Rise of Theo

Chapter 7 : The Hunt Begins

I smelt Marshmallows.
I smelt Marshmallows and Fire. It wasn't a huge building fire or anything.
It sounded like a campfire. The small, rounded logs could be heard aching and breaking. The smoke from the fire made everything behind it look like an inconsistant blur.

I looked up to see a bright and wide lit Full Moon. 
The Moon was swanning, aglow, majestic and full of presence. It felt solemn, quiet and had a sense of grace. 
I felt like it spoke to me with gentle but persistent following.

Suddenly, I'd come to a swift realisation.
I wasn't in Mr. Monroe's secret room anymore. I was in some sort of a forest.
But I recognized this area. It was the Pickadaily Forest on the East Side of town.
It was one of the areas that wasn't pulluted by Molly's Dad, Norman Mable.

Another one of my dreams?, I thought. No, It couldn't be. I wasn't in my baby body.
I tried to move my body to get out of here.
But, Well...I didn't have a body. I was just the eyes and the soul.
I concentrated hard and I stared at the huge tree in front of me. I could feel myself drifting towards it.
Well, atleast I figured out how to move, I thought.

I smelt the burning of the Marshmallows once more. But this time, it was even more entrancing.
I concentrated and stared hard once more, and I started to drift towards the smell.
In about thirty seconds, I reached a small area of clearing.
It was just empty with a ten foot radius. 
Empty, except for the fact that two kids about my age sat on a long piece of wood infront of a small campfire.

One of them was short and had a rottweiler in his lap, which he constantly kept feeding some yellow colored biscuits to.
He had green eyes just like Molly (I wondered if they were related) and golden blonde hair spiked up. 
The dog in his lap had fur which was black as the night itself, and faint orange fur in its fore and hind legs.
Both of them looked equally deadly.

The other kid seemed relatively taller than his partner. 
His eyes were pitch black and constantly looking around; never staying in the same place for even a moment. 
In his hands, was the longest sniper I had ever seen. It was the same color as his eyes; pitch black.
He kept polishing it with some blue piece of fabric. His eyes had a look of chaos when he did this.
He didn't look any less intimidating as his comrade. 
As his dead black eyes looked straight at where my soul was afloat, I almost thought he could see me. 

"What is it, Number four?", asked the short, green eyed dude. 
"Nothing...I just felt something.", said the newly referred Number Four. "Do you feel it too, Number Three?"
"No. But whatever it is, You need to give it a rest.", said Number Three. "You need your energy for the punishment the boss will give you."
"Ugh!", sighed Number Four. "It wasn't my fault. I would've taken him out if it wasn't for that stupid Music that distracted me."
"You know what the boss says.", said Number Three. "NO EXCUSES!"
"Boss says this. Boss says that. It's like you don't have a mind of your own."
"Don't you dare speak ill about the boss," Number Three rose while placing his dog on the ground. "He was a GOD to us. And If you say one more word about him, I swear I'll -"
"Okay. Okay. I'm sorry.", apologized Number Four. "Jeez. Anyway. What are our plans for the boy?"
"Our plans?", said Number Three with a high tone. "You already messed up the first and last chance I gave you. I'm doing this on my own."

Rustling in the bushes nearby shut their conversations down temporarily.
Number Three's Rottweiler started growling as If it knew danger was approaching.
"Down, Boy.", Silenced Number Three. 
Immediately, It fell to the ground on all its legs, as if it took the command too literally.

A duo of stray wolves lined up next to each other showed up from the bushes, sensing some meat to eat.
At first, it was just a staring contest between all four of them. 
Then, the first wolf approached. It took two steps front.
Number Four was locked and loaded with the sniper rifle. 
"No.", said Number Three. "We do not hurt them. We are in their territory." 
"But -", Number Four tried to protest but Three cut him off.
"Let me take care of this.", voiced Number Three.

He took a step front and gave the most menacing glare that anyone could give.
It looked Ten times more effective than a Cobra's stare.
The first wolf, which was in front, stepped back. It turned around and attacked the second one.
Within a matter of minutes, it was over. 
Both wolves lay dead near the campfire.

"Pack up.", said Number Three. "It's time to leave."
"I still don't get how you do that.", Smiled Number Four. 
The two of them packed out their gear and stood up; erect.

"What's his name?", asked Number Three. "The One you failed to take out in the bushes."
"Archero.", said Number Four. "Theodore Archero"

***

I woke up startled for the third time today. It might've been a new record.
I awoke to Espin's face for the second time, and it looked like she was mad.

"Whaaaat?", I asked her.
"You've been muttering The Numbers Three and Four for the past two hours.", she said. "I almost thought you were possesed."
"Wait. Two hours?", I asked. "How did I even pass out?"
"I dunno.", she replied. "Mr. Monroe carried you here.  For a forty year old man, he sure is strong."
"Espin, You should've seen it!", I said enthusiastically. "There were lights and buttons and 'The Count of Monte Cristo' and -"
"Alright, Teddy.", She answered. "The Nurse gave you some medicine. She said you might hallucinate for a while, but other than that, you're good to go."
"Go where?", I asked.
"Home, Silly.", She replied. "You slept through the first day of school."

***

On the Bike ride home, I thought of the strange vision I had. 
Did the two teenagers really plan to kill me? Or did they mean that they wanted to take me out for dinner?
I decided the first one made more logical sense.

I crossed the same road and ended up near the same shrubs that tried to kill me with a sniper rifle. 
I decided not too get to close.

Espin's dad came to pick her up. She said she had to go for some fancy party with a strict dress code.
Which clearly meant that I wasn't invited. 
I still had no Idea where Freddie was. 
I moved passed his house but there were still no signs of anyone inside.

When I finally reached home, I locked the Bike in the Garage and went inside the house.
It was, strictly speaking, still as an untouched puddle. No one seemed to be home. 
It was fine with me.
I went into the kitchen and threw my backpack over the dining table.
I went near the fridge to check out something to eat. (All the fainting had me starved)
A Yellow colored Note was tied to the fridge by some magnets. It read: 

Dear Theodore, 
Your father, Erika and I have gone to your Cousin Stacy's home.
Apparently, she had a little bit of food poisoning. 
There's takeout food in the fridge.
We'll be home by 9. 
- Love,
Mom xoxo

I kept the note back while eating some Oreos. I went to the Main Hall, when suddenly, I heard a noise. 
It was coming from upstairs. 
I slowly crept up the stairs like a ballerina and headed to my room.
The sound got louded from inside the room, and it was coming from the closet.
I walked with extreme caution and with the fear trembling within my hands, I opened the door. 
A face horrible as a Witch screamed, "DIE! DIE! DIE!"