could kill even my kind!" I yelled as I walked past the gravestones of my wife and child, the glimmer of humanity in me had faded when their life was snuffed out. Malik screamed for me to return back, but I had enough. It was blood that cursed me and it was blood that resurrected me. I leapt off the grounds, avoiding the fence as I couldn't feel then the shots that were fired upon me by the Order...

I ran to an alleyway, and travelled from alley to alley, attempting to avoid suspicion and the Hunters that would soon chase me down. I began to breathe heavily and sway as I walked. I knew I was losing blood and my consciousness, and fast at that... I used what I could muster to heal myself, it seemed that the bullets went completely through my left thigh, right arm, and torso. "Damn... The Sun hasn't begun to set and I'm going to need blood...." I muttered to myself, my consciousness fading. I fall into a slumber, unaware of what's happening.

I awoke some time later, looking to see I'm surrounded by children gazing at me as a young woman walking towards my laying body and the children move aside, "you endured quite sir, these children saved you and hoped you were alive," she said to me. She then sent the children away, telling them time to eat and inviting me to join them. "I'm sorry, but I must refuse. I don't think I have the strength to walk yet, let alone get out of this bed yet" I responded. Her answer to me surprised me. "If you can't eat, then I'll deliver the food to ya."  I could hear her pumping blood, smell it flowing through her body, my hunger and urge to feed nearly took my sense of reason. I coughed and cleared my throat, thanking her for the offer but refusing again. I knew if I stayed, futures would be lost.

She smiled and went downstairs to help the children, I could hear their heartbeats through however many floors they were from me. I tried not to focus on my hunger and divert my attention to the urgent situation of Hunters and the "Monsters".  I don't know how long I was out, but I need to get out of here, tonight. I'll have to avoid the nightwatch police and the Hunters that patrol during the night. "I need to get out of this place" I said to myself. My focus got interrupted as the young woman spoke, "if you aren't able to get out of the bed, you sure can't walk out of here. And surely without saying 'goodbye'."  I cursed myself for saying it out loud, but I look to see the young, fair skinned brunette sat on the bed, beside my legs so I pulled myself up to create at least some semblance of space. She giggles, "I'm not gonna bite ya".   But I could, I thought.  She handed me the bowl and looked down at it as I held it. I knew this wouldn't restore me, but just a bit of her blood just might. As that thought raced through my head, I looked up, only to a shocked face. I realized I said it and she stood up, frightened, "w-what are you?" She asked, stuttering and looking around for a weapon. "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me, and even if you did, the people hunting me might kill you and the children" I said to her with solemn and regret. "Say what you're saying is true about you being hunted, why should I believe you that we're in danger? And what was that about blood?" She stated and asked. She would be the first human outside of the Order, and long since my wife and child. But I cant tell her I'm a monster that gets hunted. So I began to explain to her, "Well, there have been... creatures, since the dawn of time, most are called 'monsters', because they lived longer then most and consume humans.." She walked closer, after grabbing some sort of steel. I continued, "I was cursed by one of these creatures after my wife and child was killed by them. I want to avenge my family but I must first find the monster that did this..." She then asked, "so the thirst for blood?" I looked down, "the curse that was placed on me..." We hear knocking on the door, "wait, be careful of who is on the other side" I warned her and then another knock, she ran down and I focused my hearing, she opened the door and a man asked, "I'm sorry to intrude this late at night, I'm officer Wilkers and this is Officer Jones, did you happen to see a strange man wondering around here?" I knew that voice, Lantrod was asking, I couldn't be sure if I could trust her to lie for me, so I prepared myself to use what little remained to escape. "I haven't officer, I have children in my care and haven't been outside yet to the market." I hear her heart beating faster and faster, I knew she was scared, but of what, I wasnt sure.  The men left and the woman came back up, "it was the police, looks like..." I interrupted her, "that was not the police, I need to get out of here".  I could feel her scowling at me, "I bought you time, you can at least say 'thank yo'". I interrupted again, I could feel the fury coming off of her, "that was Lantrod, one of many people with a different identity, mainly to hunt 'monsters'. In about a night's rest, an old man and a young woman will come by, asking a similar question, tell those two that I'll be vanished somewhere in the East." She helped me up and off the bed, "what else do you need?" I looked at her, "I need a small amount of blood and a different way out." She revealed her neck and as I was about to sink my teeth, I lowered into her clavicle, hoping to cover the bite with her clothes. I took the little I needed and released before the temptation for more struck. I breathed heavily for a moment. "I need a way out", she lead me to a bedroom, the smell is definitely that unused for years by living...  "You can use my father's clothes and go through the alley second to the right, they will help you."  I looked at her, "you don't have to.." She looks back, "my parents would have my hide for not helping the needy."  I chuckled, "I understand that. But this is a bit much." She threw some clothes into a bag and threw it at me,

I nodded and walked out. "Thank you" I said as I closed the door.