The air was thick with the scent of wolfsbane and Ashwood- Vixylen powder, the elixir that birthed the perfect weapon against soul eaters and the nameless creatures lurking in the shadows. This rare creation, coveted and elusive, spelled death for even the mightiest of beasts that prowled this darkness.
As a hunter, I possessed a connection that surpassed the mere sight of my prey. Every bullet I loaded bore the mark of my purpose, infused with a dark purple powder that held the power to extinguish more than one creature with a single shot.
Their low growls reverberated through the stillness, a chorus of primal warning. Their response only fueled the fire within me, a blazing determination that revealed their impending assault-a synchronized onslaught.
"So, none of you wants to be the first huh?" I challenged, my voice cutting through the tense air. With every fiber of my being focused, I tightened my grip on the gun. It was a lifeline, an extension of my resolve. And in this realm of shadows, where the sun surrendered its dominion, darkness would become my ally.
As the last vestiges of daylight faded into oblivion, my senses heightened. The inky blackness bestowed upon me an advantage, for the soul eaters were not blessed with keen eyesight in this nocturnal realm. I could almost taste the surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins, a potent elixir of fear and anticipation.
As the wind whispered its final caress against my skin, the soul eaters lunged forth, a relentless tide surging towards me. In the blink of an eye, the air was punctuated by the deafening symphony of falling bullets, a cascade of metal raining upon the earth.
Reacting with instinctive agility, I swiftly holstered my long gun and grasped my gleaming revolver, the weight of it familiar and comforting in my hand. Its metallic gleam caught the faint moonlight, a glint of resolve amidst the encroaching darkness.
The thunderous cracks of my shots reverberated through the night, each discharge a resounding proclamation of defiance. The echoes carried on the wind, resonating for miles, a siren's call to those who would dare to challenge me.
The soul eaters, harbingers of malevolence, withered and waned as my bullets found their marks. Their haunting cries, once filled with malice, now turned into mournful melodies that seeped into my being, fueling my purpose.
One by one, they dissolved into nothingness, their ephemeral existence reduced to swirling dark particles that danced upon the air. The remnants of their presence hung like ethereal mist, a spectral reminder of the battle that had been waged.
Amidst the fading echoes, a hushed stillness settled upon the battlefield. The scent of gunpowder lingered, mingling with the metallic tang of spent brass casings scattered upon the ground. The dark dust particles, suspended in the air, whispered tales of vanquished foes and triumphant perseverance.
The forest around me seemed to close in, its dense canopy casting eerie shadows that danced with the flickering moonlight. Frustration boiled within me, mingling with the determination that fueled my every step. The one person I sought, the one person I needed to eliminate, remained elusive in the labyrinth of trees and darkness.
"Where are you?!" I growled through gritted teeth, my voice laced with anger that reverberated through the stillness. The forest offered no answers, its silence mocking my desperation.
In the midst of my relentless search, a sudden clap shattered the tranquility, jolting me into heightened alertness. Instinctively, I added more bullets to my gun, my fingers deftly working the mechanism with practiced ease. Seeking cover, I pressed my back against a nearby tree, its gnarled bark serving as an impromptu shield.
"You are always impatient, J," his voice slithered through the darkness, a venomous whisper that stoked the embers of my fury. I could almost envision his wretched smirk, a twisted signature that exuded arrogance and sadistic pleasure.
"What can I say?" I retorted, my voice a low growl. "When killers like yourself roam free, impatience becomes a virtue." I strained my senses, trying to locate his whereabouts amidst the inky blackness. I could feel his presence drawing nearer, a predator closing in on its prey. With calculated precision, I unleashed a volley of bullets towards the source of his movement, hoping to disrupt his advance.
Silence greeted my ears, granting me a brief respite. It was my cue to slip away, to find a new vantage point from which to continue our deadly game. But the weight of his words lingered, seeping into my consciousness like a poison.
"You know..." His voice drifted through the night, now sounding a little further away. "I always admired your brother. He put up quite a fight before I consumed him." My jaw clenched, my breath caught in my throat. Anguish and rage intertwined within me, threatening to consume my composure. But I knew I had to maintain control, to keep a firm grip on my emotions.
"And to think that you devoted your entire life to trying to kill me, leaving your beloved May all alone through the years. How pathetic, but oh, how beautifully twisted," his voice dripped with venom, each word laced with a sadistic satisfaction. But it wasn't my choice to leave her. I had to. It was the right thing to do at that moment.
"She's still beautiful, you know. I remember when she stumbled upon the aftermath, the scene I left behind after I slaughtered them all. I expected you to come barging in, but instead, I found another delicate morsel. I would have ended her right then and there, but that bloody wolf you sent... it nearly tore me to shreds."
A wolf? What was he talking about?
"Nevertheless," he continued, his voice filled with a dark anticipation, "I know she's out here, somewhere in this forsaken wilderness. I can smell her scent lingering in the air. And after I'm done killing you, oh, I might just savor her for a little while before I consume her. You understand, don't you?"
His words were the final straw, the vile intentions he harbored for May igniting a fiery rage within me. I emerged from my hiding place, fueled by a determination to protect her at any cost. The forest erupted with the sounds of gunfire as I unleashed a torrent of bullets upon the trees in front of me, desperately aiming for the elusive figure.
He vanished into thin air, his presence dissipating like smoke, but I knew he was still lurking nearby. I remained silent, employing the careful tactics of sensing his dark energy within the depths of the forest. A few seconds of tense silence passed, and then he pounced, attacking me from behind with razor-sharp claws.
Fortunately, his strike only grazed my clothing, causing me to roll away just in time. I scrambled to retrieve my revolver, which lay a few inches from my grasp, but he was quicker, flinging it away with a flick of his wrist, leaving it swallowed by the consuming shadows.
Desperate and outnumbered, I swiftly discarded the cumbersome chain of bullets that hindered my movements and unleashed a barrage of shots from the hidden gun concealed within my shirt. He moved with uncanny speed, gliding effortlessly through the air, gracefully evading my bullets as he closed in on me with alarming velocity.
His pitch-black eyes gleamed with a sinister hunger as he approached, his intentions clear. But just as he was about to strike, a voice shattered the tension.
"Hey!" The sound cut through the night, and I turned my gaze in its direction, my eyes widening as I beheld May, holding the long gun I had left behind in my haste to eliminate the other soul eaters. Her eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and determination, devoid of any trace of fear as she stared him down.
"I dare you," he hissed, taunting her abilities. He momentarily abandoned his pursuit of me and darted towards her, his elongated mouth widening, ready to consume her whole.
"May, get away!" I shouted, rushing toward them, fumbling to load my last remaining bullet. But before I could fire, I witnessed his body vanish into thin air, leaving me frozen in shock. How did she do that? How did she remember the lessons I taught her?
"I learned from the best," she smirked, striding toward me, her face smudged with dirt, her hair disheveled, yet she remained breathtakingly beautiful even in the midst of chaos. "You never listen, do you?" I asked, a mix of astonishment and relief flooding my voice, to which she responded with an exasperated eye roll.
" He wanted to kill you?" She answered, almost sounding worried.
"Wouldn't you be happy if he did?" The words slipped from my mouth, shocking both May and myself with my suddenness. Her body seemed to freeze, and I could sense the turmoil within her as she grappled with the idea. She wanted to respond, to say something, but instead, she fell silent, her gaze darting around the surroundings.
"Where did you park your car?" she finally spoke, her voice breaking the tension that hung in the air.
"Oh, it should be around here somewhere. Let's head out. I'm sure Red would be relieved to know you're safe," I mentioned Red, and a slight turn of May's head indicated that the mention of her name brought a flicker of comfort. I offered a brief smile before retrieving the revolver, sliding it back into my pocket with a practiced ease.
After a few minutes of searching, I spotted my car. A beep signaled the activation of the engine, and I hurriedly opened the car door for May. Surprise flashed across her face at my gesture, but I remained silent, not wanting to disrupt the fragile reunion we were experiencing with ill-timed words. She stepped into the car, her eyes lingering on me, questioning and curious. I closed the door and made my way around to the driver's seat, sliding into position.
Inserting the key into the ignition, I began to drive away from the haunting forest. I reached behind me and retrieved my phone, handing it to May. She glanced at the device and then back at me, curiosity etched on her features.
"Call Red. She's been worried," I urged gently, my voice laced with concern. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she accepted the phone, her fingers hesitating over the screen.
"Um... your password," she stammered, avoiding direct eye contact.
"Your birthday," I answered, my voice catching slightly, my gaze fixed on the road ahead. She didn't say anything in response, but I heard the quick taps of her fingers on the screen as she dialed the familiar number.
"Red," she spoke, her voice choked with emotion, struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. I yearned to offer her comfort, to reach out and soothe her pain, but I knew I couldn't. Instead, I focused on the road, my hands gripping the steering wheel, determined to keep us safe.
Things were turning out slightly better than I had expected, but the words he had uttered still lingered in my mind.
Wolf, huh?
This is getting interesting.