Silently Hunted

JimmyJames70

May 24, 2010

It was dark and quiet. Alone in the woods. Crouched by a tree. Not making a move. Silent predators stalk the night. A shot rings out. There's rustling in the undergrowth. They didn't see me. So I don't move. The shot was meant to scare me out of hiding. I can hear them now. Talking. They don't know where I am. I can see them now. Silhouettes against the moonlight. My knife is sharp. They break and head away. I still don't move. They circle around. Scanners beeping. I control my breathing. More talking but I can't hear what they say. It doesn't matter anyway. I know what they want. They want me dead.

WoodsSide (17K) Helicopters overhead. Spotlight searching. Getting closer. A spider drops from the branch overhead and lands on my arm. I dare not move. They are looking in my direction. A branch snaps five feet away. A raccoon scurries by as the spider drops to the ground. It was enough to draw the searcher's attention. Weapons aimed in my direction. They move forward. I am being hunted. The helicopter circles back once more. The spotlight circles closer.

They are 10 feet from me now. They still don't see me. Another branch cracks—swoosh—my first victim falls as he triggered the poison-dart trap I set hours before. The other, he knows I'm here as he watches his comrade fall to the forest floor. He crouches low. Checks his scanner. He blends into the night and I lose track of him. I still don't move.

The helicopter's spotlight finally falls on me. I'm bathed in light. My enemy had snuck within a foot of me. I did not hear him. He sees me now and before he can react I cut his throat in one quick motion. I was faster. This time. Next time I might not be so lucky.

Shots fire from the sniper in the helicopter. He misses by inches as he acted at the same moment I lunged at my enemy. I dive against the nearest tree. I don't have long before more of them arrive. I don't worry about making noise now as the helicopter can't hear me run through the night.

I find the entrance to the tunnel I started digging months before. I brush away the leaves and jump down. The helicopter can't find me underground. I gain my breath and allow my eyes to readjust to the dark. I turn. Two glowing eyes glare at me from the distance. I hear a low growl. I figure this night ain't over yet.

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