The Hunt

The Hunt
I was scared.
So very scared. Just scared. I could say I was terrified, petrified, afraid, frightened, nervous, alarmed and every single synonym of the word 'scared', and yet, it still cannot even begin to define how much fear was in my system at the moment.
It was like stepping into a void- a dark, gaping hole of nothingness, stepping into it and not knowing- no, knowing for a fact that you'll never make it back out.
I was cornered. I was going to die.
OOO
The term 'death' had never meant much to me. Sure, I knew it was bad, but it was never a concept that reached me. I knew the darker aspects of life, sure. I had to, with the job I had inherited. I knew about death, maybe more so than other people. But when face-to-face with Death itself, I realized just how clueless and naïve I've been about it all.
I stared into the murderous eyes of the hunter as it glowed unnaturally bright underneath the faint moonlight. I was trembling, hating myself for breaking one of the first rules in the Linwood household: never ever show fear.
Figures. After years upon years of following the house rules, the fist one I break just had to be the most important one of all.
I couldn't remember when I got here, or how I did for that matter. There goes another rule: always be in control of the situation. Not being able to remember how I got here or when doesn't really define 'in control'. But again, it gets kind of hard to focus on a singular thought when a pair of hungry blue eyes is staring right at you.
I knew I had to run, but I couldn't; for one, I didn't know where to run. Even if I did, I didn't think that my legs would be willing to cooperate. Any second the Hunter would decide to leap; that would certainly be the end of me. Before I knew it, the scream had escaped my lungs in a whoosh of air.
OOO
I awoke, panting and sweaty. My hands were white-knuckled fists against the satin covers as I gently unfurled them from their clenched position.
'It's a dream. It's never going to happen. It's just a stupid dream.'
I rushed through my morning routines, suppressing the urge to look behind my back. Paranoia. I refuse to succumb to the fear. I will not look over my shoulder, trembling like some fumbling idiot.
I came out of the showers to find my school uniform hung up and ready for my use. Those maids were good for something at least. They were insignificant, not worth my time and effort. Disposable. I strode downstairs, hands trailing lightly on the polished oak handles, gaze running over the large room it led to.
Sigh.
Mother and Father weren't home again. It wasn't that I was surprised; it wasn't all that uncommon for my parents to be away for extended periods of time without notice, after all. It's just that… the sales had risen exponentially during the last month after I organized the shipping with Mr. Chiller… and I just wanted to show them the profit that was coming in, and if they wanted anything more. It wasn't easy to do all this without being reported, it was illegal.
It was rather unfortunate that I couldn't contact them without revealing their locations to the authorities.
"'Scuse me sir…"
I whipped around to glare at whoever was stupid enough to speak to me when I was in a mood.
"What?" I spat out, watching in satisfaction as the unfortunate maid cowered in fear.
"S-sir, b-breakfast is r-ready"
I increased the strength of my glare at her before I replied scathingly, "Well, as you can very well see, I am not very blind. And as I am currently at the bottom of the staircase and the dining table as well in my view, I can see the food."
I smiled at her menacingly, "You would do well not to insult me in such a way again. Father will not know of this this time. But I can't say the same again…"
The maid bowed down even lower, the moron looked as if she was about to cry.
"Y-yes sir, I-I'm sorry, sir"
"Well, what are you waiting for? A formal invitation? Out! And use your brain next time you speak to me." I pointed towards the direction of the door as the maid scampered off into their quarters.
OOO
I headed towards usual seat: a rough table with two haggard chairs and settled down onto the one nearest to the closed window (I had to have some sense of freedom in this claustrophobia-inducing classroom). I did not want to be here, no, not at all. I'd rather be at home, considering how much money I should invest in the upcoming shipping, to India, this time.
Rather suddenly, a hand was laid on my shoulder. I twisted my head around, only to be face-to-face with what had to be one of the most three-year-old-like eight-year-old I'd ever seen in my entire life.
Adjusting the blank mask over my face, I said in a bored voice.
"Elementary's over that way kid" I jerked my head towards the corridor outside the door.
The eight-year-old gave me a smile, a smile that I found rather annoying. Not that I let it show.
"Hello, I'm Federico Jameson" he stuck out his right hand at me, "I'm your new classmate, jus' transferred from Australia. Nice to meet you"
I stared at the hand, a slightly disgusted look plastered across my face. I wasn't going to touch that any time soon. When became apparent that I wasn't going to shake his hand, Federico dropped it and his smile shrunk by a couple of molars.
"Anyway… I was going to ask you if… y'know, if I could sit here?"
I made no physical motion to stop him so he plopped onto the seat next to mine.
"Thanks" he said, popping another one of his infuriating smiles, they were really starting to grate on my nerves.
Math soon started and I was forced to endure a torrent of chatter.
Do you like Math? I, personally, don't. I mean, really, how could a subject be so boring! I rather like our teacher though, Mrs. Morri, was it? She's real nice. Hey, what sport do you like? I know I don't really strike anyone as the sporty type, but I love cricket. Best sport ever created, it you ask me…
It just went on and on and on. What's the point of asking me then, you retard? You're not going to let me answer (not that I would), then why bother?
There was one thing that faintly bothered my mind. How was it, that I did not recognize him? I have catalogue virtually everyone (if not everyone) in this entire school, whether minor, major, insignificant, poor, wealthy… I have them all catalogued in case of the odd chance they ever posed a threat.
The fact that I do not have the name 'Federico Jameson' in my directory annoys (and worries) me no end.
Soon, but it couldn't come any slower for me, Numeracy ended and Break started. I swept up my things; eager to get away from the torture my ears were forced to endure when a voice whispered in my ear, so quiet that I almost thought that it was just the wind. That, or I had finally lost it sometime during the interminable babble.
"By the way, I'm not an eight-year-old. It would do you well to not judge a book by its cover."
I spun around, heart fluctuating madly.
A cold breeze blew from the window, caressing his face, sending shivers down his back.
The enigma that was Federico Jameson; I will find out who he is.
OOO
I loitered through the corridors, books stacked neatly, cradled upon my arms. I really did not have a destination in mind, just meandering pointlessly through the worn cobblestone when I felt a chill scuttle up my spine and the urge to turn around increase by ten fold.
The descended towards me in an unorganized pack; wicked smiles plastered upon their ugly faces. I scowled. Great. Just great. Just when I was hoping for some peace and quiet, these dunces with the IQ level of a tadpole just had to come to the rescue. Actually, I would be insulting said tadpole. Even they have more IQ points.
I leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, wearing a mocking smile on my face.
"So…it's you again, eh?" I asked, quickly covering up the slight quaver in my tone.
The big bad bully scowled at me while the other ones at the back giggled, further supporting my speculation that they really were escaped retards.
"Ian, was it?" Of course I was Ian. Ian Reide, son of a minor lawyer who had barely enough money to support himself and his family. How he managed to actually weasel up the money to come to this school still boggles my mind.
His scowl deepened. My smirk broadened.
"Just give us the money and get it over with, I'm not in the mood to do any action today" Ian responded in a gruff voice.
"And what makes you think that I will give up that easily?"
Ian's eyes widened, I guess he never found someone who dared ask him that. Heh.
They might think they are winning…
"Are you blind or what?" he asked with an incredulous expression on his face as he gestured to the group behind him.
"And what about them?" I asked innocently, my eyes finally found an escape route. I could slip away if I was quick enough, while they are distracted.
"Keep focused Ian" came an even voice. My eyes widened in surprise. Wasn't that…?
But it seemed they forgot to add something to this equation…
A child emerged from the throng of students. His hands in his pockets, an uninterested expression positioned upon his face. Cold, uncaring eyes bore into mine. The expression that did not mix well with his soft, neatly trimmed blonde hair and small (read: miniscule) stature.
I knew this guy has brain despite the tiny build. I scraped away the remains if my now useless plan and hastily constructed another.
Linwoods…
Federico's eyes disappeared as he grinned at me; his incisors were exposed, creating a feral look.
"Oh, hello there, Daniel" he spat out my name, rolling it off his tongue like an expletive, "Come to play, have ya?"
His head rose, the golden bangs sliding off his terrifyingly angelic face.
Never…
"I would be scared… Linwood"
Then I saw it. Oh god. I saw it. The eyes. His eyes. They piercing blue hue were cold, hard, and merciless. A strong sense of déjà vu washed over me.
Loose…
'I was cornered. I was going to die.'
A/N: Okiiieeee… I edited this… so I hope it's better than the last one I wrote. Excuse the grammatical errors, my editor is being stubborn.
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