Hunters and Beasts

The air was crisp. Red and orange leaves swirled on the ground as the wind blew. A lone black truck sat idling in the empty parking lot. The first rays of light had just started to raise over the buildings, illuminating them with gold and crimson. A woman sat on the trucks tailgate, legs swinging. She twisted a ring on her right hand staring off into the distance. Someone approached her, a file in his hand. “you are late. What do you have for me?” “here’s the file you asked for, Sergeant.” The woman took the file and flipped through it, displeasure on her face. “I thought we were moving out soon. The unit was supposed to deploy to a different city. We were only supposed to stay until mid-October.” Bullshit. It’s already October 9th. “new orders. Your father is in town.” “wonderful.” “we report tonight at training for our new assignment.” “Is anyone else going to the excursion to the middle school?” “No mam, only you.” “thank you over watch. You are dismissed.” The man nodded softly and adjusted his school bag. She watched him as he walked towards the building. School. Why do we have to be at a school? She eyed the cars as they started to fill the parking lot. No one here knows what struggle is. The woman watched as the students walked. There were athletes in their sports jackets, cheerleaders on their arms. She saw nerds, arms full of books for SAT prep and their comics. Everyone was in uniform, but they found a way to make it their own. The woman waited until most of the students had arrived and then slid from her tailgate. She walked to the cab of the truck and turned it off. She shouldered a heavy looking duffle bag before gently closing the door to the truck. She started walking towards the school, her body heavy. The building was white brick with black accents, there were gardens filled with brass sculptures and marble fountains surrounding it. Luxury. Its completely unnecessary. The school was modeled after Spartan age of ancient Greece, the mascot being a spartan warrior, a heavily muscled man carrying the iconic spear and shield. It was a ridiculously large building with many courtyards meant for study and to bring peace of student minds. It was a private school with numerous wealthy contributors, more like a college campus than a high school. The woman made it into the entrance, slipping past a few other students. The walls inside were decorated with blood red and gold paints. Her boots thudded on the polished tiles as she made her way out of the foyer. She didn’t fit in here, she never had fit in. She was dressed in combat gear, a tight black shirt tucked into black cargo pants and black boots. The shirt had a spartan insignia on the front and her name written out across the back in gold letters. She was wearing a leather jacket, which wasn’t in code for her uniform but she didn’t care.  She saw the group she was looking for in front of the office. “ah here’s the commander of the Spartan Guard now.” Faith walked towards the teachers and students waiting to go to the middle school. “Sorry, had to gather some things.” “have your sabers and your marching rifle? you will need to stow the leather jacket, miss Black-heart.” Faith grumbled and shuffled to her locker to put away her school books. She kept the duffle bag with her and returned to the group.   “Remember, the point of this trip is to show the students what kinds of experiences they can have next year! Show them the fun!” everyone shouted with joy and loaded the bus. Faith trudged along behind them; a blank expression written on her face. They loaded onto the bus and she sank into one of the back seats sighing. The accompanying teachers went through roll and paused. “Where is Caleb ?” the male teacher, Simpson, called out. “right here sir, sorry.” A large jock ran onto the bus with a huge smile. He was a six foot tall easily two hundred fifty pound guy with dark black hair and a dark beard. He had green eyes that looked soft and inviting. The teacher pat his shoulder. “couldn't leave without the captain of the football team!” the bus cheered as Caleb passed. He eyed the seat next to Faith’s and slid into it right as the bus took off. “Close call" he laughed looking at faith, his eyes changing briefly. “oh, hello there, Blackheart, right?” The man caught her eyes and she took a sharp breath. He is gorgeous. “Yes" Faith gave a quick nod and turned her attention to the window. She was aware he was still looking at her, but she kept to her own thoughts. It was the week before fall break, all of the leaves were turned and the world looked dead. The world is dead. Its dying and no one can stop it. Faith shook her head. That’s not the right attitude. The bus ride took around ten minutes and they arrived at the middle school. She went to grab her bag, but the jock already had it on his shoulder. “Allow me.” He ushered her ahead of him and off the bus. “That’s really not necessary.” “don’t worry about it. I’ve got it.” They walked into the school and to the gym. The middle school wasn’t as large as the high school but it was also a private school. The gym was set up to house all of the different activities with different booths. Her booth was directly next to the Athletics booth. “Looks like there's one good thing about today.” Caleb flashed her a smile, his green eyes shimmering. “Easy big boy, I could be your worst nightmare.” Faith said coldly. I cant get distracted by boys I have a mission to accomplish. He smiled and put her stuff on her table. “I don’t have nightmares.” Faith tried to keep her jaw from dropping at his remark. Caleb turned his attention to the other sports students and started setting up his own equipment. Faith watched him for a moment, curiously. His tee-shirt clung to his body showing that he was fit. Why wouldn’t he be, he is the CAPTAIN of the football team. Faith shook her head again and looked away. Faith’s booth had camo decorations and basic ‘military’ gear. She had water canteens and ruck sacks for students to try on, a pull up bar and a manikin in full dress uniform. The poster above her booth had ‘Spartan Guard JROTC' written in crimson letters. Their group was considered a JROTC but that was far from the actual truth. Faith pulled out her rifle, it was demilitarized so it didn’t actually work, but it was used for marching drills. She straitened her combat uniform and awaited the herds of eighth grade students. She watched as bright-eyed teenagers flooded her booth, awe and happiness on their faces. She let them try on the gear and try to do pull ups, very few actually being able to do it. She gave the same tired speech and passed out water bottles with the ROTC spartan logo. Eighth grade… that’s when it all happened… The bell rung; all the students erupted in cheers. Faith grabbed her things rushing out into the halls with the masses. She scanned the crowd looking for familiarity. She started to worry when she couldn’t locate her. She felt a pair of hands grasp her waist and she flinched until lips brushed across her left ear. “here I am” she felt Sam whisper, her breath gave Faith chills. “time to go” Sam slipped her hand into faiths and they walked out of the school together. Faiths grip tightened as they walked through the crowd. Sam rubbed Faiths fingers with her thumb trying to calm her nerves. She relaxed some, pushing into the crowd, trying to get to through. They made it down to the parking lot, Sam’s brother was waiting for them in his SUV. They lived side by side in a small suburb on the edge of the city. The school was only a few miles away but they never rode the bus. It was a luxury she enjoyed. She squeezed Sam’s hand smiling broadly. They had made it through their eighth-grade year, together. They had known each other for two years, but had started their relationship over only a week before summer break. It was sweet and innocent but it was powerful. They gave each other comfort and love but they hadn’t gotten as far as actual kissing. They were friends, the developing feelings and soft touches grew as time had gone on. Sam was all she could think about, all she could feel. Faith glanced at Sam and smiled. Sam stared out the window as they drove, her hand tightly grasping Faiths. She felt safe, it was the best she had felt since her mom's death a few months back. Faith absently touched her locket and stifled a tear. Sam’s free hand forced her chin to look at her. “I’ve got you.” Faith smiled and nodded softly. “I know…” They made it home, a huge truck parked in front of her house. It was a moving truck, not one of the local companies she had seen around town. “what the f**k?” Faith released Sam’s hand and jumped from the vehicle. She ran up as men loaded the truck with a few boxes filled with her things. “what the hell is going on!” “faith, quiet down.” Her father walked out of the garage looking gruffy. “we are moving, now.” “WHAT? How can you just pack up and leave?!? You didn’t even talk to me! What would mother think!” she felt her dads hand make contact with her face and she closed her mouth in shock. “FAITH!” she heard Sam running up to her as the world slowed and became quiet. She c****d back her arm and let fly, hitting her dad square in the nose. She felt it crunch under her fist. He looked shocked, blood pouring from his face. It was satisfying.  “I'm not going anywhere.” Sam pulled Faith back, trying not to show her own anger. Faith was tense, relaxing only slightly to Sam’s touch. She was staring down her father, Sam nearly a distant feeling. His cold eyes met hers with anger. He had never touched her like that before this day. she eyed him, standing up to him, challenging him. “you are, you have no say in this.” The men had finished loading the truck, and stood waiting on Faiths dad to finish. He grabbed her by the arm and started to pull her away from Sam. they made it a few feet as she fought her dads grip. “you are MY daughter and will do as you are instructed!” “NO. I WONT! You are not my father you are a monster.” She pulled free of his grasp running back to Sam. She scooped her up in her arms, kissing her with everything she could muster, their first real kiss. Sam clung to her, trying desperately to keep her in her arms. Faith felt her dads iron grip on her once more. She pulled back looking into Sam’s beautiful blue eyes her heart breaking. She blinked away tears that were streaming down her face. “I love you…” she whispered. “I'll come back to you I promise.” Sam reached for her as her dad ripped her back. She got fingers around Faiths locket, and the clasp broke leaving the piece in her hands. Faith’s father leaned in as he drug her away. “I’ll show you monsters.” He forced Faith into the truck, the movers getting in on either side of her trapping her in. Sam fell to the ground, tears making there way down her face as the trucks sped off. She was gripping the locket so hard her knuckles were white. Faith looked as long as she could, watching her heart be left behind. She paused her thinking and looked over at Caleb who was staring at her. She caught eyes with him and he smiled to her. He walked over to her pull up bar. “do you mind if I do a few?” “go for it.” he grabbed the bar and started pumping out pull ups to cheers of eighth graders. He dropped and hi-fived them before returning to his booth with a wink. She looked away and returned to her thoughts. She spat out the mouthful of blood she had acquired when her father had punched her. She was tied to the chair she had become all to accustom to. She twisted her bindings that were cutting at her wrists. She felt a hand slip free and she slowly worked to free the other one. Her father turned away to talk to another Hunter. She took her opportunity. She sprung up, catching her father around the throat with her bindings, tightening them down. The other hunter pulled his weapon. “don’t move, or he will get it.” Her father laughed slightly under her restraint. She felt him flex to try and break her hold and she quickly kicked out his knees. When he dropped, she flipped over him, disarming the other hunter, breaking his wrist. He squalled in pain. “FAITH.” Her father growled. “You know better than that! You are not to harm your elder hunters! I don’t care how realistic the training is!” She heard the whip cut through the air as it flew towards her. She felt its sting on her back. She didn’t so much as a flinch. Her father called the other hunters in. “take her to the pit.” he growled inspecting the hunters broken wrist. Faith didn’t fight the hunters as they shackled her and drug her away, she knew better than that now. They tossed her over the edge into the ten-foot pit. She landed lightly on her feet and pulled at her still shackled hands. She felt the wound on her back bleeding, but she didn’t feel the pain. She hadn't felt much since the day she was marked. Hunters. She spat angerly. She closed her eyes thinking how the months had past by slowly. She had been marked as a hunter on her dads will. Days after she was forced from her family home and her… Sam… she had been Branded. They had some ritual and had held her down while they drug something hot across her skin. She was good at it, stronger and faster than anyone before her. The elders were scared of how quickly she had progressed. She didn’t want it. They were scared of her, scared of what she could do. She opened her eyes and a tear slipped down her cheek. She had been taken from everything she knew. She missed her mother. She would have never allowed this. She was trapped down in the pit for days before someone came to retrieve her. The only sounds to keep her company was dripping of water somewhere and the growling of her stomach. She presented her shackles as the ladder came down. The hunter laughed and shoved her towards the ladder. She climbed with some minor problems but made it to the top. The guards led her to the arena where a crowd had gathered. “time to see if you are worth the effort, Faith.” Her dad spat her name like it was poison. She looked at him with cold eyes. She pulled up her shackles and he laughed shoving her into the area and down into the dirt. She stood, spitting out what had made it into her mouth. She looked around. A sword was stuck in the ground close to her left. She heard the gates on the other side of the arena open and howls slice the air. Werewolves. She recognized the sound from training. Three wolves rushed into the arena. They were matted and sickly as they had been under fed for who knows how long. They were mostly humanoid, just larger and much more deadly than the stories she now knew to be true. They caught her sent and spun to find her. They growled as they eyed her. They rushed towards her as a unit, a wall of claws and teeth. She poised herself ready to react. The Alpha jumped with outstretched claws, she ducked, angling her shackles to where the chain was cut by them. Their claws were very sharp and deadly. She miscalculated a bit and her arm got sliced open, spilling her blood into the dirt. She rolled to the sword before the others could retaliate and ripped it from the ground. It wasn’t silver but it was intact, and sharp. One of the wolves charged her, gashing her leg. She winced, as a burn moved up her leg. She brought the sword down quickly and precisely cleaving its head off. It twitched and then was no more. The lead spun at her roaring. They charged her from two different directions. She slid under one, cutting it from its sternum to hind legs. It fell on the ground writhing. It wasn’t dead, she held steady. she felt the burn from the wounds on her body but it didn’t slow her. She was scared of what she was capable of. “I'm sorry this is what we’ve become” she whispered as the leader spun to meet her again. He nodded in silent understanding but rushed at her. He caught her in the mid-section, dragging his claws across her stomach. She stabbed upwards as he clamped on her arm, his fangs going through it. She didn’t flinch as he fell, his shear weight pulling her down too. She pulled the sword out of his head. Brain matter and dark blood coated the blade. She grasped a broken tooth in her arm, pulling it out. She slipped it into her pocket. A trophy.  She clasped her arm trying to stop the perfuse bleeding. She turned to where the last wolf suffered on the ground. She approached and his eyes begged for mercy. She kneeled, touching his head softly before shoving the blade through and killing him instantly. She turned to see her father staring down at her from the stands. His face matter of factly. “you are lucky they were hungry and not smart. At least you do something right.” He called as he turned and walked away. “I'll show you. One day.” She whispered to no one in particular. The guards came in, eyeing her. “drop it.” They demanded, weapons raised. She let the sword slip from her grasp and cling to the blood-soaked ground. They lead her to medical without chaining her up. She tore off what remained of her shirt. The gash on her leg was on her upper thigh so she shrugged off her pants. She stood in her bra and underwear, slightly uneasy from blood loss. She glanced down at her toned body, it was almost scary how much she had changed. She was a lot smaller than she used to be, maybe it was from the starvation. She looked at some of the little white scars that now crisscrossed her body.  The ground had a puddle of her blood but she didn’t mind. She lay on the cot, staring at the ceiling. “nice fight.” The medic walked in. “thanks.” She said as she rolled to look at him. It was a younger male, her age. Rather attractive but she wasn’t too interested. “you are welcome. My name is Tyler by the way.” She nodded as he went to get supplies. She tried not to focus on the fact he was looking at her nearly naked body with interest. He grabbed a wet towel starting to dab the blood from her thigh. He cleaned the rakes across her abdomen with a gentle hand. She hadn’t felt anything gentle in months. “Sam…” she whispered her eyes closed “who is Sam?” he asked, interest peaked. She looked at him with disgust. “don’t worry about that. Just finish up please.” “okay, sorry to poke a sore spot. But congratulations on becoming a Hunter.” Faith shook the memory away and started packing up her gear. “You know, I don’t think I ever noticed you before.” Caleb came over and helped her pack. She scoffed. “I haven't actually been here very long.” “That explains it. There's no way I wouldn’t notice someone as pretty as you are.” Faith stifled a laugh and turned her back to Caleb. “You are barking up the wrong tree.” “Maybe. Maybe not.” He grabbed her bag as she went to shoulder it. “I’m extremely stubborn.” He led faith out of the school and towards the bus. “But I like you, and I want you to consider that.”  wow he is very upfront.  He put her stuff down in her seat and she stared at him in stunned silence. “Here.” He slid her a piece of paper. “It's my phone number. You can text me any time.” He smiled another charming smile before settling down in his own seat. Faith eyed him as they drove back to school. There is something about him... he’s very handsome and charming. “Caleb? Can you stay after everyone please?” the female teacher called as they arrived at the school. “Yes mam, Mrs. Lion.” Caleb looked at faith with an apologetic smile. “Sorry I can't carry your stuff this time.” “I'll manage, somehow.” faith smiled back. He’s nice, I think I like him. Faith grabbed her gear bag and walked to fourth period; the bell had just rung.