The hunter never misses

Morning arrived with a blanket of gray clouds hanging low over Ashwood Village. I stood outside the clinic, unlocking the front door as the familiar scent of damp earth filled the air. Normally, mornings brought me peace. Today, they only reminded me of the muddy footprints Ethan had found the night before.

I pushed the thought aside.

Fear wouldn't help my patients.

Inside, I switched on the lights and arranged the files on my desk. It was my routine—one that somehow made everything feel normal, even when it wasn't. Before I could settle down, the bell above the entrance chimed.

"Doctor Ariana!"

A little girl no older than eight rushed in, clutching a bouquet of wildflowers almost as big as her head.

I smiled.

"Well, good morning, Lily."

She beamed as she placed the flowers on my desk.

"These are for you."

"They're beautiful."

"My mama said you'll be leaving soon."

I nodded gently.

"In two days."

Her smile faded.

"Are you coming back?"

The question caught me off guard.

"I hope so."

"You promise?"

I crouched until we were eye level.

"I promise I'll visit."

She threw her tiny arms around my neck before running out of the clinic.

I watched her disappear down the road and sighed.

Leaving suddenly felt much harder than it had a week ago.

The rest of the morning passed quietly. Grandpa Ben came in for another check-up despite strict instructions to remain in bed.

"You walked here?" I asked, folding my arms.

"I felt strong."

"You nearly died four days ago."

"I'm still alive."

"Barely."

He grinned.

"You worry too much."

"I have to. You're my most troublesome patient."

"I thought I was your favorite."

"You are. Unfortunately."

He laughed so loudly that the patients waiting outside joined in.

After checking his blood pressure and listening to his heartbeat, I nodded in satisfaction.

"You're improving."

"I told you."

"But don't mistake improving for recovered."

His shoulders slumped dramatically.

"So I still can't work?"

"No."

"What about fishing?"

"No."

"Climbing trees?"

I stared at him.

"You almost asked that with a straight face."

"I was testing you."

"And you failed."

He sighed.

"I'll never win against you."

"Not unless you go to medical school."

"I'd rather wrestle a bear."

I laughed as I scribbled down his updated prescription.

"You'll be back here tomorrow."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

As he shuffled toward the door, he suddenly stopped.

"Ariana."

"Hm?"

"I'm proud of you."

I blinked.

"For what?"

"You could've left this village years ago."

"I know."

"But you stayed."

His eyes softened.

"You stayed for all of us."

A lump formed in my throat.

"I was only doing my job."

"No."

He smiled warmly.

"You became family."

His words stayed with me long after he left.

By noon, the clinic had finally grown quiet.

I stepped outside to enjoy a few minutes of fresh air when the distant roar of engines broke the silence.

Every head in the village turned.

Three black SUVs sped down the dusty road, kicking up clouds of dirt behind them.

Children stopped playing.

Shopkeepers stepped outside.

Even the birds scattered from the trees.

Vehicles like those never came to Ashwood.

Curiosity spread through the village almost instantly.

"Who do you think they are?" Mrs. Martha whispered.

"Government officials?"

"Maybe investors."

"I've never seen cars like that."

I didn't think much of it.

Whoever they were, they weren't my concern.

I picked up a small box of antibiotics that needed to be delivered to Mrs. Cooper's house across the road.

Balancing the box against my hip, I hurried toward the crossing.

At that exact moment, the rear door of the middle SUV opened.

A tall man stepped out.

Black trousers.

A charcoal coat despite the warm weather.

His sleeves were rolled neatly to his forearms, revealing a silver watch that caught the afternoon sun.

He pressed a phone against his ear while walking briskly in my direction, clearly focused on the conversation.

"...I said move the meeting."

His voice was calm.

Deep.

Commanding.

I wasn't paying attention.

Neither was he.

We collided shoulder first.

The medicine box slipped from my hands, scattering bottles across the road.

"Oh!"

I immediately bent to pick them up.

"I'm so sorry."

"So am I."

His reply was short.

Polite.

Detached.

Without looking at me, he crouched, picked up one of the bottles, and placed it back inside the box.

"Thank you."

He gave a small nod before continuing his phone call.

"Delay it by two hours."

Within seconds, he disappeared behind the SUVs.

I adjusted the box in my arms and hurried toward Mrs. Cooper's house.

I never saw his face.

He never saw mine.

Neither of us knew that fate had just introduced us.

Behind the tinted window of the SUV, a man in a suit looked back through the glass.

"Boss," he said quietly, "we should leave."

The tall stranger slid into the back seat without another word.

The convoy pulled away, disappearing down the winding road until only dust remained.

By evening, the strange visitors had become the village's favorite topic.

Everyone had a different theory.

"They're buying land."

"They're politicians."

"They're celebrities."

I simply smiled and continued organizing my patients' records.

Whatever business had brought them here was over.

Or so I thought.

Outside the clinic, hidden behind the trees, another man watched me through a pair of binoculars.

Unlike the visitors earlier...

He hadn't come to pass through.

He had come for me.

And this time...

He had no intention of missing.