In Search of the Unknown Chaptered Version

Part 4

Igor especially had a special talent for killing them, he was quick and would easily outmaneuver the creatures. Unlike most, who would waste precious and scarce bullets on just one creature, Igor rarely would use guns. He would run in an ax or sledgehammer, and with two hands bring the steel into the creature's cranium. I felt most safe around him, though he wasn't much of a talker.

I had to use weapons a few times, but only when Igor was busy with something more important or I was given help from someone else. I was always chastised by Michail or his underlings for fending for myself. Igor was supportive of my resourcefulness, saying that it was important to not rely on a prophet to save them.

Michail never liked Igor or felt comfortable with him. He would always send Igor to somewhere as far away from him as possible.

One day while walking around the halls, we heard a scream from one of the many rooms. Screams were common in there. The monsters would make them try to break our will to make us feel hopeless. This one felt different, more guttural, and most of all sounded very much like Michail. Igor and I ran towards the scream, I felt concerned, we had to protect him. Yet, when I saw the look Igor had, I was both perplexed and somewhat disturbed. He looked excited, triumphant like he made a real breakthrough with something.

We arrived at the room, and we saw what had made Michail scream. A creature, with thin tendrils coming all around its faces like a sea anemone. It was rail thin, but its looks were deceiving.

Michail demanded that Igor do something, and Igor smiled and laughed. The creature stood completely still, and unlike when attacking others, made no advances.

Michail was shocked at Igor's idleness.

Igor spoke "Funny, the puppet master asking to be saved from his puppets, that's just adorable"

Michail was both surprised and enraged.

"Igor, unless you start acting right now, god will smite you dow- "

"A charlatan can't make his lies real, and false prophets are not forgiven"

Igor swiftly pulled out his gun and fired a few shots into Michail's leg.

The monster finally acted, running at Igor. Igor with one hand effortlessly threw a sledgehammer into the skull of the abomination. It collapsed and blood trickled from its cave in the head.

Igor advanced onto Michail.

"What do you want from me!" Michail demanded, crying out for an explanation.

"You strayed too far for their liking, and now they want me to put you out".

Michail's eyes widen in realization "This is my right to control, I have broken no rule".

Igor shrugged "Well it's been what, your third life, and I sure hope this is your last".

Michail yelled curses, some in languages I did not understand. Igor was not bothered by this. Igor then fired five shots into the head of our prophet, and I stood in disbelief.

I asked who Igor was.

"I am a restless hunter, who survives off of bounties for things like what you worshiped"

Igor then put his gun away and left to the door that leads outside. I along with everyone else realized that the sounds had ended and that the only thing moving amongst the shadows were bugs.

I later went to see the entrance to the cave bunker fully open. Sunlight that I had not seen for months. I looked out to see that our town was safe, unchanged and that there was military searching the town for if there was anyone in the town.

I started to pour down tears at the realization that we had been lied to and would have wasted away for nothing.

End of statement.

The event that happened with all the people in the town of Ustalyy Gorod was true. A man known as Michail Fil'yery entered the town and with the use of cult tactics created a following of trust and cooperation. This led to the Bunker cave incident where multiple people had gone missing, and end in the death of Michail, his killer is currently unknown.

The main question raised for Dalen was the identity of the man who killed Michail. Are there people who fight these supernatural beings? Along with who he was working for?

Dalen had put up offering a decent job for whoever would be willing to be a reviewer of statements and researcher.

Only one person took the offer. Her name is Clara, who does want to know more about the paranormal world. She hit it off with Dalen, mostly because of her excitement for such a job, along with her being the only person willing.

Clara was a bit eccentric, having bobbles and collectibles she had from UFO conventions she went to. Though if you ever asked if she believed in abductions or secret government conspiracies, she wouldn't give a straight answer. She was shy at first, preferring to be reserved most of the time like David. She did warm up to the people of the group, Trevor liked to ask about the stuff she collected, she always had some story why she had something. For example, she had a school jacket that she bought from high school, on the back was this drawing of a mongoose, the perspective was on one side of its face, and had red fangs. The school no longer has a team with that mascot, so it was a collector's item, but there was too much emotional value for her to sell it. David enjoyed talking to someone about working the camera since she seemed to have more interest than anyone other than him. She liked making David laugh because he would try to hold it back, but it would end with him snorting. Dalen liked to talk to Clara about the paranormal since she took the most interest in it, probably more than Dalen. She liked the books and stories and research, so to her, this was a great job.

She did however didn't like to travel, so the group didn't expect her to offer herself to go. They were okay with her just watching over the place.