For Eve, It was a route to wander around the printed forests before a match. Artificial or not, she could still hear the ancient spirits of the forest. The very souls that had guided her throughout her life, the very reason she'd been able to win her place within the Enclaves. They aided in her matches, playing support in her quest for gore and violence.
With her years of trained huntsmen skills and her uncanny shot with a sniper, the scavengers' blood would nurse these Gardens. Those that caught her eye would even join her on these walks; Their hearts having ceased breathing long ago, now stored in jars along her hip. Sure, the scavenger's hearts were replaced with a perfectly suitable substitute printed for them, but she was convinced a wisp of their souls remained in her trophies.
The newest addition had been a woman's, clad in white and red. She'd survived the longest of their group despite how often Eve had seen her arrows cut through the air. Such an eye catching combination of colours should have left her with a disadvantage among the natural greens. Despite this, she'd been quite the slippery prey, slipping in and out of dangerous situations to aid her fellow scavengers. Well uncommon, it wasn't completely outlandish to find altruistic souls within the Garden. It was, however, rare for them to survive so long.
She'd been a formidable opponent, catching her attention and providing fruitful entertainment. It was only natural she'd taken the woman's heart for her collection. That would have been the end of it, or so she had believed. It seemed the woman hadn't only caught Eve's eye as she overheard other hunters and officials discussing the woman. It wasn't with great interest, no, it was a passing topic of gossip before being replaced by another–equally mundane–topic.
The most notable fact she'd overheard; The woman was a medic.
It explained her behaviour, prioritising lives over harvesting. The ruins didn't necessarily carve everyone into resilient beings, but it had a knack for creating them. A caring, resilient woman, with special treatment to boot. It wasn't exactly a well-kept secret among the hunters that a select few scavengers would catch an official's eye. For one reason or another, usually political, they'd be given lighter punishment, nicer materials, etc. A medic within the ruins was quite the commodity, she had to have caught someone's eye.
Eve reached out towards a branch. Her gloved hand caressing the bundle of leaves. The breeze drifted by, carrying with it the muffled voices of her companions. It'd be a shame if she left them too soon. The forest was quite fond of her.
The corridors were dimly lit, coated in a cold and unfeeling oppression. No one vocalized it but the air held nothing but everyone's uncertainty and despair. Aria was no stranger to such an atmosphere. Her camps blanketed with grief and fear whenever life decided to be an unforgiving mistress. She could only hope her group was fairing well without her. Those of them that'd been spared during their theft, left with what little supplies they could garner. It wasn't much, but it was leagues better than what they'd had.
Green had promised her special treatment, something Aria was uncertain if she could believe. To Aria's benefit, she'd been proven truthful; Although 'special treatment' didn't entail much. She'd been granted special gear, tailored towards her medical abilities. The concept of shooting someone with an arrow to provide treatment was a baffling concept, but technology was quite the feat within the Enclaves. Perhaps she could strike a deal with some of the higher-ups, convincing them to let her take the material home.
She sighed. Her back cracked as she stretched, raising her hands over her head and leaning back. There was far too much to think about, to worry about. Green had said she'd be given a spell within the Bloodharvest, two matches and then she'd be free to return. She prayed the second would go better than the first. Sure, they'd replaced her heart and practically made her body new, but that didn't erase the agony of the action. She'd been sure her death was near and in that moment, within that excruciating pain, she'd almost wished she had.
The buzzer rang out, worse than nails on a chalkboard as it screeched.
Time for round two.
She returned.
Eve couldn't help the smirk that found her lips behind her mask. As soon as she'd stepped onto the game's floor, onto the thirsting grass, she heard their whispers. The medic had returned to her, to them. Hunting her down wouldn't be easy. She'd have an easier time turning her teammates into lures than attempting to find her directly. Thankfully, that was as easy to do as it was to say. Her footsteps were nearly silent as she stalked through the trees, camo shielding her from unsuspecting eyes.
Through her scope came movement. The average sized man climbed over the ruin's walls, completely unaware of the bullet about to pierce his body. He crouched, aiming his own arrow to mark a crate of replenishments. Before it could leave his bow his arm had been hit by her shot. His cry broke the silence. He jumped, scrambling to put distance between them with a handful of parkour and desperation.
It was futile. It always was.
She tracked his movements, never letting him fully leave her sights. She could practically hear his heart beating in fright. The irritating breathing of an injured deer. Completely unaware of how close the lion's teeth were. She prepared another shot. Her crosshair trained just over his vital organs.
An arrow struck his body. It dissolved upon impact, but not before Eve noticed the first aid symbol along its body.
The medic.
Her smile was ear to ear. The weakling scrambled away, forgotten as she shifted her attention. It was incredibly brief, the glimpse of white and red as the woman dashed into cover. The Stalker's pulse quickened with excitement.
The hunt was on.
The match had progressed to halfway. Both in terms of time remaining, as the clock hovering along the outer walls was so eager to remind them, and blood dispensed. The latter had been Aria's saving grace, or at least she assumed it to be. With the Stalker having chased her around the entire faux-forest the entire first half of the match. She wasn't sure what exactly she'd done to piss her off in their last match, but she wasn't keen on experiencing a new form of hell. Thankfully, the hunter still needed to entertain. Blood needed to be spilled for her to be rewarded and revered as a proper hunter.
Who knew she'd be helping her teams by being bait.
It was a shame she couldn't shoot herself with the arrow, apparently it only worked when it had velocity applied to it rather than a simple stab. A new patch of red joined her clothing, staining her arm as it seeped through the material. She could worry about the metrics of their convoluted system later. Right now, well her attention was elsewhere, she could at least do her part beyond running around.
The red beam shooting up from the blood bank nearby indicated another successful deposit. The frequency of them began to dwindle as their hunter returned to her job. Considering how skilled they seemed to be, along with the result of her last match. It was safe to assume her teammates were not faring well.
She hissed as she began to move again. The adrenaline coursing through her body acted as a much needed painkiller but it didn't dull everything. Not that she could afford to wallow. She began to scale the uneven terrain, keeping herself constantly moving between the trees and ruined buildings. The tall patches of grass and greenery were her ally in stealth, keeping her eyes and ears open.
She'd be free to return no matter the outcome of this match. But if she could avoid unnecessary bloodshed, she was going to do her damndest to try.
Eve's brows furrowed as another scavenger was set to be recycled. This match was taking longer than her usual and it was beginning to grind her gears. The comments her peers would make didn't phase her; Truthfully, she wasn't quite sure what was causing this cloud of annoyance. She knew it was tied to that medic, but why? Was it because she was struggling to catch her once again? That couldn't be it, she'd had excitement at the challenge in her last match. Then again, she wasn't led on a ten-minute chase the last time.
The lack of an answer only further frustrated her and the forest did little to help. Their knowledgeable musings were normally easy to follow. Their guide was simplistic, natural, always leading her in the right direction. So why the hell was it so hard to grasp their words now?
She perched herself high, scanning the landscape for another. Her sights were sharp despite the fact her mind was not. Perhaps this was the natural outcome of encountering one of her treasures in the wild. The woman's heart rested without a beat beside her. Maybe her essence held a strong will, even without a pulse. The power that dwelled reached around her body, holding her in a chokehold of determination.
An idea began to form from her theory. One she grew keener on fulfilling the longer it paced in her mind. It's presence began to blow away the fog entrapping her focus. An excitement took root within her frustration, blossoming into something far stronger. An unsuspecting scavenger wandered into her sights, unaware of the malicious delight set against their back. Of the bullet about to engrave itself within their skin.
The sooner this match ended, the quicker she could enact her plan. Yes, that was just the motivation she needed to entice her bloodlust.
No one was going to leave here victorious.
Two remaining.
Aria was never one to lose hope easily, but she was realistic. She wasn't about to denounce her altruistic ways and hang up her doctor's title. However, it wouldn't be the cruelest thing to denounce this match as a lost cause. She'd done what she could to provide, to heal. A reminder she'd found herself needing many times throughout her career. Not everyone could be saved. At least they weren't permanently dead, unlike those she'd failed to save in the ruins. The ones she'd sometimes see on lonely nights.
A more cold-hearted scavenger may wait until the other had perished, hoping to escape in the final openings. It was a slim chance, but one many would rather take when the only other option held so many uncertainties. Not her, she'd found her teammate and began to work in silence. The two nearly finished harvesting blood from the nearest corpse pile when the other tapped her shoulder. Speaking wasn't the wisest option, so many would resort to signals. It likely changed between Gardens, regional differences and all. They were short and simple, a necessity given the fast paced environment of the Bloodharvest.
"Me. East."
She shook her head.
"Me. Aid."
He seemed to ponder her suggestion. A split up was the most common plan in such a situation. It would guarantee one was safe as the other risked getting caught. Either both would be stealthy enough to fulfill the blood quota, or one would act as the sacrificial lamb as the other was graced with distance from the hunter. However, if they worked together, they'd be able to use their skills to improve their odds. It relied on trust and partnership.
"Follow."
Eve trained her crosshairs on the man recklessly depositing blood. Was he too stupid to figure out she could see the obvious pings it brought? Or was he just that cocky to think he could give off multiple without consequence? No matter, he'd be taught a lesson either way. She pulled the trigger, hitting the man just shy of his vital organs. It did little to persuade him from fleeing. No doubt he was gritting his death through the pain. A pain that didn't have long to linger as another of the medic's arrows came dashing through the air.
Her camo was released allowing both scavengers to see her. With a curious glance she looked towards where the arrow had come. That familiar stark colour combination found her gaze and she couldn't help but smile. Unlike the beginning of the match, her priority had shifted. The medic would be her last, and she was set on a far different trophy this time.
She almost felt bad for leaving her there, lingering in view and waiting; The woman wanted her to chase her and Eve wasn't going to give her that satisfaction. Logically, she knew with her attitude the medic wanted to play bait again, to allow her teammate the respite to finish their goal and grant them both the opportunity to escape. That didn't stop the strange part of her that hoped there was more. That hoped the medic was just as weirdly infatuated with her as she was with the medic.
The voice of the forest surrounded her, guiding her along the steps of her plan. The medic had a limited number of shots before she had to refill. The man could only run so far, and there wasn't a chance in hell he could hide from her. Another shot rang out followed by another one of his cries. She could hear the medic's bow, feel the arrow as it attempted to whiz by. She could feel the wood crack in her palm as she grabbed in mid-flight. The gasp made the moment all the sweeter as she raised her sniper. Another shot and he collapsed.
One remaining.
Breathing was hard when someone had a boot to your chest. It's pressure heavy and painful. Aria glared underneath her mask, straight into the dead eyes of the hunter's own. Their identities hidden from each other, adding another layer to the dehumanizing tactics their leaders used. She watched as the deer head covering her opponent's face tilted, almost quizzically, down at her. She wasn't accustomed to the Bloodharvest, never participating until recent events. Everything she knew came from those who laid in her camps. From stories of failed attempts to advance, or those who'd been thrown in for punishment.
This was something she'd never heard of.
The hunters were fond of spilling blood. Quick matches to prove their skills and effectiveness. To have one idly observe their prey, during the blood mode no less, went against everything. Why only now? The woman had shown no mercy or hesitation in ripping her heart out prior. Surely, she wasn't ignorant of their technology and ability to repair even vital organs, right? It was custom not to speak, to only give signals to your teammates. Never would one try to have a conversation with the enemy.
"Are you basking in your victory?" She barked, "or are you just surprised to see me again?"
She tilted her head back, expression unseen. Aria wasn't sure what she was expecting, well, that wasn't entirely true. She wouldn't have found an ounce of surprise within herself if the hunter had taken offense and stomped her out right then and there. What did fill her with surprise though was when they crouched beside her, sniper against her shoulder leisurely.
"Your voice joins theirs nicely," She spoke, muffled by her own mask. If Aria had to guess based on voice alone, she'd assume the hunter was around her own age or older (perhaps late 30s, early-to-mid 40s?). It was smooth and eerily casual. "I'd like to speak with you, privately."
She didn't have much time to inquire further as their respective roles returned; The hunter returned to doing their due diligence in finishing their prey. The Garden once again fed by human blood.
Eve ignored the quiet chatter of the hunter's halls. Her boots clicked against the pristine hallways. The stark white lighting faded into natural sunlight as she found her way towards the offices. Most of her gear had been left within her locker, including her jars. Dusk's orange slid over her skin, adorned with various scars that would never fade.
"Someone's in a hurry," A gruff voice she knew vaguely caught her attention.
"Declan," She paused, giving him the bare minimum of her attention.
"I don't mind you, you're quiet and keep to yourself. You do your service in keeping those vermin out." He mused, leaning nonchalantly against the wall. A coin twirled between his fingers.
"Do you have a point or have you gotten lonely on those walks of yours?" She peered over her shoulder to see his heavily scarred face.
"You're allowed all the puppy crushes you want," he pushed himself from the wall, "but if you bring one of those rats into our sacred land then we're going to have a problem."
"I wasn't aware you were the authority on such matters," she smiled as he scoffed. "No matter, you have nothing to worry about so calm that misplaced anger of yours."
He huffed, stalking away wordlessly. An amusing sight if she cared to indulge in pettiness. The corridor returned to it's silence, filled with nothing but her breathing and laser-focused footsteps. Clicking right up until she found the varnished door of her goal. Her knock against the wood was solid and concise.
"Come in."
The door shut soundlessly behind her as she entered. Quaint and modest would be the last words she'd used to describe the man's office. It was lofty, filled with more empty space than necessary as expensive decor lined the walls. The towering windows behind his desk faced southward, leaving the room dimly lit. The man she'd been looking for was leaned back in his overly sized chair, donned with a suit that showcased his position.
"Hello, Anderson. I have a request."
A groan escaped her lips as she laid back against the wall. There was a perfectly fine bench to sit on, albeit incredibly uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it didn't provide the support she desired for her recovering body. The ache that plagued her demanded she rest against something, and it wasn't like the floor was much worse. Scavengers were not granted the gift of luxury. No matter, she'd completed her spell and as per her sentence was allowed free. At least, that's what was supposed to happen. She'd been sitting in the small room for hours now, awaiting someone to come by and escort her out.
As if on cue, the metal door slid open revealing a commander and his men. "Dr. Vaughn, follow me."
With a concealed groan she stood, making no sudden movements as she complied. Silence followed as they began their journey through the halls. The white noise surrounded them, holding the patter of rain and indistinct voices (a mixture of intermingling scavengers or guards and the pre-recorded announcements and reminders). Each of the commander's men flanked her, a precaution to prevent anything inconvenient from happening.
Aria thought nothing of the route until the crowds began to dwindle, replaced by higher security and stricter looking personnel. It was then that her attention began to sharpen. Little details grew larger, a sense of confusion and dread beginning to pool within her stomach. A piece of her wanted to ask where they were going; The rest knew to remain silent. No questions were asked and no answers were given as they entered an elevator.
She watched the numbers grow as they climbed. The opposite direction from the ruins.
58...
59…
60…
...61
The doors opened with a cheerful ding.
She studied the new corridors. The walls were painted a clean white, smooth and uncracking. A far cry from the dismal grey she'd grown used to. The floor shined, regularly cleaned and reflecting the drastic contrast of their positions. She'd always known the Enclave and the ruins were drastically different worlds, but to see it in person was an experience. One that pumped her blood with rage. She clenched her fist tighter as they walked, keeping her emotions in check.
Memorizing the route they took wouldn't realistically help her. The numerous armed guards alone would stop her from fleeing within a heartbeat. Still, it was better to have the knowledge than to be without. Her memory was sharp, it had to be when resources and knowledge was scarce. It was one of her most valuable assets as a doctor, along with her steady hand.
Right
Left
Right
All the way until they neared their supposed destination. The door was unassuming, identical to the rest that lined the halls (save for the indicating number beside it). It was metal, an automatic controlled by the pad adjacent. It beeped as the commander input a select code, followed by a sound of acknowledgement and green indicator light.
"Proceed, she's waiting for you."
Aria's gaze lingered a moment. It wasn't like she had a choice in the matter, and running would just result in getting gun downed or another spell (or more) within the Bloodharvest. With a deep breath she turned to look inside the room, taking faux confident steps inside. The air was heavy as the door shut behind her, almost as if the room had been vacuumed sealed. Her nerves didn't help matters. With the robbery they'd known what they were getting into; The risks and rewards were laid out from the start.
This? This was wandering blind in the lion's den.
"Hello again."
She looked around the room, finding a woman seated in a chair to her right. Her toned muscles and faded scars were enough to give away her occupation. Not to mention the garments she wore, clad in a black tank top and military-esque pants. The fact her boots weren't laced with mud felt like a crime to her aesthetic. It looked out of place amongst the minimalist environment. At least the chairs looked comfier than her bench.
"You're being awfully pleasant for a hunter," she barely moved from her spot by the door, a hint of venom in her voice.
"I'm not a beast, if that's what scavengers view us as." She leaned forward, prompting her chin atop her knuckles. "The forest calls for blood and I answer, simple as that."
"Do all hunters see our suffering as insignificantly as you do?" She chided, brows furrowing.
"No," she answered with an Insufferably casual attitude, "others are worse."
Aria bit her tongue. It wasn't worth lecturing someone so callus about the merit of compassion. "What was the point of bringing me here?"
"Would you rather be tossed back to the ruins?" She returned, studying Aria's expression.
"Yes," She answered without hesitation. "I have a job to do."
"Right, right…" she mused, tapping her finger against another. "You're a doctor. I'm sure you're itching to return to your scalpels and medical tape."
Her eyes twitched, "I am."
"Are you in such a hurry that you won't listen to my proposal?" She smiled, cocking her head to the side.
"I get the feeling I don't have a choice in the matter."
"Possibly," she paused. "Possibly not."
Aria narrowed her eyes, internally debating her choices. A tension filled silence fell for a moment before she said, "What is it?"
"Take a seat," she gestured to the chair nearby, identical to her own.
She sighed, reluctantly obeying. The woman was right, she was itching to get back to the ruins, to get away from the predator lurking within the same room. Still, the comfortable seat was welcomed by her aching body.
"I'd like you to return to the Bloodharvest," she stated, quick to continue before protests could be aired. "Not without incentive, mind you. I'm sure you wouldn't mind some supplies for your trouble."
For the second time that week Aria found herself baffled by the woman. Saying the proposition blindsided her would have been an understatement. It failed to sink in as she stared in disbelief, eyes wide open. Her expression must have been amusing as the woman laughed, leaning back in self-satisfaction.
"Well? Do we have a deal?"
"Now wait a damn minute," she held her hand up, collecting herself. "What kind of supplies are we talking about? And what do you have to gain out of this?"
"It's simple. The forest has taken a liking to you, as have I." Her smile turned softer, an unknown emotion dancing within her eyes. "I knew you wouldn't come back just because I asked, so I struck a deal with the right people. For each match of ours, you'll receive a shipment of supplies. Similar to what you've attempted to steal in the past."
It sounded almost too easy, and yet the woman was either a good liar or completely sincere in her body language. She supposed it wasn't the hardest concept to grasp; She'd proven herself a decent scavenger if the gossip she'd overheard was to be believed. Still, she raised a brow as her disbelief rang clear. "All because...the forest has taken a liking to me?"
"Are you mocking me?" She challenged.
"No," she answered, hands raised. "Confirming is all. How do I know you're not lying to me?"
"What would I have to gain by lying? One match is all it'd take to either prove or disprove myself." She swung one leg over her knee, lightly rocking her ankle.
"One match is all it takes to be killed."
"If I wanted to kill you, I would've by now." She spoke firmly, leaving no room for debate. Not that Aria wanted to, the point was made loud and clear.
"Fine." Aria stood, peering down at the woman with a steadfast disposition. "We have a deal."
"A Hunter's Offer" is available on Archive of Our Own and SquidgeWorld under the same title and username; Wattpad cross-post coming soon