Hunted

Life as we know it

Kaya

"Hey, come over here. Look at Nate. “I turn around and to my surprise I see Nate, the holy virgin of our group, chatting with one of the bar ladies. Rick and Elle sit next to him, kissing each other. Kaj is, as usual, holding another game with Chris, who can score the most phone numbers in an hour. So that leaves Caleb and I. I happily talk myself through the evening while Caleb is watching in jealously. Soon enough I realize that and turn to him; I wrap my arms around his shoulders and kiss him. Because of this he relaxes a little and goes to Rick, who just ordered a round of shots. In the corner of my eye, I see a guy standing on the other side of the club. Around my age, maybe just a little older. Blond hair that just falls over his eyes. His shirt is tight because of the muscles underneath. Suddenly I hear everyone screaming because Kaj has, once again, vomited. Really, sometimes I wonder if he even has brain cells left. I look back to where the boy once stood but he’s gone now. I look around to find him and right when I’m about to give up I see him walking down to the alley. Just when I’m about to run after him, a hand grabs me.

"Where are you planning to go," Caleb says with a grin. He is very drunk, just like the rest of the boys. I grab Caleb and take him back to the car while the rest follows.

After saying goodbye to Elle, we went to the car. Sure, I had been drinking too, but I stayed just below the limit so I could bring everyone home safe. Something nobody was capable of now. After bringing everyone home I could finally go to my little caravan, which stood in a parking lot. Long story short, I haven’t had any parents since I was 13. I have never really been bothered by it, but I do miss the financial support. Because I didn’t go to school, I have no degree and now work as a cleaner in a gym, and on some evenings, I work as a dancer in the club nearby. After a long time of saving money, I was able to buy this caravan, which is now my house. I met Caleb at the gym. A big guy with dark hair. His skin slightly tanned and his eyes are deep browns. It didn't take long before we started dating. He helped me a lot by letting me stay at his place. That's how I got to know Nate and Chris. They have been his best friends since primary school. Rick and Kaj were friends of Nate but they would often come with us to parties, and that’s how they got into the group. Kaj had lost his parents at a young age and spent a long time on the streets. While living on the streets he developed a serious drug problem. We were the ones that pushed him into rehab even though he didn’t want to. He is sober for a couple of months now. Elle, officially Eleanor, is one of my best friends. Every day after she had a school day, she would come to me and teach me everything she had learned that day. Because of her I can now read and write so I owe her quite a lot. I smile as I think back to the moment that Rick and Elle first saw each other. You can kind of call it love at first sight. Elle tiny so she wears huge heels to keep up with us. One evening we were all walking back from the pub. It was already quite late so we decided to walk home. In the middle of the crossing, Elle's heel breaks off and she swings her ankle. Rick carried her all the way home.

While I’m thinking back to that moment, I make my bed and decide to grab a cup of tea to keep me warm. It is cold, and a caravan has no insulation so it gets pretty chilly here. I usually pack myself with blankets but some hot tea does the trick as well. All of a sudden I think of the rather handsome-looking stranger in the club. I had never seen him here. We have quite a regular crowd in the bar and everyone knows each other. Might be an exchange student, I tell myself while I grab a mug and walk to the neighbors' house. I knock on the door of the beautiful mansion but someone I don’t know answers the door. "Where is Mrs. Petersen?" I ask surprised. The man standing in the doorway looks confused. "That's the old b***h who used to live here," I hear someone screaming from the living room. The man looks at me with compassion."Don't mind her," he says in a friendly voice, "what brings you here?" Well, I live in your backyard. And Mrs. Petersen always let me come here if I needed anything. She also used to let me shower or take shelter here when it stormed. A caravan is not as sturdy as a house if you know what I mean". I try to smile, make myself look friendly but he looks at me with a doubtful face, then turns around and walks over to the woman who is sitting in the living room. I only now get to see the house that they have changed so much. The carpet on the huge staircase in the hall was no longer red but replaced by marble tiles. It no longer looked like the mansion where I used to come so often, but fortunately, some things were unchanged. The statues at the end of the stairs, beautiful hand-carved lions, the huge chandelier with the beautiful crystals that hung from it. For as much as I could see, the top floor remained unchanged. The first door in front of the stairs was the master bedroom. Three times my entire caravan in size. I’m startled when I notice that the man is in front of me again.

"Mrs. Petersen told us about you. Her only condition for selling the house was if the new owners would also take care of you. So here we are promised is promised, here you have the key. Make yourself at home. " I stare at the man and take the key carefully.

"I don't think I've even introduced myself yet. My name is Edward Slade and that is my wife Cat ". I shake his hand. "Kyla," I say carefully. "Nice to meet you," he says with a smile."But tell me, why did you come here?"I came to boil some water" while I say that I walk into the kitchen. While I'm waiting, I have the feeling that someone is staring at me. When I'm done and turn around, I see a boy running away quickly. Around 20, golden-brown skin and black hair. As soon as I look at him, he turns around and walks away. I grab my water and walk away, to 'home'. When I get home, I drink my tea and wrap myself with blankets, and then fall asleep on the couch.

A loud bang wakes me up. I walk outside to see what happened. The moment I open the door it is slammed shut again. Once I am outside, I see two huge animals fighting each other. Wolves, it almost seemed. About 5 feet high, with huge claws and teeth. I scream and throw my shoe at one of the animals to chase them away. Stupid idea, yes, I have to admit that. The beast turns to me and growls. I turn around and walk to my bed to sleep again, ignoring the growls and screams, it must be a dream.