To Put A Leash On The Master

/ HEIDI /

The scene before me is a bloodbath.

Bodies lay scattered across the floor, the once vibrant celebration now turned into a grotesque beano of death.

My legs feel like lead as I force myself to move. And I hear another piercing cry with two more almost immediately, thuds resonating in my ears, each sound paralyzing me with fear.

The terror grows so much that it becomes numbing, leaving me to stare blankly at the blood-pooled floor. But then a thought slices through my foggy mind-Hunter.

Is his corpse among these? How about Dad Griffin, Dad Tad, and Morton-where are they?

"Saturn, I need help!" I scream, except I don't hear my voice, as the words barely escape my lips in a hoarse whisper.

I frantically begin to search the hall. There has to be someone alive, someone who isn't lying in this gruesome display of devilish deeds. Fortunate if that person is Hunter or other members of my family. But unfortunate when I spot a familiar satin cloth shimmering under the dim light.

Now that certainly is not Saturn, is it? No, I hope not. However, rushing over, I find the girl's pale body in the blood pool, her heart dug out of her chest.

"No..." I whisper in disbelief. Surely, this has to be another dream-a fucking nightmare. "No! That's not you, Saturn. Please... no..." My voice trails off as my palms cover my mouth.

The girl I saw minutes ago can't be dead.

This is a dream, right? Another damn illusion!

Panic-stricken, wide-eyed, and my heart pounding, I race back up the stairs. But when I burst into Hunter's room, I find it is empty-no trace of Saturn nor her scent.

Fuck, no.

I lean against the wall and slide down to the floor, gripping my braids with frail fingers as tremors wrack my body.

Pain overwhelms me as the urge to cry rises in my lungs. But the tears won't flow. Even staring blankly at the patterned floor only channels more misery to my broken mind. A misery that suddenly morphs into bravery when the thought of Hunter brings me to my feet.

There's a subconscious urging me to escape the mansion. Yet, it doesn't occur to me to listen as I speed down to the hall faster than a meteor flashing across the sky.

My fear seems drowned in a sea of emotions as I search the hall again, going through the bodies carefully so as not to miss a familiar face.

Like Saturn, their hearts are all ripped out, which convinces me somehow that this might be another dream.

"Hunter? Dad?" I call out with a growing dread and a panging headache feasting on my brain.

When I notice Dad Tad's body amidst the carnage, my shoulders drop instantly before I fall to my knees in front of his sprawled corpse.

I had hopes... hopes that at least my family would be alive if I didn't find their bodies. But now― now that hope just disperses into thin air.

"Gods. What's all this?" I mumble while staring defeatedly at Dad Tad's open eyes before reaching out to close them.

I sit on my feet; frozen in place for a while. Then someone's whimper as life leaves their body echoes. But I can't tell where the voice comes from.

I'm whipping my head around the blood-painted hall in confusion, scrambling to my feet, suddenly aware that the killer's lurking nearby.

My eyes dart across the archway to the hallway where the light shines bright; a contrast to the near darkness surrounding me.

Something catches my attention-the moving shadow of a large wing cast on the wall, its feathers shaped as deadly spikes, exuding a menacing aura.

The intensity of the fear crawling beneath my flesh renders me unmoving. Or maybe it's the shadow that has trapped me to a spot.

Cold sweat breaks out on my skin, my hair standing at attention as if commanded by the sight. And even as the ominous shadow disappears, I can't find the spirit to run.

I'm merely staring at the empty, bloodied space on the wall where it once was while finding it difficult to breathe properly.

A towering figure emerges from the hallway and steps under the archway. The light from the hallway illuminates parts of him-his nose, hair, and shoulders. But the rest of his form remains in darkness, which is why I can't figure out who he is until he groans.

"Heidi."

A gasp escapes my lips, relief flooding in, as I only then recognize the silver-blonde hair glinting beneath the light. He's alive!

"Hunter!" I cry out before sprinting across the room to where he stands.

I collide with his form and wrap my arms tightly around his waist, pressing my face into the warmth of his solid, broad chest.

He doesn't hug me back, but I'm satisfied with him being alive.

"Are you alright, were you hurt?" I ask quickly as I disentangle before patting his shoulders and pressing his arms. He seems fine to me; except, he isn't moving. "Say something, Hunter. Did you see who did this?" I ask while searching his distant eye.

As my hands slide down his limb from his forearms to his fingers, I feel something cold and gooey beneath my touch. Then I look down to see what coats them, its coppery tang only now filling my senses.

Blood.

Why does he have blood on his hands?

I notice the gore soaking his clothes too, and his hair's matted with it. Then my eyes follow a trail to my own bloodstained hands before wandering back to Hunter's, watching the man let go of the bloodied hearts he cupped in each fist.

Oh, gods! Don't tell me―

I feel something squeezing my own heart at the sight of that, and a force causes me to stagger back.

In a short moment when the spotlight suddenly flickers across us, I catch Hunter's emotionless, crimson-streaked face, his expression darkened with an aura from the other side of the moon.

"No. This can't be happening," I whisper while shaking my head frantically.

I'm feeling weak, even my legs threaten to let me down. I'm also almost resigned to the probability that whatever this is only plays in my mind. And I hope that's the case, I really do.

"Hunter, don't fuck with me again," I mutter with a breaking tone. "Please tell me this is another damn dream. Please..."

Hunter remains silent, his gaze fixed on me. And as seconds pass without him talking or moving, I feel my world spinning; suffocating me.

This isn't a dream.

It is my own hell invading-a reality that's worse than any nightmare I could have ever imagined.

I don't want to start imagining things, but I can't help it.

Hunter and I seem to be the only survivors after all. And he's the one looking macabre amongst us both.

Gods and Goddesses, please tell me what I'm thinking isn't true. Tell me Hunter didn't do this. Bring the murderer before my eyes, so I can be a bit consoled because I cannot deal with this. I just can't.

There's enough I can take for a week. And this... this is way past my limit that I want to lay atop sun-beaten sand and let the concrete scrape off the memories. Reset the things I've just now seen.

For the first time, I envy amnesia; and wish that it'd find its way to me, as I cannot dare say what sort of a person would do this-steal people's lives, turn them into dolls with their blood as art, even leave a hole in their chests.

Or I'm probably just naïve and people like these are real. Maybe they're specks of dust waiting for the right wind to blow them together.

But isn't it unfair-that someone this heartless gets to live their own life; how they're not stricken down immediately and sent to rot in the gloomiest depths?

"Why?" I whisper.

My voice is shaky. I haven't managed to keep it smooth for some time now, not while there's this fright swirling about me as I watch Hunter walk past me; his shoes creating a soft, sickening splatter in the pool of blood.

Moments later, the music stops, and I press my palms against the sides of my throbbing head, whispering again, "Gods above."

I turn to Hunter, hoping for an explanation, some sign of remorse. But the man is rather preoccupied with nudging the corpses with his foot as if checking for any signs of life.

He's an idiot. I hope he knows that. Because there's certainly no way these people would be alive after he has torn their hearts from their chests, is there?

The eerie silence in the hall haunts me; pushes me through the archway into the hallway while being careful not to draw Hunter's attention.

I have to escape before the devil's arrows are shot at me. And I need to do it quickly, stealthily.

I make for the back door until I arrive at the mansion's rear where about five of Hunter's guards lie dead atop crimson-stained snow.

My head is a mess as I zip my eyes around the environment, not sure where to go before an idea flashes through my mind-a phone!

With trembling hands, I rifle through the nearest guard's pockets, take out his phone and am about to dial an emergency number when an explosion thunders atop the mansion.

The building lights flicker and die, throwing everything into darkness, causing me to scream and let the phone slip from my grasp in shock.

Fuck! I may have just exposed my location.

Hunter shouldn't find I'm gone until I truly am gone. And with that, I bite my lower lip to stifle the continuous gasps of panic that I can't control, as I can't my body shaking with fear.

"Heidi!" Hunter's voice echoes through the night, followed by another explosion that lights up the sky like fireworks, flashing before me.

Dust spreads about the air and settles on the snow-coated field, some even find their way into my eyes.

"I see you, Heidi."

Shit!

I hold my palm over my mouth to muffle ragged breaths as I start down the slope toward the woods while my legs shake beneath me.

Hunter's voice is growing close, filled with menace, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at a time.

"It's just the two of us in this world, Heidi. Come to me." Terror claws at my insides as I break into a run, my feet crunching the snow in rhythm with my pants. "You can't outrun me!"

Oh, yes, I can. And I will. If only I could stop glancing back to the mansion as I ran.

No matter how often I look back, Hunter is nowhere behind me-not even his shadow. And in my panic, I trip over a lifeless body and fall hard with a grunt.

I try to stand on my feet despite feeling drained, but my hands and legs are too weak to hold me steady.

My fingers then begin to fumble through the dead man's pockets in search of another phone before Hunter's voice rings out again, closer this time, sending fresh jolts of fear through me.

"I'll protect you, love, I swear!"

Well, fuck him and his damn protection! I don't even know what I need protection from because the scenery here is me running for my dear life... from him― HIM!

I've never felt more endangered in my life. It has always been quiet and scheduled; more of work, tutors, combat training, learning stuff, and interviews until I failed the test.

But even with Saturn's taunts and manipulations, I have never been this scared.

Now, there's agitation. I'm freaking out. And I don't know how I managed to find a phone and dial the emergency number.

"Hello, report your emergency, please," the operator says. But before I can speak, as I look toward the mansion, I catch Hunter standing in the shadows, the sparks from the blasting roof glinting in his eye.

I recoil, crawling backward in fear as Hunter starts making his way to me, his index finger spinning the dagger in his hand through the finger hole.

"Hello, anybody there? Please report your emergency," the operator says again. But I'm too concerned about the looming predator to respond.

Hunter's steps are faster than my crawling. Panicked, I can't think straight. All I know is that I have to scream and move backward as quickly as possible.

However, in an instant, Hunter vanishes from sight, then I feel his arm wrap around my waist, pulling my backside against his torso before snatching the phone and terminating the call.

I scream and struggle as Hunter begins walking back toward the mansion with me in his clasp. Too bad my small frame is no match for his strength; held by his arm over his side like a doll, my legs kicking aimlessly in the air.

I beat my fists against him, but he doesn't flinch, even his grip is as strong as iron.

When we reach the front of the mansion and have moved farther away, another explosion tears through the night. This one, meant to bring the house down, lights up the sky in a fiery display of chaos.

The ground shakes beneath us. And I finally fall silent while listening to the unending boom of explosions.

The struggle against Hunter's might has drained the hell out of me. I've become too exhausted and terrified to keep fighting, so I lose to this brutal killer as he walks through the empty, dark street despite the shockwaves that send the earth rumbling.

Getting to a van, he carefully places me in the front seat before I slump against the backrest, defeated and lost for words; my body limp, mind numb.

Hunter stands beside me without closing the door. Then he taps my thigh with the phone. I look at him, my eyes questioning.

"Report the incident," he says lazily, while my eyes flicker to the phone and back to him. "The explosion; report it," he repeats.

I let out a tired sigh. "Hunter, you killed so many people in there-even our family. Have you no conscience?"

The man stares at me, his expression rigid. With a resigned sigh, I take the phone before he shuts the door, moves around to the driver's side, and settles in his seat. But he does not start the car.

"Do it quickly. I'm tired," he mutters. "And do not try anything funny."

He leans on the headrest, and I glare at him through the rearview mirror. He looks so relaxed. One would mistake that he's asleep, as he breathes steadily, unfazed by the situation.

The proportion of his facial muscles looks perfect, the blood splattered across his face only adding to the uncanny calmness enveloping him, making him look both handsome and monstrous at the same time.

A while ago, before the bloodshed, I would have found the blood on his lips hot.

But now, I can't imagine I fell in love with a beast. Or perhaps he played out his actions so well his barbaric side slipped under his coat.

Before this day, I loved everything about him-how he often switched tones, imitating baby voices in our voice calls and notes. Even trying to mimic my voice at times.

He's the same man who made cute as well as sassy expressions. And got accustomed to texting me emojis and funny gifs. Not to forget how he woke me up by sending repeated texts just so my phone would keep dinging.

Now that man seems like a distant memory; replaced by this cold, unfeeling stranger.

I blink away from the rearview mirror and stare into the darkness ahead of me, bracing myself for the words my mind wills me to say before looking at Hunter's breathtaking features.

Gone are the days when I badly wanted to run my fingers through his hair-when I wished to see what his right eye looked like.

He'd told me the patch was due to the eye's sensitivity and proneness to infections. He also mentioned how he'd battled several infections as a child by merely touching the eye or being exposed to sunlight.

He clarified that there was no remedy other than covering the eye. Even made fun of himself often.

He was such a big comfort and support to me. But everything has just been thrown into the North Sea. Now I'm staring at the same face, yet it doesn't seem familiar. The bright expressions are gone. All I see is a blank sheet in the form of a face.

"Hunter, look at me," I begin calmly, hoping my words will reach him through a positive route. "Do you remember the day you got me this bracelet?" I lift my wrist, and Hunter glances at the bracelet. "It was the first time you confessed that you loved me, over a three-hour phone call. Can I see even just a glimpse of that Hunter?"

The man lets a small smile tug at his lips, but the smile doesn't reach his eye.

He locks his gaze with me just before the smile fades as quickly as it appears. Then, he clears his throat and places his hands on the steering wheel, looking into the darkness ahead of us, leaving me unsettled and waiting for his response.

"Nice try," he mutters as he starts the van. "You know what, my foot's getting excited. And I bet you do not want that when it's on the accelerator." He switches the headlights on and demands through clenched teeth, "Report the incident now."

My heart sinks, horror creeping over my face when I see the young woman lying in a fetal position across the road ahead.

"Don't do this, Hunter, please," I plead. My hands are shaking as I hold the phone. I don't think I can even precisely tap anything on it now.

And the tension only gets worse when the distant wails of sirens drift in while growing louder; when Hunter bangs his fist on the steering and snarls.

"Darn it!"

He quickly puts on gloves and snatches the phone from me before spraying it with vinegar and wiping it clean. Then he speeds up.

"Hunter, no!" I scream. I can hear my shriek reverberating in my throbbing head; the undeniable terror blending with my voice.

He's going to crush the poor girl! Because of me!

My hands battle with his for the phone as I say with urgency, "Hunter, I'm ringing them up now. I really am!"

But Hunter hisses, "Too late."

The tires screech and my eyes widen on the road, just before my upper body veers to the right.

The side of my head hits against the window, which Hunter rolls down a second after, letting in cold air that hits me on the face as I catch him tossing the phone out past my face.

I glance back immediately to find that he swerved to avoid the girl. Relief washes through me at that, but I'm still shitting bricks.

My heart's racing just as much as he's speeding through the dark, from time to time banging on the wheel.

Gasping, breathing, I ask, "Where are you taking me?"

"Our home," Hunter says, his tone matter-of-fact.

I don't recall him and I discussing a house. And even if we did, I think it's past the time I'd agree to such things.

"I'm going nowhere with you, Hunter! Drop me here."

Hunter gives out a low and short laugh. "Oh, you are." No, I'm not. "Because we're getting married."

Oh, shit!

No. I'm not marrying him. No fucking way! Does he even realize what he's saying? And it's just been the same thing over again-the fact that one moment he ignores me and the next he's suddenly obsessed with me.

Fuck. That isn't even the issue right now. He has fucking killed people! Who knows what shit he did before or going to do. I can't risk finding out.

I'm thinking of doing something other than sitting here and letting him drive me to crap before Hunter bellows, "I might do worse than kill someone the next time you defy me like that again!"

I shriek back at the bile in his voice, even though the breeze nearly swallowed his words. If he thinks killing isn't the height of cruelty then he's actually trashier than garbage.

Gosh, why did I even waste so many months on this douchebag? It hurts because I loved the guy when he might have envisioned how many pieces my heart would make.

My eyes sting at the thought, blinking several times to force back tears that trickle down anyway.

"You think there's something worse than taking lives?" I ask, shaking my head. My fingers rub against each other while I stare anxiously at the blur of trees speeding past the window.

"Try me."

Wild thoughts go through my mind-how to escape Hunter. I had tried before and failed. But now I have to devise a better plan; one that will catch him off guard.

When I can't think of something, I go with my gut. And that is lunging at the steering wheel and engaging in a fierce struggle for control.

I don't care how I do it or what consequences will ensue. All I know is that I have to stop the van.

If I can get it to halt, I'll dash into the woods where the dense trees might offer me a chance at freedom, hopefully making it hard for Hunter to find me.

His grip tightens on the wheel as he fights to keep the vehicle steady. But my resolve grants me unexpected strength.

Tearing my fingers off the wheel is as hard as cracking an infant's fist. And it serves me well.

The van swerves violently before careening off the road and slamming into a tree with a jarring thud. Then I act fast; push the door open and sprint into the dark.

Racing through the wintry woods is hard, especially since I'm gasping for breath, each air I breathe stinging my dry throat; painful and difficult.

Snow crunching beneath each hurried stride, I dash between the towering trees. Their skeletal branches stretching above would look more aesthetic with the snow in a picture. Yet, that's not the kind of picture I'm seeing in my head even though I'm literally looking at a blurred form.

What's in my head is a nice breakfast, a warm bath, and a shoulder to lean on. But that... that's not something made for Heidi.

My name's never on the list. Never.

I don't want these deaths, nor these images flashing in my head from time to time. Blood. Open chests. Pale skin. Blue lips. More blood. And the more they come, the more exhausted I get.

My body screams for rest. My muscles are burning, and my skin itches from the icy wind and exertion. But fear is my motivation and stopping is not an option because I know that my life is at risk.

I find myself toppling over snow, yet I scramble to my feet and keep running with the resolve that nothing will stop me. Not when heavy footsteps are thudding behind me, drawing close.

Someone's following me. I know. And I don't need to look back to see who it is. Who else would it be besides Hunter? It can only be the motherfucker!

The arsehole won't catch me again. I swear on my life. This time, I'm running away from him for good, even if I have to hide my whole life. I'll live in caves and lie with lions if it means I won't marry Hunter-that is the least I can do for myself.

However, before I realize what's going on, I'm stumbling and crashing down a steep slope.

Small rocks batter my body, eliciting grunts from me as pain radiates through me. It scrapes my skin, my bones cramping, and my head spinning until I feel myself plunge into a cold stream with a splash.

The coarse water hits me like a wall of ice and knocks the breath from my lungs. Flailing and gasping for breath, the rapids seize me before they drag me downstream despite my effort.

When I have no more strength left to resist the strong current, my body goes limp as the water carries me away. I feel like it could drag my consciousness too.

And it does.

Darkness is all I now see. But I know I'm lying on something even if I can't feel my bones; can't move either.

There's pain; ripples of slight, lingering aches going on in my heart, even getting my livers and intestines in the party.

I love where I am at the moment, and wish I could remain in it. Just take the pain away, or leave it, I don't mind as long as there's none in my head. And as long as Hunter's shadow isn't lurking.

Cold sooner slaps my skin and seeps through it. Yet, I'm trying as hard as I can not to feel uncomfortable. Not to believe that I don't like this place. Not to start wishing to leave. Not to cry for light or warmth. Because there's none out there.

The world we see is a glamor for deceit and evilness. There's no love and no joy. Just insanity. Pure madness. And Hunter... Hunter's a psychopath.

I take a deep breath before closing my eyes to fade out these thoughts. However, when I open them again, I feel warm and cold at the same time. And I find the view in front of me distorted-just the blurry face of a man who could be Hunter.

My heart skips a beat.