Hunter of the Dark by J A Graham Page A

scared for both herself and Christian. Christian’s eyes were wide open with surprise. He shoved Tanitha into the bathroom and locked the door behind them. There were thumps and bangs as Clifton pounded the solid wood door, clearly outraged.
    “ Let me in!”
    Christian wouldn’t. He turned to Tanitha and whispered to her, “Through the window. Go.”
    He grabbed a singlet off the floor and slid it on. Tanitha opened the small window and Christian helped her stand on the sink to get through. She slid through, looking around the back yard. She heard the thump as Christian landed beside her. Her mouth gaped slightly open.
    “ Wow. You guys own all this?”
    The whole countryside seemed to open up before her. Rolling hills enclosed the small household. The grass rippled the same emerald as Christian’s eyes and the trees rippled as a refreshing breeze rolled through them. Christian shook his head.
    “Council land but no one ever comes up here. This is my escape. We’d better be off before Cliff comes.”
    Tanitha agreed and they set off through acres of land.
    Finally they reached a small clearing through some bushes. A tiny river twisted through the landscape and the grass reached their waists. Christian flopped down by the riverbank, spreading out, the grass caressing his arms, his legs, and his face. Tanitha followed in a similar manner, except she rolled onto one side and looked at him, drinking him in.
    “ I was wondering if you would be able to go with me to the game on Saturday.”
    Christian would know what she was talking about. The big All Blacks game. Everyone was buzzing about it. Christian looked at her.
    “Sure. Why not?” He shrugged. Tanitha felt her spirits soar. Maybe he really did like her as much as she liked him! But soon her whole being came crashing to a thud as Christian propped himself on his good arm and said quite clearly, “But we have to get this straight. I’d love to go with you but only as friends. Nothing more.”
    Tanitha was speechless for a moment. Her words all abandoned her and her heart swelled with sadness.
    “I’m…I’m sorry for being too forward.” She managed to choke out before Christian thought she was a real idiot.
    “ Yeah, well, I guess you’re not my type of girl.”
    Now that hurt. The pain cut a jagged line straight to her heart, ripped it out and stole away with it. The sadness and loneliness she now felt was unbearable. She always knew there was something about Christian. She never knew he was capable of causing so much pain.
    “How could you ever hurt me like that? What have I done wrong to you? Answer me so that I know never to make the same mistake again!”
    She swallowed the sob that was threatening to surface, stood up and ran. Christian stood up too but Tanitha paid no attention.
    “Tanitha! That wasn’t what it was meant to sound like! Tanitha!!!”
    But Tanitha didn’t pause. She ran and ran until she got to the road, and then she collapsed into a heap and sobbed her heart out.
     

Chapter Twelve
     
    She finally came around to Sorsa licking the dampness from her face. She petted him comfortingly, the ache in her heart still strong. Tanitha glanced over her shoulder, her eyes stained red with forbidden tears. Finally, she stood up and walked, slowly and sadly, in the direction of the nearby forest. It didn’t matter what Christian said, or did, it was perfect. He was perfect, absolute perfection. Tanitha was more in love than ever. How could someone she knew as a friend cause so much pain? She didn’t know but she wasn’t going to leave herself that vulnerable again. Oh no, once she had a taste of it, it was all to stop her from supping the entire meal. If this was what love was like, then she wanted no part in it.
    She merely kept on walking. There was no longer a bounce in her stride, a spring in her step. No longer a fierce intelligence captivated in her eyes. No longer pain burning her heart. She had calmed down and all that mattered