Instinct (Chapter 2)

[SnakeFire]

CHAPTER 2
..................

Each time I close my eyes, I see the same images. Over and over again, they hit me like a bat to the head. I see all of these things, these events, that I had never witnessed. I have gotten so used to seeing everything, in the same order, that I anticipated anything that was about to happen. I can't find a way to describe what they were- dreams or nightmares.

I than woke up. But, it was one of those times when you weren't sure if you were awake or still in Dreamland. In that, I could feel the air from the fan hit my face, helping me realize the beads of sweat that had gathered on my face. I also felt my heart beating outside of my chest, almost forcing me to gasp for a breath of air.

-"Yeah- I am defintiely awake."

Taking a quick glance at the alarmclock sitting right next to my face, I saw the numbers 2, 3, and 4. I had been waking up like this [in the middle of the night] for the past month. At least I didn't wake up ten minutes before your alarm was supposed to. So, I just closed my eyes, waiting for those fixating images- that would only mean that I was asleep.

I couldn't sleep. Each time I shut my eyes, it just felt discomforting, trying to force rest. So, I gave up the fight. I got up, slinging off the sheets, drenched in my prespiration. I situated myself, hanging my legs over the edge of the bed, stretching out my arms.

Walking out of the room, I headed to the next door down the hall. Walking into the bathroom, I slouched down over the sink. First, I turned on the faucet, splashing my already drenched face with cool water. Grabbing a towel next to the soap despenser, I dabbed my face. Tossing the towel down, I couldn't help but observe myself. I bent over, so I could see my face with more definition in the mirror. I had always wondered, who's eyes I had- my mother's, or my father's.

-"Guess you can't know- if you know who they are, you will DIE!!!" (impersonating her grandpa)

After having said that, I decided to brush out my mouth of the nastiness that twinged my nose.

I walked down the hall, looking at all of the empty walls. It was strange that we never hung up any pictures. I was now entering the living room, looking around to find a place to flop myself. Just before I sat on the couch, I noticed that the light in the kitchen was turned on.

As much of a surprise it was to see my grandpa sitting at the table, it was more of a surprise to see him sitting there with a wrinkled piece of paper in his hands. He turned around and looked at me, like he was expecting me.

James-"You're up."
Kylie-"Speak for yourself."

I pulled out a chair and sat down, next to him. He was still just sitting there, holding on to the piece of paper like he was being forced to hold onto it. I could only guess that it was the letter from last night. I didn't want to think about that night to much- it was a little strange.

He seemed to be worried about something, but I didn't know what or why.

Kylie-"What's up?"
James-"Kylie-"

Pap grabbed my hands. I was almost skeptical letting him grab hold of them. I was now freaked out. I looked into his eyes and I saw nothing...

James-"I want you to know how much I love you."
Kylie-"Pap. I already know."
James-"I have had to take care of you and raise you. I never wanted to leave you, until you were truly old enough to go off on your own. Even when that time came, I would still have trouble letting go."
Kylie-"Grandpa, I-"
James-"Your mother was murdered. Murdered trying to protect you. When your father found her, and saw that you weren't there- he knew. He knew that they had taken you. That they had kidnapped you."

I was now in shock. I could feel this heavy sinking in my chest. My mother, was murdered. And m-my father.

James-"You were kidnapped Kylie. And you had things done to you. Similar to your father, and many other people. I wished that I would not have to tell you all of these things. But you need to know-"
Kylie-"Grandpa, stop!"

I was so overwhelmed with all of this. I had never even heard him say the words father or dad.

Kylie-"I don't want to know, all of this- just stop. You had a reason for not telling me before. What changed?"

Just than my Grandpa's face changed. He had a look of seriousness and fear. I almost couldn't hold back the tears.

James-"I thought that I could keep you safe- that I could protect you..."

He put his hands on my face.

James-"But, now I know, that I can't. Not anymore."

He got me up, holding on to my wrists.

James-"Get some clothes on. And pack some clothes- think comfy."

He spoke to me almost like I was a soldier. I was so stunned by all of this. It was all happening so fast. But, I knew that there was something up- I had never seen him act that way before.

I ran to my room, throwing on a white shirt, with some black, baggy ass pants. Looking around for a bag to put some more clothes in, I quickly put on some old running shoes. Each and every thing that I did, I did without thinking. I just did it- trying to get back to Pap.

Stumbling out of the hall, I saw Pap standing there with a sweater over his shoulder. He turned around, and I stopped.

James-"You must take this."

He had a 9 mm in his right hand. I would not go up and get it from him. I didn't want to. He saw this and walked over to me instead, forcing it into my grasp. He got my arms through the sweater. I just looked at him, longingly. I wanted this to be a dream. He helped me put the gun in my bag.

Kylie-"Wait a min-"
James-"Here is some money for you. You will find an old inn.."
Kylie-"Don't do this-"
James-"You have to run now."
Kylie-"Please- I don't want to go. I can't. I don't want to leave you."
James-"If you don't, than both of us will die, one way or the other."
Kylie-"Don't you leave me alone!"
James-"Sorry. But, this is how it has to be."

I was now sobbing. He pulled me by the arm, to his room. He drew me near his closet, but I became like an anchor. He let go and ran into the closet. I just stood there. Crying like my world was about to end. I could hear him pushing some buttons, like he was arming the house. He than walked out and grabbed me in.

James-"You are going to get out through here."

It was like a tunnel, but one that I could stand up in. The walls looked like stone and everything looked pitch black. I looked at him shaking and pleading.

Kylie-"Please! I don't want you to die!"
James-"No need to worry about me anymore. Just be sure to watch out for yourself.
Kylie-"Why are you doing this?"
James-"I want you to know one thing."

I waited, for some sign of sanity, to appear from him. Or maybe even just waking up, from this dream.

James-"Your father, was a good man when I knew him. He is still a good man."

He touched the charm around my neck, and than kissed my forehead.

James-"Don't you hold back for anything.... Now, RUN!"

[SnakeFire]

He threw me into the tunnel, while I was still in shock. I fell in, but reached up to try and push the thing locking me in. All I felt was cold metal. It shut. I was in the dark, screaming for him to open up.

Kylie-"GRANDPA! LET ME IN! I DON'T WANT YOU DYING ALONE! DON'T DO THIS TO ME!"

I must have been yelling at the metal door for at least five minutes, without ceasing. I yelled, smacking at the metal. I was hoping that he would change his mind and let me in. But, that's when it happened.

I stopped. Stopped crying and stopped yelling. I could hear footsteps. Several of footsteps. I began shaking. Were these the men that Pap was so afraid of? I continued to listen, than hearing the sound of the pumping of a shot gun. I knew that was Pap. Than, the voices.

-"Where is she?"
James-"She? She who?"
-"Don't play dumb with me ya old man! Where is the girl!?"
James-"Obviously, not where you can get her.."
-"Ok than."

I heard Pap fire the shotgun. You can only put two bullets in, so he emptied out the load on one of the guys who was in there. I heard his body slam into the wall. There must have been three of them because two of them were laughing.

1-"You stupid old sh*t- you think that'll work?"
2-"This is hopeless. Let's just kill him."

I heard the third man, who was shot, groaning and cursing.

3-"You old f*cker! I'll kill you for that!"

James-"You think I didn't know? How they've changed you?"
2-"Well well well- he thinks he knows what we are."
1-"To bad for him. I am already bored."

James-"That's ok- you'll get yours."
1-"Sure."

I watched the wall. With what light there was in that tunnel I noticed that the walls, ceiling and floor looked like cement. I was on my knees at this time, feeling the paved floor making an imprint on my skin. I shut my eyes, with tears pooring down my face, as I heard a 44 magnum being shot.


I could feel the vibrations run through my bones as the body hit the floor. I already knew, that I was alone, but I still needed cofirmation. I heard the two men help the one who had been shot by Pap up. I could feel, for the first time in my life, pure desperation and madness. I was no longer crying tears of fear but tears of anger. I had this feeling of urgency- wanting to hurt something. I could still hear the three men talking, as they were walking around my house. I wanted to kill them, with my bare hands.

2-"Where do ya think the little brat is hiding?"
1-"I don't have a clue- for all I know, we hit the wrong house."
2-"No. It's definitely the right house. That was James Thompson."
1-"James Thompson. Thompson. No sh*t?"
2-"None whatsoever."

These men, weren't human. They had just murdered a man- my grandfather. And they were just chatting away at nothing. Like no wrongs had just been committed. I was pissed. I could hear myself, breathing heavily.

They were still talking- I even heard one of them laughing! I had had it- no more of this!

Kylie-"SCREW THIS SH*T!"

I started punching at the metal door. I wanted them to find me, so I could rip their throats out. I kept on punching, not even realizing that my knuckles started bleeding. Pain was nothing to me at that point in time. I wanted those bastards to die. I wanted them to pay for killing the only person that I have ever known. They took him away from me. They were going to die!

3-"God d*mnit! What in the sh*t was that?!"
2-"Could it- Could that have been-"
1-"You heard what they said about her- what she could do."
2-"It's coming from the closet- in the man's room!"

I stopped punching. My hands were in so much agony. I almost let loose a scream of pure horror, looking at the flesh and what seemed to be... metal. I had a peroxysm of pain run from my hands through my shoulders. It was like my bones were being cracked by all of the chinging of the metal.

I than looked at the door.I had put dents into it, and the metal on the door looked ripped. I could see my blood and bits of torn skin on the shreds of door. I never knew in my life that I was capable of this. But, I was not proud. I was frightened. What had they done to me?

2-"It looks like there's some kind of code that we need."
1-"Well, do you know the code?"
2-"Nope.."
1-"This will be fun."

They started bashing in the door from their side. I slipped falling backwards. Watching the imprints that they began making, I got up in fear of what was coming. I didn't know what to do. I was stuck to the floor, in which I stood. All I could think about was the pain. Just than I remembered what Pap told me to do. Run.

I looked around for my bag. I found it, tossed a copule of feet away from me. I picked it up, put my arms through, and ran. I had to do this, as a last consolation to the only man that I knew. I couldn't see much, but I could see enough to not run into a wall. I hadn't ran this fast, ever. I couldn't feel any strain in my muscles- and considering the fact that I had just woken up about an hour ago, that was weird.

The tunnel was so long! I had been running for 3 minutes straight, and I still hadn't seen any sign of it ending. Just than I stopped, skidding on the floor. I looked back. I could still hear them pounding on the door. I could only stare down where I once was. I watched as I saw the light from my grandpa's room started showing through the metal. And that's when I heard the door hit the floor. The echo was ringing through the tunnel- and I could hear the two of them running.

I bolted, my adrenaline rushing. I was afraid now, pushing myself to go faster. I could hear them gaining on me. I just thought about what would happen if they did catch up with me. Two men, one girl- not a good match up. I could soon feel cool air giving me goosebumps through my peril. And I saw it..

There was a light. I felt like I was walking up to heaven- my salvation! With some hope, I ran even faster. I was beginning to feel some sort of joy inside. But, I had to stop myself again. I looked out, and saw that I was standing at the edge of nothing. This just went from the gates of heaven, right back to the pits of Hell.

Looking down I could see a river. The river was more like the river that you would never go jumping into.. Was my grandfather insane for ending this tunnel, for me to jump in to my death!? I decided that I would rather die in something that didn't want to kill me, than either either be killed or captured by two goons. So, I stood at the edge, listening to both their running, and the water. I shut my eyes, praying to God, and lunged forward.

I grabbed hold of my knees, falling through the air. Hitting the water was like being thrown into a shredder. The water was a devistating cold, and overcame me. My body was like a ragdoll in a washer- being slung back and forth into unknown objects. I could see that I was near the surface. I started wailing my arms, climbing for air. But, I couldn't get up. I was reaching for what seemed to be my only chance of living. I was so close to getting that one breath of air-

[SnakeFire]

-and the images came into my head. Cringing I curled up screaming under water. I saw a man, chained up to a wall. He looked beaten and broken. He looked up at me, laughing like a lunatic. I saw someone hold out a gun, pointing it at the chained mans head. Than I heard the words..

-"At least we both know, that you aren't human.."

The person holding the gun, in my position, pulled the trigger.


I woke up from the once trance. I shot up out of the water and grabbed hold of something solid. I clawed my way up onto a patch of grass. The cold that ran through my body, was horrid. I laid there, my bones vibrating from the cold. The pain was so extreme- I couldn't move. I just stayed there, shaking and in pain. I felt so useless. I knew that I had to get up; I would die out there if I didn't.

I forced myself up, clasping my raw hands. They weren't bleeding a lot. My body was trashed. I fell over once or twice, trying to walk. Thank God my bag was nothing but clothes.. and a gun.

I started walking forward. My eyes were blurry, so I couldn't see to much of my surroundings. Limping, I walked through what seemed to be nothing but trees. I guess I was in a forest. Most of the time I would shut my eyes, dozing off. After what seemed like hours, I came out of the woods walking on a paved street. I looked to and from to find some kind of life. I found a gas station.

Walking in, I must have been the penicle of the custodians night. She looked at me in wonderment.

Custodian-"Ummm, hello."
Kylie-"Hi."
Custodian-"Would you like a towel?"
Kylie-"Sure."

She got up hastily, running in the back of her office. I started looking around for bandages that I could wrap around my knuckles- maybe even some gloves..

Custodian-"Here you are dear."
Kylie-"Thank you.- I'll be buying these."
Custodian-"Sure thing- let me ring that up."

Pulling my soaken sleaves over my hands, I handed her two packages of gauze, a pair of cut off gloves, some ointment, and some thread with a needle. As she was adding up the price, I was drying off my hair, shivering.

Custodian-"The total is $7.50."
Kylie-"There (gives her money), keep the change."

I gave her a wad of wet money. She took it, not wanting to know what the deal was.

Kylie-"Do you know if there is a hotel or something near here?"
Custodian-"There is an old breakfast and inn about a mile down the road."
Kylie-"Oh ok."
Custodian-"Ma'am you have a cut-"

She pointed at my forehead. Over my right eye, I had a small gash- not to deep, but deep enough.

Custodian-"Hang on. I've got something for that."

I sat down in her chair, as she was pulling out a first aid kit. She got up and put some butterfly bandages across the wound. She than looked at me, in pity.

Custodian-"I'll give you I ride down there."
Kylie-"You don't need to do that."
Custodian-"You don't want to go in there looking like that- don't worry."

I gave her some money so she could go in and pay at the desk. She drove me around the back to where my room was. I got out of the car, hearing the words "washer-dryer" and "heater". I was greatful of human technology. She lent me some of those bandages that she had for the cut over my eye.I gave my thanks, and she went on her way.

I took off all of my clothes, throwing every bit of material that I had (except for the money) on the dryer. Putting the heater on full blast, I than took a hot shower. I didn't wash my hair- I just wanted all of the blood off of my body. I got out wrapped up in an over-used robe. I sat down on the bed, looking at the cuts that I made. They weren't to bad- not as bad as they looked. I stared at the metal that I could see. I felt like Wolverine, without the claws. I smothered all of it with ointment, preparing to stitch up the wounds. It may not have been the stuff that they use at the hospital, but thread did work. I almost bit my lip, each time I stuck the needle through, pulling the thread tight. After that was done, I wrapped up my knuckles with gauze and taped it. I also re-did the bandages on my forehead.

Before I turned out the lights for bed, I started getting misty eyed. Over a period of less than four hours, I was thrown into a dark tunnel, listened as I lost my grandpa, found out that I had metal on my bones, was chased into a raging river, and woke up in an empty forest. My life was so calm and peaceful before all of this. I wanted things to be normal again- ninjutsu, sharp-shooting, my home... I wanted him to be alive.

Kylie-"My life sucks."

I wiped my eyes dry. I turned out the lamp, and slowly went to sleep.

[Tsunade]

My god i love your stories theyre so detailed!!! Keep up the writing, i will be sure to keep reading and responding! ;D

[Trunksangel79]

This is getting interesting. Good job SnakeFire.

[~*Hieislove*~]

Good job SnakeFire

[SnakeFire]

Thanks ya'll- it's going to be a lot more interesting.

[BlackCoven]

Great chapter, i feel like I am reading a novel (so long ). My concentration is bad when reading though. I got a kick out of "baggy ass pants"
ha, anyway, keep up the good work...

[SnakeFire]

^LOL- I wrote that because I always put on baggy ass pants when my parents want me to go somewhere in the middle of the friggin night.

[TheDarkPrince]

Good work, I'll read chapter 3 tommorrow.

[SockPerson]

This is a really good story here.

It is a little hard to read your chapters back to back in one sitting though...

[SnakeFire]

^I like to give you a reason to take breaks. That's why the chapters are so long...