by Alex Dafney
I push up on my tip toes to give him a quick kiss before walking out of the bathroom to find another outfit lying across the bed. I slip on the high waist, red, bell bottom pants along with the flowered top that Charlie laid out for me. Slipping the wedge heels on, and a long necklace I step back into the bathroom, checking myself out in the mirror. I grab the rose-colored glasses from the bathroom counter and slip them on. “Ready when you are.” I call over my shoulder as I walk out of the bedroom.
I find Dom in the kitchen, coffee cup in hand. He reaches into the cabinet above him, passing me a cup. “Thanks.” I mutter as I pour myself coffee. “You sound the way I feel.” I glance up at him with a quizzical look. “I don’t feel like we’re getting anything done. I want to kick some ass, not tour the damn city.” I chuckle as I blow on my coffee. “I know. Cooper just told me to be patient.” Cooper joins us in the kitchen, hearing the tail end of our conversation. “Enjoy the calm before the storm.” He says as he props against the counter next to me.
Cooper and I head out of the house for the day. We stroll down the street hand in hand, enjoying the sunshine and people watching. Suddenly the hair on the back of my neck stands up. He squeezes my hand tighter, letting me know he feels it too. I glance over my shoulder to see three large men walking a few paces behind us. I face back ahead, with the urge to run. Cooper pulls my hand, leading us down an alleyway. I glance back to see the men take the same turn behind us.
He reaches up to his ear, hitting the button so we can communicate with our teams. I hear him in my own ear. “We’ve got three tailing us. We’re on a side street heading toward the vantage point.” I wait for a response from our teams. Cooper shakes his head slightly, looking over to me. “We must have a bad connection between these buildings. It may just be us for a few moments.” He whispers.
I give a little nod, readying myself to bolt at his say. He looks over his shoulder casually. When he turns back, he gives my hand a squeeze, letting me know it’s time. We both take off, jogging at a decent pace. “I really wish Charlie would’ve packed my damn tennis shoes.” He laughs as we wind through the alleyways and down side-streets. He talks lowly into his ear com again as I glance behind us, seeing we’ve got a good lead on the Hunters.
“Shit.” He hisses when we don’t get a response from the teams. When we round the last building that takes us into the alleyway with the dead end, we both stop in our tracks. My eyes widen as I take in the sight. Charlie stands with twenty or so Hunters behind her, a portal opened next to her. Cooper grips my hand, turning us to run the way we came, only to be stopped by eight more Hunters.
“You two made this so easy for me.” I turn to Charlie who has a dark smile on her face. I shake my head at her slowly as Cooper and I are ushered toward her by the Hunters at our backs. “Why?” It’s the only thought running through my mind. She gives a humorless laugh. “Why? You poor, dumb child. I still can’t believe it has taken your kind this long to figure out our process.” I stare at her, waiting for her to say something.
She lifts her hand, drawing a large circle in front of her as I watch with a shocked expression as another portal opens. She steps around it, pacing in front of the iridescent swirling object. She looks over to Cooper and me, her eyes turning solid black. “You were too stupid to know that I am a Hunter. I was the first Hunter. I harvest the gifts of your kind so that we live forever. Thousands of years ago I was known as the ‘Seeker of souls. That was until I had a taste of the shifting soul.” The hairs on the back of my neck stand as goosebumps cover my body. I squeeze Cooper’s hand in mine before trying to take us to the present. I pop my eyes open, unable to travel as Charlie lets out an evil laugh.
“Silly little shifting princess. Don’t you know you can’t travel as long as I have a portal open?” I let out a sigh as I drop my head, remembering that I had read that recently in some of the old mission reports. “The others will be here in a moment Charlie. Just let us go and no one will have to die today.” Cooper says with his forehead pinched.
Charlie stalks toward us, her eyes changing back to the familiar brown that I’ve known. She tilts her head to the side, placing her clasped hands under her chin. “Awww. Isn’t that sweet. Thinking your teams are going to charge in and save the day.” She rolls her eyes and shoves her finger into Cooper’s chest. “Your teams don't even know you’re here.” She removes her finger, twirling it in front of us. “They are all listening to the two of you confess your undying love to one another over dinner. Or at least that’s what they think they’re listening to. It was so easy to interfere with your headsets. They’re not nearly as sophisticated as what we have.”
She turns, shaking her head as she steps back to the portal. “Separate them.” Cooper tightens his grip on my hand as the Hunters behind us step forward. As soon as I feel them close enough, I turn, fighting them with everything I have. I can see Cooper doing the same. I kick one to the ground as two more grab me from behind, spinning me back to face Charlie.
I look over to Cooper just as he twists the neck of a Hunter, releasing him and letting him fall to the ground as three of them rush him at the same time, effectively ending any chance we have at an escape. The Hunter on the ground turns to ash before our eyes as I look up to Cooper who’s being restrained with his hands behind him, just like myself.
He gives me a sad smile as I blink back tears. We both know there’s no way out of this. “I love you with everything in me, O.” A tear slips down my cheek as I nod. “I love you too, Cooper. Forever.” Charlie lets out a groan. “For the love, are you two done yet? We need to get to the realm.” She ends with an exasperated sigh as I look back to Cooper. “What’s your middle name?” I ask quietly. He gives me that grin that shows off his dimple. “Corbin, love. Cooper Corbin Clark.”
Before I know what’s going on, I feel myself falling forward. I spin slightly, landing on my hip as one of the Hunters lands next to me. I jump at the opportunity to end him for good. As he turns to ash at my feet, I turn to see Dom and Raven both fighting multiple Hunters behind me. I spin back toward Cooper, only to find him being hauled toward the portal. I run as fast as I can toward him. “Get her!” Charlie screams to the Hunters behind the portal.
I feel an arm slide around my waist, lifting me off the ground. Instantly I start throwing elbows. “It’s me, Princess.” I relax only slightly at Zane’s voice. “They have Cooper!” I yell frantically as he drops me behind him, shielding me from the line of large Hunters barreling toward us. Dom and Raven flank my sides just as they reach us. Everyone bolts into action. Arms are swinging, bodies are being hurled to the ground.
I flip the Hunter over my back that managed to make it by the others, trying to make my way toward Cooper. Just as I start to stand, I feel a hand land on my shoulder. “Where’s Cooper?” Ryder asks me with wide eyes as he scans the chaos going on around us. I point toward Charlie, the portal, and the Hunters that are dragging Cooper toward it. Ryder bolts forward, jumping over bodies and fighting his way toward Cooper.
I dash behind him, dodging fists and legs and flying bodies. I’m suddenly knocked to the ground from behind. I try to roll over, but the man on my back is too heavy. He grips my arms behind me, jerking me from the ground as I fight against him. I look toward the portal, searching to see if Ryder has made it to Cooper. I watch as Charlie takes something out of her pocket, holding it toward him. He instantly goes limp. “Cooper!” I scream as I watch the three Hunters drag him through the portal, it closing behind them.
My heart shatters in my chest as all the air in my lungs disappears. I fall to the ground, the Hunter losing his grip on my hands as my knees buckle under me. Charlie forms another portal in front of her, making a strange whistling sound. The remaining Hunters disengage from fighting and run toward the portal as she turns to me with a cold smile. “See you soon, princess.” With that she steps through the portal as it vanishes before my eyes.
I glance behind me to find our team members still battling a few of
the Hunters that have been left behind. Looking over to my right, I see Ryder being slammed against the brick wall. I hurry to my feet, adrenaline the only thing pushing me forward as I run full speed, leaping onto the Hunter’s back and wrapping my arm under his chin, squeezing until I feel him start to fall to the ground. Ryder finishes him off, and we stand side by side watching him turn to ash.
I step back, placing my back against the brick wall as I look out into the alley. The Hunters are all taken down and everyone stands around, heaving deep breaths, bloodied and bruised. “Where’s Cooper?” Grant starts toward me. I simply shake my head as a feeling of emptiness overtakes me. Sliding down the wall I end up on my ass on the ground, tears pouring out of my eyes. Ryder slides down next to me, pulling his knees up and propping his arms on them as his shoulders bob.
I watch Zane sink to his knees, a look of disbelief on his face. Grant stands in front of me, shaking his head slowly and saying the word ‘no’, over and over. Micah sits down next to me, gripping my hand in his, as he openly cries. Raven comes over, kneeling in front of Ryder, wrapping her arm around him as she looks over to me with tears sliding down her face, placing her hand on my leg. I close my eyes, leaning my head back against the brick wall as a sob escapes me.
“We need to go before they come back.” I open my eyes to find a blurry Reese kneeling in front of me. “I… I can’t…I can’t leave him.” I choke out. Dom kneels next to Reese. “We’re not leaving him, O. He’s gone.” I look over to his teary eyes and cut up face. I let out a shaky breath before standing. I look around the group, knowing they’re all waiting on me to say something. “He’s not gone. I will find him, and I will fucking end Charlie.” I close my eyes and transport us back to mine and Cooper’s living room in the present.
Book Two coming October 2019
About the Author
Alex is an independent author who was raised and still resides in small town Alabama. Writing a novel was always a dream, and now a reality with the release of The Girl He Left Behind, Home, A Friendly Encounter, and Once Upon A Summer. When not writing, Alex will be found reading, cooking, or spending time on the lake with family and friends.
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Other Books by Alex Dafney
The Girl He Left Behind
Once Upon A Summer
A friendly Encounter
Denounce
Safe Travels – Book One of the Shifting Through Time Duet
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