Chapter 2: The Hunt
1352 Words
I quickly rush over to the table and start looking at all of the items. They have given us several options ranging from knives and utility tools to simple things like food and water. I saw one item that peaked my interest though. A heavy duty rope that looked like it could be used for several different things. I quickly grabbed it and started preparing it for the game. I tied a simple noose-like knot into it and then wrapped it back up and threw it over my shoulders. Once I have done this, I rush over to the table with the camouflage outfits and find one that will fit me. Extra small is all they have, but it will do.
I head to the changing room and change as quickly as I can before my time is up. I slide my feet into the warm boots, grab my rope, and I run out to the warehouse to prepare for entering the forest.
“Hmm,” I hear the Game Maker say. “Interesting choice, young lady.”
I swallow hard and nod my head slowly as I fold my arms across my chest. “Are we allowed to get a few minutes added onto our headstart time if we are done picking our item?”
The Game Maker smiled and bobbed his head from side to side as he considered my words. “It’s possible… However, it wouldn’t be fair to the other girls, now would it?”
I swallow hard and shake my head. “All is fair in love and war…”
He gives me a wicked smile that makes my skin crawl as I watch him eye me up and down. He nods his head slowly at my statement as if thinking about it. “Very true… Sure, you can go ahead and move out, if you would like… Just be warned that the others are not going to like you very much.”
I shake my head as I narrow my eyes in determination. “I’m not here for them to like me or to make friends. I’m here to win.” With those words, I turn on my heels and bolt for the warehouse door.
I run deep into the woods as fast and as hard as I can. The quick snack and the water gave me just enough energy to make sure that I have the ability to make it through this game. Even just that tiny bit is enough to keep me going.
I run for about two minutes straight before I hear a whistle come from the warehouse behind me. It was the signal for the other girls to get going.
I ran faster until I got deep into the woods, so deep that the trees had started to cluster together and created a leafy canopy. I had been running for about eight minutes straight at this point, so I knew I was a solid mile away from the warehouse. When I finally decided to stop, I looked around for a tree. A tree that I could climb pretty easily in order to get off of the ground. If these guys were hunters, then they are going to be looking for tracks to follow. I just hope they choose to follow the other girls’ tracks instead of mine.
I decided to settle on a huge oak tree to climb that had several branches that sprayed out to all sides. It was in the middle of a cluster of other trees that seemed to intertwine with it. I nodded my head as I got myself together to start my climb.
My childhood came back into play as I pulled myself up into the tree and started to climb it like a squirrel. The higher I climbed, the safer I knew I was going to be.
After I had made it three quarters of the way up the tree, I found a sturdy branch and used the rope to tie myself onto the limb. It was a perfect place to start the next leg of my adventure.
I started jumping through the trees as silently as I could. Since there were no leaves left, it made this strategy much easier to pull off and allowed me to keep my footprints out of the falling snow. Since I left the warehouse, the snow has started to fall much heavily now, and a small part of me couldn’t help but be grateful for the warm clothes they provided us.
After running through the tops of the trees for about thirty minutes, I decided I would settle on another oak tree much deeper in the woods. This one seemed much sturdier than the last one and I couldn’t help but find it more comfortable as I started to climb higher into its branches. Once I reached a thick and sturdy branch about three-quarters of the way up, I tied myself to the tree with the rope and settled in for the night.
I wait patiently in the tree as I hear the other girls start to run into the woods making all of the noise in the world. Even though the leaves were dead, their footsteps were too heavy. Even a dumb animal could hear them in these woods, let alone a trained hunter. They stop near my tree, all of them panting from the exertion in the cold and snowing atmosphere, including Sara.
“Where did she go?” Sara asked the others.
“Who? Wild Cat?” Erica panted. “No clue, but wherever she is, I hope she is doing well. I just hope she doesn’t get caught. Actually, I think she will be the first one caught out of all of us.”
They all laugh as I can’t help but frown at them. I know they don’t even see me up here, but at least I know kind of what I am doing.
“No s**t… I hope we don’t get caught either,” Victoria states. I watch her pull her long blond hair back into a bun and tuck it into her head. “What should we do? Should we stay together?”
Isabella pants and nods her head. “I do… I think we will do better if we stay together.”
“Are you two crazy? We are supposed to be treating this like hide and seek, remember? Also, there can only be one winner. We need to split up. Hopefully if we play our cards right, they will think our tracks belong to Wild Cat and find her first,” Erica pants as she leans against the base of my tree. Even if she looked up, I don’t think she could see me, due to how dark it was, but it is still nerve wracking.
Sara nods her head and finally starts to breathe evenly. “I think Erica is right… I think the four of us should split up.”
Isabella and Victoria both look at each other a bit weary, but they finally nod their heads in agreement. “Alright… We meet back up at the warehouse when all of this is over, right?”
The girls all nod their heads as they take off in four different directions from the base of my tree. I sigh and settle back into my tree as I listen to them run deeper into the woods every single way.
Two hours pass and the only thing I have heard since the girls split up is the wind blowing through the trees. The snow has finally stopped falling and the clouds have cleared away revealing a glorious full moon. The light is perfect for watching out for predators, but it is also wonderful to hunt for prey.
I lean against the tree and close my eyes to rest. There is no reason to stay up for twenty-four hours straight just to be tired when the time comes for me to need my strength.
As I rest my eyes I am preparing for sleep when a blood curdling scream fills the forest.
- Writer
