The hunter

Chapter 13

Time had stood still, and I no longer felt like I was drowning in the vast sea of emotions in my head, and I could now breathe. However, I now felt exhausted and the way he was ever so gently caressing my head was a sweet lullaby enticing me to just let go and not fight it. I still can’t understand why he would be so nice why isn’t he running calling me pathetic, why act like he cared after all I am damaged goods. Being honest with myself, I was a failure a permanent disappointment I couldn’t even protect the child I was carrying and that was meant to be something that was meant to be the most simplistic of tasks for a mum to do and even that I failed at. Still not opening my eyes I heard the door open “thanks but I have got it from here now, head on downstairs as dinner will be served soon”. Being honest I didn’t want him to leave and go I would be quite happy just to live in this moment with him forever even though I was not truly deserving of it, how could I be. Finally, I could not feel his gentle touch but felt him ever so gently squeeze my arm as I could sense him get of the bed. Then there was the tell-tale sign of the door closing indicating that I was now left alone with Scott. Feeling the bed give as he came to sit with me “how you doing now? please Riley I need you to talk to me I’m not a mind reader and I want to help but unless you say I’m at a loss here”. Finally opening my eyes, I was expecting to be greeted by the bright light from my room only to find my bed side light was on casting a warm glow around the room. Trying to find my voice I took a deep breath in to compose myself because I just wanted to cry again, and I hated this even now my emotions could go either way and was like I was a passenger and not the driver “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to cause a problem”. Scott was looking at me with so much confusion “Riley why are you apologising, you haven’t done anything wrong I caught Tyler and Akechetah fighting not you, mind not going to lie I do like watching Tyler being knocked on his ass the man can be a pig”. “It is my fault though everything is my fault, I don’t belong here everyone seems to thing I’m this strong person, but I really I’m not, if only you knew the truth about me” looking at me intently “okay well then tell me why you’re not, but I don’t believe for one second that you don’t belong here”. Feeling the tears starting to fall again “ well your wrong then, I thought I was getting better but sometimes I get these flashbacks and there so real, it’s like I’m back in that moment again and he’s always there and the looks he would give me, maybe if I I’d just kept my mouth shut or kept my head down then it wouldn’t have happened, he’s right though I’m just nothing but trouble”. Feeling his gaze “what do you mean nothing but trouble, don’t you look down child, I don’t know what s**t that guy told you but you are most definitely aren’t trouble I may have only recently been given the chance to be in your life, but one thing I will tell you Is I can read people and you are the exact opposite of trouble”. “Please you don’t know me really, it was my fault he would lose his temper, I should have just done as I was told and stayed in my place”. Anger now colouring his expression “No, you listen to me and really listen real men don’t hit women ever, so don’t you dare try and justify that sack of s**t laying one finger on you, do you hear me”. “Couples argue that’s a given but when it resorts to physical assault that’s crossing the line and you know it Riley”.

I couldn’t look at my uncle anymore I felt so ashamed “but it was my fault, I should have tried harder and been more attentive to him, then maybe he wouldn’t have hit me, I tried so hard but sometimes I couldn’t help it especially when he would come home drunk or smelling of perfume”. “If only I hadn’t gone upstairs that time and saw him with her, maybe my child would still be here, I should have just kept my mouth shut but I didn’t and it’s all my fault that they are dead”. “Riley, it’s not your fault, he beat you, Tara told me everything from what was in your records, you are lucky to be alive yourself you nearly died, so don’t you dare say it was your fault”. Scott proceeded to wipe the tears away that was running so freely “you can’t think like that, otherwise even now your letting him win and your better than that, and believe me when I say your better than that, Jesus if your mother was here I would be restraining her from looking for him because I’m telling you right now she would beat him within an inch of his life from just laying one finger on you, and I know you never knew her but her strength is inside of you and in time you will see it for yourself”. The conviction in his eyes showed that he truly believed this “I wish I could erase the past for you, but one thing I can promise is that you do belong here, in time you will see that I promise just have a little faith in yourself” He grabbed me gently by the chin so that I had to look into his eyes “and yes you do belong here, now sit up and give me a hug and then you can pick a movie for us to watch and I will even endure a chick flick for you, after all you are my favourite niece” laughing at the last part of his statement “I’m your only niece you know”. Sitting up right I was then pulled into a tight hug no matter what challenges life was currently throwing me, I knew deep down that it would all be ok.

Eventually there was a knock at the door Scott pulled away from our hug to go to the door and stood in the doorway was one of the kitchen hands holding a tray carrying our food and two bottles of soft drink. After they departed, he closed the door and sat back down next to me placing the tray further up the bed whilst retrieving my iPad. “Come on then what torture are you going to inflict on me with a film” then handing me my device. Scrolling through the streaming site trying to find something that I wanted to watch and discovered one of my old favourites films The Crow looking at him I passed it back “Here you go I want to watch this chick flick”. He looked very amused and slightly relieved by this as fun as it would be to watch him squirm watching a mushy girly film being honest with myself, I really wasn’t in the mood to watch a film where boy meets girl chases her falls madly in love and something happens to tear the two lovers apart, then by the end of the film hooray they are magically back together and living happily ever after. Sometimes I feel the reason why we have such unrealistic expectations of relationships is because movies always seem to sugar coat it by the end of the film yet when in reality it was nothing like that. I always believed my parents where the exception to this rule but what they had was real and I’m sure they had arguments mind non that I ever witnessed but when you’re a child you’re only going to see the good in everything.

“Earth to Riley” my uncle’s hand was now in front of my pulling me from my thoughts “what you thinking about kiddo”. Looking at him “about my mum and dad, and also about how movies always make it look so easy fall in love get married, live happily ever after”. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting that answer running his hand through his hair as if trying to think how best to answer, “not sure what to say their kiddo, stuff like that can happen but at the same time for others it doesn’t, I once read that before we are bought to this existence our souls decide what course our lives will lead”. “So, the more challenges you have to face is because you’re an older spirit and you are wanting to test yourself because the mundane traditional route you have already lived”. “Take me for example I have dated, and had a few relationships, but they didn’t seem to work out as me and the women where just not on the same page completely despite us both truly caring for each other”. “Louisa on the other hand was truly, madly and deeply in love with your dad, they seemed to be so Intune with one another despite being their own person. But they would have their ups and downs, but it only seemed to draw them closer to one another and for me I just haven’t had that experience”.

Knowing he was talking about my birth mother for the first time in my life I suddenly wanted to know more about her. “What was Louisa, I mean my mum like?”. Scott righted himself at this question as if taken by surprise “food first Riley, as I know for the fact apart from the KFC last night you haven’t really eaten much, and if you want to be as big as a bad ass as me you actually need to have food to keep your strength up”.

Then realising he was right I hadn’t eaten today, despite the fact he has no kids of his own as surely, he would have mentioned them by now, he was trying to be a parent to me now and already he was observant. Picking my plate up he then handed it me and grinned, I could tell I rolled my eyes but non the less took the offered plate. The smell was intoxicating, and the best bit was it was slightly burned around the edges just the way I liked it. Tucking in I managed to eat about half it and the richness from the Bolognese sauce was amazing and you could tell it had been cooked from scratch instead of using a jar of sauce. Where it was so filling, I just could not manage another bite and ended up starting to play with it but the thought of one more mouthful no matter how delicious it may be was an impossible task to complete. Scott on the other hand had manage to demolish the whole meal, I had to give it to him the man could put the food away and clearly not have to worry about gaining weight from it. Lucky bastard I just have to look at food and I can feel the weight pile on, which was why I always tried to be very cautious with me eating especially where being told constantly how fat and hideous I was. “I really can’t eat anymore, or I think I will be sick” then smiling at him as I had reverted to being a small child that just wanted to please her parents, he took the plate from me and put it on top of his now barren plate and placed it on the tray carrying it over and putting down on my chest of draws

“so come on, you promised you would tell me about her” he then looked at me “don’t you mean mum” then smiled clearly waiting to see if I would take the bait as he was a slight wind up merchant but in a good way he always seemed to do it in a harmless style, I thought to myself maybe him and Josh on occasion would team up playing little tricks on people, and realised that it was a dumb question of course they did. He came back over and sat back down on the bed “hmmm that’s a difficult one to answer because there is so much to tell you about her, she had such a big heart and loved everyone and would always go out of her way to help others, but the flip side of her if you upset her she would have no issue pulling you on it and made sure you fully understood you had pissed her off”. “Also, she could be quite sassy at times and would come out with some fantastic one liners, nothing ever seemed to really bother her, no matter what s**t was thrown at her she just took it in her stride” the emotion that rang in his voice made me realise how much he truly loved his sister and his eyes were starting to tear up as he was discussing her. Hugging him, to try and ease the pain I wondered if maybe we were all victims to some trauma in our lives but, where some keep going over everything, others have learnt to bury it deep down within a vault in their minds. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you asking about her”. He laughed “you never have to apologise to me unless I catch you sneaking men in you room, I will give you a free pass on Josh he is allowed in anytime and I will also let it slide with another man that seems be coming into your room, just know this I’m watching you two very carefully”.

Deciding to ignore his very subtle mention of who he was referring to knowing it was not aimed at Tyler. “Come on you promised to watch a film so let’s put it on”. He retrieved my iPad and unlocked it and then pressed play. We sat in a comfortable silence watching the film and I could tell he was getting engrossed by it as he eyes stared intently at the screen. What always got me was no matter how many times I watched this film even now I still cry in the same places even though I know it’s about to happen. Was it because it was so well acted out was it the fact that the actor lost his life just before he got married just as the character Eric Draven did, irony could be so cruel at times that it wasn’t even funny. Then it got me to thinking about what Scott had said about how apparently, we choose our lives before we even live them. I have only just learnt about how true evil really does exist in this world, and not just werewolves but how even humankind can be demonic with how they act towards one another. Why would I choose this path, I know he said that it was because of wanting to test yourself but I just didn’t understand why I would willing choose to experience what I have been witness to. Knowing I could spare myself from such pain and heartache, surely, I would want to choose a simple life wouldn’t I. Also knowing that werewolves and other make-believe creatures do exist would I not prefer to live in blissful ignorance. It’s like when you watch a magician preform a trick, once you have learnt the secret to the stunt you find yourself being more sceptical with everything. You can then never see the magic itself anymore but instead are watching to find out how it is done and taking away from the performance of it all.

Pulling myself out of this thought process because it was like going down a rabbit hole, I looked at my uncle “so what did you think of the film?”, smiling and rubbing his chin “I’ve got to give it to you the film was good and bonus it wasn’t a chick flick maybe when I come back from my next tracking mission we can make this a more regular thing, family movie night what do you say?”.

With everything that has gone on I completely forgot that Tyler had said he would be leaving with Akechetah tomorrow. “Do you have to leave so soon, and I know I sound like a whiny child here, but I don’t know how else to say it”. Draping his arm over my shoulder “nah you don’t sound whiny, and I get it, I will be fine I’m not sure how long we will be gone for it could be a few days or a couple of weeks, but I promise I will be coming back besides you will have Josh here, just you two try not to burn the building down when I’m away”. I feigned a shocked expression “what are you trying to imply that me and Josh are troublemakers, I’m hurt but such a statement” however I couldn’t pull it off for too long as I started to giggle as soon as the words came out my mouth. “nothing would surprise me with Josh and i already sotted the Lord Douche sign so yes I think you two may cause some mischief whilst I’m away”. “Although at least you’re starting your training with Elliot tomorrow so that should keep you occupied most mornings, fair warning though Elliot is a hard ass with training and won’t take it easy on you”. Rolling my eyes “Gee, great can’t wait to start then”. Smiling at me and trying to repress the laughter that was starting to build in his chest “You will be fine, and I know that Sean and Patrick want to meet with you at nine after your breakfast to start the formalities of your past life and closing that chapter down, Elliot will take you out for training once that is dealt with”. “He will start you on defensive training and will be hand to hand combat to start with just listen to him and you will be okay I promise, now I hate to do this but you need some sleep and I really need to pull my finger out and start packing” He then got up from the bed and kissed my forehead “I won’t be leaving till after breakfast so I will see you in the morning try and get some sleep and sweet dreams child”, nodding my head “Good night Scott and you, see you in the morning” I then walked him to my door and watched as he went to his room closing the door and locking it I then went and got myself ready for bed realising that the plates where still on my chest of draws, I made a mental note to make sure I took them down in the morning and wash up the dishes myself crawling under the sheets I started to yawn picking up the I pad I placed it on the bedside table and turned the lamp off and nestled my head in my pillow and before I knew it I was drifting off to sleep.