Shaya peered relentlessly through the window. She pressed her forehead gently against the cool glass pane, her thin fingers gingerly reaching up to settle beside her cheek. Dark lashes fluttered close, a single tear gracing her pale skin.
A tingling sensation worked its way up her foot towards her thigh. She sighed in the recent knowledge of her newfound cramp. It seemed that not only was her life sitting still, but her leg apparently did not welcome the fact either.
Lifting her head from the window she blinked slowly, a second tear gracing her pretty features.
The world beyond her glass prison grew and blossomed in the night unlike the dead eternity inside the shattered girl.
Turning her head slightly, her right cheek now rested on the glass as a third tear ran the length of the window, a rivulet of water before the eventual tidal flood.
Approaching footsteps sounded beyond the room.
Starting violently Shaya swung around, her stiff frame now facing the interior of the rundown motel room. Dark green eyes scanned the room with sharp precision as she strained her ears towards the direction of the oncoming footsteps.
Going ridged all over, deep green widened and dark hairs rose, Shaya leapt from the window sill with predator's grace and made a dash for the small bag thrown on the shabby bed. Snatching up the falsely appearing light bag she spun back to the window she had sat at for the past few hours and kicked at the broken latch.
The footsteps broke into a run, as if sensing her panic, and her potential flight.
Pushing open the window with a steady hand, Shaya ducked under the wooden frame, stretching long legs and clambered onto the wide ledge facing the parking lot.
Breathing with fresh bursts of adrenaline and hefting her bag more securely on her back green eyes frantically scanned the parking lot for an escape. Panic began to rise in her throat at her earlier mistake of accepting this room with a rear window.
Glancing around the dark parking lot once more she cursed violently and glanced up.
Jumping three floors downwards was currently out of the question.
A small surge of triumph flashed through her as she saw a window ledge belonging to one of the fourth floor rooms.
Leaning an arm backwards to steady herself on the wall, Shaya turned on her window ledge to face the interior of her own rented room once more. Tilting her head up slightly she inspected the fourth room window ledge, debating on whether the rather shabby and much in need or repair, wooden ledge could take her weight.
Decidedly shrugging, for if she was caught it would be a worse encounter than if she fell several floors, Shaya flashed her dare devil smile and reached up to grasp the ledge above her. Following with her other hand she hauled her body up, pushing her knees against the brick wall and shouldered her way up onto the wide window ledge.
Hefting her top body onto the ledge Shaya grabbed at the windows edge and pushed with her legs, inching her body further onto the sill. Clutching at the edge of the fourth floor window for balance, she hauled herself to her feet.
The door slammed open in her abandoned room, and several pairs of running feet could be heard destroying the room in a frantic search for any trace of the recent occupant.
Inching as close to the window as she could get, she silently prayed that this team would only be as stupid as the others.
A rough voice barked out commands that didn't quite reach Shaya's ears as she leaned out ever so slightly in an attempt to make out the muffled words.
Leaning out past the windows ledge to gain a better look the brunette involuntarily sucked in a startled breath.
A blond head appeared from out of the window below her.
Realising her mistake at the last minute she backed away in her haste to be unseen, her inertia abruptly halted as her back connected with the window.
The head shot to the side, rather like an animal listening for its prey, and spun upwards to face her as dark pupils dilated. A beautifully carved face a deep part of Shaya's mind registered among the horror fighting to surge beyond her body.
The mysterious blond flashed a disturbing smile and sprung up at the window ledge.
Breaking free of her brief shock Shaya let out a loud war cry and kicked at the beautiful strangers' hands attempting to grasp at her safe haven.
Growling, the stranger lifted a hand as a shoe-claded foot kicked out at the offending limb and snatched at the striking shoe.
Swaying off balance as the stranger pulled her foot towards him, deep green eyes widened in horror as she frantically fought to regain territory over her foot.
The stranger flashed a second dazzling smile and spoke. "Rather new at this aren't we?"
Momentarily pausing in her frenzied struggle to gain dominance over her foot once more Shaya's jaw dropped disbelievingly. How could they always be so cocky, at the most unbelievable times and situations?
A low chuckle rumbled in the stranger's throat as his face creased up into genuine humour. "Yes, quite amazing really isn't it?" he commented, as if she had voiced her thought aloud.
A second snigger broke free of the richly carved face as he threw back his head and abandoned his laugher to the night's sky, his perfect set of immaculate teeth flashing in the moonlight.
Spotting her chance, Shaya yanked with all her might and freed herself from the strangers grasp. Bearing her teeth she rammed her shoulder into the window behind her, closing green eyes tight as many shatters exploded around her.
Her exertion of force carried the dark haired girl through the window and into the room beyond as she hit the floor with a dull thump. Wincing in pain, green eyes snapped open and took in their newly acquired surroundings. Blinking through a wave of dizziness that shook her body Shaya reached up to cradle her head and shut her eyes once more.
Moaning, she quickly rolled over onto her side, taking one hand from her throbbing head to push her self up onto her knees. Dimly she registered the wooden floor boards that her knees currently rested on and a tugging importance to them.
Shaking her head and dismissing the thought the dark haired girl stood up, her body lurching as she bit back a second wave of dizziness and hastily glanced around the room. Taking in the mismatched chrome bed, wooden chair and a broken lamp she cursed realising the layout of this room was the opposite of her third floor room. The door she was searching for was through a door to her left, just a little longer run than she had planned.
Turning with a fresh vigour and a somewhat clearer head Shaya shot through the first door, leading into a tiny kitchen.
A loud thump exploded into her adrenaline heightened senses.
The beautiful stranger had joined her on the fourth floor.
Eyes widening in fright at the close proximity of the dangerous blond Shaya ran through the centre of the kitchen and vaulted over the breakfast bar towards the door leading to the outside corridor.
Landing on bent knees she shot out a pale hand to steady herself. Bunching her leg muscles the dark haired girl sprung up from her crouched landing position and sprinted towards her freedom.
Yanking the door knob, she threw open the stiff door with such force it dented the wall it had rebounded on. The fight or flight instinct took over her entire body as she saw rather than felt her body twist back to grab at the door and slam it shut after herself.
Acute pain exploded violently in her right thigh, torn ligaments screaming out in protest. Gasping as the white hot fire shot up her leg the agile girl staggered on her feet, one hand shooting out to grasp the arrow embedded in her flesh. Choking as the pain wound its way up her body and curled spitefully around her heart Shaya stumbled to one side narrowly missing a fire extinguisher. Shaking as the pain over swept her senses she shook her head to dislodge the initial body reaction to cease all movement and grimaced in cold, hard determination. Clutching at her thigh with her left hand Shaya reached down to cleanly snap the wood. Clutching at the section of blood stained arrow she dragged herself towards the end of the corridor knowing her attempt at escape was futile, but continued in blind determination never the less.
Panting heavily the injured girl reached the end of the seemingly endless corridor to arrive at a stairwell. Looking over the banister she calculated an approximate two hundred steps to the bottom, and to the entrance of the hotel.
Cursing as her chances at escape became smaller and more remote by the second, jade eyes flooded to an almost black as pain ripped throughout her lower body once more. Gritting her teeth through the wave of misery she swung on her feet slightly. Blood had now begun to trickle into her shoe, and her skin had lost its usual honey complexion to be replaced by a blotchy white. Blinking her eyes tightly she bit a pink lip. Distantly her woozy mind wondered where the lethal stranger had disappeared to, but the thought passed as quickly as it had flitted into her conscience as she slumped down the banister.
Tearing at her shirt and shredding the material agile fingers made a shaky bandage to reduce the blood flow of her injured thigh. Securing the sections of shirt tightly, her face screwed up as a fresh burst of agony pulsated around her wound at the extra pressure.
Mumbling quiet curses the dark haired girl heaved herself up once more, clutching at the banister for support. Inching her leg into her side she straightened up fully and closed her eyes at the effort it took a brief second.
A blast echoed throughout the corridor behind her, splintered wood screaming as age old limbs were spitefully ripped apart.
It seemed the beautiful stranger had reappeared on the chase once more.
Green surfaced from under the pale screen of skin, renewed panic gleaming once more in Shaya eyes. "Shit..." she muttered. Glancing back again at the stairs, she grabbed the banister, resolution shinning in her eyes, as an unfamiliar voice rung out.
"You, Stop!" shouted the gruff voice, not however belonging to the beautiful stranger.
Confusion darted across Shaya pale features as for the second time she briefly wondered just were exactly the lethal blond had gone.
Exhaling in resignation the dark haired girl vaulted the banister with some difficult, slammed her eyes shut and began to shriek as she plummeted six flights of stairs.
The ground brought her flailing form to an abrupt halt as she crumpled into a broken heap.
With her predators grace she had managed to minimise the impact, thought it still hurt like hell, causing her to lean up and violently empty her stomach.
Still very much aware of her urgent hurry, but more aware of the pain now rolling some what jovially around her body she slumped to lie on the floor once more.
Grinding her teeth Shaya felt the fast approach of rage as it built up in her. Now immensely angry at the fact that these people had hounded her, and she had broken several bones in the space of two weeks, she pulled herself to her feet once more, intent on evading them again.
Spitting on the floor, a swirl of red and grey on the tiled surface, she silently thanked the Gods for her body and made it to the front of the hotel. Staggering out of the hotel lobby green eyes scanned the car park, breathing a small sigh of relief at the absence of anybody.
Making her way to the small black car in the front of the car park, she slumped on the bonnet, swinging her bag around to dig for the keys. Scrunching her face up in impatience and worry, for she had not escaped yet, she felt cool metal on her skin and pulled the keys from the bag.
Unlocking the door and falling into the seat, she jammed the keys into the keyhole and started the car. The engine roared to life, as she slammed her good leg onto the accelerator, catching a glance of her pursuers as she swung out of the car park. Smiling a particularly vicious smile as they disappeared into the background as she drove further from them a low chuckle tinkled out from her bleeding lip.
Cursing the blond growled and leapt towards the door the troublesome girl had just slammed, though not before he had shot her and slowed her down somewhat.
Pulling at the door handle he cursed violently and fluently, in four languages, as the door refused to budge. The witch must have cast a spell, unknown to her of course, as she believed herself to be a fully fledged shape shifter, not half witch blood.
Kicking at the door in his fury the blond re-settled his hands on his bow and made his way back though the small kitchen to the window. Swinging his bow onto his back the blond leapt from the room, down six flights, through the window to the car park.
Jarring his knees at the landing, he straightened and strode into the centre of the car park in one fluid motion. Flashing a devastatingly beautiful smile at the small black car directly in front of him he made his way across the ground to the vehicle.
Peering into the car the blond nodded his head swiftly, and proceeded to pull the handle up at such a force that he dislodged the lock, the door swinging open to him.
Lifting an eyebrow at the poor quality of vermin travel he got into the back seat, pulling the door closed after him.
He waited.
Finally as he had predicted the now severely injured girl staggered out of the hotel lobby and towards the black car. Noting her increased injuries, what looked like a twisted ankle and broken wrist, the blond watched silently from his place on the back seat as she slumped onto the bonnet and fished for her keys.
Unlocking the driver's door she fell into the car, slammed the door shut and swung out of the car park, laughing as she drove.
It was at this moment he announced his presence which resulted in his broken nose.
"Nice car you've got here, not quite the great get-away but I suppose it will do." He spoke softly from his seat, not fully expecting the girl to curse and slam on the brakes with such force that he was catapulted into the back of the passenger seat.
A/N: So I decided to make the chapter's novel length, which means the fic will now be updated every two weeks on a Sunday! I hope nobody finds this a problem, if so, visit my live journal or e-mail me a comment. Keep reading and reviewing! Love to all, AmbrosiaBunny x