Huntress 2 - NaNoWriMo 2014

Chapter 15

The next song that started playing was discarded because Colm and his friends quickly left and the new group of men started to ask me various questions at a very alarming rate.

Hayes and Marik got them to stop talking and told them I needed to practice so they needed to either shut up or get out. Well, they didn't say it like that, but pretty much the same. They all decided to stay and took seats around the room.

I wasn't actually going to practice today, so I looked at Raymond helplessly.

He ran up to me, "what?"

"I was planning on just dancing and singing for fun today, not practicing." I whispered.

He chuckled lightly, "Well, how about we teach you how to dance like the way you are going to have to at the celebration. I'm guessing you don't know how to dance the way we do."

I scrunched my eyebrows, "yea, probably not."

I bit my lip as he called the guys back over to the dance floor, "today our mission is to teach Clea how to dance like us!"

They all let out a little cheer and smiled toward me. I was now officially scared. Raymond split everyone up so we could have an even number of 'men' and 'women' though there was more men then women in this rom. And when I say women I mean me and these two other girls in the band. There was sixteen men in total.

That is a whole fricking lot. So there was nineteen people in total. Raymond decided to direct me from the side so there would be an even amount. We all lined up and a wave of anxity fell over me like a blanket. Oh crap, I'm going to suck at this.

Raymond hit play like I had showed him how to on Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me'. Then I was walked through the steps of the dance.

It wasn't as hard as I thought it was. I just had to remember what partner I was supposed to switch to at which point in the dance. We must have spent all afternood working on it and re-listening to 'Stay With Me' over and over again.

By dinner I think I had finally gotten it. I would probably have to practice it a few more times, but for now I was good enough.

At dinner time Raymond made me sit with him and his cousin and the rest of the circle people and family. The newer men wanted me to sit with them because I had actually learnt all of their names, but Raymond wouldn't let me.

Dinner was awkward. Well, for me it was.

No one even talked to me once. Not once. Not even Raymond. He was too distracted by the girl I'd found out to be Holly. She was really, really pretty. And young, like twelve or something. I mean  I guess it was okay. Raymond was sixteen. That's only a three year difference. I mean, it still is pretty gross.

But that is how things are done here, and I'm going to have to accept that.

Maybe I'm going to have to marry someone. Will that be something I have to do? That's probably the only way I'm going to be able to live. I can't keep relying on these people forever. Oh man, this is going to suck. I'm going to be like one of those horrible stay at home wives who waits for the dishwasher repair man to come around, aren't I?

Except this time it'll be a centuar. Shit. My life sucks.

"Are you alright?" Marik whispered in my ear. He had been standing behind me a few feet watching. He apparently doesn't need to eat like Hayes and I.

I swallowed hard and shook my head ever so slightly.

"Miss Clea needs to be excused from the table, she is not feeling very well," he said out loud and helped me up from my seat. I saw Raymond look at me with worry but I turned away and Marikfollowed me out. We ended up in our room - yes the other two beds were for him and Hayes - and I fell back onto my bed. It was crazy soft - surprisingly.

I must have laid there for a good five minutes before I got up and walked over to my bag. I pulled out some clothes and Marik was watching me carefully. I sighed as I placed them on my bed, "do you want to go for a run, because I need to go for one."

He scrunched his eyebrows, "a run?"

"Yes," I said exasperaedly, "it helps with stress. Now turn around becasue I need to change."

He slowly turned his body so he was facing the door and I changed into black leggings, a white tanktop, a sweater that stuck to my skin like glue almost and was red. Then I put on my black runners. I lef tmy hair in its messy bun, just bobby pinned a few stray hairs back and told Marik I was ready to go.

He led me out to the yard where the dragons were being fed and I walked away from them and to the edge of the forest. As soon as I got there I took off running. Marik kept up with me quite easily. We weren't going fast, but fast was never my specialty. I was good at continuously runnng for long periods of times.

We passed tree upon tree, bush upon bush, and even the odd clearing. The sun had set from view and it was pitch black by the time I decided to turn around and go back Marik decided to lead the way back just incase something was really out here or I got lost.

We returned very late at night and walked in through the front doors to see various people conversing loudly. As soon as I put one step in the room all heads turned to me. I heard the sighs of relief come from everyone and saw Raymond run over to me.

"Where did you go? We've been looking for you for two hours!"

I raised my eyebrows in surprise, "when I get stressed I go for runs to clear my head. It shouldn't be a big deal."

"What do you mean its not a big deal? Of course it is!" He almost shouted back. Great, we are now back to our arguing selves. Just like in those stupid caves.

"Why is it a big deal?" I shouted, "I don't see how I hold ahy importance here! I could dissapear and I don't think it would effect anyones lives in the slightest!"

"Yes it would!" He shouted back. We had everyones attention now, "how could you even say that?!"

I rolled my eyes, "oh I don't know, mayb the fact that you ignored me all dinner after forcing me to sit with you and your family! Who also decieded to ignore me!" His face fell into sudden realization. "Why do you keep surrounding me with people I don't like or people who don't like me?! I never wanted this to become my life! I never asked tobe shoved into here through the stupid pity all you people carry!"

I looked around at everyone. They were surprised to say the least.

"All I want is to go home! Why can't I just go home!" I felt some tears start to form in my eyes then fall down my face. It was like a waterfall almost and no one said anything. I decided to talk again once before leaving the room. "I hate it here."

Marik followed me as I ran out of the room. It was a wonder my legs were able to carry me because they felt like jello. My whole body felt like jello all the way up until my body hit the bed, then I let it all come out and I cried like I've never cried before.

Even harder than the time on top of the caves.

Worse than the time my dog died.

More than any breakup I've ever went through.

This place was hell, a hell I couldn't escape or change or get away from. This was real and I was stuck here for the rest of my life. Stuck. I felt useless.