Hunters
Chapter 1
Sitting down in the back corner desk, Layla tried to ignore the inquisitive stares of the other students that filed in through the door. Searching for an excuse to not make eye contact with anyone, she pulled out a notebook and pen and began scribbling the time away.
Almost as soon as the bell had stopped ringing, the teacher was in front of the room announcing, “Class, we have a new student. Her name is Layla.”
Looking up, Layla forced a slight smile and mouthed the word, “Hullo.”
“Why do I have to go to school?” she had shrieked, staring angrily at her father. “It’s a waste of time!”
“You need to learn. You’re still 17, just a kid,” he replied calmly, somehow making the distance between them grow with his cold eyes. “And you need to know how to blend in with humans.”
“Where are you from, Layla, and why did you move here?” the teacher asked.
“My father was transferred here for work. We came from Utah.”
The expected snickers filled the class. “Were you running away from a plural marriage?” an obnoxious boy asked.
“Yes,” Layla said flatly. “I abandoned my husband and two kids just so I could be here with you.” She didn’t care if anyone liked her.
“What company does your dad work for?” the teacher asked quickly, changing the topic with her curiosity about what sort of business would move a man and his daughter to northern Wyoming in the middle of a school year.
“Do you really expect me to believe that?” Layla’s mouth twisted down sharply. “I know that you just want me far away from you.”
“Der Finsternis. They’re an international company that does something with finances.” It was unlikely that anyone knew German, so it didn’t matter that she gave the real name of the organization.
Her father didn’t answer.
“Daddy,” she pleaded. “I would never hurt you. Please don’t be afraid of me.”
“That sounds fascinating! I’m sure you’ll make many friends in no time.”
Yeah right, Layla thought, tuning out the teacher as she started the lecture. With any luck, no one would acknowledge her existence. Well, there was one person who needed to notice her . . .
“Just . . . focus on your assignment. He has a son attending the school, so get close to him if you can.” With that, her father had turned away and left her all alone, glaring at the new book bag he had used to announce the plan.
“That was so cool, the way you shut them up like that,” the girl in front of her turned around and grinned. “They were just being stupid. Everyone knows they don’t practice polygamy anymore in Utah.”
“Actually,” Layla met the girl’s eyes. “My mother was a plural wife. She cheated on her husband with my father–an outsider.”
“Really?” The girl’s eyes lit up. “What happened to your mom?”
Layla shrugged. “I don’t know. Dad–” that word tasted bitter coming out of her mouth “–doesn’t like to talk about it.”
“Oh dang! By the way, my name is Angie. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, you too.” Layla smiled as an idea formed in her mind. “So what sort of stuff is there to do around here?”
“There’s a ton of stuff, if you know how to find it.”
“Will you . . . show me?” Layla couldn’t believe how pathetic she sounded. She had zero interest in learning anything about the area, but it was necessary for her to carry out her small revenge.
“Absolutely!”
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