The Hunt

Once upon a time there was a boy named James who supposed he was around the age of 18. In truth he did not know how old he was for his parents died in an accident when he was three. However, it was not so much of an accident as everyone believed even though he did not know that at the time. One morning James was walking to his high school when he happened upon a bum who would change his life forever.

James was passing one of the shifter ally ways in New York when a figure followed him out of the shadows.

"Hey," it whispered after him, "Jimmy! J-i-i-i-mmy-y-y! Jim! James!"

James turned around surprised but continued to back away.

"How do you know my name?" he asked.

"All of us know your name, Jimmy." The bum said smiling a stubby toothed smile.

"All of who?"

"All of US. You are a slow one, aren't ya, Jimmy? We all know about Jimmy-James. Yes-siree, I know more about you than you do my boy." The bum doubled over laughing. James was beginning to wonder if he was drunk.

"I like you, Jimmy." the bum continued, "You can call me Coot. Everybody does. Anyway, Coot here came to tell ya that they want to meet ya."

"Who wants to meet me?" James asked confused.

"THEY do. You tetched in the head boy? Not very bright. They sent Ol' Coot to say they will see you in the mornin'. Got the message? Good, 'cause Coot's got the willies, and you know what that means. A good old fashioned hunt is starting. A good old fashioned hunt." Coot laughed again and slumped into the shadows.

"What?" James called after him, "Wait come back! Who wants to meet me?"

"The Hunters." Coot replied from deep in the ally.

"Who? What could they possibly be hunting in New York?"

"What are they Hunting?" Coot laughed, "Why Jimmy-James, they're Hunting you."

Reflection: This was the story I wrote to Parker's "Bad Beginning." I ended up changing the beginning here though so it would sound better, but it still could use some work.