The Hunter Chronicles : The Beginning

Chapter 2

We get into my black Juke leaving Melissa’s BMW parked in the driveway. The party we are going to is at the club that Michael owns, I must admit that the closer we get to the club the more excited I become, the club is only a few blocks from my house so the drive is short. The talk with Melissa made me think if she is okay with me liking Michael then I don’t feel so bad about it we grew up together I’m comfortable with him in a way. The party is for a popular girl we went to school with, i don’t really like the girl, like us she comes from a wealthy family and makes sure everyone knows it. If it was up to me I wouldn’t have gone but Melissa never says no to a party so by default I had to go too. I can see the line growing, nearly reaching around the corner of the massive building. In the two years that it has been open it quickly became the place to be. Luckily we don’t have to wait in line so I drive around the back to the employee’s entrance when I see the flashing lights of the police cars I brake hard. a chubby bald policeman puts his hands in the air, I turn the ignition off and we get out of the car.

“Stop! This is a crime scene, you cannot be here.”

Before I get a chance to ask him what happened, Michael walks up to us and looks like he has aged ten years, “I know them, please let them pass.”

The office reluctantly steps aside and we walk past him, I look over to where the police are bundled, a few shift and I can see a body of a young girl probably the same age as me, her black lock wet but I think about it I realize that it’s blood.

“Don’t look.” Michael says as he leads us to the door. Too late, I think and glance back once more, I feel like I’m missing something; our town has had a few of missing persons over the years but never a murder that I could remember.

“Don’t say anything about this to anybody.” Michael warns before he opens the door, Melissa nods and so do I after a few seconds. I don’t feel like going to a party when there is a dead girl just outside. It doesn’t feel right. The club is packed as usual and when Melissa spots the birthday girl she grabs my hand and drags me through the crowd, she is a really great asset to have in a crowd she can make her way through the thickest of crowds. I follow her still in shock over what I’ve seen outside. 

“Happy B-Day!” Melissa yells over the music to Amy and gives her a hug. Amy is a small girl with curves in all the right places which ensures her an entourage of the male variety. She is dressed in a tight short red dress and her short brown hair is curled to her neck. When I glance around at the crowd, I realize that I’m seriously under dressed. When Melissa lets Amy go I wish her a happy birthday and give her a quick hug.

“You look different with your hair loose.” Amy remarks then adds with a little smirk, “It suits you, you should wear it down more often and it actually makes you look pretty. I’ll have more competition but hey that nothing I can’t handle.”

“Thanks.” I reply. Amy can never give a compliment without trying to knock that person down as well. I decline the tequila shot that Amy offers me, she looks at me and tries not to laugh, she tilts her head and takes it herself the next song starts and the group begins to move so I slowly back away and make my way over to the bar where I know I would find Michael’s right hand man, Dean, who probably hates dancing more than I do. I only know him in passing but I often talk to him when Melissa is off enjoying herself.

As I make my way through the crowd some men try to get me to dance with them but I manage to side step them. When I glance around I see Michael near the staircase that leads up to the offices, he is talking to a group of girls, I sign and continue my maze through the crowd. No one seems to know about the poor dead girl just outside or they don’t care, when I finally reach the bar I let out a long breath and feel exhausted. Dean turned around in his chair like he sensed me, he smiles down at me from the bar stool his brown hair is gelled up tonight and his eyes are almost the same shade as his hair.

He leans over and whispers, “Wow, do you realize how hot you look with your hair down? Well, hotter than usual.”

I blush, I don’t like it when people compliment me it makes me too self-conscience but I do remember my manners and whisper back, “Thank you.”

Dean motions for me to take the empty seat next to him and I do. He looks preoccupied but I assume it’s to do with work, I can imagine it not being easy to run a nightclub or maybe he is thinking about the girl I know it’s been on my mind.

 “So why aren’t you drinking and dancing with the rest of the gang?” He asks tilting his head a little to the side.

“I’m not really in the mood to drink until I pass out.” I smile.

“Yeah, I figured that but don’t worry you can stay here with me all night if you want.”

I was about to say that I’ll be okay on my own but Melissa suddenly pops up, “Jess! You’re missing all the fun.” Then quickly turns to Dean, “Hi.”

“Hi gorgeous.” Dean smiles then adds with a wink, “So now that I have two beautiful ladies by me, what shall we do?”

“Duh. Drink!” Melissa laughs. I can see my friend is in full party mode. Dean waves the bartender over she comes over carrying three tequila shots, the bartender puts the shots down in front of each of us, a hand reaches around me and picks up the shot in front of me while Melissa and Dean tilt their heads back, the hand returns the empty shot glass in front of me and when I turn to see who saved me, I am inches away from Michael’s face. “It’s our little secret.” He whispers smiling his eyes not leaving mine.

“Thank you.” I manage to get out; when Melissa spots her brother she stares at him for a moment. I wonder what that is about.

“So is everyone enjoying themselves?” Michael asks ignoring his sister’s stare. 

“Yeah!” Melissa answers and spots the empty shot glass in front of me, she gives me a big grin and says, “Way to go, Jess, you finally joined the party.”

Dean smirks at me like he knows it wasn’t me but says nothing. I feel guilt creep in as I’m already keeping too many secrets. This one isn’t so big but still.

“So maybe you want to go and dance now?” Melissa asks hopefully.

“Uhm, no thank you.” 

“I guess one victory a night is better than nothing.” Melissa says waving us off as she returns to the dance floor, leaving me alone with Michael and Dean. 

Michael takes the empty seat next to me and motions the bartender over again, “Two specials and a coke please.” She leaves to get the order and Michael turns to me, “Almost didn’t recognize you with your hair down. Looks good.”

I blush as I recall the conversation I had with Melissa earlier. I don’t know what to say to the two men sitting on either side of me. I feel different myself with my hair loose. I have the urge to tie it up but instead I just tuck a few strands behind my ears. A few seconds of me not having to think. The bartender serves our drinks and rolls her eyes at me as I take a sip from my coke. I ignore her than a surprising pleasant shiver runs down my spine. I turn around and see a tall muscular man making his way over to me, he has short black hair and the way his moves gives me an unwanted feeling. He doesn’t take his eyes off of me making his way easily through the crows; I feel like I could stare at him all night. He is dresses in dark jeans and a plain red shirt visible underneath his leather jacket. I smile not feeling so under dressed anymore. When he reaches me I feel the eyes of the men next to me on my every move but I can’t move, I must look so silly staring at this handsome stranger but I don’t really care, mu crush on Michael didn’t make it easy for me to pay much attention to other men but this man was different he stirs something inside of me that I could never has imagined of feeling. It’s strange.

“Hi.” The handsome stranger says only to me.

“Hi.” I reply not being able to take my eyes off of him, from the corner of my eye I see Michael shift in his seat and Dean turns around to face this unknown man.

Still ignoring both Dean and Michael he bows a little and holds out his hand. “Would you like to dance.”

“I don’t dance.” It’s all I can say I feel very nervous but extremely excited at the same time. The sound of his voice sends sparks throughout my entire body.

“I can teach you.” He offers still holding out his hand. I’m mesmerized by his beautiful green eyes. How strange this night is.

“No thank you.” I reply politely. Dean suddenly stands up knocking his chair over in the process, “You heard her. Now leave!”

Michael also stands up as the stranger straightens up. I look up at the three men towering over me, not knowing what to make of this strange situation I find myself in.

The stranger smiles at me and I smiled back. I can’t help it then he turns to Michael and says, “You can’t keep her out of it forever.” He winks at me before he turns and leaves. I wonder what he means but my thoughts are interrupted by Michael putting both his warm hands on either side of my face, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” I reply flustered by his touch and push his hands away.

Dean stands closer and looks down at me. I don’t like the way they are acting so I excused myself and head for the bathroom, I splashed some water on my face and take a few deep breaths. I don’t know where to go, the bar is my only hang out when I’m here and it’s the last place I want to be right now. 

I sign and open the bathroom door as I glance around I then spot Melissa talking to her brother and Dean, she looks a little pissed. Melissa says something to them then starts walking my way as soon as she reaches me she takes my hand and drags me up the stairs without another word, more confused than ever I feel myself growing angry. I am being treated like a child.

When we reach the top of the stairs I take a quick look around and see the handsome stranger looking up at me, he gives me a little wave and I feel myself returning it smiling. Melissa pulls me harder out of sight into Michael’s office. She closes the door and starts pacing up and down.

“What’s wrong?” I ask my friend, the whole night just confuses me. Michael’s office is huge and has two chairs facing his enormous wood desk, near the window there are a handful of monitors that shows almost every angle of the club, at the other side of the room there are five filing cabinets and a big comfortable sofa that I sometimes sleep on when I can’t keep up with Melissa anymore. I look at the monitors as I wait for Melissa to explain her strange behavior, the bar area is nearly empty and I can’t see Michael or Dean anywhere as I glance at the other screen I see the handsome stranger again, I take a moment to admire him, his muscular form the way his pants fits his body perfectly. He looks up and smiles into the camera.

There is no way that he know where I am. It feels like he does. Why do I like him so much I don’t even know him.

“Stop looking at him!” Melissa yells running across the room.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I ask startled and look away from the monitors.

“Just don’t look at him.” Melissa replies angry.

It feels like I’ve been drinking all night, my head is fuzzy and I don’t understand why everyone is acting so strange. I let out a sigh and ask, “What is the big deal?”

“Please, Jess, I can’t explain right now but please stay away from him.” She pleads.

What the hell is going on? “Come on, Mel. I think he’s hot besides I see nothing wrong with it.”

“No! Not him. Anyone but him. I don’t want you anywhere near that guy!” She yells, shaking her head and points at the screen.

“Only if you give me a good reason.” I reply crossing my arms over my chest.

“I can’t tell you.” She stutters.

“Let me get this straight.” I begin putting my hand out, “You can’t tell me why I need to stay away from someone and you expect me to just follow orders, you know me better than that, Mel, if you can’t tell me why then I see no reason for me to listen to you.”

“You just have to trust that I know what is best for you.”

“I can make my own decisions.” I shout and storm off, she tries to stop me but I slip out of the door and taking the stairs two at a time. I crash right into the one person I didn’t expect to find.

The man smiles and holds me by my shoulders to steady me, tiny sparks shooting through my entire body, “Slow down, beautiful, what’s the hurry?”

“No hurry.” I say softly distracted by his extremely cold hands, I shiver but at the same time I feel the warmth from his touch. It’s hard to explain and hard to understand.

“Want to go and sit over there? He motions with his head. I’m still so upset with Melissa maybe she knows him somehow but if that is the case why didn’t she just tell me. Why do I need to stay away from him?

“Sure.” I nod.

I follow him through the crowd as best I can but I keep bumping into people. I feel him take my hand. I know it’s him. I’m starting to recognize what his touch feels like it’s not like anything I’ve ever experienced.

When we reach a booth on the farthest side of the club he lets me slide in first then sits down next to me. He leans in and whispers, “My name is Jared.”

“Jessica.” I reply tucking some hair behind my ear. It’s bugging me I’m not use to my hair being loose.

“So I know that you don’t like to dance so how about a drink?”

At first I want to say no but instead I think screw it and smile, “What do you have in mind?”

“Be right back.” He grins and disappears into the crowd. I take a deep breath and allow my mind to wander to Melissa and why she told me to stay away from him, he seems harmless. It can’t be because she is jealous, it didn't seem that she liked him all that much in any way.