Chapter 4: The Hunting Game
It was almost 10 am when I finish making the cake. As far as I know, the kids will really get mad at me. And I don't even want to see their angry faces. After all, it's my birthday I want everyone to be happy and I don't want to be the one to be the cause of their anger. To be practical I like kids but sometimes they are just too annoying.
"Good morning, the cake is ready for your highness," I said. I straightened my back and bow my head with elegance, common aura seen on those loyal butlers I've watched with a historical genre on television.
"Good morning sis Beatrice, you mean that we can eat the cake?" Anna asked.
"Yes, if that's what you want your highness," I said with a bright smile on my face.
"Thank you, soldier, you are dismissed," Sam said. He tried to produce a very deep voice but in his disappointment, only a childish and silly voice come out.
"It's my honor to serve you, General," I said. I tried to retreat and let them enjoy their feast.
"This cake is spectacular sis Beatrice," Ivy said while looking in the cake with eyes like that of a hunter waiting for its prey.
"It's so fluffy," Luke said.
"It melts at my tongue," Anna said with delight.
"I love cakes!!!" Sam said trying not to act too childish.
"It's a good thing that children like cake Beatrice." Sis Kate said.
"I'm really glad they like it," I said.
The kids enjoy their time consuming the cake, but in a blink of an eye, only a mouth full of icing and empty plates are to be seen.
"Sis Beatrice, can you read a story for us?" Sam asked.
He then handed me an old book full of dust and spider webs. I remove the dust and webs and to my surprise I yelp.
"What the matter Sis Beatrice?" Anna asked.
"There's no problem it's just that I was wondering where did you get this? I remember that we don't have this book and how on earth did you arrive on handling this old tatter book?" I said with a somehow ridiculous voice.
"Oh! We find it in our basement, you see we were playing hide and seek. And I find the basement the best hiding place and I stumbled to this book. It looks pretty so I took it." Sam said with innocence in his eyes.
"The basement huh? But as far as I know, I didn't see any existing book there since last year. How on earth did I skip this book? It looks fancy though hardbound supper thick and looks so antique." I said while I scan the book.
"Since its settle can you read it for us?" Ivy asked with excitement. I can tell that they can't take it anymore. So I read it.
"The title of the book is the Cinderella and the Seven Hunter."
"Wait, sis Beatrice it's not related to snow white and the seven dwarf is it? Cause they sound too familiar but the word hunter instead of dwarf and Cinderella instead of snow-white? " Aira asked. Aira is one of the elder children in the orphanage and she's on the ages of curiosity, aka puberty.
"Well I don't have any idea, I just read the title."
"That's no fun, Big Sis. " Aira said in a very disappointed tone she could create.
I turn the page but I found out that this book is so so so mysterious. There's only one page with words and all the remaining page is blank. And maybe because of the frown and aloof expression I made the children surrounded me and turn to look at the book.
"Hey, why is it all blank except for one page?" Nicholas asked.
"I see, there's an underlying mystery surrounding this book!" Aira said in a very triumphant and smug face that tells you just by looking that tells, I guess right, aren't I? It's really hard to handle children in the puberty stage. Now I know the feeling of Sis Kate when she's chasing me when I try to sneak to play in the forest.
"Since it only has one page and there's no story let's do our chores children."
"tsk no fun!!"
"Hmph"
"Sigh"
"Why do you look so pale dear Beatrice?" Sis Kate with a mark of worriedness in her beautiful face.
"It's nothing sister," I said trying to maintain my composure.
Why I look so pale well, finding out that the book and the plot are somehow similar to the story narrated by that handsome man I met. Linking all the information and data I've gathered I can now conclude that I'm their prey. Yikes! Just thinking about it sends shiver into my spines. And why hunting game? There are so many games like card games otome games any games that don't shed violence. Yup, you got that I don't like violence even though I sometimes use it in dare times well. Do I have a choice? In a world of reality, you have to be strong to face and cope up with all the problem toss in your ways. Is it the game where my heart is their very motive? First of all, why me? I have nothing to do with people called hunters." I've started to have this frightening feeling, it was like there is a very dreadful event that will happen tonight when I turn 16. Well, worrying will not lead me to something so I just try to focus my mind on what's ahead for me. Besides, I don't want everyone to worry about me. This thought suddenly came into my mind, I wonder why I thought that it's true. And why is it affecting me so much? Do I believe what he told me?
...........
The sun is started to hide its beautiful ray as the night started to swallow everything and the brightness of the moon illuminate. The people of the world are unaware of the dreadful event that will happen on this day under the moonlight, as the countdown of apocalypse is starting to move on its way. The protagonist of this story is trying to live her own life at peace and that peace will be the destruction of everything. She will be the one who will end the contract, a contract for the fascination of a demon who is on his deep slumber waiting for the excitement of his return. And the seven hunters who desire the power to rule and destroy everything.
.........…
"The moon is shining so bright it looks beautiful, but it sometimes gives me the vibes that something bad will happen," I said not knowing when I got such thought.
"What do you mean by that Beatrice?" Sis Kate asked.
"It's nothing sister," I said.
"I notice you were spacing out and not being yourself, tell me do you have any problem?" Sis Kate said this time I'm sure that she knows that I'm worried about something.
Sis Kate knows me more than I know myself, after all, she raises me for 16 years.
"I do Sister Kate, someone told me that there are seven hunters that are after my life," I said trying not to sound frightened but there's hoarseness in my voice.
"After your life? Why? Did you know them? Or did you do something that will make them upset and to the point of killing." Sis Kate asked this time she looks startled.
"I don't know the exact reason but I'm not sure if I can trust this man," I said.
"This man you mean the man you met at the road?" Sis Kate asked.
"Yes, sister," I said.
"As far as I remember you said that he was wearing black clothes?" Sis Kate said trying to remember all the full detail of my story.
"Yes, he also has black hair and eyes and a gorgeous man," I said, with sarcasm (but he's gorgeous).
"You mean that man?" Sis Kate said while pointing her finger in my direction.
"What? Sister Kate." I said trying to regain myself from confusion.
As I was trying to understand the question I've heard a very deep and familiar voice behind me.
"We meet again, miss," He said with a smile in his face.
"Huh? Why are you here? Wait did you follow me? Are you a stalker?" I said trying to stay alert, I sense that I can't trust this man. And why can sis Kate recognize him right away? That he's the man I met on the road. This whole situation is so suspicious.
"I'm sorry if I have startled you, but I didn't know it's your birthday." He said trying to sound gentle.
"It's been a while, Sister Kate." He said.
"ohh the gorgeous man you were talking about is mister Sebastian." Sis Kate said with a smile in her face as she great the stranger.
"You know him?" I asked.
"Yes, he is one of the sponsors of our orphanage. Thank you for all of your help mister Sebastian." Sis Kate said.
"The pleasure is my sister Kate, I wanted to help those in need." He said with dignity in his face.
"That's very nice of you sir," I said trying to sound grateful but I also try to hide my annoyance.
"Is this young Beatrice?" He asked.
"Yes, she becomes a very refine and tomboyish lady." Sis Kate said with a chuckle in her voice.
"Wait, you know me?" I asked.
"Beatrice, Mister Sebastian is the one who brought you here in the orphanage." Sis Kate said.
"Then what is the hunting game you were talking about?" I asked with curiosity and I want some answer this time I thought.
"Your turning 16 this year am I right?" He said.
"Yes, in fact, I will turn 16 this very moment. I was trying to ask you what you mean with the hunting game." I said impatiently.
"Then it means it's your last reincarnation, and this is the start of the beginning." He said with a crooked smile.
"Pardon, I don't quite follow you. And please don't try to avert my question." I asked now with anger in my voice.
"You will understand when the time comes and that time is tonight under the moonlight." He said as he tries to look at the moon shining in us.
"Wait, I can't take it anymore," I said with anger.
"You don't have to know, because you will understand eventually. What time is it?" He said trying to sound convincing.
"Quarter past eleven." Sister Kate said.
"Wait, what will happen if the clock struck at 12?" I asked. And now I can sense that they know something both of them and it's related to the hunting game they were talking about, included the seven hunters and their prey.
"We have 15 minutes left." He said, trying to avoid my question.
"15 minutes left? Wait I'm so confused I demand an explanation." I asked as I try to make an action to show my anger.
"The brightest moon will be illuminating tonight." He said as he stares at the sky.
"Huh?" I said.
"For now, I want you to relax and enjoy your time. And stare at the brightest moon you will witness for your entire life" He said.
How can I enjoy my time? When I've found out that the man is associated with Sister Kate and the fact that he knows me.
What will happen? I've had this vibe that something bad will happen. I hope it's not, I wanted to end this day so that tomorrow will come. Is tomorrow will ever come? Or I'm hoping for impossible, I felt that I can't trust anyone because I can sense that they are hiding something.
The brightness of the moon illuminates the land as if it is the gate that will open the path to another parallel world.
"It's time." He said.
"Time for what?" I asked.
"Beatrice…" He said.
"What?" I asked.
.
.
.
.
.
....
(Dead silence)
"Don't scare me," I said.
"HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY." He said.
"Ohh, Do I suppose to say thank you for your greetings or thank you for scaring me," I said.
I thought something bad would happen but I think I'm wrong.
I felt a sudden vibe as I turn 16.
A sudden struck of lightning shone at the sky and at the same time I feel a sudden heat that slowly engulfing my entire body. My chest feels hot, as if it was burning and a feeling that something is trying to unleash within me.
"What is happening? Sister Kate, Sir Sebastian."
"It's the official start of the apocalypse" Sister Kate said.
"Sister Kate?"
A parallel light is shone at the center of the sky as it tries to reach the ground as if it's calling on something….. Something that is not supposed to be awakened. And to my surprise my body starting to glow as if I'm being taken away, not my physical form but inside of me.
"The illuminating light that surrounds your body is the signal to all the seven hunters that…" Sis Kate said.
"It's the official start of hunting game," Sebastian remarked.
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