“Yeah,” I said, unzipping the pack, getting out two waters, and handing one to him.
After drinking half of the water in the bottle, Ben was asleep. His head was now in my lap. I grabbed the blanket, packed it, and put it over us, hoping to keep us somewhat warmer from the cold January air. I leaned my head against the truck of the tree and closed my eyes slowly, starting to drift off to sleep, until I heard the sound of leaves crunching followed by the sound of a heavy breathing.
Chapter 7
I froze in my spot, not daring to move a muscle, afraid of whatever is making that noise that could have noticed me and Ben.
“Ben, wake up.” I whispered, trying not to make too much noise.
He shifted in my lap, opening his big blue eyes, saying, “What? I’m still tire—”
“Shh. Be quiet. There’s somebody around. And I think it’s H-Hunter.” His eyes shot back open, and his face wore a frantic expression.
“W-we have to get out of here.” His voice trembled.
“I know, but we have to be careful not to be seen,” I said slowly, getting up while pushing my back against the trunk of the tree, trying to stay hidden.
Ben stood in front of me, still hiding himself too. The sound of the heavy breathing got closer to where we stood hidden. My hands started to shake and get clammy. I could hear the sound of leaves crunching under someone’s feet, and they sounded close.
“I’m scared, Cassie.” As soon as Ben said that, everything stopped. The heavy breathing and the sound of crunching leaves. It was silent. I stood frozen knowing they knew we were here. That was it. Hunter was going to find us, take us back to the house, and probably kill us.
I just felt bad because of how young Ben is. He hasn’t even experienced life yet. His life has just started. He’s still a child. An innocent one at that too and he’s about to be robbed of his childhood of his life. My life had been pretty good up until yesterday.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I have good parents who care and take care of me and Ben. I have plenty of sweet friends. Sure some of them aren’t as much as others but still. I have taken my life for granted. Death was never something I’d consider at the age of seventeen. I couldn’t imagine being eight and innocent to the world.
The saddest thing is that I can’t even do anything about it. I can’t make it better like Daddy could when there was a monster under my bed or when a boy decided to break my heart into a thousand pieces; and Mom was always there to let me cry on her shoulder. They used to tell me that everything will be alright. But now that I'm faced with the reality where monsters aren’t under my bed anymore, they’re right in front of me waiting for me to cave in and give up.
In this moment, there’s nothing I can do but wait for life to end, praying that the afterlife will be pretty. That there really is a heaven waiting for me to enter.
***
I hadn’t noticed that Ben was looking around the trees till I heard the words “It’s a deer.” I could barely hear it but was so dearly grateful for being able to. I turned around the tree to see none other than a white-tailed deer, standing before us and chewing on some dead grass below its hoofs. I couldn’t help when a smile spread across my lips.
“A deer,” I said with joy.
“It’s only a deer.” I breathed out a sigh of relief.
It looked up from munching on the now dead grass. Its breath was making a small cloud of fog as it exhaled through its nose. It was a beautiful sight for I had never been this close to a deer. She looked like she was scared and at any second would just run away from us. We were her problems like Hunter was mine and Ben's.
“It’s okay,” I said, holding out my hand, trying to show it that I meant no harm. It still looked frightened but not as bad.
“I want to pet her,” Ben asked, looking up at me.
“I don’t know if she’ll let you," I said back, looking down at Ben.
“I promise I won’t hurt you,” Ben said, holding out his hand slowly while walking to the beautiful creature in front of him. “I promise,” his sweet little boy voice said comfortingly.
“I don’t break my promises. Never.” I just stood back, staring in awe as the little blonde-headed boy neared slowly the animal and gently laid his small hand on the deer’s head softly, petting it.
He smiled at the deer, amazed at how he was actually touching this normally frightened animal. I too was amazed at the sight. This was supposed to be a frightening moment—a moment of tears and begging for our lives—but instead we’re experiencing something magical.
A boy connecting with a beautiful animal should have run ages ago. I’m never taking life for granted anymore. I’m going to live as if there’s no tomorrow. Like this moment could be my last,
and I only hope Ben will do the same. I have a good feeling he will. This is a beautiful moment that I think he will cherish forever deep into his heart.
Chapter 8
Hunter Lee Stiles
I stood back watching from afar the sight of Cassandra and Ben standing before a small white-tailed deer. Ben slowly put his hand on the deer’s head, petting the beautiful creature. The small deer’s beauty couldn’t compare to the beautiful creature named Cassandra, though.
She intrigues me.
I don’t know what it is though. Maybe it’s her long, curly locks of hair that cascades down her small petite body and reaches just above her perfectly shaped bum or maybe it’s her forest green eyes that pull me in every time I dare to look into them.
Or could it be her soft, smooth skin that feels like silk under the touch? Or is it her... purity? Something I dream of taking.
“Stop it, Hunter! This isn’t you,” I scream at myself.
“But it is,” I said back, the darker side of me showing its true colors.
“You don’t want to hurt Cassandra, do you?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” The darker me spoke back.
I do this all the time, fighting with “him”—the one that controls my actions, the one everyone sees as crazy or psychotic. It’s like a never-ending battle, and yes, sometimes, my thoughts are darkened for he tells me how great it is and how much more fun life is.
“Cassandra never did anything to you,” I said back, hoping to convince this so called “me.”
“No, but she will just like everyone else did.”
“No, she won’t so just leave them alone.” I reasoned.
“Yes, she will!” he yelled back.
“No, she won’t, why can’t you just understand that?”
“Yes, she will!” The darker “me” yelled no longer in my mind but out loud.
Cassandra and Ben’s heads snapped up in my direction. There were frightened expressions as soon as they saw who it was.
“Now look what you did!” I yelled at him.
“Oh, shut the hell up!” he boomed back.
“I said, game on, Cassandra; and guess what, I never lose!” he said, running towards them.
Cassandra quickly grabbed their things, took hold of Ben’s hand, and run as fast as their legs could take them.
“Stop. You’re scaring them!” I yelled. “This isn’t you, Hunter,” I finished.
“Yes, it is me! And you’re me too! Unfortunately.” He said the last part out loud.
He was right. I was him and he was me. We are one but it’s like two different brains with two different thoughts and actions. All he wanted to do was harm Cassandra. Like in the bathroom, I was the one who made us get the piece of glass out of her foot; but he was the one who started to dig deeper even after the glass was out. He was trying to make her cry, wanting to see the pain she was in to be written on her beautiful face. I couldn’t stand to watch it
anymore so with all my will power, I made him stop his actions by running out of the small bathroom hall.
“Once I get a hold of you Cassandra, I’m going to put you through so much pain you’ll be begging for me to stop!” He laughed evilly.
“I didn’t mean that—” I tr
ied to yell out only to be stopped by him.
“I said shut the hell up!”
Cassandra
I and Ben were just standing there petting the white-tailed deer when all of a sudden I heard someone yell.
“Yes, she will!” I quickly turned to where the voice was coming from only to wish I hadn’t.
About thirty feet away stood the man Hunter.
“Now look what you did!” Hunter yelled suddenly.
What’s his problem? I knew he was crazy but like really? Talking to himself?
“Oh shut the hell up!” A much deeper and darker voice boomed throughout the forest.
I didn’t even have time to think before the same raspy voice yelled again. “I said, game on, Cassandra, and guess what, I never lose!” With that, I quickly gathered our things, threw them in the backpack, gripped Ben’s small arm, and dragged him further into the woods, not daring to look back for I know he’s chasing us.
“Cassandra,” Ben’s soft voice spoke.
“Yes?” I said, trying to keep my breathing even though it was close to impossible for my asthma was still acting up.
“We’re going to die, aren’t we?”
My heart broke, knowing he was right, but I couldn’t let him know I thought of the same thing. I must be strong and be a good role model. I blinked the few tears back and put on my best smile as I said, “I promised, didn’t I?” He nodded.
“I don’t break my promises either.” I reassured. I turned back to look at where I was going only to hear Hunter’s voice yell again.
“Once I get of hold of you Cassandra, I’m going to put you through so much pain you’ll be begging for me to stop!” An evil laugh left his lips.
“I didn’t mean that—” He didn’t mean that?
What is wrong with that man? I turned, completely facing ahead of me and making sure I don't trip and fall or hit a tree. I turned around to be surprised that Hunter was falling behind. He’s probably a good 25-feet behind us. Just as I smile, thinking everything was going to be fine, the unthinkable happened. I heard a gun, fire but it didn’t hit me.
I felt Ben’s grip loosen till nothing was holding on there.
I turned to find Ben lying face down.
“Ben!” I cried.
Hunter shot Ben.
Hunter shot my brother.
Hunter shot Ben.
Chapter 9
There are times in your life when a certain someone comes into your world—either for the better or for the worse. Hunter is that someone. My life was perfectly fine two days ago. My biggest concern was how long I would possibly be grounded for forgetting
to pick up my younger brother from school. The same brother who I could say I envied. I envied him because I wished to be young again—when the biggest choice I ever had to make was which piece of candy I wanted from Walmart’s small checkout line or when the biggest fight I would ever get into with my friends was who got a certain Barbie. Now I'm faced with a choice. One that could change my life forever.
Laying before me was Ben, the blue-eyed eight-year-old boy who was full of life and joy and just pure happiness. But now he lay there with tears streaming from those ocean blue pools. He was holding his right thigh tightly as blood stained his blue jeans. I just stood there in shock, trying to process it all, and then it clicked. Hatred, rage, pissed. It all hit me at once, and it’s all towards the man who had shot my little brother, Hunter. I run over to where he’s pacing back and forth, mumbling things to himself. My fists balled up and I swung back and smacked him right in the jaw. His face turned from the impact.
“You bastard! You shot my brother!” He turned, his face back to me with a shocked and angered expression, holding his jaw tightly in his right hand.
“I-I didn’t mean to!” He yelled.
“Bullshit!” I boomed back.
“You don’t just accidentally shoot someone!” I yelled and pushed him backwards only for him to stumble a little then regain his balance.
He quickly grabbed me, pushing me up against a tree. His face was only inches from mine. His heavy breathing was blowing in my face.
“Don’t ever hit me again,” he said, slowly pushing harder on my jaw, making me wince in pain.
“And what if I do?” I dared to ask, not really caring.
“Oh, if you do, I’ll kill you before you can even call for help. You’ll be screaming my name to stop as I slowly drag the knife down your neck and set it right above your heart,” he said slowly, dragging his index finger down my neck and stopping above my left breast.
His words frightened me. He laughs evilly at the scared expression on my face.
“Cassie.” A broken voice called my name.
I turned to look at Ben. Tears were still running down his red cheeks. I tried to move under Hunter’s tight grip to be able to go over by Ben but he still held me tight.
“Let me go. Please,” I said, not looking away from my brother.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “You hit me.” His breath fanned my neck.
“Why should I?” he finished.
I finally met his gaze, and a tear fell down my cheek. I had nothing to say. I knew begging wouldn’t do anything so I just stood there letting the tears pour from my eyes. A few minutes later, Hunter’s grip finally loosened, and he pushed me towards the direction of my brother. I almost lost my balance at the sudden movement. I quickly run over to Ben, giving him a tight hug then pulling away.
“I’m so sorry. I-I’ll make it better.” I reassured. I took off my jacket, ripped a strip of my blue under top, and gently wrapped it around his thigh.
He winced in pain, his eyes shutting tightly while he gripped the dead grass that laid before him.
“I’m sorry, buddy,” I said, wiping away the fallen tears from my eyes.
“I-it’s o-okay.” He struggled to talk from the pain.
It only broke my heart more seeing him like this. He did nothing. He’s an innocent to the world, he doesn’t deserve this.
* * *
It’s been two hours since Hunter shot Ben. It’s now getting dark. I and Ben were sitting against the trunk of a tree, covered up in a blanket, while Hunter was pacing and talking to himself. I’d tried many times to tell Hunter we need to get Ben to a hospital only for him to ignore me or just shoot me a glare that could kill. I happened to find my Advil in my backpack. I quickly grabbed two small blue pills and gave them to Ben. I was not really sure if it would even help but it’s better than nothing. Hunter walked back over to where we are, telling me, “We’ll have to sleep here for tonight.”
“Why? We can’t sleep here! We don’t know what’s in these woods!” I fumed at him.
“Well you should have thought of that before taking off, running in here!” he shot back and was now bending so he’s at my level.
“Fine.” I mumbled, not wanting to anger him anymore than what he was already.
* * *
I opened my eyes when the bright January sun seeped through my tightly closed eyelids. After turning on every side, trying to keep the sun from blinding me, I finally gave up and sat up quietly. On my left was a sleeping Ben and just a few yards away, was Hunter sitting up against a tree, snoring slightly. I almost wanted to wake Ben up and make a run for home but then I remembered his leg. There’s no way he would be able to walk, and I knew I couldn’t carry him all the way back to the house so I decided against the idea. Then I saw something laying loosely in Hunter’s right hand, the gun.
I quietly got up and moved towards him, praying to God I don’t wake this man up as I got down on my hands and knees. I slowly reached for the shiny black object, gently taking it from his hand, and stood up, pointing the gun at him. He opened his eyes, looking at his hand then realizing I was standing right in front of him. Once he saw me with the gun pointed at his head, I felt like my heart had stopped. My hands were slightly sweaty. But I held my ground, aiming the gun at his head.
Chapter 10
He looked shocke
d that I had the gun ready to blow his brains out, and he knew why. He shot my brother and hit me and even knocked me out. He also should have thought of that before shooting my eight-year-old brother in the leg. He deserves this, but still, he is human.
All of a sudden, Hunter let out an amused laugh.
“Oh, Cassandra, what on earth are you doing?” he asked, looking up at me, smirking.
I really didn’t know what I was doing. All I wanted to do was get away from him, get Ben to a hospital, and just get back to my normal life. I didn’t want to shoot him but I also didn’t want him to shoot one of us again so what kind of choice did I have? One, I can shoot him so me and Ben can go home and live our lives again; or two, not shoot him and possibly get shot or worse be killed by this crazy man. Either way I was going to be left with guilt so I just answered with the first thing that came to mind.
“I’m going to shoot you if you don’t let me and my brother go,” I said, my hands shaking slightly.
He just laughed again. What is up with him laughing? Did I not make it clear I was going to shoot him if he doesn’t let us go?
That’s not really something to be laughed about when you’re not the one holding the gun.
“Go ahead.” he said, standing up and holding out his arms, smirking.
“Go ahead, shoot me. I dare you.”
I held my ground still, aiming the small pistol with my shaky hands.
“Cassie.” I heard Ben’s voice call my name. I turned to look at him.
“Save us,” he said.
I smiled down at him, nodding.
“Yes, Cassie, go ahead save him. Shoot me, blow my brains out! Shoot me.” Hunter actually sounded like he wanted me to shoot him. Was he crazy?
Oh wait, I’m pretty sure he is. I’ve never been a violent person. I could never kill any type of animal. The only thing I would kill are spiders, but who wouldn’t kill them? I mean it’s got eight legs! But he’s not a spider. He’s a person, a living person who has family and friends and people who care about him. He’s just troubled. I can’t kill a person but, I needed to save Ben. I needed to protect him.
Psycho Sitter: Mystery/Thriller Page 3