Hunter and Hunted

By Rose Q. Addams

The bodies appeared slowly at first.

The Elders remind us to take care, for this one and that were foolish, leaving the city’s safety only to be ravaged by hungry beasts. People often go missing in our harsh land—it is nothing new. But when the body of the High Elder’s granddaughter is discovered, a clever girl who never stepped outside the walls for menial work, doubts surface.

Again, I go before the council. This time, they sit up straighter when I insist a certain stranger spoke to at least three of the victims. With their own grief fresh, I don’t sound so foolish any longer.

The first victim was my sister, Alzira. Although I created all the pottery we sold, she liked to joke her share of the business drew in all the customers. She was pretty and endearing, after all.

The stranger spoke to her several times before she vanished, yet he never examined our wares. I believed then he was merely cheap.

Only after her death did I suspect worse.

Now I spot the stranger every market day. I watch his dark eyes and charming ways. He snares other women with a white smile. They dip their heads in bashful flirtation, and he stands just too close as he murmurs lies. Each new market day, someone else vanishes, nevermore to hold stars in their eyes like she did that last day—eyes shining with a secret, one she promised to share with me “tomorrow.”

Not all animals hunt on four legs.

Now, rumors abound. Suspicion fills the air like rotten fruit. The time is ripe, and I will not let this opportunity pass.

I wear my maroon robe, the one Alzira said flattered my eyes, and linger by the well. As I fetch a dipperful of cool water, I scan the crowd. But the stranger is absent.

Did I miss my chance?

“You look disappointed.”

Startled, I turn and meet his charming smile. Up close, I realize it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I was waiting for someone.” I look down in false bashfulness. You Monster, I almost added.

He tilts his head down, one of his braids falling forward. “What fool would leave a precious lily to wilt?”

My face heats involuntarily. He chuckles and brushes a stray hair from my cheek. I fight to keep from recoiling at this intimate gesture. Oh, Alzira! Did he make your heart flutter with such honeyed words and actions?

My eyes grow damp at the thought of her.

His voice softens. “Have I slighted you before? I’m a fool, then.”

“We haven’t met,” I say slowly. “I… I keep to my stall. Thieves are everywhere.”

“Indeed.” He pauses. “May I escort you back?”

I nod, and he takes my arm.

I will be his last. No matter what.

On our arrival, he lingers, obviously pretending to examine my work. “Have you ever used black clay?”

“No.” I lift one of my best pieces, one glazed in black. “I use other means. True black clay is rare.”

“What if I told you I’d show you a hidden deposit, not far from here?”

“You jest.”

He grins and flips his braids over his shoulder. “It’s true. Would I earn a smile if I showed you?”

“Well…” I stretch the syllable, glancing out at Elder Paulino, who stands beneath a shady banyan tree. He nods at me, and I return it.

“I’ll wait until after the market closes,” the stranger bargains.

“I don’t even know your name.”

“Abidemi.” He bows. “Yours, fair one?”

“Coelha,” I say.

“Ah, the little rabbit.” This time, his eyes gleam with a light that twists my stomach. “I’ll see you at the west gate?”

I let out a breath. “All right.”

With a smile, he vanishes into the crowd. I grip Father’s dagger within the folds of my robe.

This ends tonight.

As stars emerge in the chill air, Abidemi and I approach a small cave nestled amongst the hills.

He takes my free hand. “Careful, now,” he nods at my lantern. “When we get inside, extinguish that light. I’ve a surprise for you.”

I hesitate. I hadn’t bargained on this.

“I didn’t bring my flint,” I dither. “I’ll leave it outside.”

As we step in, I set the lantern down at the entrance, trying to keep my hand from trembling. We venture deeper, and as the light fades behind us, I slip on the damp footing.

He catches me with a chuckle. “There, now. I’ve something to show you that no other living soul has seen. Just a little farther.”

A soft greenish glow twinkles into view overhead, and I gasp in awe. “Glowworms!”

A growl echoes through the cavern.

“What was that?” I clutch my skirts, grateful for the weight of the dagger.

He laughs, cold and mirthless. The sound makes me stiffen. His head turns, unnaturally far, and settles away from me with a sickening crunch. He shakes away the braids that cover the back of his head, and I stare in horror, facing the glowing eyes and gaping muzzle of a hyena.

“What do you think, little rabbit?” the maw rasps.

A kishi! A living nightmare from tales of old. Alzira never stood a chance against such a monster.

As I stare, the face twists with a mocking grimace. “You’ll be fun before your blood runs free, won’t you?”

I turn and run, manic laughter echoing behind me.

I fumble for the dagger, scrambling for the speck of light ahead, lungs burning. As I emerge into starlight, it seizes my shoulder. I stab wildly. It catches the blade with its other hand.

“Clever rabbit,” it hisses, “I’ll—”

It screams as a spear buries into its side.

I jerk away. “I’m free!”

Lights appear, and the council’s best hunters fling more spears, pinning its body to the ground.

It sneers at me, blood trickling from its mouth. “You tricked me. Perhaps you’re too clever.”

“For Alzira.” I plunge the dagger deep.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rose Q. Addams loves cheesecake, hats, and her family, who she blames for her love of reading. Some of her best memories are hearing tales of Heidi, Winnie the Pooh, Beauty and The Beast, and the prophet Ehud—which explains how her taste runs wildly throughout genres. She can be found scribbling madly on any paper she gets, and praising her Savior for the weird and wonderful things in her life.

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