Stumbling over tree roots and low lying flora, Ester sprinted through the forest. Heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, she slipped on the damp mud, rolled and came back up, trying to not lose too many seconds. She didn't know where she was, how she got there, or even who the relentless footsteps behind her belonged to. The rows of trees were staring to come to an end and Ester could make out a small town just after the clearing. If she could get among people then maybe she could disappear amongst the crowd, at the very least it would surely prevent her attackers from doing anything to her if there were witnesses. Exhausted, the only think that pushed her onward was the feeling of terror in her stomach.
The image of her family lying dead in a pool of blood and people with black eyes standing over them was burnt into her mind, so she used it as fuel to keep her moving. Terrified, she'd run from the scene and up the stairs, barricading herself within her bedroom. It didn't last long though. Two stories up and trapped by her attackers, her only option was to jump. Ester knew that it wouldn't end well- if she was lucky she'd only break an ankle, but it would likely be worse. Still it had to be better than waiting for her assailants to break the door down. With a quick prayer, Ester climbed out of the window and jumped. She closed her eyes, felt the wind rush past her as she fell and waited for the inevitable impact. It didn't come. Instead she felt herself slowing but still landed heavily, stumbling on to the ground. The dirt ground. Ester snapped her eyes opened and looked around. She was no longer outside her house but in a forest. She didn't recognise it as being near home- in fact she doubted it was even England. What the hell was going on? Starting to shake as the adrenaline in her system began to where off, Ester picked herself of the ground, picked a direction and started walking. She wasn't sure how much time had passed before she heard a rustling behind her. Snapping her head round she caught sight of one of the men from the house. She didn't have time to ask questions or even begin to formulate them. She just bolted.
Lungs burning, Ester entered the town and ran down the main road. The place was deserted. Ester knew that she desperately needed to find people, preferably the police, so she could shelter from the attackers. She could feel herself panicking- it was too much. Running for her life, her family dead, the frozen look of horror etched on her sister's pale face as she lay dead on the carpet. With a snap decision, Ester took a sharp left and ran straight down a blocked ally. Cursing she turned back on herself, only to nearly run right into two of the men. Skidding to a halt, Ester made a quick turn on her heal hoping she could scale the wall at the other end. Standing there was a women with black eyes. How had she managed to get there? Breathing hard, Ester found it difficult to get any words out but she tried. "Who the fuck are you?" she choked out. "What do you want?" The women's face broke into a grin.
"Well I thought that was fairly self-explanatory" she replied sarcastically, walking towards Ester. The women had a Welsh accent. A quick glance behind told her that the two men were edging forward as well. "We know what you are, abomination. Please don't insult our intelligence by pretending you don't." Ester's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Fine, be that way. We'll still leave our message to the God squad though."
Suddenly, a heel connected with her solar plexus and Ester was sent flying into the awaiting arms of the two men. Coughing and spluttering they brought her to her knees and secured her wrists behind her with handcuffs. The women's eyes turned black and she smirked. "Really, that it. I was expecting much more from a being as powerful as you."
"I don't understand you. I don't know what you mean." Ester replied as earnestly as she could. All she was met with was a roll of eyes and a backhand against the face. Panic. That was all Ester could feel now. She was lost alone and in the hands of some psychopaths with a fetish for black eyes. She didn't know what to do. Ester pulled her head back up and stared at her attacker with as much defiance and anger as she could muster. "Let's see how long you can keep that face up when we get to work," the women said as she pulled a long silver blade from her inside coat pocket. Ester was determined to keep her resolve and not show fear in front of her adversaries, and she did- up until the blade was plunged into her shoulder.
Ester didn't know how long their 'work' lasted for, but it seemed like hours. The female clearly liked to just inflict as much pain as possible, stabbing Ester repeatedly- in the chest, through her leg, into her hands- and when she got bored of that, she just kicked the shit out of her captive. A cascade of boot caps hit Ester, breaking ribs, knocking out teeth and even fracturing her skull. The pain just became one agonising blur and Ester willed herself to just pass out, but she was not given such mercy. One of the men took a different approach. He favoured slicing her skin with the edge and tip of the blade, drawing patterns and symbols into her flesh until it felt like it was on fire. She had stopped sobbing a while ago, her body too exhausted to continue screaming and crying. Nor did she shout out when every new blow or wound came. Suddenly, Ester began to feel something rise within her and she let it out with a feral scream. She noticed the shock register on the three faces as they scrambled to get out of there. Then there was a bright light and the smell of burning flesh. Ester just lay on the asphalt shaking until the pain overcame her and she passed out.
Crying out, Ester woke up lying on her back and the pain quickly consumed her again. Her eyes refused to focus and her whole body trembled. Why wasn't she dead? Right now it was all she really wanted. She was vaguely aware of the blade plunged into her stomach- a parting gift from the monsters that had attacked her. One half-hearted attempt to move later and Ester screamed, screwing her eyes up from the pain. She became absently aware that part of her mind was calling out to someone. It didn't really feel like her doing it at all but she was just too tired to care. There was a sound from the mouth of the ally- like wings flapping or a sudden gust of wind- and then footsteps as someone approached. Ester could just about turn her head and with her concussed mind she made out a figure with dark hair in a suit and trench coat. He moved towards her and she flinched heavily. "It's okay. I mean you no harm," he said softly in a deep voice. "Please let me help you." Ester gave the briefest of nods- something about him seemed familiar. The man knelt beside her and took her face gently in his hands. The gentle touch told Ester she was safe and presently passed out again in the strangers arms.