Discrete Discreet

Chapter 2.

Blood oozed out of Amber’s palms. Again and again, Tia Anne’s image kept flashing in her mind. She had died only because of Amber. She didn’t know what to feel. Should she be scared? Sad? Angry? Guilty? All of these? None of these?

Suddenly a man’s face zoomed through Amber’s mind. Her husband. If the police had shown up at Tia Anne’s cottage, it only meant that Amber’s husband had realized that she ran away from her home. Surely, he would use all his power and strength to bring her back. Amber couldn’t afford going back- that would be worse than hell. The options left with Amber were very left and some of them she didn’t even want to consider.

She didn’t know where she was. After the policeman left, Amber went to Tia Anne, every word that she uttered, still ringing in Amber’s ears. Tia Anne had been Amber’s biggest support system for as long as she could remember. They stuck by each other no matter what. And now Amber had killed her. Tia Anne would never forgive her. She didn’t even cry at her death. She just couldn’t. It was hard to feel anything.

Amber saw her body- so lifeless within minutes. Tia Anne lied in a limp in front of her and Amber could not do anything to bring her back. An angry red hole glared at Amber from where Tia Anne’s intestines should’ve been. Metallic blood continued to flow out of the hole. Slowly and slowly, emotions drained out of Amber’s heart. She tried to cry; Amber forced herself to cry but, with negative results.

She sat on her knees and bent down to plant a kiss on Tia Anne’s forehead. And then, without another word, she left. There was no return now. All Amber could do now was to escape. Amber had to take Tia Anne’s advice now. Her last advice. Everything reminded Amber of misery right now. Headquarters was the only place where she would be a little safe. Only to get to the Headquarters, she had to cross the woods.

Woods. Anything was possible there- Amber’s husband’s men could find her in a few minutes, she could die due to some animal attack, some hunter could kill her, and she could starve. Or, she could reach the Headquarters unharmed, unseen. Knowing her luck, the probability of that happening was less. All Amber could do was to try.

***

 Amber heard a crunch of the branch from behind her and she turned, so fast that she almost hurt her back. As a reflex, her arms went up in a surrender position. She shrunk back, “I’m not doing any harm.” Finally, she looked up to see a huge man holding a crossbow which was pointed towards the ground. He had a straight posture and a hard expression on his face. His muscular body clued that he was a hunter.

The man seemed to be very irritated. “You are in my territory.” His voice was deep and harsh, not welcoming at all. It reminded Amber of Francis. She closed her eyes and took in a breath, tears slipping out of her eyes. Suddenly, the man’s sharp tone cut the silence prevailing in the air. “You’re so pathetic.”

Francis glared at Amber and she squirmed. “I’m sorry.” She murmured. Francis took in a deep breath and nodded. He was still red- Amber couldn’t understand why. She knew she had done something wrong; she didn’t know what. It was okay- Francis would be a little angry. He would yell a little but then he would be fine. He would forgive Amber.

Francis opened the door to the bedroom and walked into the armchair. He used his fingers to massage his head and then looked at Amber. “Serve me a drink.” He spat making his wife scurry to serve him. Amber ran to the old cupboard pulling out a bottle of scotch and a glass. “Faster!” He yelled. “You’re so pathetic.” He shot, making Amber quiver. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

“I said faster, you fat cow!” Francis yelled again and Amber poured a glass for him. She kept it down on the table, earning a murderous glare. “Where…” He yelled and then breathed in, turning quiet in an instant. “Where… does the glass belong?” He asked in an awfully slow tone. His voice was deep and… furious. Amber gulped. “In your hand.” Master, she almost added. Amber picked up the glass and handed it to him.

Francis used his other hand to get a grip on Amber’s wrist. A small smile was on his face and Amber could smell alcohol on his breath- from the party they had just attended. “That’s better.” And in a swift movement, he pushed Amber back making her fall on her hips.

“I asked what you are doing here.” The man said hauling Amber back to reality. She blinked a few times, her hands flying to wipe away her tears. “I… I am going to the Headquarters.” Immediately Amber regretted telling him the truth. What if he was a danger or may be working for his husband? With worry and fear flashing through her eyes, she glanced up at him.

The hunter’s- Amber assumed he was one- eyes softened. “I am going there too. Maybe we can make this journey together.” He was armed and seemed to have good intentions. Maybe he could take Amber to the Headquarters and maybe she would remain safe. It would work out in her benefit. And maybe Amber could ask him for some sort of weapon for her safety. The journey to the Headquarters was a long walk after all.

“Yeah sure.”

They hadn’t spoken much to each other. And as thankful Amber was for this, she wanted to know more about Adam. Till now all she knew was that he might be a hunter. For the sake of her safety, she needed more information and that would only come by speaking to him. Amber hated starting the conversations. Francis was the one to start one, always. The only part that Amber played in them was to give small inputs. Not too short, not too long.

“So you’re a hunter huh?” Amber questioned in a small, scared tone. Adam turned back and grunted, glaring at her. Immediately Amber regretted this awkward opening. Not expecting any words from the hunter, she decided to shut up. “Why are you going to the Headquarters at this time of the year?”

Amber’s head shot up in confusion. What did he mean by ‘this time of the year’? Amber voiced out her thoughts. Adam looked at her like she were insane. “You don’t know?” He turned around facing Amber directly now. Adam was intimidating. “It’s the Meets going on. The Headquarters is going to be full of government employs and all other heads and chiefs and other people of important communities.” Adam explained.

Amber stared at him for some time, not believing what Adam had just said. According to Francis, the Inter-States Meets were held in the fall season and not Summers. There were six months left for that. “Not the Inter- States Meet. The Internal- State Meet. Always held at this time of the year.”  It was as if Adam had read the question through Amber’s mind. He knew exactly what she was thinking.

Suddenly everything struck Amber.

And if she was correct, it meant that…

Francis will be there.