Alone

Chapter 14

                                                                                       Present- Anna

    My whispered proclamation did not faze him. It was like he couldn’t even see me, he had eyes only for William. This was my father? Years of weathering marred his face. He had grey hair covering most of his face. He looked like my father but the emotionless eyes were not the loving father I remembered.

    “So, you must be the hunters that have been looking for me all these years. Unsuccessful I might add.” William chortled. Who were these people, I wondered? Why have they been looking for William? Are they trying to kill them? How can we possibly escape these men? How could my father be alive? All these questions were racing through my mind as the men took positions around us, blocking our exits. My heart was beating so hard I thought it would pop out of my chest. How will we ever get away? William was not looking very well; he was sweating through his shirt and he looked very sick. And then it hit me. William was going to sacrifice himself to these men, for me, and I couldn’t do anything about it. Even from afar they looked big and terrifying. I am useless, we need help.

    “Anna, go find Abigail. I will not repeat myself,” William threatened. I knew decision time was over when the men began advancing. I gave one last look at William, with tears running down my face, I promised I would find help. With a heavy heart I crawled under the wagon that had been at our backs. My dress dragged in the mud, making crawling quite difficult. As I reached the other end, I heard screaming, and then a gun shoot. My blood ran cold. I almost turned back but I knew William needed help and I did not stand a chance. 

    I ran with all my might; never before have I ran as far or as fast as I did today. I ran to the only place I could find Abigail. I didn’t not know where she lived and I hoped she would be at William’s home. As I ran through the streets people looked at me like a mad woman. I felt crazed as I ran towards Williams home. I could not catch my breath and my dress was so heavy. I was so tempted to run without all my petticoats but it would take too much time to remove them. I ran past my home and I could see my aunt and uncle leaving home for an event. How my life was quite different not but a couple of days ago, but I couldn’t think of that now. William was in great peril.

    When I finally reach the grand estate, I felt faint and my vision was blurred. I climbed up the front steps and without ringing for someone I slammed open the door. I startled a maid that was mopping the floors as I ran past.

    “Abigail!” I screamed, without regarding whether I sounded ladylike. “Abigail, I need you now!” I ran into the parlor, hoping she was in there. The maid, who had recovered from my unannounced entrance, followed me into the parlor.

    “Excuse me, young lady.” The maid said authoritatively. “But I must insist you leave this place. Who do you think you are storming into someone’s home? If you do not leave now, I will have to call the authorities.”

    I turn to her in a frenzy. “I need to find Abigail; William is in trouble! Where is she?” I could not control my shrieking, it was getting harder and harder to take in air, and I was starting to see double.

    “What do you mean William is in trouble? What happened?” Two Abigail's asked as they came into the parlor. I threw myself at them. As I tried to collect myself, I recalled what William said, what he had called those men.

    “The hunters found him.” And that was all I said before I fainted.

                                                                                            William

    After hours of torture my body had giving in into the darkness. The smell hit me first: rotting flesh, blood, and urine. I try to pry my eyes open, but I can’t fully open my right eye. I should have healed instantly, but the silver I inhaled had considerably slowed it down. My broken fingers were slowly healing, the tendons in my arms and legs were hanging out, most of my teeth had been ripped out.

    I looked at my surroundings. When they had stung me up when I had first arrived, I was too dazed from the silver in my system, and with the torture it hadn’t been any better. The Hunter’s must have left when I blacked out. I was in a cell that looked like it was made of all metal. There was no door or windows, that I could see. There were dirt floors. They must have taken the tools they used with them. Smart assholes, I thought.

    William are you ok, Roi asked?

    I’m fine, I replied. They didn’t do anything I haven’t gone through before. Don’t worry Roi, Anna will get help.

    Once this silver gets out of your system, we will take care of these Hunters.

    My mangled body mixed with the silver was not helping. I was growing tired. I could feel my restrains biting into my fractured wrists, from my weight. My legs wouldn't support me for much longer. My eye began to involuntarily close. I could hear someone moving around outside of my cell. A sliver of hope began to blossom. Anna! I thought. 

    The seams of an invisible door began to appear. The door was pushed in. I closed my eye so whoever walked in did not know I was awake. I needed to allow my body time to heal, and with them torturing me, it would not be able to do that. I heard rustling and heavy breathing, from inside the cell, almost as if they have been running. They must be light on their feet, I thought, because I had never heard them enter my cell. I slowly opened my good eye and came face to face with my mirror image. My heart skipped a beat, and tears began to leak from both my eyes. It couldn't be! 

    “Brother?”