…
You never know what's around the bend
Could be a new beginning
Or it could be the end
You can dream, plan, scream, wish, pray and hope
But you never know
..
Ben Speaks
My running steps resounded oddly around me in the tunnel as I ran.
I wanted to go back, to make sure Claire was alright, but she shoved me pretty hard. It wasn't every day I met a girl that told me what to do, well… not one that wasn't in tight leather with a whip. Shaking my head, this was neither the time nor the place to be thinking of that. Honestly, I wasn't like this on every hunt; hence why I am still alive. No, I did keep those two things separate; hunting and a hunter's life.
And I always tried to forget that night; it still gave me nightmares.
A noise other than my own made me hesitate, freezing in my running. It fell silent and I kept the torch fixed firmly on the ground in front of me, allowing the light to circle me so I could see if she attacked from any angle.
I had always hated hide and seek as a kid.
Not much had changed.
Then I saw her, charging at me with a vicious snarl. I fired my gun but I don't think I hit her, for she kept running, slamming into me. She may look like a girl; short brown hair and an actual pretty good body but that skin wasn't hers and the strength that she had was not normal.
'Why can't you just leave me alone?' she screeched, nails scrapping down my cheek as I tried to lean away from her reach, holding her tightly at arm's length. I would have rolled my eyes if I could, or snapped back at her to remind her that she was a monster killing people. Swinging her to the ground, I let go and braced my hands with the gun at her chest but she swung her legs, knocking mine out from under me. I fell heavily, the filthy water splashing around me as she got to her feet, scurrying away. I fired again, but there was no sound of a body hitting the ground and I groaned.
Rolling to my feet, I brushed off the dirt and whatever water that hadn't soaked through my jacket and jeans.
Claire would want me to remain where I was, make sure that the shape shifter didn't see the surface again, and we were in a good position, the shape shifter trapped between us but Claire was injured and I didn't want to risk that. I edged forward slowly, the torch tight in my hand as I scanned every inch but there was no sign of it.
I couldn't even hear footsteps…
I gasped, almost firing my weapon but I hesitated, Claire standing in front of me. The scowl on her face made me raise an eyebrow and lower my gun, but it didn't get far because she moved closer to me.
'Where's your gun?'
'You ran off with the torch, Ben, I couldn't find it.' She replied, moving closer still. Her hair was messy and her clothes dirty with the mucky water, but she lifted her arms with ease to grab my shoulders. Running my hands down her arms, it gathered the jacket and pushed it up to reveal the perfect soft flesh beneath it. I would give anything for it to be the real Claire looking at me that way, holding my shoulders gently but sadly, that wouldn't ever happen and this wasn't the real Claire.
The shape shifter noticed and that stunning face twisted into something ugly and hands squeezed, sending me flying backwards. Unlike pouncing on me like she had earlier, the shape shifter had paused, looking down at the flashing toy that bounced on the ground, settling between us. The colors made it look like we were at a rave, bouncing around in the darkness and I felt disorientated for a moment but the fake Claire growled deep in her throat as the real Claire appeared.
'I like this body, why are you so pretty, why were you made so pretty and me so ugly? What did I do to deserve this?' the shape shifter moaned. Claire didn't put up with it, didn't want to speak with it and I know this because she just shot at it. The bullet must have hit its leg because it fell slightly before gathering itself and running past before I could grab its legs.
'What are you doing you lazy sod?'
Yep, this was the Claire I knew. It hadn't been long, but Claire Novak had a presence that could not be faked. Her blonde hair was glowing in the dark and her eyes were bright with adrenalin.
'I'm going, I'm going!' I mumbled and ran, Claire moaning as she cradled her shoulder.
Making my way to the surface, I braced myself in case the creature was going to try a surprise attack but I watched as it started the car, reversing quickly when it saw me running up to it, gun ready. It took off down the street and I swore, running a hand through my hair. Glancing back, Claire was only just climbing out now, but she must have seen the car disappearing around a corner, waving her hand for me to go. Pulling out my car keys, I raced to my car, my one and only baby, bringing the engine roaring to life, slamming my foot to the floor.
All I could think of was two things; I wonder if Claire was impressed and I wonder if my mother would be proud of me, pursing a bad guy like a police officer.
Claire Speaks
I rolled my eyes.
Men.
What was with them and having fast cars?
As Ben vanished around the corner, I jogged out to my bike, hissing as my shoulder screamed at even that slight movement. I had suffered worse, but this was more like an annoying ache that rendered me almost useless.
My helmet slipped over my head and I jammed the key into my bike, bringing it to life as I thought of what to do. If it still looked like me, who knew what it was going to try and do. I didn't want my face to be on a wanted list.
I couldn't sit here and wait, the chances of the shape-shifter returning tonight was slim so I had little else to do but follow them, they couldn't be too far ahead of me.
Well, I was right.
I was close to the intersection when the cars headlights flashed on, too close for comfort. I barely had time to even see the bonnet let alone swerve as the car slammed into me.
The sensation of flying was one I enjoyed, but when the earth rose up to meet me again, that was the part I hated. My body crashed onto the road, gravel burning my hands and scrapping loudly at my helmet as I rolled.
Gradually I came to a stop, my breath wheezing in my chest as I remained still for a moment, too frightened to move in case anything was broken. Tentatively I did move, bringing one leg up and stretching an arm ahead of my, like I was getting ready to do an army crawl. Every part of my body was now disagreeing with any movement and my head was pounding violently. All I could hear was the blood beating away in my ears, my vision blurry as I lifted myself up quickly, sitting back on my hands before I found the strength to sit without support.
Ripping off my helmet, my head swam sickeningly, eyes unable to focus on anything and my lungs not wanting to breathe because of the pain in caused in my chest.
When my eyes did focus, it was on my broken bike not far from me. The bits of metal were scattered all around and I could feel my anger well in me; I loved that bike. The blade that had been on my back was too far for me to reach now, and I could only be grateful that my hands were burning, lip bleeding and body in pain. It was better than being pieces on the ground or having bits twisted the wrong way.
A car revved its engine and my head lolled to the side as I tried to see where it was, who had hit me. The lights were too bright for me to make out any detail, but it was obviously someone who wanted me dead, and surely I hadn't pissed Ben off that much.
Padding down the side of my leg, my gun was still tucked in there and I sighed. That explained why that leg hurt more, but I ignored it, pulling it free as I wobbly tried to get to my feet.
Why hadn't it already tried to run me down again? It enjoyed playing this sick sort of game?
I collapsed into a heap again, my breath too short and my head too heavy for me to hold it up but I would be damned if I died this way. Forcing myself to stand on my feet steadily, I stared into the headlights, putting as much of my hate into my eyes as possible. The engine roared again and I sent a curse to Ben; where the hell was he?
Lifting my gun, I knew I only had a few bullets left but I had more of a chance surviving this way then if I tried to run. I could barely stand without the pain and dizziness clouding my thoughts and concentration.
The car came towards me and I fired.
It broke the glass and I fired again.
And again.
The glass broke and with my last bullet I waited until I could see the blonde hair and fierce eyes of the fake me behind the steering wheel.
I shot.
Luckily the car swerved as she fell forward onto the wheel, turning sharply before the car flipped at the violent angel. It rolled a few times, stopping only as it slammed into a thick tree and only then did I let my arms relax.
Thanks god for that, I wouldn't have been able to dodge that one.
I really thought I would die. Not that I wanted to, but luck was on my side today.
Glancing to the side, I saw a familiar man running towards me, his car not far away. When I felt his hands whisper around my body I slumped against him, his arms supporting me as he fell to his knees with me. My eyes were unfocused as the world shifted around me, Bens hands cold on my warm skin and I leaned into it as he pushed hair from my face. He was talking but he may as well have been speaking a foreign language under water for all the sense it made.
'Novak! Come on, focus! Are you alright?'
Groaning, I could feel part of my mind ease enough for me to hit his arm weakly.
'I just got hit by a car you moron, how do you think I feel?'
I gasped for air, grinning slightly as Ben laughed, gently lifting me up off the ground and walking towards the car.
'Let's get you to a hospital.'
'No, no… I hate hospitals…' I mumbled, drowsiness creeping up on me slowly, making my body weaker and heavier.
Ben sat me in the seat, strapping the seat belt across me before he wiped at my lip, making me hiss but at least it stopped the blood from dribbling down my chin. His face was calm, even after what had happened and I didn't know if he was that stupid to not care, or if he was actually good at handling himself in this sort of situation.
'The shifter…?'
'I'll go and check… don't move.'
Ben moved away, and I forced my eyes to follow him as he scooped up my silver blade, spinning it skillfully as he made his way closer to the car. If it was still alive, he could stab it, hopefully it was too weak to attack him. Hopefully it was dead.
He was on his way back to the car when I really allowed myself to relax, my eyelids too heavy to fight any more.
They closed, taking longer to open each time before they closed and I was too weak to open them again.
As I drifted, a voice was in my ears, in my mind, soothing me enough that I forgot about my pain and the adrenalin was replaced with tranquility in my body. Thoughts and memories flashed across in my dreams, all of things I desperately tried to ignore… my mother, my friends, the life I once had, but my father's voice was there, the memory strong as he whispered to me
'Be careful, honey. God will do what he can to protect you; all you just need to do is have faith in him and not be reckless. We need you, you are our future.'
If any one knows good songs, let me know!
Silver-Kirin