The Young Luna novel Chapter 34

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Chapter 34

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"It's getting late" Seth grumbled in annoyance, as I answered his call. I was still at the shooting range with Chris, and it seemed – like always – we had lost track of time.

"Is it? Got distracted" I replied, glancing at my watch. It was almost one am.

"Are you alone?"

"Nah, still with Chris. I'll head back once we've put the stuff away".

"Alright, baby, I'll see you in a minute" Seth sighed. I was about to hang up when he spoke up again. "Actually, don't leave. I'm going to come and get you".

"Seth, I'm fine. It'll take my ten minutes to get to you. If you're that worried, then I'll get Chris to walk me".

"No, I want you to wait for me. I'm leaving now". He hung up the phone before I could argue anymore. I groaned in annoyance before slipping my phone back into my pocket. Chris lowered his bow and raised an eyebrow.

"We're done?" he assumed correctly.

"Yeah, Seth is on his way to pick me up".

"Wow your dad is strict" he teased.

"I know, maybe Daddy will punish me for being late" I grinned cheekily.

"Oh gross". Chris pretended to retch as I laughed warmly. "Let's change the damn subject before I chuck up all that food your mother forced me to eat".

"Prude". I stuck my tongue out at him and we laughed. Chris opened his mouth to say something, but he was interrupted. A terrifying scream pierced the silent night and both Chris and I jumped in shock.

The scream came from nearby, close outside the shooting range. My heart began to race and, for a terrifying second, I flashed back to the night Yemi had attacked me. A shiver ran through my body as I tried to shake the memory off. Another scream sounded, before another women shouted for help.

Chris didn't pause, he grabbed one of the bags of arrows and slung it over his bag. He turned to me and paused. "Stay here". And with that, he loaded up an arrow and flew out the door.

"Not fucking likely" I muttered, threw my own bag of arrows onto my bag and snapped an arrow and bow into position. I then followed after Chris, only a few steps behind him. He was creeping slowly into the deep forest, in the direction of where the screams had come from.

I eased silently through the forest, knowing where to stay hidden. I'd grown up in these woods, as kids Chris and I spent hours playing catch the flag in these forests. This was home territory to me, I knew where I was going.

When I was able to get closer to the strangers, I noticed that the woman on the ground was badly injured. She had blood seeping out of a wound on her stomach, and she didn't seem to be healing from it. I felt bad for not running to their aid, but then I had to remind myself that this could be a trap or an ambush.

And then the man with them moved slightly. I was desperate to get a better look at him. As sexist as it was, I saw him as the biggest threat. He was taller, larger and I assumed the strongest. So I moved so I could see him from the front. But it was too dark to work anything but his silhouette out.

But, I was pretty sure God was on my side that night, as a second later the clouds cleared and the moon lit up the entire clearing. And then I saw the man. The second I saw his face, made out his features, I let the arrow fly from my bow. I didn't think about it, I just acted.

It hit the man in his left shoulder and he flew backwards with a scream. "Joder!" He hit the floor with a thud, and the woman stopped screaming in shock. I rushed throw the bushes and into the clearing. I heard Chris behind me less than a second later – he didn't ask why I shot the man, didn't do anything but back me up.

The strangers turned to me in shock as I slipped another arrow into my bow and held it up. "Don't fucking move" I hissed at them. I was hidden by the shade of the trees, the moonlight not highlighting me.

"Look we--" the man began, arrow still sticking out of his shoulder. He tried to hold up his hands in surrender, pain evident in his face. I cut the man off by shooting my second arrow through his other shoulder. He screamed out in Spanish again. The woman, the one not injured, screamed again before diving towards me as I was reaching for another arrow.

"Stop" Chris snapped moving forward and aiming his arrow at the girl. She skidded to a stop, looking helpless and confused, as I also stepped into the moonlight. I walked over the man, who was bleeding on the floor. I stood above him, arrow poised, as he blinked up at me in shock.

I gave him a smile. A smile full of sadistic pleasure and happiness. "Hello Rafa. How the tables have turned. Make another move and the next arrow goes through your fucking heart. And you know I never miss".