Page 78 of Hunt Me
I don’t even recognise who I am anymore. Who she has turned me into. But I can’t help but like this new side of me that is caring, just for her.
‘I need to find Fauna.’I state, aiming for the doorway.
Isla’s palm on my chest halts my steps. I could easily ignore her, but she’s still my little sister. I arch a brow in question.
‘Let me talk to her,’my irritation must show because she pushes my chest harder.
‘No.’
‘Just trust me, please. You care about her, right?’
I nod. Of course, I care about Fauna. I’ve spent the whole day tearing myself apart to find her. Come to think of it, I’ve been tearing myself apart since I met her. Imagine how much she will burrow under my skin when I have her forever, how much my obsession will know no limits, and my love for my little deer will have no bounds.
‘Yeh,’Isla gives a throaty laugh, watching my gaze.‘Trust me, Ru. I’ll go get your girl.’
My shoulders don’t lose their tension but I let out a defeated exhale. Isla takes it as all the approval she needs and darts off in the same direction my little deer did. I watch her light jog away as she disappears down the shadowy corridor.
‘So you’re the reason Faun’s been all weird.’The dark-haired one states, breaking the silence. She’s small, but the way she is spinning half a scissor around her finger, the hoop at the end allowing her to gain a steady speed, reminds me not to judge someone by their size alone. And based on the glint in her eyes,she knows exactly what message she intends to send to me by doing so.
‘And,’the pink-haired lunatic draws my attention.‘You’re the reason she didn’t come home last night.’
‘I’m…’ clearing my throat, I finish.‘Sorry?’
Why am I apologising like I’m getting a scolding from Fauna’s parents right now? Fuck I hadn’t intended to bring her home at all if I was being honest, but their disapproving looks, the way they are assessing me for every inch as if I’m not worthy of having Fauna, has my hackles coming up.
Fauna is mine.
‘And why was she starving when I found her?’
The way they all recoil at my words makes me regret the venom I put behind them. Fauna never said anything bad about these women, just that they were all in the same place — one where they try to stay alive. And the one thing that was made clear from the start was how much she cared about them.
‘Rich coming from the asshole that is wearing her dinner,’Luna spits, eyeing up the glob of slime across my jacket.
Right. I bet the globe of slime provided the perfect nutritional diet.
I wonder if it was wise to say that as the one with the scissors palms her knives fiercely in response.‘And I’m guessing you never asked why that was. Hmm? Mr I care so much that you didn’t bother to ask why she insists on it being that way? We don’t owe you any explanations, especially not when you’re the one who wears that mask.’She nods to the discarded Skull mask, and my jaw ticks.‘Yeh, we know what you are.’
All three of them turn their back on me, disgust evident in their grumbles as they return to where I assume the rest of their group is.
I curse.
That could have been worse. I try to reassure myself, but who am I kidding? It could have gone a whole lot better as well.
Fauna is more important than winning them over anyway. I need to find my little deer and make sure she is alright. Isla has had enough time with her, she does not need anymore.
A yell has my steps turning in my stride as I hear a commotion coming from the same doorway the crazies exited through.
I let out a frustrated groan, tipping my head back.
I can’t exactly leave them to deal with whatever it is. What if they are in trouble? How would I explain that to Fauna?‘Oh, by the way, they were all screaming as I came up here, but I didn’t care enough to check on them.’If my pissing off the others would not be successful in putting Fauna off me, my not protecting them definitely will.
I’ll have a quick look, for Fauna’s sake.
I push the double doors open, finding everyone talking over each other. There are a few faces I recognise from moments before, but there are some new ones now.
No one notices my presence.
Something else has their full focus. Or should I say, someone.
