It was the way she looked at me that made me go weak all over. I swallowed hard, trying to think of something, just something to say.
“Jared? Are you okay?” she placed a small hand on my arm. “You look pale.”
“I’m fine,” I turned away. There was something wrong with me, I could feel it.
“Are you sure?” she asked, a worried look on her face.
“We should just…go,” I said, taking her hand. I was feeling woozy. My head hurt, and everything began to spin.
“Jared!” was the last thing I heard before I fainted, right in front of my girlfriend.
It was the day after we had broken up. The day I had told her I was sorry. The day I left her standing there at the bridge, heartbroken. I regretted it, regretted ever getting into this mess.
But what choice did I have?
I loved her more than anything else in the world. It wasn’t because she wasn’t good enough for me. I was wrong for her. I knew she loved me, and she knew I loved her.
There was something inside me, something that totally erased my feelings for her, my love for her. Was it because I was terribly sick? Was it some sort of mental problem that was affecting my brain? Why couldn’t I love her the same way I did before?
I never saw her again, never called her, and never left any messages. I just didn’t want to hurt her a second time. I didn’t want to burden her with my sickness, didn’t want her to suffer for me.
But what I wanted the most was to forget, because remembering her would only mean more pain, more heartbreak.
###
The beast edged forward, haunches raised. Its eyes were locked on me, and I could swear I heard its stomach rumble. It opened its jaws wide, showcasing two rows of razor sharp teeth. One lunge, and I would be dead.
I stood there, rooted to the ground. What was I supposed to do?
The panther hissed, and swiped a paw at me. Its jagged claws were only inches from my face. I knew it wasn’t going to stop until it had me in its mouth, until my blood was running down its throat.
“Stop,” I tried to yell, but my voice came out a squeak. The panther studied me closely, but it did not inch forward.
It raked its paws on the ground, making evident claw marks in the soil. It was preparing to attack. I took a step back, my heart slamming so loudly against my ribs I was sure the animal could hear it.
Should I make a run for it? Could I even survive this? Could I-
The panther pounced.
“Sh-!” I jolted awake, panting hard.
“Jared?” Raphael called from the next room. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I kicked off the bedspreads, ran a hand through my hair. It was that dream again, that same dream I had been having since I was ten.
“Nightmare?” Raphael came running in, bare-chested.
I nodded. “It’s the exact same one, Raph. Every detail of it.”
“Where are you going?” he asked when I slipped on my anorak. “It’s two in the morning.”
“I’m going to find more of us.”
YOU ARE READING
HUNT, OR BE HUNTED
Mystery / ThrillerHe was always blacking out, always confused, losing control of his actions. And when he did, he would have no memory of it. What he didn't know was that there was a monster inside him, a monster that he couldn't control. Once it took over, not a sin...
