The Hunters Of Aliron

Chapter 4

Seriously! I never expected to be in the back of a van tied up.

As I groaned and woke up, I looked around, unaware of where I was. I noticed that next to me was Hazel unconscious with a swollen lump on her head. What the heck was Alex thinking?

I nudged Hazel and she twisted and turned. Then she unexpectedly stood up straight trying to figure out what was going on. I informed her about what had happened in the house while groaning a few times. Anger washed her face. She then tried to stand up but fell. Her arms were tied and her legs were the same. Hazel didn't stop then. She put her arms under her legs to bring them forward. I was shocked at the way she did this.

"In my pocket is a knife, bring it out and cut the ropes, trust me," She said quietly.

I went into her pockets and brought out the knife. I put the knife in my hand and started cutting the ropes layer by layer. In a couple of seconds, they were cut and Hazel started to cut the ropes around her legs. She then cut my ropes and we were free.

"How did you do that?" I asked. She looked at me as if I asked a stupid question.

"My dad was part of the army which is why I know these types of survival skills" She answered. I could see that the topic was uncomfortable by the look on her face.

"Sorry if it's a delicate question. I didn't know" I said.

She gazed at me with a smile. "It's okay and now let's escape before I get that knife and do some business with Alex,'' she responded.

I looked at the back door and noticed that it was covered with old newspapers.

In the back of the van were lots of cases. One that caught my eyes was titled ALIRON. I put the case in a bag and wrapped it around my shoulders. My shoulders ached a little from my recent accident but were up for the task. I felt like that case was important. In my dream when I was by the Lincoln Building some posters were scattered on the floor with ALIRON labelled on them. Somehow I knew that they were connected. Hazel got ready to escape.

She took some equipment she found and started to pick the lock. In seconds she cracked it open. I just gazed at her hoping that one day I would have the strength to tell her that I love her. I got ready to escape but then-

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU TWO ARE DOING?" Alex screamed.

I turned around to see him staring at us with an angry expression which I knew too well was not good. I was about to respond when Hazel glared at him.

"WERE LEAVING YOU LITTLE BRAT! YOU TRY AND STOP US AND I'LL HAVE A KNIFE JABBED IN YOUR THROAT. GOT IT?" She responded.

Damn this woman was brave. The strength she showed was amazing. I felt like I was a follower of her. I would do anything for her. I felt a strong fire ignited within me.

"YES, YOU LITTLE BRAT WE'RE LEAVING!" I answered.

With that Hazel held my hand. I felt like we were one. I was tied together with her no matter how much I tried to deny it. We jumped together out but whilst I jumped out, I heard a wimp come from Hazel.

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE DOGS. I NEED TO BRING YOU IN TO HAVE MY SHARE!" Alex roared.

We both rumbled on the street road. Then we stood up, held hands and ran as fast as we could. I didn't think of anything else at that moment, only surviving. After a good ten minutes, we stopped.

We were surrounded by the heart of the forest filled with evergreen. Pieces of wood scattered the ground like decorations. I looked at Hazel and saw the pain in her eyes. Hazel held her stomach as if she was hurt and my heart sank. When we escaped Alex must have shot Hazel which was why I heard a whimper.

I ran by her side as she fell to the ground. I held pressure on her wound... I kept thinking of what to do.

"Jamie, we escaped" She mentioned. Tears in her eyes.

"Yeah we did and that means you're going to survive this okay? Don't you dare give up ok?" I replied secretly hoping that I was not lying to myself about us surviving.

"Jamie I don't think I'm going to make it but you are, ok? You need to run home and tell your mom everything before Alex comes back" She announced.

I didn't know what to do. How could I leave her? I love her and that means that I won't leave her. Even if I have to fight to make her survive. I need her. Wait, Did I just say I love her? My feelings became clear.

"Hazel we can do this ok? I just have to do some simple mending to get you to normal" I answered.

Her golden eyes were consumed with the fear of death. I gave her a big smile hoping that she could hold on a little longer while I got some help.

"Jamie, I don't think I can fight anymore. The bullet is deep and I can feel it tearing inside me" She said. I just felt like dying at that moment.

"Listen I can do this ok? I'll fix this and we'll get out" I replied.

"To think we were so close Jamie," she uttered.

"Yeah, I hate karma" I mentioned.

We laughed a little. At that moment I felt a spark of hope ignite but vanish slowly.

I just thought about everything we did today. We are a team now and I can't have one member in a team.

"Jamie, remember last winter at the dance?" Hazel asked. I tried to remember last winter and old memories were exposed to the front of my brain. I remembered how I saw Hazel in a white dress covered with snowflakes. Her thick scarlet hair swept on one side. Snowflake earrings that shone brightly in the darkness. The way she looked. I remembered how scared I was that day. I kept thinking for hours if I should ask Hazel to dance but I never mustered the courage to do so.

"Yeah, I remember," I answered.

"I wish you asked me to dance that night Jamie. I wanted to," she replied.

Sadness built up inside. I was such a fool. I never took risks. Now Hazel was dying and I couldn't do anything. I looked at Hazel and let out a piercing scream. Hazel had closed her eyes.

Hazel

We all as people have something we're afraid of. Something that frightens us to our core...

When I was dying in Jamie's arms, I felt peace. It pained me to see him in pain but I was going to die one day and truly, I wasn't afraid of death for some reason. I admired death.

It was the one thing that even the best of people couldn't escape from. As Jamie cried, I could feel my eyes closing, telling me that it was my time.

I embraced the pain and knew that maybe I had done something worth being remembered for.

As I drifted off into nothingness I could hear Jamie screaming my name.

When I regained awareness I looked around to see myself standing on a white marble floor. I looked at the ground to see sweets leading in a direction. I had no choice but to follow hoping that I would be led to peace. The sweets kept twisting and as if they had a mind of their own. When the trail ran out, I was standing by a big red door which I thought must have symbolized something. Maybe it was that colour because of how I died?

I held the door and breathed in hoping this was not the start of never-ending torture and suffering.

When I looked in, I saw that I was in a huge building with glass stairs, great chandeliers and lots of updated technology. But then something unusual happened.

I walked around to search and observed something which shook me intensely. On one of the boards was the name of the organisation.

ALIRON.

I walked backwards as if I was trying to stop myself to look at it again. Then turned around to see little children running around. Some young as four and older as eight. But one girl stood out from the rest. She had bright golden eyes and scarlet hair.

Tears started forming in my eyes. That little girl was me. When I was about to go up to her, a door appeared from nowhere. It was a bright white and nearby it was a golden one. I didn't understand what I was choosing. But I was being drawn to the white one as if it were calling my name.

"HAZEL!! WAKE UP!!" Someone answered.

With that, I stepped in.