Chapter 1: Eden
I am a Huntress, like my mother before me. My mother, Aniyah Casper was an infamous Huntress—feared and respected. I want to be like her. I will be like her. So I swear loyalty to the Hunters. I sit on the roof of a building next to my best friend, May Diaz who started Hunting last year. She’s considered my sister. “So, who’s gonna be your first kill?” She asks. In one hour, I have to kill someone to get their power. Hunters don’t have powers, so we have to kill for them. Without enough power, we die. I shrug. “I don’t know. I don’t really have enemies.” I say casually. May raises an eyebrow. “Seriously? You don’t have a single enemy? Not even someone you despise?” She says, confused. I shake my head. “I’m not a big fan of killing.” I say, looking down at the street below me. I dangle my feet carelessly. I hear a scream from down below. May grins. “There’s your target.” I hesitate.
“But. . .isn’t killing wrong?” I say hesitantly. May rolls her eyes. “Well it’s not fair that we don’t get powers and that’s wrong. Sooooo…” she says, dangling her feet. She hands me a blade. I take it and I feel something. Something good. A good feeling. I felt safe with this blade in my hand. I hear a scream, closer this time. May mouths, go on. I take a deep breath. My hands shake.
And without thinking, I jump
I pin my forearm to his neck, hiding in the shadows. His ability pulses through my veins. It feels nice, yet wrong at the same time. Focus, Eden. I force myself to hold the blade to his neck. “Please,” he begs silently. “I have a family.” My stance falters. My mother’s voice rings in my ears, Chaos, NO! I hyperventilate and lock my emotions away. Focus on my task. Kill him. I inhale and then I do it– he collapses. Blood pours from his neck as he lays there, dead. I panic and try to help. Do not. Run away. I hesitate. His power pulses through me. I feel stronger. I run a bloody hand through my long hair, realizing what I can do. His power settles in my blood. And it feels good.
I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around and stiffen at the cloaked figure in front of me. “You.” I snarl. A smile spreads under the hood. “Get out of my head.” I say, trying to keep my voice down–but failing. “I only told you what you needed to do.” the figure says. “Liar.” I shout, gripping my dagger. Tears form in my eyes, I blink them away, shoving down my anger and pain. This man–this creature–will not see my emotions. Not again. “Go away,” I say, lowering my voice. The figure smirks, “As you wish,” he says slyly, “Fate.” One moment later, he’s gone.
✶
“Good job.” Exclaims May. I sigh and look at her, then at the dead body in front of me. “Wow. Look at that. I just committed murder.” I say flatly. May snorts. I take a deep breath. “Does killing feel wrong sometimes?” I blurt out. My chest tightens as I wait for an answer. It’s silent for a moment until May replies, “Well, yeah. During your first few kills, but after a while you kinda get used to feeling guilty about it.” She shrugs. I flinch at how easily she says it, as if this is a question she gets asked daily. “You’ll get used to it.” She says, reading my emotions. “So what you’re saying is,” I say slowly, “I have to get used to murdering people?” She stiffens. Silence. She bites her lower lip and says, “In a way, yes. But, it’s for a good cause.” I just stare at her. “What exactly is the good cause?” I ask skeptically. She looks me dead in the eye and says, “Survival.”
