Chapter 1: Prologue
"COME OUT FREAK!"
"YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER!"
"WE'LL GET YOU EVENTUALLY FREAK!"
He ran as fast as he could, he could hear them behind him, they are catching up to him.
He weaved through the foliage of the forest. He didn't think they would follow him this far from the village.
He tried his best to lose them but they were just bigger and faster than him. He ducked through the bushes and trees as best as he could but he was slowing down, his young body tiring as he kept running.
He was scared of what they would do, this wasn't the first time he had been chased but not in the forest, not where no one could hear them.
His ragged clothes slowed him down, his old and torn pants kept getting caught on his knees. He was so scared now, scared of what they would do to him if they got him. He didn't do anything to deserve this, yet they chased him through the forest for no reason.
He took a small glance behind to see if they had lost him, all he saw was a figure jump at him, tackling him to the ground
"Got you now freak!"
He cried in pain as his leg was pushed at an awkward angle.
"Fuck! Get back here you little shit!
He managed to wriggle his way out of the older boys grip throwing dirt in his face, he wobbled over to an exposed tree root and hid in the hollow trunk of the tree. His heart was racing now, he held his leg in pain and tried to calm his breathing but he just couldn't. He wipped the sweat out of his eyes but his hands were shaking so much.
"Damn it i can't see!"
"Where is he? Where did he go?"
"I don't fucking know i can't see?!"
"Well then find the freak, he couldn't have gotten far!"
He held his breath as best he could as they searched for him, he heard them running around and turning things over, he heard their footsteps getting closer. His heart was pounding in his chest. What if they found him? What would they do to him?
"Found you now freak!" something grabbed him by his blonde hair pulling him out of his hiding place. He was thrown face first to the floor, the stones on the ground cutting his whiskered face. Hands reached out and grabbed his small arms holding him down, his bright blue eyes looking at the three teenage boys that surrounded him. Tears began to fall freely, they had got him now and who knows what they would do.
"You gave us a good chase there didn't you freak, almost got away too"
A boy said as he ripped of his ragged and torn shirt, revealing a few scares over his small torso.
"Stop teasing and just do it already" another boy said with a sick glee in his eyes.
"My Fucking eyes are still hurting you little shit!" the other one that tackled him yelled out still nursing his irritated eyes.
"Hurry up we haven't got much time" the boy holding his arms said as he moved a hand to grab something from his pocket. He tried to ease out of his grip only for the boy standing over him to stomp on his left shoulder. A loud pop was heard and the terrified child cried out from the intense pain.
"Your not getting away freak so don't even try" the boy said with a sadistic smile on his face. "Seriously Genji you let a five year old throw dirt in your eyes?"
"Well how the hell was i supposed to know he would do it!" the other boy shouted back still wiping his eyes.
He was trapped now with no way out, no one to help and no way to defend himself. He just hoped they would knock him out so he wouldn't feel most of it. He closed his eyes and tried to relax, it always hurt more if he tensed up. He heard the boy in front crack his knuckles, the other boy on his right was giggling in excitement. Why did they do this to him? Why did they enjoy it so much? What did he ever do to them?
"You little shit, your dead for throwing… WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
All eyes turned to where the teen was pointing, to the shadowed undergrowth where a four legged figure stood staring back at them with bloodshot eyes. They all heard a sickening growl from the figure as it moved into the light. As tall as the wounded child they all saw foul drool drip from its mouth as it bared its blackened and rotted teeth, it's patchy and ill looking fur held balding spots where its blemished skin was shown.
"Fuck this freak, RUN!" one of the boys said as he and the other teens bolted away from him. The beast made a beeline after them through the forest leaping over the child still frozen on the ground
The blonde child simply stared into space. He was lucky this time, an arm would heal but what they had in mind wouldn't. He listened out hearing their fading footsteps and terrified shreiks in the distance.
He stumbled onto his feet, holding his throbbing arm to his chest. It would heal soon enough like all his injuries. He wobbled back to the trees and began making his way back home, he couldn't wait around in case something else found him.
He stumbled over his feet, he was tired and his leg was still hurt. He sat on the ground to rest, no use walking home if he couldn't walk. A stray tear fell from his cheek, this wasn't the first time this had happened but never had he been so terrified.
He heard it again, that sickening growl. Chills ran down his spine as he turned around to see those bloodshot eyes staring hungrily at him. He thought it ran after the other boys, he thought he was lucky, now he wasn't going home, now he was going to get it.
It walked slowly towards him as he tried his best to shuffle away. Froth surrounded its muzzle and drool dripped from its mouth. It bared its teeth showing blackened and crooked canines with bloody gums. This thing was unnatural.
He looked around for something to grab, something to defend himself with. The feral beast just came closer, he could smell it foul breath.
A soft thud was heard in the distance, followed by a quiet whistle. A much loader cracking was heard above him and something wet dripped on his face.
The beast fell instantly, a long wooden shaft sticking out from the side of its head, just below its ear.
He was frozen in shock, what the hell just happened, where had it come from. He looked at the dead animal and saw the perfectly landed arrow that had pierced its brain. It made no noise, no movement, one moment it was alive and then it was dead.
Reality came rushing back as he heard something move through the bushes to his right. The adrenaline kicked in and despite his injuries he bolted away from the scene back to the village.
He heard something behind him, someone calling out to him but he didn't look back, he just kept running.
There had been enough chances today and he needed to get home.
Home where he was safe.