The Hunters.

I froze in fear. I haven't recovered from our encounter last night and he appears again. Silence filled the room, our eyes in contact, my heart beating heavily against my chest unsure of what his next move would be. I sensed Ethan, his fresh blood, how closer his footsteps grew and immediately he opened the door I was on my bed.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“I am” I replied hesitantly, looking at the window there was no sign of him.

“Did anything happen, why are you working up?” Ethan inquisitively questioned. “Nothing is wrong Ethan, I'm fine just the way you left me.”

Nothing was fine. What was I turning into? How could I have sensed Ethan coming? How was I able to feel his blood? What did that man do to me?

Ethan looked at me, trying to search for answers but he did not find any. He was pretty good at detecting and I was praying that he never found out. “I'm done with everything. See you in the morning?” I nodded as he made his way to the exit.

It was past midnight when I began to see him in my dream. I saw him on a throne, with multitudes bowing before him. He gulped down a cup of blood and then I saw myself bound by ropes, unable to move. Then I was brought to the pinnacle to be sacrificed and as he raised up his knife to kill me—

“Ahhhhhhhhh” I woke up, profusely sweating like I had just ran a two hundred metres race. Panting heavily as I looked out the window fortunately nothing was there. I walked over to my bathroom washing my face trying to calm myself down.

“What's happening to me?” I murmured, breathing heavily looking at myself in the mirror. I regretted following Jenna’s dare, if only I listened to Ethan and backed off this wouldn't be happening. My body begged for rest, but fear kept me hostage. Each tick of the clock was louder than the last, a cruel reminder that dawn was still far away.

****

It was dawn already and I spent my time in the library, with intention to find solutions or maybe just a knowledge about what was happening to me. I searched, read books but none were giving me the answer I needed. As I continued to search, a book caught my eyes. Leather cover with a heart drawn on it.

I took it down about to read, the door to the library opened and I saw Ethan. He walked over to me.

“What are you doing here? Aren't you meant to be resting?”

“Uhmm… Yes… Yes.. Sorry I was just researching about something.”

“Anything important? Maybe I could help.” He asked trying to grab a book.

“No, nothing at all it's fine don't worry.” I distanced the book from him.

“Okay fine, I just came to check up on you.” He walked to door, about to exit he turned back to look at me. I forced a smile, thin and brittle, hoping he wouldn’t see the truth underneath. Then he exited.

“That was close” I murmured as I packed the books leaving out just the last one I found. I covered it with my jacket running to my room.

Darkness enveloped the sky again– it was night. As I freshened up to sleep, visuals of last night dreams started flashing back to my mind. I paused taking a deep breath.

“Relax Aria, you will find an answer to your questions when you reda the book.” the book looked like it had a lot in them and maybe I could find pieces of what is happening to me.

I sat at my mirror, dressing my hair when a hand shot over my mouth. My breath caught, heart slamming against my chest faster, as a rough sack smothered my face. I kicked, clawed, but he dragged me off before I could scream, into the woods, the world spinning in muffled darkness.”

Kneeling, bound by ropes and my face still covered, I heard a voice.

“Unmask her!” they did as they were told. My eyes being in darkness for long took time to register the things I saw. Clearing properly. I saw figures, dressed up in the same dress, covered in masks and gloves. Bows and arrows, swords, axes and different weapons I couldn't recognise all at their backs. I trembled.

“Miss Aria, you are welcome to your first meeting with us, the elders of Hunters.”

Elders of Hunters? What was this supposed to mean?

“I owe you nothing, please let me go.” I cried out, my voice an epitome of fear.

They all let at a synchronised laugh and equally stopping at the same time as if they've been practicing.

“We can't let you go or else you provide us with answers.”

“What answers do you want? I promise you I'm in no position to do that.”

“Yes you are.”

“Where were you on Tuesday night?”

The unknown person asks. He has been the one questioning me, seems like his probably their leader.

“I was out at the party behind the school library.” I answered.

“”And what did you see when you eventually carried Jenna’s dare?”

How did they know about this? Were they watching me or was someone spying on me. Hesitating, I cleared my throat.

“I saw nothing, just writings I wasn't able to read and creepy bats. That's all.”

“We are not here for banters and plays Aria, we know what went down in that crypt and what damage you have caused.”

“I'm sorry” I pleaded.

“This isn't about being sorry Aria. You have awoken who was sealed away for thousands of years. So stay away from him, or you die.”

Death? I wasn't ready for that, as much as I was afraid of him. I still felt drawn to him.

“We know your story, so better stay out or fall in our traps.”

“My story? Please talk to me, what do you know? I need answers to what has been happening to me pleaseee.” Nobody replied. Instead I was dragged back to my dorm room.

I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands trembling. Fear builded in my chest, anger simmering beneath it. “Who were these people?” My thoughts spun in circles, every shadow in the room stretching into a threat I couldn’t name.

I looked outside the window, admiring how beautiful the stars and moon were. Wishing I could go back in time to reject Jenna’s dare. I brought up my pillow, pulling out the book. I felt a presence, heavy, chilling, lingered just behind me. When I spun around I saw him, my heart lurched into my throat. I stumbled back, a sharp gasp tearing out of me as fear shot through my veins.

He offered me his hand saying “Come with me.”