The Hunt

Chapter Eleven

A Big Gamble

           The leg was flying at me face fast. I just barely ducked in time. I was getting better, but not good enough. Michael brought his knee up and hit me in the forehead. I fell over and grabbed my head. “ FUDGE!” I yelled. It was the seventh time Michael had gotten the better of me in a fight. John stood by the apple tree. Though he didn’t say anything, but the disappointment was in his face. I gritted my teeth. I prepared for another spare with Michael. He too got ready, his face was grim. The first few time he won he had laughed and even mocked me, but it was becoming obvious I wasn’t winning any of these matches. “ Okay,” Michael said. “ I’m a demon and I am about to attack you. What is your first move?”

“Um…run?” Michael closed his eyes and shook his head, “ Holy water genius. Followed by a devil’s trap if possible. Then exorcism, If no devil’s trap be ready to fight or go straight to exorcism.” I nodded, “ okay.”

            “ Okay so next surprise attacked then,” Michael said , “ What do you do?”  I was about to answer when someone plowed in to me from behind.  I landed hard on my face and the breath was knocked out of me. There was a huge weight crushing me. I heard Michael breath in and say, “ Well please don’t kill him.” John sighed and climbed off my back.  I gasped and coughed. I looked at John, and thought he was a lot heavier than he looked. I got up and looked at my feet. I was completely useless in a fight.

            We were resting under the apple tree when Michael looked at me and said, “ Is it genetic?” I narrowed my eyes at him, “ Huh?” “ Well you look like you got some muscle. Yet you can’t fight or defend yourself to save your life. So are your muscles genetic?” I chuckled, “ No baseball. Mostly pitching.” “ Ah.”

            We got back up to try again. I actually go some good hits in to is sides and head. I kicked him in the shin and tripped him. He stood up and put his hand out,” Not bad. Not great, but better.” I took his hand. He then grabbed my upper arm and wrist, turned away from me, threw my arm over his shoulder, and flipped me. I landed on my  back and he put his foot on my chest. It hurt, but not bad. I looked up at a laughing Michael. He put his handout and helped me up.

            We went in to the house and John said, “Well?”  Michael started laughing again and said , “ Gooder.”  John scrunched his brows, “ Gooder?” Michael shrugged. Sam – who was in the room – “remember the song, mom taught us?” “ No Sammy please. Enlighten me.” Michael said. Sam rolled her eyes and whispered as if embarrassed, “ Good, better, best. Never let it rest till your good gets better and your better gets best.” Michel raised his eyebrows and left the room talking to himself. I was staring at Sam like she was crazy. “What?” She snapped. I pit my hands up in surrender, “ Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“ Ya that’s what I thought.”

            Later that afternoon Claire and Michael were setting outside. I was with in earshot so I sat there listening. It wasn’t that I was being nosey, but I didn’t want to disturb them by moving. So I sat uncomfortably behind the Camaro bored out of my mind. “So Maybe we could go out and  see a movie or something. I’m sure Sam could find someone to go with.” Michael said. I heard Claire sigh, “ Michael I get Sam is your sister and all, but you don’t have to take her everywhere you go.” ‘I can’t just leave her,” “Well  then you take her and I’ll stay here.” “ Well what about us? We never go out!” Michael complained. Claire sat up and practically hissed, “ Us? There is no us, Michael. It always you, me , and  Sam. As long as Sam is surgically attached at your hip there will NEVER be an us.” She got up and walked away without another word.  I sat there unmoving and unsure of what to do. “ Joey! How long have you been there?” Darn it, I thought. “Um… not long?”  “ So you heard the whole thing then?” I nodded. “So can you do me a favor. After all you owe me one.”  Michael said. “ How do I ‘owe’ you one?” I asked. “ I saved your behind from that demon. You could be dead if it weren’t for me.” He bragged. “: You a little full of yourself today. Aren’t you?” I said. He looked down and shook his head. “ You ungrateful little…” John came walking up and he looked beyond mad. Michael and I stood very still. When John was happy he was scary, imagine him angry. Imagine a rattlesnake before it sees you, scary right? Now imagine that same snake as it prepares to strike. “MICHAEL! Where is it?”  “ Where’s what?” Michael asked. “Where’s what.” John mocked angrily. “ My keys!”  He yelled when Michael didn’t say anything. I walked away not wanting to be there anymore.

            It was getting dark out so I went back to the house. I decided to go take a shower. As I walked down the hall I heard Michael and John laughing so I figured they worked it out. I grabbed so sweatpants and a tee shirt. I walked into the bathroom and got in the shower. I was sore from training. I thought I head someone open the door. “ Hello?” No answer. Maybe not.. I got out and dried off. Then I grabbed my… where was my clothes. “ MICHAEL!” I heard laughing outside the door. But it wasn’t Michael. I wrapped a towel around myself and went to my room. I put on my clothes and went in to the kitchen.  Claire was sitting there eating a sandwich left over from dinner. I knew she didn’t like me but I said, “Hi.” She looked at me swallowed and said , “ hi.”   I looked out the window and seen the Camaro was gone. “ Where is every one?” “ Out.”

“ Where to…”
“On a hunt.” She said.

“Hey this may sound crazy but did you steal my clothes?” I asked.

“Yep, you caught me, “ she said sarcastically. “ I have quite a liking of your style. In fact I was planning a raid on your dresser just now.”

“ Never mind.” I mumbled as I rolled my eyes.

 “So I got a lead on the Shtriga.” She said. Walking over to stand beside me at the sink.

 I shifted my position to look at her. “What’s that?”

“The thing that hurt your sister. Black hood. Monster…”
“ NO I mean what’s the lead.” I snapped.

“ Oh. In Fairlea 3 kids have fallen in to comas. All have been an only child and their windows mysteriously opened during the night.”

“Here’s a question: how do you kill it?”

She frowned, “ I don’t know.”

“Excuse me? How do you expect to kill it if you find it?”

 She shrugged.   “ Any way. Why didn’t you go with the others?”

“ We only ever send three people on small hunts, and Sam needs practice.”

“ Liar. Your avoiding Michael.” I said. Why did I just say that?!  I thought.

 Her eyes got wide in shock, “ What could you possibly know about that?”

“Um.. nothing never mind. It’s not my place to say anything.”
She turned toward me and put her finger in my face, “ that’s right. You don’t know a darn thing about me and Michael. And further more even IF you did it’s still none of your business!”

I walked across the room and sat down on an old, dirty, red recliner.

I remembered the time my grandma caught me playing with matches one Christmas. “ Joey! Put those down,” She had scolded, “ Don’t you know that if you play with fire your get burned!”

That’s what Claire was; fire.  Only she burned with more ferocity. You could put fire out, contain it, or run from it. You couldn’t run from Claire. She could follow you. One other difference between fire and Claire; I wasn’t afraid of fire. I like fire, always have. I like the heat it gives off and the destruction it can cause in the wrong hands. The way the red, yellow and, blue flame flickers back and forth. It can bring light to darkness. Claire wasn’t anything like that. She was cold and sullen. I sat there for a while thinking of fire.

 I heard thunder rumble ominously is the distance. Thunder storms great. It’s not that I didn’t like thunder storms but –. I heard sobbing coming from the kitchen. I got up and walked that way. It couldn’t be.  It was. Claire was crying. Mean, cold, hard quiet Claire was crying.

“You okay?” I asked.

“ Ya,” she said brushing tears away with her hand. “ I’m fine.”

I stood there unsure of what to do. I couldn’t just leave her hear sobbing at the table. “Wanna talk about it?”

“ Not really.” She said.

“ You sure?” I asked, sitting down.  

She sighed and looked at her hands, “ Joey you ever feel second best no matter what you do? Like it doesn’t matter how hard you try your never going to win the grand prize?”

I laughed a little trying to lighten the suddenly depressing mood. “ You who doesn’t.”

She didn’t take it that way thought, “ Ya go ahead laugh. Claire, mean ol’ Claire broken down.” She said dryly.

“ I didn’t mean it like that. Ya I guess I do feel like that. Especially after my parents died.” I pushed away the feeling about them like I always did. I didn’t want to cry about it. Crying wouldn’t bring them back.

“It’s I try I really do. But  they even say ‘good job Claire’ ‘you’re a life saver Claire’ They just  take the paper on the thing then run off. But when Sam hits and apple out of the flippen tree it’s like she won a Nobel prize.” She laughed harshly, “ I guess that’s the way the universe repays you huh? One mistake and your life is shot to heck.” She wiped away the freshly formed tears and sniffled. “ Well screw it I’m done with it.”

            I sat there silently trying to think of something to say. She stood up and went over to the window. “Do you think I’m a bad person? I mean ya I can be harsh. But do I really deserve…” She trailed off. I stood up. Fifteen years of being a big brother came in handy after all. Despite everything I felt about Claire I went over and wrapped my arms around her in an awkward hug. After a tense second she put her arms around me and laid her head on my shoulder. I felt her sob a few times. At least her tear stains wouldn’t show on my black shirt.

            After a few minutes she pulled back. “ Sorry to break down on you like this. Now I not only look cold hearted but also useless and whiny” She said with a wry smile.  “ Claire you don’t look pathetic. You just look defeated.”

“ Great even better.”

“ That didn’t exactly come out right…. Never mind. Thou if anyone here is useless it’s me. I can’t fight a person let alone a Shtriga. Or God forbid… a demon.” I said with a halfhearted grin, knowing those words weren’t just to comfort her. They were true.

“ True very true.” She smiled. I looked at her. She had blinding radiant white teeth. I realized I was staring and looked away almost unable to hide my blushing face.

“Thanks for listening.” She said. She walked over and put her arms around my shoulders and kissed my cheek dangerously close to my lips.  Now I was really blushing. “No problem.”

“ Oh, ya, By the way if you ever tell ANYONE about what happened with me tonight you won’t have to worry about that demon. Got it?”

I grinned, “ What happened?”

She smirked and said,” good. Glad we understand each other.” And with that she walked away to her room. I looked out the window at a bright white full moon.

Something – a blur – moved near the tree line. I backed away from the salt lined window.

I hate when I’m right. Amy and two others slunk out of the tree lines. I stood there frozen to the kitchen floor. I looked out the window at the three pairs of black eyes the searched my face through the window.

Behind Amy was Eric. His once friendly eyes were filled with hatred. He stood stiff and tense. As did the other demons a an African American boy I didn’t recognize. Both had there arms crossed ready to attack.

“Claire!”

She walked in, “ What?”

“Demons…” I gasped

“Ya. So?”

I turned around with a sinking feeling. Claire’s eyes looked like onyx stones. “Ahhhhh!” I sreamed. She walked up to me and threw me across the room, over the table, and into the fridge. I head hit the door painfully, and my breath had been knocked out of me. I gasped and touched my head. Blood. Not much but still. Ouch. I stood up and wobbled alittle. Claire walked over. “ Wow. I expected mor – ” She doubled over, “argh.” I backed away into the living room. “ Joey, Joey, Joey. You can’t run from me.” She flung me into the nearest wall and I stood there paralyzed. Whether or not that was her doing or my own feat I didn’t know. She was nearly face to face with me, “ You hunter think your sooooo smart.” She spat, “ looks like your friend her forgot to salt her windows to keep the big bad monsters away.” I just glared at her. “ Well th –” She doubled over again. Claire looed at me with her own eyes. “ Joey… in the… kitchen…the exercism.. posted… on fridge…hurry…” I found I could move again and ran for the  paper. I grabbed it and turned around to find demon Claire standing in front of me. “ Hahaha. Sorry hun, A for effort though.” I couldn’t move again but I could still see the paper. She had turned around to rant about demons being superior to humans.

Now or never. “Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus…” I read she spun around.

“What was that!” she shrieked.

I continued, “omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii…”
“Shut up!” She yelled so loud it hurt my ears.

“Omnis legio…”

“Wait! I can save Kay!” she bargained.

I faltered. No, I thought, demons lie. But maybe just maybe…

No, “omnis congregatio et secta diabolica!” I finished.

“Nooooooooo,”the demon hollered as it was expelled. The thick black smoke spilled out around Claire’s feet.

I ran over and caught Claire as she slumped to the floor.

We sat there for what seemed like hours. Finally she opened her eyes. “Joey?”

“Claire! Are you okay?”

She sat up and clutched her head, “ ya I’m okay. Well I will be. Thank you.”

“No problem.” I replied. We at there in silence, staring at one another.

Ten minutes later we heard car doors slam. Michael walked in the room followed by John and Sam. His eyes traveled over the flipped table, scattered papers, and finally Claire and I propped against the wooden cabinets. The edge of his lips twitched in to a slight smile as he asked, “What’d we miss?”

The Hunt: Character Descriptions

Character Descriptions

Josef Alexander Fox –Joey for short. 5’9 107lbs Raven black hair that has navy blue undertones medium length which causes it to fall into his eyes sometimes. He has deep emerald green eyes. He has a slight muscular build. Joey was born in Manhattan, New York and attended North Bridge High School. He played baseball for two years. Joey lives in Morgantown, West Virginia with john Vandal. He also has is Caucasian but has a natural tan. Joey was born September 13, 1995. He is also a beginner hunter seeking revenge on a Shtriga

Kayla Fray Fox – Kay for short. 5’3 light brown hair that goes past her shoulders. 99lbs. Born February 28, 1997. Kayla has been attacked by a Shtriga which has put her in a coma causing Joey – her older brother – to become hunter to save her. She also went three months without talking after her parents died which was only broken by Joeys seizer due to the shock of seeing the demon amy in his room.

John Vandal – John is the oldest of the hunters. He is 20 and owns the house they live in. He has brown hair gray eyes and is very strong due to hunting. John works under Rich Ballor who is retired hunter so he can work and hunt. Originally from Beckley John moved up north so his sister could attend WVU when he was ten. She was later killed by a vengeful spirit which caused him to start hunting. He’s 6’

Michael Lester  – Michael is very sarcastic and doesn’t get along well with Joey. Michael is 5’11 and pale with Golden blond hair with blue eyes. He often makes jabs and makes fun of Joey for being new. Michael started hunting because his parents were killed in the same plane crash as Joey’s parents. He  believed a demon caused the plane to crash. January 21, 1995. Michael is generally sarcastic and cocky.

Samantha Lester – Sam for short. She has hazel eyes decorated with brown flecks. She is 13 and was born December 15, 1998. She has an ivory skin tone that looks lighter due to her dark brown hair. She has a small crush on Joey. She’s also Michaels little sister. 5’4

Claire O’Brian – Claire has Bleached blond hair. She Isn’t very friendly especially to toward Joey. She is 5’7 and has a slender build. She is quiet. She met john in the wood while they were both unknowingly hunting the same creature. She does most of the research. She also once had a thing with Michael but feels Sam gets in the way because Michael wants to baby Sam. She is quiet generally but can cut with her sharp tongue.

Like the story? Have any suggestions? Please if you haven’t already take the Reader Survey linked here (*.*) Click ME!!

The Hunt

Chapter Ten

Woe Is Me

            “Argh!” I yelled as the string of the bow shot back and hit my fingers. We’ve been out here in the blistering hot sun for hours practicing shooting and loading bows and arrows. It wasn’t the first time today the hard string or heavy bow had assaulted me. “ You can do better than that!” Michael yelled while sipping on cool lemon-aid. I’d just about sell my soul for something cold to drink. John had told me that I couldn’t eat, drink, or rest till I shot an apple out of the tree in the yard.     

            So for the past four or five hour I’ve been stand out here in the hot sun with all black clothes on trying unsuccessfully to hit an apple. I was hot, tired, hungry, and frustrated. I narrowed my eyes, and focused on an apple. Come on Joey you can do this, I thought. I put the arrow in the bow , and pulled back the string. 3…2…1 Zing!  I released the arrow. The tree rustled and the arrow dropped out of it and on the end of the arrow… a juicy ruby red apple!

            I let out a sigh of relief and sunk to the ground. I looked over and Michael’s jaw was hanging open. “You don’t have to act so surprised you know.” I said.  I got up and walked into the house. “ Did you finally get one?” John asked. I nodded and grabbed a glass of lemon-aid. I sat down at the table and laid my head on my arms.

            “Don’t get too comfy. Today we are going to your grandma’s to get your clothes and then we are going to come back and work on defensive and offensive martial arts training.”

            I half moaned half growled and took a drink of my lemon-aid. “Why?” I whined. “ Because of this.” He said handing me a paper. Crap!  My Grandma had reported me missing. It was all right here in black and white. Josef Alexander Fox ; 5’9; 107 lbs; Raven hair; green eyes. I sighed again for the millionth time today and handed him the paper back.  “Okay when do we leave?”  John grabbed his jacket and keys, “Now.”

            I sat in the back seat of the Camaro. John was setting in the drivers seat very quietly lost I thought. Occasionally a cruse word or two would escape his mouth then he would shake his head. Michael sat in the passenger seat listening to an older IPod, making drumming signs and lip singing along. I sat alone in the back looking out the window. Imagining what my Grandma would say. Would she let me leave or call the cops. Knowing my grandma without a clever lie my bet was on the latter.

            We pulled into the drive way a short while later, John turned around and looked at me, “ Okay so you go in and say whatever you have to say. If you run into trouble you know what to do.” I said ok and got out. I took a deep breath. I was nervous, If she didn’t let me leave did I have the courage to defy her and run away? Would I, Should I, put John and them in that danger of trying to avoid the police if she called them? I didn’t know, but I had to try. I walked up to the front door. Walking in didn’t seem right so I knocked. “Coming!” I heard her yell. I exhaled a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

            “JOEY! I was soooo worried!” She screamed when she saw me and hugged me pulling me in the door. “Are you okay did they hurt you?” She asked setting us both down on the couch. I was relieved she hadn’t noticed the car in the drive way. “Grandma I’m fine, but I wasn’t kidnapped. I was with some friends with school,” I half lied. “I’m sorry I worried you but I just need some time away from the house.”  “ Oh Joey it okay. It’s just with Kay getting worse and all, and then you just disappeared all of the sudden. I was so afraid. I thought I had lost you both.” 
I sighed, “Grandma. You’d didn’t lose me…” She looked at me and said,” Why do I feel a, but coming?” “Well not exactly a but – “ She interrupted, “ good cause either way there isn’t an option. Your home now.” I didn’t know what to say. It was exactly what John and I had feared. “ Grandma…” A lie came to me, “ Look I need some time to clear my head. I want to go back and stay with my friends for a while. Please.”

            “NO, Joey I’m not losing you again.” I swallowed hard, now what? Back to the question, obey her or defy her?  I suddenly felt angry. Why me? I thought. Why? As much as I didn’t want to, I knew what I had to do. “I’m going back. You can’t stop me.” I whispered. Defy. My bed was now made and there was no changing destiny. Ha ha ha I laughed to myself. Destiny, more like stupidity. It would be all too easy to accept Kay’s fate. I mean the Shtriga was probably long gone, and there was probably no finding it. So what reason did I have to stay there? I thought of the long ago time when Michael had told me once you start hunting you never stop. Wait that wasn’t long ago, that was last night. Barley fifteen hours ago. It felt like ages.

            I could tell she was about to say no, deny me the chance to leave again. I stood up as I heard a knock at the door. My grandmother and I exchanged looks. We both slowly approached the door, and she turned the knob. “Um.. hello can I help you?” “ Um. Yes ma’am we’re friends of Joey,” I heard John say. I relaxed a little knowing it was him and not… wait did he say we? Oh no I thought. Michael was standing behind John looking mischievous.  “Are you the ones he’s been staying with?” John politely nodded. “Well, please come in.” she said gesturing for them to enter. Michael smirked, “ Nice place.” She flopped onto the couch and the snapping sound it made, made me cringe. My grandma frowned but said nothing. If looks could kill I would have just murdered Michael.

            We sat in the kitchen for about an hour talking, and the agreement was I could stay with John as long as I checked in with me grandma often. “Of course I need you address just in case,” she said.  “ No problem. 243 Holland Ave.” Michael looked at John like he was crazy, he opened his mouth to say something be the look John gave him shut him up. “Okay…” I said, “I’ll go get my stuff.”

            I walked up the stairs. Each footfall causes a loud creek. I got to the top of the stairs and my heart caught in my throat. Standing at the end of the hallway was a dark figure. Thought I couldn’t see the face I knew who it was. “ No,” I said. No matter what I did always seeing her made me scared. Terrified. I froze in the spot. “Joey, where have you been? I’ve missed you!” Amy said as she walked out of the shadows. I wanted to scream. Call for John, for Michael, they would know what to do. She was only a foot away. She smirked and touched my cheek. I felt the panic inside me. She was right in my face. I was shacking now. “Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus –“ She looked up and frowned before disappearing. I gasped  not realizing I had been holding my breath. My shaking legs gave out and almost fell. Thankfully I held my self-up by grabbing the wall. “Joey!” I felt someone grab my shoulders. It was Michael. He shook me and said, “ hey, hey, hey come on don’t faint now!” I took a couple of deep breaths and forced myself to calm down  . “I’m Okay.” I said trying to steady my breath.

            We went to my room and I sat down on the bed. I had to sit down. While I rested for a second, and John and Michael looked for signs of the Shtriga. I looked questionally  at John. He shook his head. I ran my fingers through my hair. Finally feeling better I got up and roughly shoved some clothes into a bag. We went down stairs and I told my grandma bye.

            When we got outside I put my bag in the back and got in. We were half way down the road when Michael looked at John and asked, “ are you feeling okay?” John looked puzzled, “ Ya, I’m fine. Why?”  Michael looked at him, “ 243 Holland is half way across town from where we live.” John smiled, “ I know.” I could see it hit Michael then, “ you lied to her!” he said laughing. We got the house and I – still shaken up from seeing Amy – went inside and laid down. I guess John forgot about training, because he didn’t wake me till dinner. Which was hamburgers and fries from Wendy’s. I ate then went to the bathroom. I turned on the shower and stepped in. The hot water felt good on my bare, almost sunburned  back. I thought about Kay sitting in the hospital all alone and unconscious.  I sighed, it just wasn’t fair! Why me? I thought Why me? “Why God? What did I ever do to you?!You took my parents and my sister! What do you want from me!?” I whispered hitting my fist on the tile wall. I felt tears falling down my cheeks. I brushed them away annoyed. I got out, went to bed and fell asleep.  

I woke in the middle of the night and herd John and Michael talking.  “John, he froze. That could be dangerous in a life or death situation” Michael stated. “You would have frozen to if a demon had appeared to you like that, after all he’s been through.” John retorted. “My life hasn’t exactly be peaches and cream, you know.” Michael snapped. “Look Michael. I said he stays and that’s the end of it!” John spat then walked away. I shook my head. Great I had cause a rift between John and Michael.

            I walked over to the window and looked at the moon. I watched the woods, wondering what they might conceal. After thinking about it I decided I probably didn’t want to know. I laid back down. Could this day get any worse? I thought. I sighed,( I seemed to do that a lot here lately), and fell asleep. Thankfully my dreams were undisturbed. 

The Hunt

Chapter Nine

Training

            “Up and at ‘em Joey!.” John knocked on the door. “You start training today!”

I woke up, but I was in a strange room that wasn’t mine. Then I remember the act of pure stupidity I committed last night. I had put it all on the line in order to get revenge. Though I was scared stiff I didn’t care I wasn’t going to give up. Michael would like that to much anyway.

            I got up and went in to the main room. I wasn’t as drabby and run down as I had originally thought. I walked in and seen microwaved breakfast burritos and cereal. John was drinking coffee and was wearing a tight white t-shirt with jeans. Claire was wearing a lime green tank top and black sweat pants, her hair was tied back. Michael was nowhere to be seen. The radio on the counter was playing “Standing out Side The Fire.” By Garth Brooks. I just stood in the door way feeling out of place in my dirty navy American eagle shirt and black jeans.  Leaned on the door frame which creaked and I jumped. John was looking out the window, and said “ Are you just going to stand there or are you going to eat your breakfast.”

            I walked over and sat down. The burrito was cold and chewy, but I was so hungry it was like little bites of heaven. Michael walked in and I almost started laughing. Like john he was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, but his hair was sticking up in so several different directions. There was no trace of the rude bad-boy better then everyone front he had put up last night. He almost looked like one of my normal friends back in Manhattan.

            “Okay so I realized that we are never going to get along as long as were strangers to you ,”  John said. “So let get acquainted.”  Michael just raised an eyebrow at him and turned around to get some coffee. “I’m serious guys.” John turned to me “Okay so I’m from Beckley. I moved up here at ten so my sister could attend WVU. She was then killed by a vengeful spirit. I own this shack that we live in. So ya um I guess that’s it. Claire?”

“I think I’ll pass.” She said as she got up threw her trash away and walked out.

“Michael?”

Michael looked uncomfortable. “uh….” 

“Really, John, that’s okay. I’ll get to learn about everyone in time.”

John just shrugged and Michael breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, so Joey tell us about you.”

“Um… okay… well I’m from Manhattan,” I started. “New York?” Michael asked. I nodded and continued, “Uh… I lived there all my life. Until this summer. My parents were going to vacation in Mexico but there plane crashed. We moved here and that’s about it.” I was kinda uncomfortable. Sam came down the stairs and looked around, “oh boy, what did I miss?” She walked over to the table and sat across from me. “Johns in a caring and sharing mood,” Michael said sarcastically as he stood up and walked outside.

“No, I just think if Joeys going to be here we should know each know each other well.” “Oh like ‘hi I’m Samantha Sam for short. I’m 15 and I hunt monsters’ Kinda way. Or the autobiography kinda way.” “Oh never mind.”  

 Thank God I finished my food and was able to finally walk away. As I was about to do this I realize something, where was I going to go? I couldn’t go to my room, cause well I didn’t really have a room to go to. And the shower would be pointless without clean clothes. But standing here was just too awkward.  So I decided to walk outside. I opened the door and the heat was incredible. I stopped short because I seen Michael and Claire. They were holding hands while setting on the hood of the car. She had her head on his shoulder and his head rested on hers. Then they kissed and I turned around and walked back into the kitchen. “Are Michael and Claire….together?”  I asked.  “Off and on.” John said. Sam rolled her eyes and walked away.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Her and Claire were close. But she doesn’t like her dating Michael off and on. You know playing with his feelings and stuff.” I nodded and pressed my lips together. “ So I know it might be a little big but I put a clean shirt on your bed. That way you can wear something clean till we can go to your house and get you some clean clothes.”   I nodded, and went back to the room I had stayed in last night. It was a simple and plain black t-shirt. I took off the shirt I way wearing, and decided to ask if they had a shower. John told me they did and I went to it.

            It wasn’t anything special. In fact had I not been looking for it I probably wouldn’t have known it was there. It was a rusted shower head hanging from the wall. There was a drain in the floor where the water drained out. The walls were an ugly red cracked tile with brown aged grout.  Got in the shower and closed the pitiful excuse for a shower curtain. I found the soap and was surprised to find that it was a liquid soap. I washed my hair and body. My thick raven hair was heavy on my head, weighed down with water. The natural curls fell into my face and I shooed them away.

            I got out and dried off. I put on my clothes minus the shirt. I looked in the broken medicine cabinet mirror. I had small bags under my eyes, and I looked a little pale. Other than that I looked pretty good. My naturally tan skin was still slightly damp. I reflected once again on the difference in skin tone in my family.

            I had left the clean shirt in the room so I had to go and get it. I walked out and went down the hallway. I was usually never self- conscious, but I felt a little nervous and embarrassed when Sam came down the hallway and winked at me, “ you look pretty good there Joey.” I felt the edge of my lip twitch into a smile. She smiled too and continued to watch me walk away. Until this morning I didn’t think much about my appearance. I guess I was average. I had muscle but not like a body builder. More like that of a baseball player, which I played two year until this year. I stood there looking at my reflection in the mirror for another moment and then shook my head I still couldn’t see anything special about my looks. And usually neither could anyone else.

            I put on the thin, black, cotton shirt. Surprisingly the shirt, though loose around the arms, fit pretty well. I was thankful I wasn’t they scrawny ninth grader I had been when I lived in New York. To be honest being around these people who could kick the crap out of my with one hand and foot tied behind them. I felt I needed to compare, to measure up to them, I wanted to impress them.

             I walked out and Michael was back in side, “well hello your highness,” he said as I came in. I didn’t know what he was talking about so I just looked at him. “Sam has just went on and on about how amazing the bronze god in the room three doors over from her was,” he said in a mock voice.  Sam looked mortified and smacked him. Her face had turned bright red. “Aw. Look he’s blushing.”

            “Shut up Michael,” we both said at the same time.

            “Okay, let’s do some… training.” John said. “Meet you all in the back lot in five minutes.

            I followed him out taking in the scene around me. Unlike last night, it didn’t look as spooky or trashy as I had thought. I was actually a nice landscape. With green grass and bright flowers, with trees that borders the entire areas. John stopped in front of a set of dying apple trees and starts stretching. “You might want to warm up a little.” I decided to do some of the exercises we did at baseball practice. I stretched and did crunches. I even jogged around the yard a little. By the time I got back to John, Sam and Michael was there, but no Claire.

            I looked at the trees. Apples laid on the ground. Each had a single round hole in it. Strange, I thought. I was getting ready to ask what that was about when I heard a sharp buzz fly past my left ear. The tree in front of me shook and an apple skewed with a blue arrow with orange ‘feathers’. I flinched and was shocked. I whirled around to see Michael laughing and Sam looked shocked and worried and relieved all at the same time.  John was smiling and was holding a black compound bow. “Todays lesson…” he said, “Archery.”

The Hunt

Chapter Eight

The Hunt Begins

“Hunters?” I asked in is disbelief. “ What are hunters?” 

“Hunters just saved your –“  said the other guy. The oldest cut him off, “Michael! Enough.” 

“What he asked,” Michaal said. “I don’t care shut up.”  I had been in the room with then for a while and I didn’t like Michael. He was arrogant. All of then wore black shirts and jeans, but unlike the others Michael wore a jean jacket.  I generally hated guys who wore jean jackets. They always thought they were cooler than everyone else. Anyway I sat there unsure of what to say to that. It was true, they had saved me, but I wasn’t going to admit I was thankful to him. He was already to proud of himself.   I looked at them,“ Okay fine. You still haven’t answered my question. What are hunters?”  The oldest rubbed his chin and looked at the girl. I tapped my foot impatiently. She nodded and said, “ We hunt things. Evil things like we told you.” “

            “ Ya I get that but how. “ I asked. Michael shook his head and said, “ vampires – cut there heads off or stake ‘em with a wooded stake dipped in dead man’s blood. Werewolfes – silver  bullet. Demon – exercise  them . Ghosts dig up the bones salt and burn them.  And those are just a few.”  “Michael if you don’t shut up I’m going to salt and burn you!” The oldest one said, “ By the way I’m John, and this is Samantha, but we call her Sam” “ Joey short for Josef.”

            “ Ya so I’ve heard.” John said. Michael stood up , “not that sitting here explaining all this to you isn’t fun, but don’t we have a Shtriga to be hunting.”
            “I want to help.” I said as they turned to leave. “ That thing hurt me sister I want revenge.”  Michael was laughing and Sam was staring at him trying to kick him under the table. “ No, it’s to dangerous. Besides,” He said to me then looked at them,” It’s probably long gone anyway.”  Sam looked at me and said, “ sorry about your sister, she seemed like a good kid.” “Excuse me your giving up ?!”, I said then looked at Micheal, “ What happened to ‘we can take on any thing’.” I said in a mocking voice.  John cut him off before he could say anything, “Joey no means no.”  I stood up almost nose to nose, “ I want to help. Now either you can let me help you, or I can find it on my own.”

             Michael was staring at me, “ your crazy… if you think we are going to risk your life after saving it just so you can satisfy your petty desire for revenge you’ve got another thing coming.”  I bit my lip, arguing was getting me no where with these people. And I wasn’t good at pleading. SO the only other option I had was bargaining.  I opened my mouth to say something but there was nothing I had to bargain with. Wait  Amy! “ What if I could help you find a demon at the school?”

             Michael shook his head and smiled, “ you mean that pitiful excuse for a demon Amy. We took care of her a few days ago.”  I smirked, “ oh really cause I seen her yesterday and she looked alive and well.”  His smile faulted, “ are you serious ?”  I nodded, “ as a heart attack.” John crossed his arms, “ Why should we believe you.” I had to play this right. One wrong move and they’d leave and I’d be left to my own devices. “ Believe me don’t believe me. It’s you choice.” “Fine!  You win where is she.”

“I’ll tell you after we  kill that Shtriga.” This was good, at least I’d won this battle.  “Okay lets go, you too Joey if you still want to help.” Michael’s mouth dropped and Sam stared in disbelief. “ You CAN’T be serious. You’re taking him with us. Arg” Michael complained. John gave him a look that said just drop it.

           

We walked out to their Black ‘77 Chevy Camaro. They put their guns in the back, and I stood there not

sure what to do. Then I seen the arsenal in the truck and thought what have I gotten myself in to?  

 I thought briefly about turning back and going back to the house, but I knew that was no longer an option.

            John got in the car and started the engine. Michael gave me one last look before shaking his head and getting in the passenger seat. “ Hey, don’t worry he’ll come around.” Sam said. We both got in the back. John turned on the radio to a station I didn’t know and drove off. 

We kept driving for about fifteen minutes before we turned down a narrow gravel drive way.  At the end of the drive way was a ramshackle house, with peeling yellow paint over dirty cinderblocks. The small front window was nothing more than  a tarp. “This place looks rough” I whispered under my breath.

 In the front seat Michael sang along to “Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas. By the time we got to the back door and John turned the car off Michael was still singing, “ Carry on… You will always remember… Carry on! Nothing equals the splendor!”  He finally realized the song had went off and that everyone was looking at him. His face turned red when John started laughing. “Shut up,” he mumbled and got out of the car.

As they walked into the house I lingered outside unsure if I wanted to go through with this. I hesitantly walked in behind them. Bad move. I was instantly grabbed by my forearm which was twisted behind me and I was shoved hard up against a white stone wall. I gasped and tried to fight the attacker. No use whoever it was must be highly skilled in this sort of thing because as I struggled they used their body to tighten their grip on me.

I heard Michael laugh behind me and John said, “let him go. He’s with us.”  My attacker gasped in shock, but let me go. “ Who is he?” A girl’s voice said behind me. I turned around and seen a tall girl with fine sandy blonde hair and dark brown eyes staring at me mincingly.   “My name is Joey.” I said, rubbing my arm where she had gripped it so tightly. She looked at me then John then walked away from me and over to Michael who was still laughing.

“Don’t let Claire get to you. She doesn’t get along to well with newbies.”  John said.

I nodded and said, “ So I see.”  “ Okay so you up for orientation?”  I just shrugged. 

“Well this is the main room of the building. Nothing special just some chair for meetings and a table for eating.” John said as we turned to corner toward a gloomy hallway, “ then down this hall is the bedrooms. This is home for all of us. And this is the bathroom.”  “Now for the people. The blonde, Claire, started hunting around the same time I did.  She was an emancipated orphan. She was living on the streets when I found her. Ya see we were both hunting the same thing. It was a vampire – they are real by the way – and I had gotten knocked down and the sucker was just about to drink me, when she cut off his head,” He explained making hand motions that went with his story. “ What about Michael and Sam?” I asked. Johns face took on a somber and remorseful look, “ their parents are dead. They’re siblings”

“What happened?”
“Plane crash. It devastated the whole family. The plane was fine at take off. But then I just fell out of the air. We suspect it had to do with a demon or evil spirit. Maybe even a curse.  Cause one things for sure plane don’t just fall out of the sky for no reason.” “ Oh,” I whispered. “ What plane?”

He hesitated, “ flight 236.”

I stopped in my tracks, “ As in flight 236 Austin to Cabot”

He nodded, and looked at me puzzled. “ Ya how did you know that?”

I felt tears burning behind my eyes, “ My parents died in the same flight.”

“Dude, I’m so sorry.” I looked down and shrugged. What good would his apologies do. He finished his story, “ so they thought it was suspicious and started looking in to it. Been hunting ever since.”

We walked back into the main room and I looked at Michael. He looked at  me and I looked away.  Awkward. “Okay, any leads on the Shtriga?” John asked. “ Ya one. It seems to have been sighted near an old underpass by other hunters but they didn’t have proper ammo so they couldn’t take it down.” Claire said, “ I’m willing to bet it’s hiding out around this general area.” She pointed out a three block radius on a map hanging one the wall. “ But first things first. What about him?” she asked pointing at me.

“He wants to hunt. We’ll give him a hunt,” John answered. I didn’t like the sound of that.  “ Okay on a more serious note tomorrow we’ll do some weapons training and defensive combat with him and then we hunt this Shtriga. Okay?”
Every one nodded, even Michael gave a small reluctant nod of agreement. “Good, Joey you can stay here tonight. In the guest room. Michael will show you where that is.” If looks could kill Michael would have just murdered John right there.
As the others retired to their rooms Michael and I walked to the back of the hallway. “ Here it is.” He said and gestured for me to go in. He followed. “Look Josef. This is your last chance to back out.” He said.

“ I’m not leaving, forget it. I’m here to stay.”
He shook his head, “are you trying to kill yourself.”
I was irritated already by the looks Claire had given me(and Michael) at the meeting that I said, “ look you don’t like me and I don’t blame you. But I’m here to stay. For now any way. I want that Shtriga dead and I won’t take no for an answer. I’ll leave after I see its heart stop beating, but not a moment sooner.”

He shook his head and laughed. He crossed his arms and leaned on the door frame. “ You don’t get it do you. Once you start hunting you don’t stop. It changes you and not always for the better. If you don’t leave now you never will. Trust me I know.”
I thought about this, but said,” whatever the cost. I’m in all the way.”

“ Okay your funeral.”

He started to walk away and I said, “ Oh by the way I’m sorry about you parents.”
He didn’t sound angry just upset, “ what would you know about that.”
“More than you think.” I murmured.

Now he looked mad, “ What do you mean by that?”

I looked him in the eyes. He had forest green eyes. “ My parents died in flight 236 Austin Texas to Cabot Mexico.”
He looked at me then took a deep breath. “ night Joey.”
It wasn’t the reply I was expecting. Honestly I don’t know what I expected, but that wasn’t it. On the bright side though, he did seem less hostile there for a moment. After all he called me Joey and not the usual him.  Maybe just maybe he was a decent guy after all. I laid down on the broken mattress thinking about Kay.  I wonder if I’ve been reported missing yet. After all I never went home today. Either way I knew it was only a matter of time before I was reported missing. And then what. I couldn’t answer that cause I didn’t know. So I shut out the thoughts and fell into a light dreamless sleep.   

The Hunt

Chapter Seven

 Revelations

            I sat downstairs flipping through the TV stations.  Animal planet? No. TruTV? No. Hell’s kitchen reruns? I think so. Being that there was nothing else on I watched the wicked Chef Gordon Ramsey curse and holler at a woman with blonde hair about her raw steak  “ Its bloody raw!!” Ramsey yelled throwing the pan across the kitchen.” Get out of my kitchen you incompetent pig!”

            “That man may be harsh, but I bet he could cook for the Gods.” My grandma said from the hall way. “He’d have to,” I said, “because he’d find fault with the Gods food if they made it.”  “Ah, truer words were never spoken maybe.” She chuckled. “So why are you up Joey. Shouldn’t you be in bed? You have school tomorrow.”

            I shrugged, “I suppose. I’m just not tired. Maybe it’s just the nap I took on the couch earlier.”  We stayed up for a while watching Ramsey insult the chefs who scurried around like scared mice. Then my Grandma got up and when to the kitchen. After she got something to eat she told me goodnight and not to stay up too late. I watch another rerun and then looked at the clock. 11:59. I laid down on the couch.  I hoped to sleep without dreaming. Epic Fail.

            I dreamed I was in school, the gym to be exact, shooting hoops with Eric. When he dropped the ball and looked at me. “Dude what’s wrong.” “Joey it’s me, Amy.” I backed away, “why are you in Eric.” “ I wanted a break from my other meat-suit.” I grimaced, “meat – suit?”  She/he laughed. “Yes a meat suit. The person I was wearing.  A vessel. It has many names. Well maybe not vessel. Last I checked for it to be a vessel it has to give permission to enter. Ah, tomato tomahto, right?”  I just frowned. “Well,” She/he said,” this is an improvement. Your talking to me!”  I never got the chance to reply.

            I woke up to the screams Kay from her room. I flew up the stair, taking two steps at a time.  I got to her door and tried to open it, but it was locked. I stepped back and kicked it as hard as I could and it flung open.  I saw Kay laying on her bed. “Kay! Wake up.” I screamed and shook her. My grandma walked in. Tears streamed out of my eyes. “Kay, please.” I whispered. My grandma looked at me and whispered, “get help.”

            We spent the rest of the night and most of the next day on the ICU. They told us we should go home and get some rest but I refused to leave my sisters side. The doctor told us she was in a coma, and not the first patient of her age in the hospital under similar circumstances. Apparently something was causing children to fall under a coma mysteriously.  After listening to the doctor talk to Grandma I learned the first two were siblings, and the second two were, adopted in the same family. This is what made them think it was contagious. This then prompted my Grandma to half drag me out of the hospital in fear I’d catch it too. I put up a good fight, but my Grandma plus three nurses were just too powerful to fight without hurting myself or one of the, so I gave up.

            I lay in bed unable to sleep. I kept thinking about Kay and if she was going to be alright. I was about to fall asleep when my cell rang. I picked it up and seen the number was blocked.  I opened it and said,” Hello, Who is this?”

            It was the mystery man. “ Get out of your room now! Hurry it’s coming.”  “Wait what’s coming ?” “Run. You idiot RUN. Unless you want to and up like Kayla.”  As I looked up a seen a branch like hand in the window, and instinct took over. I ran like I’ve never ran before. As soon as I got down stairs a group of three people ran through the door and up the stairs. I heard the muffled shots of guns and when I see a black hooded figure scale the side of the house, and run across the yard before disappearing in the alley across the street. Omg! What the heck was that.  The three came down stairs. Surprisingly I recognized them from the school. They stood there and looked at me. The one in front stepped forward.  They all wore black clothing and carried Winchester handguns.  There were two guys and a girl. The guy who had stepped forward and said, “Do… Not…I repeat…Do…Not tell anyone what you saw tonight.”

            “Okay. But only if you tell me what exactly it was I saw.” I said puzzled. “They all exchanged looks and then the other two nodded. “Fine,” he said reluctantly, “but you better sit down.”

 “Okay so the thing that you saw was a Shtriga. It steals life energy. Usually from children and siblings or kids of the same house.  We aren’t sure why it would have attacked you though, you’d usually be too old for it.” When I looked puzzled the girl piped up, “ usually it attacks kids from 5-15 and fifteens pushing it. Kay was an easy target because of the trauma of losing her parents, but even so she was almost too old to fit the description.” The other guy kind of laughed and said, “luckily we discovered that age wasn’t as important as we had thought or you’d been a Shtriga’s midnight snack.”

            “Okay so either you guys are crazy, or I’m crazy.” I said. To be honest I was starting to freak out.  This can’t be happening. It’s not possible.  They spent the rest of the night explaining to me about the secret world of monsters and demons. Thought they didn’t mention Amy, when they spoke of demons the oldest gave me a knowing look.

            “Metaphorically speaking everything you say is real. What can you do about it?” I asked. The other guy who introduced his self as Micheal said, “ it is  real, and we kill them.”  “Kill them?”  “Yes.”

“So If you…kill them, how?” I asked. “Well it’s different for almost every creature.” “Okay oh and who are you anyway?”

            They kind of smirked and they all said at the same time, “ We are a secret society of protectors.” “uh-huh?” “ We are called Hunters.”

                

The Hunt

Chapter Six

Awakening

The bed was stiff and hard. The room was to bright and my head was killing me.  The smell of antiseptic was over powering and nauseating.  I hate hospitals, I thought as I lay in the bed. The doctor says I hyperventilated after ‘hallucinating’ an ‘imaginary intruder’ due to my lack of sleep.  Ya right, if you say so.  I know I wasn’t imagining her standing in my room. Or at least the fact she was stalking me.  What had shocked me most thought was the fact that Kay had spoken. Or maybe I hallucinated that too. I’m not quite sure if she was still talking or if that had been a moment where she knew it was life or death. Sort of.

I sat up, and opened my eyes . My head was pounding now. My mouth was parched, and as I looked around the room was spinning.  Ugh.  I opened my mouth to say water but what came out was, “waaaaaer”.  “Nurse! He’s awake!” I heard my grandma yell. “Hello, Joey what do you want hun?” This time I was able to get the word out, “water.”  

“Okay sweety.  Just relax you’ve been sedated.”  The nurse said, patting my arm.

“OK.” I said as she walked out. “What happened grandma?”

“Well I was watching the news and Kay got up to go check on you I guess. I was setting there and the next thing I know Kay was screaming, Kay…Screaming, ‘NO! JOEY! HELP’ So I ran in and you were twitching and withering around on the floor. So I grabbed the phone and called 911. Then we got here and the doctor was trying to get you to go to sleep, but you kept begging and pleading not to be put to bed and you started crying and screaming ‘no I can’t sleep. She’ll get me if I do’. So they had to sedate you.”

            “Oh.”  I remembered some of that now. The fighting sleep only to lose. I was furious at the fact they were making me sleep, but terrified at the prospect of sleeping. I thought she’d be there to terrorize me. Thankfully she hadn’t. Unsure what to do now I lay there wondering when she would appear again. Questions like, was I hallucinating, could she really have gotten in my room and disappeared, flashed through my mind. I had just about agrees with the doctor when I hit me, KAY! She had been in my doorway when she’d  been there trying to smother me.

            I had to find out if Kay was still talking. “Grandma, what else did Kay say.”   “Nothing, when we got here they asked her what happened she just shrugged. They asked me why she wouldn’t talk. I told them she was mute.”  Okay so Kay’s not talking again.  As I thought that Kay walked in, and sat down across from me. I had to get rid of my Grandma. “Hey, Grandma? Can you go get me a pop?”  She nodded and went down stairs.

            “Kay?” I asked, “ are you talking now?” She shook her head. “Kay please speak I need you tell me what you saw.”   She just looked at me, then said “Amy.” So she has seen her too. I was lost in thought when I seen Kay looking at me, “sorry, Kay what?” “ I said why was Amy in your room trying to smother you. And why did she just vanish in to thin air?!”  I just shrugged because I didn’t know.

            On our way home I didn’t say much. Kay didn’t speak at all. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. She hadn’t attacked me in the waking world before, and I doubted this was the last time.  We got home and sat on the couch. I must have dozed off because when I opened my eyes Grandma was at work and Kay had made dinner. The phone rang.  Odd, the phone never rings this late. I thought has I looked at the clock that read 9:17 .  “Hello?”

  “Josef Fox?” Someone said.

 “ Yea.” I answered.

“ Be careful.  You’re in danger. That demon will kill you.  Just watch your back.”

“Who is this” I demanded.  It was no use thought the line went dead. They had hung up. Great, I thought.  Now not only is a demon following me, but now a  mystery man I stalking me. I climbed the stairs and went in the bath room. I got in to the shower. The water was cool on my head. I hadn’t realized how hot the house was.  It’s like an oven in the living room. I got out of the shower and went to find Kay. She was in her room sleeping. She looked peaceful sleeping. I closed her door and turned around ready to go to bed. Amy was standing there in the hall. “She a great kid isn’t she?” She smirked I blinked and she disappeared. I went back down stairs.  No longer sleepy and waited for Grandma to get home.