2

~Rosie

I tried to stay inside. I did. 

Marie has been kind enough to offer me a job and a cot to sleep in at night. It gets cold here at night, it seems, so I’m grateful for the warm fire. Working in the bakery hasn’t been all that easy either, considering the early mornings and burns I’ve acquired all up my arms. It hasn’t been easy, and I’m starting to get cabin fever. 

Almost two weeks have passed and I haven’t left the house. Marie has been oddly stern about how the public in this village will not react well to my presence. I’m not sure why she is so scared of their gossip going back to reach Time…

I know he is frightening, but I doubt he cares much for some girl who showed up in a small village in his territory. He must be dealing with bigger issues in the immortal world. 

I’m not included in that. 

So, tonight I’ve decided I’m going to venture out. I just want to see more of the village and get an idea of how big it is. I’m not planning on speaking to anyone, in fact, I’m hoping to keep to the shadows and just look. Marie is at a market on the other side of the village selling her baked goods. It’s the perfect night. 

Shrugging a hand knitted jumper made by Marie, I wander out into the night. The streets are empty, everyone being at the market. As I walk down the road, I’m lucky the few scattered lamp lights around here are illuminating pale light in front of me. 

It feels satisfying being out in the open, feeling fresh air on my face, as bitter as it is. It smells fresh like pine. 

However, something doesn’t feel right. 

It’s something in the air. It’s something in the way the forest around us sways, like some kind of warning. It’s ominous, as if some kind of ethereal creatures lurks beyond the boundary of the village, haunting the entire area. It makes me tuck my jumper around my body more as I walk, reminding myself never to wander in there. 

My mind strays. I feel watched, but not by someone beside me, or around me, or even in the forest. It prickles at the back of my neck. It’s like someone is in the air, praying on my every move. 

What if it is Time?  What if he knows no one is new in this place, and wants to come here to terrorise me?

Suddenly I want to turn around and go back. 

I keep walking though. Maybe it’s narcissistic of me to think Time would have any interest in me, however, it’s as if I can feel his presence floating around me, brushing against my skin. I try brush the feeling off. I’m overthinking this too much right now. Marie has gotten into my head too much. 

As I walk further, I can hear the soft beat of music and a chorus of voices. I’m assuming it’s the night market. I’m curious about what is going on there, however, I don’t want to run into Marie. I’m sure if I go in the opposite direction of the sweet smell of baked food I’ve become so accustomed to. 

Keeping to the shadows, I approach the what I assume is the market. People chatter brightly, unbeknownst to me lurking, pulling up jumper up around my neck. 

I’m praying no one notices me. 

The village is surprisingly busy. Stalls line up among each other, soft glittering lights hanging from each one, illuminating the produce each vendor is selling. People wander between stalls, eating food, talking to each other and swaying to the music that plays through speakers scattered around randomly. 

It’s a strange sight, considering how reclusive this entire village was that night I first appeared on the train. I’m curious, though, walking amongst the people, looking at all the food and listening to the music. 

Not once did I see Marie by the time I made it to the other end of the market. It’s not too big, but enough to keep everyone entertained. 

I was considering going back, when something caught my attention. 

Standing behind a market stall, are those group of hunters I saw from a few weeks ago. The only reason I can remember those who I saw for only a fleeting moment is because both that boy and girl had such memorable features. It also intrigued me when Marie told me there is a possibility they work for Time. 

Standing in the shadows, I watch them. The familiar girl stand there, golden blonde hair braided back behind her back. Considering how much she looks like the boy, I’m going to assume they are siblings. He sits on a bucket, laughing with another boy next to them.

It’s a relief to see their weapons are nowhere in sight. They are still wearing hunting clothes, which has me wondering if they just came back from a hunt. 

I startle as the girls attention suddenly snaps at me. 

As I fall back into the shadows, it’s clearly too late. I can hear her saying something to the group, before they all stand. I sit back, praying they are going to think I was watching for only a moment, and that I’m gone. 

“I think that’s the girl that came off the train. You know, the special one,” one of them says. Deciding there is no point trying to hide, and with nowhere to run, I step out to look at them. It may be intimidating to see them all staring at me, but I can tell they have startled. No one is used to seeing someone come off that train. We are both as curious as each other. 

We all stare at each other for a long while before the girl speaks again. “I knew it was her. The girl off the train.”

I hope that name doesn’t stick.

“Who are you?” I question, taking tentative steps toward them. Now that I’ve spoken, they seem to visibly calm, looking between each other as if deciding silently what to say. My eyes stray to the boy at the back, with those sharp, unrelenting features. The way he stares at me wordlessly is unnerving. 

“We are hunters. How can you not know us?” he girl questions, genuine confusion suggesting she isn’t prideful of her superiority. “We run this town. You must know of us somehow.”

They all look so young, not much older than me. If they run this town, they are clearly getting commands from a higher power. 

They must be working with Time. 

The boy I’ve been looking at this entire finally stands. Every hunter seems to take a step back for him, as if his entire existence demands respect. As he takes a few steps toward me, I consider cowering, and then considering otherwise. They are just as curious about me as I am them, which I’m going to use to my advantage. 

“My name is Carlos. This is my sister Skylar. I wouldn’t worry yourself with the names of the rest of these hunters, they don’t always stick around for long,” the boy says, accent so strong and strange I almost don’t catch what he is saying. 

“My name...my name is Ro,” I say quickly. It might not be the best cover, but it’s not using my real name, as Marie warned. 

For a moment I don’t think Carlos believes me. 

“You came off that train didn’t you? Well, any new comer is welcome here, if you just tell us a few things first,” Carlos says, folding his arms over his chest. I look at the other hunters around me, all different heights and sizes, but all with the same intimidation factor. Even with the market around us, I don’t doubt they would tie me up and interrogate me. 

“I don’t know what you would want to hear from me,” I tell them. It’s not as if I chose to come off that train. I’m not sure why everyone is obsessed with the idea of me, and I’m not sure I want to find out. 

Carlos chuckles, all the other hunters around him seeming to share the same amusement. “It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

I can’t understand how it would be…

Suddenly, everyone around me collectively freezes. Carlos looks beyond petrified in that moment, however, when I look around I can’t see any reason why they should be. Carlos grabs my arm, pushing me toward Skylar. 

“Hide her somewhere,” he demands. 

I go to protest, however, I have no say as two of the hunters grab both my arms and drag me into one of the stalls, concealing me behind two curtain like drapes. I push and pull at them, unsure of their motive, until one of them speaks to the other. 

“Time. He’s coming.”