The Hunting

Chapter 24

AUTHOR'S NOTE:  Warning, there is some graphic content in this chapter. If that makes you uncomfortable, please skip farther down in the chapter to where there is a big gap. Please enjoy. 

My eyes gently opened as I was standing in a bright field. There were no trees, no water in sight. The sun is high in the bright blue sky. There are no clouds to see. Nothing is to be seen expect the neverending rolling hills of lush green grass. Normally, this would terrify me, but I felt peaceful, serene even. I don't know why, but I smiled widely. I was started running laughing gleefully as the grass and the rolling hills passed beneath my feet. I felt like I was flying. I looked down. My feet were still on the ground.

I looked up and I was in a completely different place. I instantly knew where I was. I'm in the Burrow. I was in the town square. I looked around at all the places, I wildly looked around trying to find someone, anyone. No one is around. I started running again. I was running towards my house. I got there in an instant. I ran through my house, but no one was there. I looked for my mom, there was no sign of her anywhere. I started panicking. I ran out of my house. I don't know what or where I'm running to, I'm running blindly. All of a sudden, I'm where I met the hunters for the first time. Nothing was there. I was alone in the opening, I felt sad for some odd reason. I heard someone call my name. It was Jaiver behind me. I smiled at him. He didn't return it. My chest felt tight. I noticed he was looking behind me. I heard him call my name again, this time louder. Arden. I shook my head, I tried to respond, but no sound came out of my mouth. Arden. I looked at him, fear consuming me. He was pointing behind me. Arden. I looked behind me and saw a shadowy figure run towards me. I couldn't make out who it was. I tried to run, but my feet were stuck to the ground. The figure reached out a hand and grabbed my throat. This thing is choking me. I heard a scream. Arden!

My eyes flew open with a start. I was laying on Pietra's bedroll, where I fell asleep that night. I can still see the stars and a full moon above me. I couldn't breathe. I looked at the person who has strangling me. This person was a stranger. It was a man. This man that gray straggly hair. He had a wild look in his eyes and smile on his when he realized I woke up. He was wearing dirty and ratty clothes. His teeth were rotted and so yellow that they didn't look like teeth. I tried to swing my arms to get him off of me, but I was weak in comparison to his iron grip on me. I was clawing at him, trying to do something, anything. I tried to gasp for air but to no avail. I tried to call out for help but I couldn't do anything. My vision was starting to go black. He spit on my face as he spoke, his voice was raspy like he hasn't drunk water in days, "You filthy, disgusting bitch. You're trying to come and get their friend, aren't you? Too bad this will be the last time you – "

All of a sudden, his grip softened. I looked up at him through my hazy vision to see his eyes wide. I looked down at his chest, a sword peaking out right where is heart should be. His hands released their hold on my neck as he fell limp on top of me. I felt my shirt get sticky with his blood. He's dead. I took a breath as I realized I was alive. I tried to roll him off of me, but I can't. I'm too weak. I felt his blood trickle onto me. Someone rolled him off of me. Through blurry vision, I saw Pietra standing above me sword in hand. She looked off somewhere else. She started running out of my sight. I tried to see where she was going, but I was trying to catch my breath and I was still seeing spots. I looked over at the dead man, his cold, dead eyes were staring at me. Blood was oozing out of his wound as he laid their limp. I took a quick breath. I think I'm about to puke. I tried to sit up, but I felt a hand on my back helping sit up. I vomited. I felt the hand rub my back gently, as I heaved.

After I was done and trying to catch my breath, I looked over at who helped me. It was Nate. He handed me my water. As I took a couple of big gulps I heard him sniffle. I realized he was crying. I looked at him, bringing my water down to my side. His blonde hair was messy and his face was tight as he tried to contain his tears. I spoke, my voice tired and raspy, "Nate why are you crying?"

He grabbed the back of my head and pulled me towards him in a tight embrace, "I'm crying because you almost died. You idiot."

I returned the embrace, still in shock of what just happened. I responded lightly, "Shouldn't I be the one calling you an idiot? You're squishing the person that almost got strangled to death and just puked."

He let me go with a gasp, "I am so sorry. I just – I just. I just couldn't help it."

Before he could say anymore, I wiped his tears away. I smiled at him, "Nate, I'm fine. Yeah, my throat hurts, but I'm alive. Thank you for worrying about me. Now, help me up so I can figure out what happened."

He stood up and grabbed my hand. We took some steps away from the puke. Luckily, I didn't get any on me or Nate. I could tell that he was worried about me, so when he put an arm around my back for support, I did not stop him. I looked at the man who tried to kill me, I cleared my throat as I looked away. This is the first time I have seen a human die. I looked to see Calum walking towards us, a cut on his cheek and arm. In the distance, I saw Pietra and Don running up the hill after someone that I can't make out.

"Goddammit!"

I jumped as I turned around to see a surprisingly angry Jaiver. He threw the sword that he had in his hand on the ground. He stormed off in the opposite direction of everyone. I looked as his retreating figure baffled. What happened? I looked between Calum and Nate to see if I could get a response. Calum shook his head and muttered a quick "later" as he walked off after Jaiver.

We stood in silence for a moment. For me, it was well needed. I almost died. If Pietra didn't kill that man I would be dead. Is he a scavenger? Where did he come from? Were there others? Nate turned me around to face him, he looked me up and down. His hands moving to hold my hands tenderly. He winced when he saw my neck. He looked at me, eyes still watery, "There are bruises forming around your neck. Hopefully, someone has extra clothes so you don't have to wear that blood-stained shirt. Are you alright though? Can I get you anything?"

I held my hand up to stop him, "Nate, I am alright. I am just very thankful that Pietra saved me. What happened?"

Before he could answer my question I heard my saviors voice behind me. "The asshole is going to get it! How dare they sneak upon us in the middle of the night. I can't believe that slimy bastard got away! Who was fighting him off?"

"Pietra, they are scavengers. That's what they do. Just be happy that they sent the weak ones. You took care of one, Calum took care of the other."

"Don, one of them got away! What and the hell are we supposed to do? That one is going to get back to them and let them know where we are! Who knows how soon it will be until they come back to finish the job. They know we are coming. The element of surprise is gone!"

Don tried to soothe Pietra but to no avail. I could tell she was shaken up. I decided to thank her for saving me. I shook off Nate's grip as I walked closer to Pietra. I stood in front of her as she looked at me. I spoke quickly, "Thank you for saving my life. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

She was silent for a moment. After a while, she shrugged. "It's not a big deal. Just know that I expect you to do the same when the time comes."

I nodded. The silence that came after was unbearable. Knowing that two dead men were near was enough to make me even want the silence.