Dying Ember #5

~ This is a really long one, I'll try to make the next one shorter. Please comment on what you think I could do to improve, thanks! X ~

"Maya?" I said through the bedroom door "Reece? open the door, it's me, everything's fine now."
"Are you sure?" Maya asked for the seventh time
"Yes," I replied beginning to get impatient "Now open the door!"
I started to hear scratching and ruffling noises until finally the handle turned and the door opened. I hugged them each, knowing I would soon have to tell them why my arm was injured and why all the food had gone.

When we were downstairs standing in the kitchen I was preparing myself for the 'How are we going to get food?' question. I put all possible answers through my head but not one seemed right. I knew what I had to do but I also knew that Maya wouldn't like me leaving her.
'Its a risk I'm gonna have to take' I thought to myself.
"How are we gonna get food? Seeing as we do t have any." Reece asked looking at me innocently.
'I dunno, can't you decide for once? I do everything around here, it's your turn now!' which is what I wanted to say even though I knew I couldn't.
"I'll have to go hunting," I said trying to sound calm "But before you start shouting" - I looked at Maya, especially - " I won't be gone for long and you can hide yourself somewhere if something did happen. Which it won't!"
"You said if you left, we could come to." Maya said, but I could see the anger in her eyes
"It's too dangerous," I kneeled down in front of her "I have to go, otherwise we will starve."
She nodded, throwing her arms around me. I looked up at Reece
"Look after her, and yourself, you'll be okay, I promise." I mouthed and he nodded.
I stood up leaving Maya with tears in her eyes. I grabbed a bow and arrow, that dad had last used before he had left us, and headed out the door.
I put the weapon around my chest and ran through the field that surrounded the cabin. I then reached the edge of the forest. The dark green trees shot up into the sky and their tips disappeared into the misty clouds. I peered through the trees but all I could see, as my eyes adjusted, were the shadows and figures of trees. Although I couldn't see anything, I stepped into the forest. A rabbit caught my eye, coming from the west of the forest. I readied my bow with an arrow and followed the rabbit with the tip. The rabbit sensed what was about to happen and hid begin a moss covered rock. I could just see the arch of its back. I stretched the string and steadied my arm. There was a loud noise from behind me, that made me jump. I let go of the bow loosing focus and aim, scaring the rabbit away.
"Damn, you nearly had that." a harsh voice laughed. I froze uncontrollably, I tried to move my feet, but it was as if they were glued to the ground. I looked up and a pair of familiar eyes were staring into mine.
"Hello, Alyssa." Dads voice spoke full of hate and spite. His grubby hand reached up and touched my face. I tried to shake away but his hand just gripped harder.
"Get off of me, you…" I shouted, glaring at him
"No need for that, it's not going to do anything," he laughed slowly slipping his rough fingers round my neck "Now I expect you've realised…" his voice was interrupted by an arrow gliding through the air and hitting his hand. He shrieked in pain and moved his hand off my neck, leaving a long scar from where the very tip of the arrow had scratched my neck. I looked up looking for the source of this arrow. Standing on the rocks was a hooded figure. He wore around his chest, like I did, a bow and arrow. He reached for another arrow and started to shoot more men that had been surrounding me. I began to copy what he was doing and aimed at the men. I managed to injure one in leg, and I watched him fall in agony.

Hands soon gripped around my neck and they began to twist.
"I can still do this." dads voice said, breathing on my neck
"Get…off of me." I just managed to breathe out. All of the breath, that I needed to breathe, was slowly moving out of reach and loosing its use. I struggled to move. I struggled to breathe as his hands gripped harder and twisted sharper. I then felt something breeze pass the back of my head and the hands around my neck disappeared. An arm wrapped itself around my waist and dragging me off the ground I was soon hidden behind the rocks.
"Stay here." a figure standing next to me ordered. I nodded and made myself comfortable, by leaning my head and back against a smooth part of the rocks.

"Alyssa?" a calm voice called and my eyes fluttered open to find two turquoise eyes staring at mine "You need to go home, for Reece and Maya." he took my hand and helped me up. I blinked and when my eyes opened he was gone. I noticed my bow and arrow neatly leaning against a tree stump. I picked up and ran out of the forest. My long hair flew behind me, getting more and more tangled.
The cabin reached my view and I pushed myself to run faster. When I reached the small wooden door, I saw Reece looking through the small gap in the curtains. He smiled as he noticed me.