The hunter

Chapter 9

The axe was lying across my lap and I was silent I didn’t know what to do but everyone was silent mentally preparing. We had been driving for at least thirty minutes by now “Guys we have company I make out five wolves but one has disappeared” Akechetah questioned “are you sure if so where is the fifth one and how long ago to you lose sight of it” “I dunno maybe ten minutes ago there running in the hedges so not exactly easier to keep track of man”. Then there was a deafening crash and the van slid to a grinding halt “The fucker it went for me head on the glass door is smashed to f**k but it’s further up the road now, and guys the others have disappeared to there baiting us”

“Josh are we rural if not get us more rural and enclosed now, we can’t have any interference” Akechetah was very much taking charge at this moment “mate we are nowhere near hidden yet” “well then start the engine and get us there now there going to keep baiting us and flanking but just keep moving, we cannot let them have the upper hand”. The engine started and we where moving fast the van kept swerving then the van skidded to a halt “This is a dirt road and looks neglected get out now I don’t know how much time we have”. Scott was the first out his seat thrust the axe into his belt loop at the back next was Akechetah who followed suit and he grabbed my axe as I undid my seat belt and rise up I felt the tug as the axe was place behind me, I was then being shown to pull it down to realese it as the loop will give way as was a clasp designed for this.

Scott pulled the door to and jumped out followed by us slamming the door it was evening and the night sky had already awoken for its shift, the trees and brambles distorted any chance of seeing any stars and it was eerily silent nothing was moving Scott ran to Josh on the opposite side of the path whilst I stayed in place, whilst Akechetah was looking ahead and signalled that he wanted to move further up, so as not to talk I just followed his lead. Thinking If i just focused on keeping the silence and what I could see then at least I would feel that I was incontrol. Watching as he drew his dagger with his right hand, then I could hear it the cracking sound of twigs and branches, he also picked this up as his head looked further to the right and then I could hear the same sound behind turning around. I saw the wolf slowly walking out its yellow eyes set on me and the snarl appeared I hadn’t taken much notice last night but the size of it was was unbelievable it was twice my size, never dropping my gaze I grabbed my dagger and clutched tightly to it and this felt almost natural to me despite never doing this before in my life. I moved my right foot forward slightly bracing for impact as remembering how to easy it was to be knocked down. The beast was now facing me head on and was mirroring me and then it started to run forward clutching the dagger just watching I moved my hand to my left side it pushed of from its back feet. Keeping my stance and not moving my dagger I watched as it was coming straight at me from its leap and I then caught the smell that rancid rotting flesh scent I then drew the dagger upwards in a clean swift movement and I could hear the blade tear at the chest and it feel backwards. The blade was indeed sharp I could see the crimson red blood staing the blade, despite it being cut it didn’t weaken the monster just only managed to piss it off and it changed tactic and was weaving side to side. Trying to force me to make a move keeping my stance still I watched it, it would snap its jaw goading me and I still refused to move. It then decided to run straight for me and I waited to the very last minute and bought the dagger down hard into its shoulder and pulling it straight out as I spun out of its way I could hear it whine from where the dagger punctured through its flesh. Then its claw it tried to swipe me from the right and I smacked it back with the blade I knew I missed it as all I could feel was that I cut through the air. Then I was rammed straight in the chest and was shoved backwards and fell to the ground, I got on my side not breaking my gaze with it and watched as it started to run at me as soon as it was close enough my right boot kicked out with my heel with as much force as I could muster and shoved it backwards that the monster skidded across the dirt track.

Using its claws it scrambled back up and raised itself on its hind legs an axe flew threw the that lodged right in his midsection, which it then knocked to the floor with such little regard and the snarl was back. Sheathing the dagger I reach for my axe just as I had been shown watching waiting for it to charge as if I was a matador taunting a bull with that red cape. It started to charge and I looked down focusing on the leg and swinging as the axe connected with the calf I kneeled at the same time and it nose dived the floor still breathing but not fully conscious. I looked round to see Akechetah charged head on at the other wolf as he sliced across the torso causing the monstrous wolf to bend over and then he thrust the dagger into its neck twisting it the wolf let out a howl and he looked at me point at the axe I ran straight to him passing it over, as if we where running a marathon and had to pass the batton. As soon as he had it in his grasp he released to dagger whilst the beast was thrashing around madly and he raised the axe and swung down as hard as possible and the head rolled forward whilst blood sprayed everywhere I turned back to realise the one that had been after me was no longer on the ground and could not be seen. Akechetah passed back my axe and run for his. We noticed Scott and Josh couldn’t be seen so grabbing my hand we ran back down and they where both mid fight with another wolf that was so much bigger and instead of the black fur we had it was more silver. Scott swung his axe connecting with the back with such force it lost its footing and Josh swung his axe from the side as if he was serving a tennis ball and the head now separated flew into a bush the tounge hanging from its mouth. “That’s one done what about you”, “We got one and Riley did some damage but we still have three left from my count”. Scott turned his head to the right “Yeah I count two on my left and Im betting there is the biggest to the right, the fuckers are trying to cage us in”. They where now closing in on us, all four of us had our axes drawn we had the two and following his lead I ran as he did the wolves stood on their hind legs uttering this ominous guttural growl holding fast to my axe I swung down hard connecting with the flesh, pulling the axe free I then swung at its midsection on the opposite side bringing it to its knees swiping at me knocking me onto my back. The pain from my healing injuries burning in agony as if it was screaming out in pain. Rocking myself onto my knees using the balls of my feet to adjust my stance my left hand palm down on the floor.

My sight locked on the wolf I could see the drool and foam running down its mouth and high was set in a snarl. This was a stupid idea but I let go of my axe and went for one of the flares in my pocket, knowing that the cap had to be off and then twist the bottom. I’m Using my thumb I flipped of the cap and you could hear that pop sound I was then charged at, I looked at the thigh where there was a gouge of flesh missing from where I had hacked it the vile being as it came closer to me. It was so close now that with as much force as I could muster I tamed the flare into to savage beast and twisted, there was a hissing sound as red sparks erupted from its skin and rolled to my righ. The roar of pain sent a shudder to my side I grabbed my axe and ran forward and spun on my heel the axe gripped tightly but hanging to my side. It was scrambling around the flare had been ripped out and the wolf had managed to extinguish the flames. After a few moments it seemed to regain its composure and the snarling from it made goosebumps tear through my flesh. I could make out the others where also caught in offensive mode but as much as there blows where Inflicting damage the creatures where strong and fighting back. Moving to a side stance never averting my gaze raised the axe up to my midsection height and held the grip slightly squeezing the handle and that’s when it charged. Starting to swing the axe waiting for the monstrosity to be with in arms length I swung hard and fast and cut right into its midsection causing it to bow. Adjusting myself I raised the axe down as hard as I could on its kneck and could feel as it connected with the bone and I was met with a spray of blood as If in the sea and the tide had collided with me. It went crashing to the floor. I was now panting and I could feel the sweet from this as my T-shirt clung to me, we had all been victorious and we where all just staring at the carcasses in front of us. Dropping to my knees I felt so exhausted Scott came running over to me dropping his axe and I could hear metallic thud as it hit the ground and pulling me up.

“Riley are you ok, did it get you”, I couldn’t really respond this was the second attack I had faced but I forced myself to keep my composure “No,I’m ok but my back hurts not going to lie”. “Well kid, I gotta give it to you, you definitely held your ground” and he pulled me into a hug. “Yeah Riles I reckon with actually training you could be as big as a bad ass, as Elliot” Joshua come strolling over with his axe casually resting on his shoulder “Jesus if I had known that we where facing of with those dead beats I wouldn’t have worn my trainers, I mean look at them blood does not come out that easy, so that’s them heading for the bin”. Akechetah came to join us “ Whose making the call we can’t go anywhere without the bodies being loaded up”. Scott retrieved his phone and started to walk in the direction of the van also looking as if he was assessing the damage as well”. Continuing on he turns to Josh “so the van will still be driveable aside from broken glass right” Josh sill looking down out at shoes the look of frustration on his face was evident “yeah, yeah the vans all good just superficial damage”, “okay perfect, Riley you all ok”. Just shrugging I couldn’t believe what had just happened and looking down at myself all I could see was blood now drying, so all that did just really happen. I killed something, even though it was going to kill me I still took a life does that make me just as evil as the werewolf I just destroyed, afterall who can really truly judge what is good and evil.

He came to me and just held my hand looking into my eyes “it doesn’t make you evil or as bad, this is a natural cycle in our life Riley, we live differently from the world you grew up in, look at me your not bad or even in the same league as what you killed.” Pulling me in for a hug “ the more your in this new world the stronger you will become, and you will not carry any shame for what we must do by birthright after all we are not the monsters they are”. I stayed in his arms needing this embrace I was not normally this touchy feely with people but he was different but I can’t explain why.

“Come on Riles you can help us drag the other body over with these shits then it will be so much quicker to get out of here when clean up is arrived.” The three of us walked down the path was now getting very dark and Josh lit a flare to light the path ahead. After what had taken place there was now no longer silence but rustling in the trees overhead and of in the distance you could hear an owl calling out into the night alerting the strangers that we where in there territory. We came across the dead body Akechetah bent and picked up the decapatated head without even reacting clearly he and everyone like him would have become so accustomed to this, in truth this was just a normal routine for them. Bending down and hooking my hand through the arm pit trying not to gag from the stench the wet fur was coarse and matted, I didn’t expect how heavy the body was but it was a ton weight and the sound the corpse made as we dragged the body you could hear it stirring the dirt and rubble beneath it along with the occasional c***k of twigs that bowed to the pressure of this body. Finally we dumped it with the others and walked over to the van “They will be hear as soon as they can, the GPS says they should easily be here in the next couple of hours at the latest, also no real damage to the van except the smashed windscreen so we got lucky this time” not really sure how Scott came to that conclusion but he went back in I could hear the seat being lifted up up and put back down, whilst Akechetah also climbed in and fetched his shirt, jumping back out the van and gently covering my shoulders with it enjoying the comfort it instantly gave I pushed my arms through the sleeves and pulled it around me welcoming the warmth it offered. The same as when you would embrace the welcoming warmth of sitting next to a fire lit in a fireplace on a bitter, harsh cold winters day. Scott came out with bottles of water then went back In and sat down reaching into his jean pocket where he produced a pouch of his baccy and started to roll himself a cigarette.

Josh dumped the flare next to the corpses and hopped into the van and we both followed suit, he took the seat next to the screen monitor and slumped back whilst taking a gulp of his water. Scott passed his baccy over to myself and once I had taken what I needed and passed it down the line,which he then handed back to Scott once he had taken a decent amount to make his smoke. Once we three where satisfied we licked the paper to seal the cigarette and each in turn took Scott’s lighter and lit up, on the first inhale the tobacco was slightly bitter but exhaling the smoke I felt slightly more in control again staring out at the open door watching the red flare sputtering on the ground illuminating the bodys in this red glow which was reflected in there cold dead eyes, it sent a chill down my spine because the image was so haunting I knew the image would be forever lodged in my memory. Another image that no doubt would plague my dreams among the other few that would surface at times to remind me of a part of my life I faught so hard to forget. Why did they not revert back to there human form like they did in movies wasn’t that what usually happened you would watch some fearsome beast transform back a vulnerable human form. “Scott, why don’t they transform back to there human form” This made him laugh “You’ve watchedway to many films my dear, why should it revert back if it’s killed in its wolf form, afterall the brain is dead so it’s not able to shift as there are no signals relaying that message”. I had never thought of it that way finishing my cigarette I flicked it out of the van watching as it fell near the flare. Slouching back against my seat I proceeded to open my drink, taking a sip then realising I was lot more thirsty and happily swiging away at the drink.

We all just sat in silence recovering from the onslaught we faced earlier, Akechetah placed his arm around my shoulders, where I proceeded to nestle my head into his shoulder whilst he stroked my shoulder. None of us moved from this position and just listened to the night instead occasionally having a smoke awaiting for the others to arrive. I must have started to dose off because I was startled by the sound of crackling from an approaching van and the slam of two doors. “Jesus, Scott when you said the windscreen was broken I didn’t expect it to be that totalled” two body’s appeared at the doorway belonging to Tyler and Patrick “Patrick as long as the thing starts I don’t give a s**t about the windscreen being broken” “Besides it will take Matt hardly any time to fix,the kid is good with fixing the vans up, he doesn’t even break a sweat, which reminds me the axes and daggers will need sharpening”. Scott hoped out and braced Patrick in the typical man hug fashion “got to give it to you for irony man a tracker being tracked by a tracker”, Scott started to laugh “yeah you aren’t wrong there, mind in my defence they weren’t looking for us just bad timing on there part they are looking for there next victims to end up being the victims themselves”. My eyes half open was looking at Tyler’s face who was giving Akechetah a look as if to say what the hell. Coming into the van he started to unzip his top and threw it at me”Here put something warmer on I’m sure Akechetah would like his top back” I was hoping in my half sleep state I was misreading the tone he used as it felt quite possessive.”Nah,Tyler I’m fine she can keep the shirt besides if you haven’t noticed she’s half asleep, leave her be and try your territorial stunt another day” “she’s been through a lot in less than forty eight hours, so she just needs to rest”.

God I hope this didn’t turn into a dog pissing match as I really wasn’t in the mood to face that, whatever there issues are they can leave me out of it.

“Oi, Josh, Snorella get up and help me load up the bodies” Tyler then kicked at his leg, in my own half sleep state I hadn’t realised that Josh was slightly snoring and had his mouth wide open until he was kicked “What the hell man, what’s jumped up your ass Tyler, let me guess your time of month again” rising from his seat he walked over to Tyler shoved him out the van and proceeded to get himself out as well and they then started to shove each other till they got to the task at hand. Not wanting to move where I was comfy, I was having to fight hard with my eye lids to stay open. Letting out a yawn I didn’t want to fight the sleep anymore so I finally gave in and allowed sleep to take me praying that I wouldn’t have dreams involving anything I had witnessed so far.