The Hunt

“Where the fuck are you?!” I boomed, my shouts echoing back at me from the countryside- rocks, trees, all mocking my futile attempts.

I tried a nearby tree. Slowly climbing, branch by branch, listening to the groaning and complaining of every branch as I grabbed it. Higher and higher, until the branches were too spares and too thin to hold my body any more. I scanned in all directions. Nothing.

“FAIL! FAIL!” The shriek of a large bird came out of nowhere, as the rustle of feathers flew past me, inches from my tender ears. The distraction worked, sending my body into an instant convulsion. My feet gave way. My nails dug into the closest branch, sandpaper bark tearing at my palms as my full weight ground my hands around it in my rescue attempt.

Arms wrapped snugly around the branch, my heart pounded so loudly in my ears that I didn't even feel the pain of the bird's shrill call any more. My palms burned, skin ground down to a deep pink, shaking from adrenaline. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

CRACK! ...Oh, fuck. Branches snaped, limbs that had no right to break collapsed under my wegiht. My body fell backwards as its anchor came loose from the tree, my feet sliding off my perch. Every limb punched me as I fell, ducking out of my grasp to help me steady myself, as I painfully descended towards the ground below. A large branch met my contorting body with a blow to the back of the head, and everything went dark as I hit the ground with an audible thud, the pain of every limb's attack complaining at once as I crashed back to earth.

Again my heart pounded. Stop-it... stop-it... stop-it. The cool earth beneath me gave great contrast to the searing pains from my crash back to reality. I couldn't give up, but my body said otherwise. My legs and arms wouldn't listen. Coaching, empty promises, and even the tears of a heartfelt plea were met with cold rejection. Here we were, and here were we to stay.

Sparks of adrenaline kicked my body into action as sometihng stirred in the nearby bushes. I turned to look, and there it was! I only caught a glimpse, but immediately I knew that wa it. I leapt to my feet and flew at the bushes. It jumped and turned to run in response, but I'd succeeded; my hand wrapped securely around it's ankle. My heart leapt with joy as I....

...felt another searing pain in my knees! My hands were empty and my body throbbed. My hand was clenched around thin air, and I landed face-down in the dirt. The adrenaline that had sparked my body into action, had only enough reserve to pull my body to standing erect before fleeting and the pain sent me crashing face-first back to the ground.

My quick fantasy was justified; as I succumbed to the pain of holding this entire body up against the forces of gravity, I looked again at the bush. It WAS there, peeking out from the foliage, mocking me, pointing and laughing at me... like so many others in my past.

Damnit, brain, not you too! You're all I have left right now!

I started at it as it stared at me, contepmt bubbling over into pools of red rage in my eyes. This was not going to get the best of me; I wasn't going to let it happen. “Not a chance! Enjoy your last moments of freedom!” I cred to it, ignoring its gestures and even my own body's objections.

I again begged my body to work, to make my arms cooperate as it drew closer, mocking me yet again. All I could muster was a twitch, but it was enough. The whites of its eyes flooded with the fear of my resolve. It turned quickly and bounded off into the bushes in search of yet another hiding spot.

Twilight had already begun mixing its pallete into the colors of the evening sky. It would take all my energy--for now--to find a safe place for the night. After several minutes of coaching and reassurance, I convinced my body to work again and rose slowly. Complaints shot from every joint, every muscle, and every wound as I moved, stabilized, and convinced myself to repeat the process.

No sooner did I start scanning the countryside for safety, then my desired were answered. A large but incredibly inviting cottage stood not far away at the top of a small hill. I wasn't quite sure how I'd missed it before, especially with the view from the treetops, but at this point, I ddidn't care. I trudged slowly towards it, the soft thuds of earth beneath my heavy footsteps turning to the disgruntled growl of gravel as I drew closer. I could see there was an occupant; soft, warm light bathed the windows' nearby surroundings in an inviting glow.

I stepped to the stone porch and begged my arms to work one last time, knocking on the heavy wooden door. I braced myself against the door frame, watching a shadow in the window draw closer. The door swept open, and the soft caress of pure comfort greeted my nostrils.

Long, curly, red hair and a soft inviting face with beautiful blue eyes peeked out from behind the door. I couldn't even open my mouth; her fear immediately washed away into concern. “Oh my god, you poor thing! Come in!” her melodious voice beckoned. The door opened wider and the soft touch of her hand wrapped around my wrist and guided me through the doorway. I stumbled inside, barely able to keep up with her grip pulling me towards safety.

The cottage interior was entirely too spacious for what the exterior had suggested. A fireplace kept the room comfortabe and cast warm shadows over the rest of the interior. Very little adorned the cottage; a bed, stove, and table with chairs, all prepared for two, were the only amenities, yet each could proudly be displayed as the perfect embodiment of comfort. “Come, come, lay down... you obviously need some rest.” She pointed at the bed and pushed me towards it. “and some tending to! Get out of those tattered clothes. I'll be right back.”

The warmth and hospitality did wonders for my mindset, but every bump and bruise had to make another complaint as I sat on the side of the bed and removed my tattered clothes. I quickly collapsed backwards when done, the cloudlike mattress and velvet-soft blanket upon it an incredibly inviting contrast to my previous confrontations with gravity. My eyes closed and I fell into a deep sleep almost immediately, barely conscious enough to feel cool water being applied to my nicks and wounds. I felt my body picked up and held close to my host. I didn't even make it to the pillow, falling asleep in the warmth of her arms and the intoxicating flowery scent of her body as she moved me to lay the length of the bed.

The bright flashlight of morning seared my eyes open. I grumbled and turned away, my body quickly scolding me for forgetting yesterday's abuse. Every muscle I knew of, and many I hadn't, ached. The soft, inviting mattress was still amazing, but did not offer the same solace as it had hours ago when we first met. It quickly returned, however, as I shifted about and felt the warmth of my host's body in the bed next to me. I coudln't help but reach out and caress her body. Her skin was as soft as the bed, and her sweet scent was still as intoxicating as last night.

She stirred at my touch, and I moved my hand away defensively, acting as though it was a natural movement as part of my slumber. Apparently she knew better, as I felt her hand retrieve mine to where it had been. My hands wandered about her body and I imagined the fantasies that could be fulfilled. Perhaps I....

Damnit! It had done it again! No wonder this was so perfect- the easy retreat, the inviting home, the alluring bed and even more enticing host. I scolded myself for falling into the trap and forced my body away from the temptations. There were several more protests as my mind barrked out orders to unwilling body parts, but eventually found victory as I stood up and stretched.

“Aww, don't you want to stay?” I jumped at the sound of my host's voice, not realizing she had been watching me as I got up and stretched.

“I really do want to, but I can't.” I kept looking away, trying to avoid the temptations, and gathered my belongings. “I've got to press on. This isn't over.” I started getting dressed and looked at the door.

“You're sure? I could really use the company.” I felt her warmth behind me and her hands seductively caressing my body. I shivered with pleasure at her touch, quickly losing focus. It had been a long time....

“No, I really can't. As much as I would like to... I have to get going. I need to do this.” I pried her hands from my body and finished dressing myself. “I have to catch him. I need to.”

“All right....” she pouted, sighing deeply. The warmth of the room disappeared, frosted over by the sheer chill of her contempt.

“I'd gladly take up the offer of hospitality, and perhaps more, if my quest lasts past this evening....” I turned to look at her, using every tactic I could to not fall for her voluptuous form.

“Yeah,” she muttered unconvincingly. “But, really, will you? He's not that hard to find. I'm surprised it took you this long. Hell, he even brought you here That's not the move of someone that wants to stay away..”

“What do you m-” I looked at her quizzically for a moment...

...and then realized what she meant as my eyes trained past her to a small, hollow, wooden box. The front of the box was cut with several openings, barely large enough for most to stick their hand through. It was small enough, however, to keep its contents contained. Though dark inside, it was immediately obvious.

My vision washed in red, my body clenched tight, and I leapt across the width of the cottage, lunging for the box. The flouting grin and beady eyes cowered to the back of the box, but my rage shot straight through the holes and quickly clamped around it, squeezing tight. And ripping the box and its contents from the shelf upon which it had been sitting.

The wiry imp tried to let out a yelp of surprise, but its airway was almost completely clamped. It scampered and pushed away. I felt the soft skin of my arms tear as it clawed for freedom, sharp nails digging up chunks of flesh. Its body twitched and pulsed with the same adrenaline I'd thought I used against it the day before, and could feel my own body pulsing with rage, my hands trembling around it.

“No!” I screamed to myself. ”We don't want it dead! That'd leave us worse than where we are now!” Similar cries echoed from my forgotten housemate. My hands slowly relaxed their grip as adrenaline gave way to reason.

I felt another sting as teeth bit down on my hand. I withdraw and quickly threw the box back to the shelf. It shook with its captor's disdain and complaints. I glared at it for a long time, eventually noticing the small stains on the front of the box. I then looked down at my hands, pink trails of raised skin from claw and bite marks mixed with some blood that managed to not make it to the box.

“Hmm... excuse me for a minute. I've got a mess to clean up, and some things to 'discuss'.” I grabbed the makeshift cage by the sides and glared at it. I walked to the cottage door and disappeared outside.

A few moments later, the quiet wooded landscape was filled with shrieks, yells, and other far more unpleasant noises. After a very uncomfortable eternity, the noises stopped. and I returned to the cottage. My hands and body were scarred even worse than before I stepped outside, but all the wounds were cleaned and the blood was gone. The box, once stained with blood and shuddering from the anguish of its hostage, was pristine but silent.

I put the box back on the shelf and sat back on the bed. I ingored the looks of concern, gazing off across the room in contemplation.

“So,” she asked after several minutes of silence, “did you reach an agreement?”

I said nothing. She asked again, and again I didn't respond. She looked questioningly at me, and then at the cage. Her eyes grew wide as she looked inside, and she gasped.