Chapter 4: Quiet

***Julian

Mute?

Fuck how did I miss that? I thought she was just shy. I felt oblivious as I lay on the couch, staring at the open ceiling. Moonlight crept through the windows, dancing along the old wooden panels and my eyes followed up the stairs, leading to the loft. I gave her the bed tonight. Wanted her to be relaxed… at least as much as she could in a strange cabin. Alone with a strange man.

I rubbed the strain, tightening along my shoulders down the back of my neck.

It wasn’t just her. I didn’t know if something... somethings were outside, waiting. Based on the look of her battered body, someone was after her. And soon they would be looking for her. I’d ask her about the scars… those nasty bruises, but not now. By the looks of things, not only was her torment fresh but prolonged. Who knows how long her torture had lasted. She’d been through enough and what she needed was rest, not probing from a stranger or interrogative questions coming from a man she didn’t even know. 

Men did this to her. Fingers reached around the loaded double barrel, sitting beside the couch. I huffed in silent fury... issuing a silent promise as I gripped my gun.

So, there were werewolves… people that shifted out in the thick of the forest. Is that what I was only now realizing?

Were there unicorns too? I snickered stupidly to myself.

My thoughts trailed back to her eyes. Those startling lilac eyes. I pictured her face as sleep took hold. An odd sensation rumbled in my chest, a warmth I hadn't felt in a long time.

But I needed to rest, needed to get her out of my head. Morning would soon rise and there was work to do. Couldn't be wasting my time on a woman that would soon be out of my house... and out of my life.

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***Fiona

Gilded morning rays streamed through the cabin skylights, and it took me a moment to realize where I was. Then I remembered the hunter.

The loft was simple, neat and cozy, just what I expected from him. I vaguely remembered falling asleep last night. Think I took one look at that bed and I surrendered. Surrendered my body to the plush velvety mattress that cuddled and collapsed around my torso.

The hunter had given me some medicine before I turned in for the night and the ache only dulled slightly while I slept. But now agony was awake and bright eyed, gripping my shoulder with a vengeance. The pain pummeled down my arm and back. I needed more drugs. I knew I said we’d leave by morning, but I didn’t know how far I would get with this useless arm.

“A couple more days then. But that’s it,” Kaia replied in my head. I nodded.

“I’m not afraid of him. He’s not like the others,” she added. The others. My nails scratched the side of my bare legs, the same place where old scabs bore witness to my anxiousness.

“He did shoot us,” I replied. She shrugged.

“Minor inconvenience,” she smirked. I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

“They’ll be looking for us soon,” I said, flatly. I felt her stiffen inside of me, tensing with the fear I, myself, was trying to hold back.

I opened the bandage, tracing my fingers over the stitches that had already begun healing. A smile fell over my face - he did a decent job. I pulled an old sweater over my head, the material brushing softly against my skin. I didn’t like my arms showing or any portion of my back. Didn’t care for the pity that clouded his eyes when he looked at me.

When anyone looked at me.

I peered over the side of the railing, down into the living room. No hunter. I made my way down the stairs to the kitchen; he wasn’t there either. A pinch of panic hitched against my chest. My breath hastened a little. I didn’t like the thought of being alone.

Another thought blurred my vision. What if they were here already, in the woods? What if they found him? And what if he brought them back to me?

Suddenly, a bitter wind blew through the front door as it swung open. A matte of snow covered his face mask and large winter coat. Thick boots tracked in snowy wet residue, slicking along the wooden floor. His gloved hand pulled up from his side, holding two small carcasses.

“Hope you like rabbit,” he grinned, pulling off the mask as his hair ruffled out the sides.

A breath eased in my chest, relaxing my clenched fists. He was ok... no harm at his door. Not yet at least.