The hunter

Chapter 2

Where was this bright light coming from, thinking that I’ve fallen asleep and just stupidly forgot to close my curtains. There was pain in my shoulder and my back felt sore. Starting to open my eyes adjusting to the light my head was pounding, I swear I didn’t touch any alcohol last night I’m not a big drinker as it was one glass of wine I found I would feel more tired and just ready to go to bed. After my eyes had adjusted to the light I started to worry where was, I slowly realised there was a needle in my arm hooked to an IV of some kind. I was in a faded band T-shirt which definitely was not mine, slowly sitting upright I discovered I was in a hospital bed of some kind and to the left of me was a man sleeping in the chair.

Suddenly images started running through my head and scenes of an incident with a massive almost wolf like creature. I remembered those yellow eyes and the smell it was worse than sewage it smelled like rotting flesh, at that moment I wanted to be sick. Then i remembered it wasn’t a dream I remember the pain from its claw how hard it was to move when it was on top of me. After all my memories flashed through my head I realised, that I had no idea where I was but the guy asleep I saw last night he killed the hideous beast and said he was taking me somewhere to get checked. This was all now starting to feel all very real. Finally I could fully make out who he was he looked tall, taller than me and had a massive Celtic tattoo on his right arm the design was links of chain entwined to make an axe of some kind and set inside of the axe was a wolf. He has jet black hair, his skin was so pale even more so then mine and I could see a scar, a single healed cut that ran from his ear to his neck however it must be old as it had the silvery complexion of a very old healed wound.

My anxiety was going into over drive this doesn’t feel right I need to get out I need to get home where everything makes sense. So I start to pull the needle out when a women’s hand comes out of nowhere and gently placed it on mine. I looked up to see a slightly older lady looking at me her eyes where dark hazel and had a glowing complexion, she slightly resembled a Mortica Adams type individual that actually enjoyed basking in the sun. Her eyes looked kind and welcoming. “Please don’t pull that out it’s only full of fluids to keep you hydrated, you passed out from shock not surprisingly”. Relenting and leaving the needle in place for now I just looked at her whilst she continued “my name is Tara, please don’t worry you are safe Tyler bought you to me after your attack he was so worried about you and refused to leave your bedside I am sure quite a few of the ladies living here would be very jealous”. Great another guy who believes he’s gods gift, trying to resist rolling my eyes I then replied “Fine, I will trade my place with them right now,z why am I here apart from the obvious what’s going on”. Taking a breath as there was so much I wanted to say right at this moment and time. “How do I know what your saying is the truth what if your a weird murder cult that actually drugged me and your playing into the hallucination that I experienced”. She smiled and burst into a very quiet but infectious laugh, glad she thought this was amusing, me on the other hand didn’t find this as funny. After finally composing herself she then finally spoke “You sound coco loco right now have you heard yourself”. Despite barely knowing her I instantly liked her after her saying that, she didn’t take herself to seriously and wasn’t afraid to make a joke. “In all Seriousness I am just part of the medical unit here you suffered serious injuries, and understandably in a state of shock”.

From the side of the bed I could here a groan so I looked to see that Tyler was it, was starting to stir from his beauty sleep.” “Anyway as I was trying to say before Groaning beauty interrupted, my interest Is healing not murder stuff like that is not good for the soul”. “When you first arrived you wounds where quite severe you had quite extensive tissue damage, so I had to clean the wounds out but to do that I had to make them deeper to prevent infection. You have also had a course of antibiotics fed into your drip and I’ve run bloods to test for rabies and given you a tetanus booster”. Well that will explain why I was hurting as much as I was. “Also I then had to stitch up the cuts on your back and glued the puncture marks to your shoulder however, I’m pleased to report your healing very nicely in a few more days they will be non existent the perks of your kind your healing time is significantly faster than your average person”. I’m there looking at her completely confused what did she just say “I’m sorry my kind, as in what human being”. Again I see her eyes light up obviously she was resisting laughing at me for some unknown reason. “Well obviously you are human, however your genetic make up is not the norm and is more in the same lines as everyone here however I will let the council enlighten you with your birth right”. Okay I have no idea what she is going on about and she said I sounded coco loco yeah okay then. Tyler had finally woken up completely “So you are alive then”. I looked at him oh great definitely one of those guys then the ones I actively try to avoid, the cocky full of there own self worth kind “yes I’m alive as opposed to what” I barely knew him and I could already tell he would easily be able to get under my skin.

Tyler pulled himself up in his chair, ran his hand through his mid length hair so the stray strands where now no longer in his eyes and a smile was residing on his face. Seeing him in the daylight I was now really able to make out his facial features his green eyes had a slight hint of blue in them. He had a chiseled jaw and slight stubble running along his jaw line that was well kept, the man was good looking. To add insult to injury he was very much the type of man I have always been attracted to and could feel a slight flutter of anxiety when admiring him whilst trying not to. He then retorts with a smirk and I could swear he was getting of on this “How about hey thanks for saving my life”. My head hurts, I ache and he wants to be applauded for being so heroic, is he for real. “Really I wake up in a strange place, to find you opposite my bed and you want me to praise you for your heroics, well thank you so much as soon as I’m able to I will arrange a special parade just for you”. My sarcasm didn’t have the effect I was hoping for instead of shutting him down his eyes lightened up as if ready to reply in kind. “Is that what I get for gratitude, I mean you should have seen how much of a mess you looked which reminds me, your outfit was pretty trashed from all your blood so I chucked it in the bin and the gentleman that I am graciously lent Tara one of my favourite T-shirts and trousers to pass on to you”. Suddenly I get the feeling that today is going to be a long day. “Yeah speaking of which where is my handbag and other belongings like my phone”. Tara seemed to be watching us and could see a hint of amusement In her face “I have your things safely stored and your phone is there and once I’ve checked you over I will gladly give them back”. Feeling slightly relieved I rationalised in my head that maybe if my things will be given back I can leave and just pretend this never happened, oh how naive my thoughts where. “Tyler if you wouldn’t mind leaving for a few moments I need to check her over and I’m sure she would like to have some privacy”. Tyler’s face suddenly went very serious “not a chance, what if she try’s to run off i don’t think the attack was a coincidence, you and I both know the rules for incidents like this we have to make sure they speak with the council so that we can asses if the threat is high but I promise to close me eyes how about that if the princess is shy”.

Now starting to lose my s**t I don’t care how good looking this guy is, like hell will I let him watch whilst I’m being examined. “I’m sorry what the hell, theres no way i’m letting her check me over with you in this room” a smug smile came across his face “relax princess I’ve seen it all before, anyway who do you think helped Tara get you changed nice tattoo on you back by the way”. That’s it I have a headache, I want a smoke and he’s being a douche if there was anything in reach I swea I’d throw it at him right now. Tara clearly sensing I was on the verge of blowing became very serious her face set in a hard steely gaze “Tyler if you have to stay go and make yourself useful and wait outside this room end of discussion, I will tell you when you can come back in and that’s final otherwise I will have no issue forcefully removing your backside out this room and you know it”. Sanding up and putting his hands up as in mock defeat “fine but as soon as she is decent I’m coming straight back in” he winked and then turned on his heel and left.

Tara watching as he left finally turned around and smiled kindly at me and winked at me “ignore him I wouldn’t have let him stay anyway, he’s all bark and no bite” then reaching for the box of gloves that where on a dresser next to me she walked of to get something. Moments later she came back pushing a trolley with a sharps box and various dressings for wounds. Very carefully she withdrew the cannula from my arm. I always hated blood tests and having cannulas as they could hurt being removed, yes the irony no issues with a tattoo needle but drawing blood and I’m a wimp. In my defence longer needles and I have had blood tests where they struggled and messed up so badly I was left with a bruise so big you could see it half way down my arm, not a nice sight. Tara then helped to lift my shirt off and started to inspect my back “well I’m pleased to say it’s nice and clean the tissue is already mending and the stitches are dissolving where the wound is closing” it still hurt when touching but not going to complain to much of its healing but, how can it heal that fast I’ve never needed stuff like this before so was unable to determine if this was normal. Tara continued and tended to my shoulder, as soon as she pressed I winced “still slightly inflamed but, again nice and clean and the scar tissue shouldn’t be to noticeable either, like I said you are a quick healer”. She then helped me putting the top back on and shouted “right grump you can come back in”

Tyler walked back in and sat back down by the side of my bed. “So, will she be okay?” sounding suddenly all concerned, I’m confused by this guy he changes the direction more than the wind. A slight mile spreading across her face “yes shes healing nicely, she can be released later this afternoon, now you must be hungry I will sort out getting some toast bought up for you”. I hadn’t really taken much notice of hunger but at the mention of food, i realised that actually I was hungry and the growl my stomach let out was also making its attention known as if approving of the sentiment. Tara then walked away and came back with a cold jug of water and two cups.Placing them on a table that was by the left side of my bed, which I had not noticed before and then passed my bag and walked away, for a Dr she was very plain clothed I was expecting those pjs you see people in hospital wear. Instead she was in Jeans and and green gypsy style top. The first thing I did was go straight into my bag, as promised my smokes, wallet and phone where all in there. Before I even had a chance, Tyler went straight for my phone you have to be kidding me. “Look your not a prisoner but at the moment, no calls you need to have a meeting with everyone first please”. Getting very annoyed now by all of this, all I keep hearing is you need to meet with the council well I have no idea what the hell they are talking about.. “Im sorry, but I don’t actually know you, I have no idea where I am, no one is really going over what actually is happening until I meet with some random ass people so you expect me to put blind faith in you give over”. Tyler wasn’t’t expecting my very blunt reply, he actually looked hurt. “Look I get it, your pissed but have I done anything to actually hurt you no, if it was suspicious in anyway you wouldn’t be alive right now so yeah I’m asking you to have a bit of blind faith, come on I stopped a wolf from killing you does that not count for anything”. Those green eyes where almost pleading with me, and his eyes took on an expression of that of a little child and damn it he was actually making me feel a pang of guilt. He hasn’t lied so far, if it wasn’t for him I would have ended up as animal feed.

Looking away, so as to shake the guilt I felt I poured myself some water and took a sip not realising how dry my throat actually was, the cool sensation alone was a blessed relief I could actually feel the coolness of it travel down my throat it was bliss. Facing him “Look, umm Tyler I am grateful you saved me honestly I am but your asking me to take a massive chance and I don’t know you, no one is truly telling me anything, just using random of hand remarks, to which means nothing to me how would you feel?”

Running his hand through his hair, clearly feeling uncomfortable he never dropped his gaze but looked as if he was thinking “Okay how about a compromise, I will tell you what I can, but not everything it’s not my place, but it’s not going to be easy to hear there is a balcony out at the end of this room we can sit out there so you can see your not being held captive, and we can have a smoke as I could do with one and I get the feeling so could you”. I could tell he was trying to be fair and again his eyes held that pleading look in them. Trying to think rationally here I knew that if they wanted to harm me then why would they have gone to all the effort to tend to my injuries. Why go to all the effort and time because surely if you wanted to inflict harm, you wouldn’t first treat the person would you?. Also I wasn’t locked in a dark room, I wasn’t tied or chained up they are talking to me and actually talking with me.

I have listened to enough true crime podcasts, and as much as I knew something was up I diddnt have that instant gut feeling where flight or fight kicks in. We all know that feeling, the one that’s in your gut, nothing is screaming run for the hills.Being honest with myself,I want to know what the hell is going on, there was a wolf, it tried to kill me and yet he knew it was there and he wasn’t phased.

Me on the other hand, I’m finding myself very freaked out, come on this stuff normally does not happen. “Look your asking a lot still, your not exactly showing me your full deck of cards here, there was a wolf it tried to kill me and you are acting as if it’s a normal day, I mean really what the actual f**k !”. The frustration was showing in my tone, I want to scream, cry throw things I have limited patience as it is. This is me here, I was that kid growing up that would hunt for my birthday or Christmas presents because the suspense would get to me. “ I need to go to the bathroom,I want to see a mirror, and then I want answers or I will leave and you can’t stop me”. A small smirk appeared and a glint was forming in his eyes. At this sight I could feel my stomach clenching and my breath catching in my throat, his look made me aware of another hunger that has not been satisfied in such a long time. How at a time like this could I feel so drawn to a stranger, God I’m a head case I don’t know him but the desire that was stirring inside of me, was a feeling I had forgotten even existed. Leaning in his face inches from my face, his smile and the glint that was radiating in his eyes, was replaced with a fiery look that just made me more nervous, allowing anxiety to course through me.

Gently placing a loose strand of my hair behind my ear, his hand lingering as If nervous himself then slowly grazed and caressed my cheek.

“ I love a challenge princess, and I would have no issue trying to stop you from leaving, so that I knew you where safe” his lips so close to mine now, feeling the warmth from his breath the yearning inside me grew in intensity. His hand still stroking my face, Tyler was getting as close as physically possible that any moment his lips would brush mine. For a brief moment he had managed to wake a desire and need that I have not felt for a long time, butterflies where in my stomach and I feel drawn to him, as how a moth is dawn to a flame. still gazing into those eyes, I was frozen and didn’t dare move in fear of losing this moment that was so enticing.

Tara let out a very subtle cough and just like that the moment was gone, and I took a breath not realising that all this time I was so entranced that I had been holding my breath.