Anima

by Jae Choguk

unfolding.

  “What?” Jeremy said looking around the room, and his eyes locked with mine. Dad beckoned me to step forward, and I did. I stood beside him, letting everyone examine the similarities between us. If I thought I had seen Jeremy at his worst, this had surpassed it. I have never seen someone look more betrayed and scared in my life. Maybe this is what my mom looked like when she realized what her love had become. Or maybe the same way Mr. Zander had felt when his best friend left, with everyone thinking she was dead.

  “You’re lying.” He says in denial, even though I can see the fear, and truth behind his eyes. I almost blurted out everything; opening my mouth just to close it again. If anything, I just wanted him to know I loved him, even though I knew he wouldn’t believe me now. Tears threatened to escape, but I wouldn’t let them.

  Now, to prove that she’s my daughter, let’s finalize your test to become one of us.” I looked at him in surprise.

  “I thought all I had to do was bring him here for you to recruit him?” I ask, trying not to sound as terrified as I felt.

  “Does he look like he’s willing to join us anytime soon?” He asked rhetorically.

  “No...” I say defeated. I lock eyes with Jeremy and half pray that he will suddenly break away and never come back.

  “Now let’s help you finish up your assignment.” Dad clapped his hands, and D and someone else grabbed Jeremy dragging him back through the door.

  “Where are they taking him?” I ask, hiding the terror in my heart.

  “Well let’s follow them and find out shall we?” He offered his arm, and I felt sickened to take it as we followed after them.

  “What is this place?” I ask as we step outside, letting the snow and coldness take over my body. I didn’t deserve to feel warm, and the cold helped numb the pain that wouldn’t go away.

  I wanted to yell at Jeremy to leave now while he had the chance, but I couldn’t make the words come out. My arm was still wrapped around my fathers’ as we walked towards them. He dropped my arm as pushed me forward until I was a few feet in front of Jeremy, who look like a caged tiger, ready to kill.

  Breaking down his walls was a mistake on my part, because for every wall I knocked down, a piece of my heart went to him. Seeing him raw and hurt right now made me realize that I had already given my whole heart to him when I kissed him.

  “Now, are you ready for the finale?” My father announces like an old warlord. There weren’t too many people around, but those who were started clapping and hollering as if they knew what was coming next.

  My father turned to me. “Now kill him.”

  Fifteen

  I almost collapsed from the sheer emotion that passed through me at that moment. I felt like throwing up and killing myself and everyone around me. The world felt like it was turned upside down, and Jeremy’s face seemed to reflect what I was feeling.

  “Now kill him.” The words kept ringing in my head, making my brain spin in circles, unable to get back on track.

  I walked dully forward like a zombie, and Jeremy just watched as if he was okay with me killing him. I didn’t understand him, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to find out…

  NO. This isn’t the end. A part of my mind said to me. I realized that there was still a way for him to escape safely.

  I walked more confidently forward and instantly changed into my full transformation. Jeremy was as still as ever, as if he was in awe by my transformation. A war between lion and tiger ought to be an interesting one, not that this one would be real; to the Hunters anyways.

  When he still didn’t move, I kicked snow at him with my paw, but he still didn’t move. I snarled and lashed at him, cutting his stomach through his clothes making him bleed through long gashes. Even though I was the one hurting him, it was hurting me ten times worse. When he still didn’t transform I realized that he didn’t want to give away what animal he was.

  I don’t know how he had gotten away with the title Black Cat all this time considering he was a white tiger, but I planned to keep his secret.

  I transformed back into my human form in a split-second, and lunged at him again. This time he reacted. He charged at me, and we met in a chaotic crash in mid-air. We landed on the ground lightly like the cats we were would’ve done.

  I snarled at him, baring my sharpened teeth, and he did the same back. I unsheathed my claws, and he also did the same. We circled and snapped our fangs at each other waiting for the other person to make a move. I took the chance and darted towards him. We wrestled on the ground landing blows wherever we could, and I realized this was the best either of us had fought before. It would’ve been a lot better if we were fighting against the Hunters instead of each other though.

  “Lydia.” He said my name, but I couldn’t tell if it was pleading, or a curse. Either way it tore at my heart. I fought back tears, and slashed at him again, creating a long gash down his arm. He cut me too, and our clothes were in random shreds scattered in the snow. I didn’t even feel the cold, only the heat from the battle, and the blood spread throughout the courtyard.

  “Jeremy!” I yelled like a battle cry, knocking him down into the blood covered snow. They were far enough away now that they shouldn’t be able to hear us so I spoke in a love, desperate voice.

  “Please.” Was what I said when Jeremy was about to knock me off him. “Keep struggling, just listen before you do anything.” I continued to try and overpower him enough to keep them thinking I was going to kill him. His hands were on my shoulder to keep the illusion as I reached for the blade in my jacket. His eyes widened in surprise, but he still followed my lead for now.

  “I’m sorry…for everything.” I say letting my tears spill onto his face, and he looks like he’s still afraid to believe me; not that I could blame him.

  I thrust the blade into my side, letting my blood pour onto his white shirt. Why he wore white, when he always seemed to wear dark colors was beyond me. His eyes filled with emotions that I couldn’t read and he grabbed me arm holding the blade.

  “What in the hell are you doing?” He demanded in a frantic voice.

  “Just shut up, I’m running out of energy here.” I said with effort and I rolled, letting him hover over me for a brief moment before flipping him back under me again. He seemed to understand, but I could tell he didn’t want to follow through with it.

  “Stop now, I’ll do the rest!” He whispered fiercely and I gave a pained smile. I let him scratch me once more, deeply enough to convince the Hunters and my dad. I swung the blade in an arc, and pretended to jab it deep into his heart, and I felt him go limp, but his eyes were still open.

  “Now what do you plan on doing?” He asked, and I couldn’t tell him, because I didn’t really know. My hair had fallen out of its braid long ago, and I let it fall forward creating a protective wall over us; just like the willow had. I kissed him once again letting him feel all the emotions I was feeling, not able to tell him I loved him.

  “Actions speak louder than words.” I said pulling away.

  “Then let me show you through my actions...” I shook my head, and he closed his eyes.

  I heard clapping, and they must have though I killed him so I lifted my head and raised my arms. I was still straddling him, but was too weak to get up. I could feel my side already closing up, so the Hunters would have no idea. The bloody blade and the evidence would be left in the snow and in our bodies.

  Jeremy was covered in blood, and that was all that mattered. The cold weather made him look pale and sickly, giving the perfect image of someone who just died.

  They walked over to me and clapped me on the shoulders, and patted my back with approval. They scattered after a while, but my dad stayed by me.

  “I’ll get rid of the body if you want.” He said putting a hand on my shoulder.

  “No, I will finish my assignment completely.” I said getting up and lifting Jeremy’s limp body onto my back. I was still weak from the loss of blood, but I still had a good amount of strength left.
My dad looked at me with pride and told me where I could go and dispose of him.

  I followed his direction to the back of the castle, where a large burn pit lay. They burned their victims, getting rid of their existence completely. I was thoroughly disgusted, but at least now Jeremy was safe, and that was all that mattered. When I made sure nobody was watching I set him down and pulled out a match and lit it. I threw it into the pit with gasoline, and a large fire burst from it.

  “I’m sorry.” Was all I could say, and I handed him a shortcut Demetrius had once showed me to get out of the castle without anyone knowing.

  “For what, doing your mission to the best of your ability?” He responded getting off the ground and stretching.

  “My family killed yours...” I whispered and he came up to me, putting his hands on my shoulders.

  “Your father did, not you.” He shook me when I didn’t respond.

  “It’s the same thing.”

  “Actions speak louder than words.” He repeated and I couldn’t bring myself to believe he could just forgive me.

  “Stop it-” I started, but he cut me off by pulling me to him and kissing me with as much passion as I did before. When he finally let go he smirked.

  “I told you I would show you with my actions, and my next one will be bringing you back to the Academy for good.” He said confidently, but I shook my head.

  “I can’t go back there now.” I protested.

  “Everyone is waiting for