The Hunter Chronicles : The Beginning

Chapter 8

We reached the car and I allowed him to open the door for me. I get in and  I know that I will do whatever it takes to save my friend.

Melissa is more than a friend.

I turn to Michael as we drive to the bar, we are getting closer and I can see how worried he is. I put my hand on his, it's trembling, I want to tell him that everything is going to be okay but I don’t know that it will be. He squeezes my hand then I see it.

The turn of sign to the bar.

I go cold.

I have a knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat.

Michael parks the car and we get out.

“Where do we start?” I ask, closing the door.

“All the outside buildings around here, they need a dark place and would want to be close to the bar when the sun sets.”

“Do you know who took her?” I ask. He must have some idea.

“Jared.” He replies simply.

“Is he like you?” I ask and can’t help butterflies at the mention of his name. I have no control over it.

“More like Dean.”

Oh great! Another vampire. I don’t know the first thing about vampires. I'm in way over my head.

Michael retrieves the shotgun from the trunk. “Aren’t you worried that people might call the police when they see you with that?” I ask worried.

“This is the kind of place that doesn’t care about something like this.” He tells me holding up the gun, “Don’t worry I will protect you.”

“Let’s go and find Melissa.” I say. I really don’t want to be the damsel in distress even though I'm scared out of my mind.

We search all the buildings we could find but come up short every time. I look around and notice a barn down the hill.

“What about that barn over there?” I ask pointing in its direction. Michael nods and we head down the hill, it is a good distance from the bar and out of sight from anyone not this far down.

It looks like it hasn’t been used in ages, as we walk through the tall glass, I try to take in everything around me. I feel so overwhelmed by everything and whatever my role is in this. I am so preoccupied by my thoughts that I don’t notice the hole in the ground and fall down, Michael is by my side in seconds and helps me up, “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” I reply brushing dirt off of me. I’m a little embarrassed. Michael starts clearing the leaves and says, “Shit.” 

“What?” I ask.

“There is a bear trap here, you almost lost your leg.”

I’m shaking, “What if we don’t find her?” 

“We will.”

“What’s over there?” I ask pointing at the ground.

Michael kneels down next to a small piece of cloth I saw, “Could be a part of the shirt she was wearing>”

“Oh no!” I exclaim.

“Don’t imagine the worst yet, she knew that I would be looking for her.”

“Yes! Obviously she knew!” I yell throwing my hand up in the air. “Everyone knew!”

“You have the right to be angry and I can’t expect you not to be.”

I have to control myself. This is not about me. I push down my feelings and take the piece of cloth from Michael, “So which way?”

“The barn is the only place concealed enough around here.”

“Let’s keep going then.” I say rubbing my hands together it’s getting colder.

“Just watch out for anymore bear traps.” Michael says as we walk down the uneven hill.

“Will do.” I reply. Proud of myself for sounding so confident.

On the way to the barn I find at least a dozen more traps along the way, I keep thinking of how cruel these traps are. Who would want to hurt animals like this? Or maybe they were put here to specifically hurt or even kill Michael. I shiver as I think about it more.

“We need to be quiet from here on.” He says as we approach the barn.

“Super hearing right?” I ask a little sarcastically.

Thankfully Michael doesn’t hear my sarcasm or maybe he is choosing to ignore it, “Yeah, and they won’t be too happy if they get woken up.”

I feel nervous as we creep up along the barn trying to make as little noise as possible. He motions for me to stay as he opens the door. It creaks making me shiver. He reappears a few minutes later, “Nothing in there now but there was.”

“Where could she be?” I wonder.

“I wasted my time! She is not here! Michael shouts and kicks the side of the barn.

I can’t help it. I throw my arms around his neck and hug him tight, I am so worried about Melissa but I know I have to keep it together. We spent hours walking around and now we are out of time.

“We need to get to the bar’ we can still do the exchange.” I whisper in his ear.

“No, who knows what they will do to you.”

“As long as Melissa will be okay it doesn’t matter.” I reply. I take his hand and lead him towards the bar. We walk in silence. I don’t let go of his hand. He follows me like he is in trance. One way or the other it will be over soon enough.