The Hunter

Chapter Two

It takes us an all nighter to get to Jackson, but we finally arrive early in the morning before the sun has creeped its way over the horizon. My father pulls up to my apartment building. The building is modest, only five stories. Dark red brick covers the outside. I open the car door and step out into the cool early morning air.

“Meet me at the guild at noon. Don’t be late.” Dad says as I grab my bag from the back seat. I’m known for being late, but that’s part of my charm, right?

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I close the door and head up the stairs to the front door of my building. The front door is a large glass door with a metal frame, it doesn’t quite match the brick exterior. I use my key and walk inside. I check my mailbox first as they are all located in the lobby. I know they are all here so the landlord can keep an eye on us.

“Mr. Pierce.” I hear the shrill voice of the landlord, Ms. Cox, speak of the devil. I turn around.

“Ms. Cox, my favorite landlord.” I give her a smile. She is an older lady, probably in her sixties. She can’t be taller than five foot one and she’s on the heavier side, but it definitely fits her.

“Don’t give me that handsome smile. You have been gone for over a week and your mailbox is full.”

“I know. I’m so sorry Ms.Cox. I’ll get it right now. And here’s next months rent.” I hand her an envelope, cash. That green stuff can soften her outer shell like nothing else.

“Well, just be sure it doesn’t happen again.” She looks over the money, counting it.

“No I promise, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. You’re the best for looking out for me.” I wink at her, hoping she’ll grant me a smile.

“You remind me of my son. Next time just let me know when you’ll be gone and I’ll make sure your mail gets to you.” She says, finally giving me a smile.

There’s the softness.

“Sure thing. Have I told you I like the new hair cut?” She touches her hair and smiles.

“Oh Mr. Pierce you are such a flirt. You stay out of trouble now.” She turns and heads the way she came. I head up the stairs to my apartment, I’m on the third floor. I unlock my door and step inside. Honestly, my apartment is pretty bare. I have a couch, a tv, a bed, and some clothes. That’s about it. I keep my kitchen pretty empty since I’m always on the go. The only thing I keep stocked is alcohol and water. I have five hours before I need to meet my father, a three hour nap sounds like just the thing I need right now. My best purchase in this apartment so far, has definitely been the black out curtains.

When I was apartment hunting all those years ago I ended up picking this apartment for two reasons.

One, how close it is to the guild. I could be there in two minutes if need be. And two, the building is solid concrete. I can’t hear anyone around me, and barely anything from outside. Making this the perfect napping location.

I decide to take a quick shower first, I don’t want to get into my bed covered in barn smell and the grime of an overnight car ride. I drop my bag by the door and take a quick, but thorough shower. Now, finally clean, I can rest. I pull my curtains closed and lay down. I fall right to sleep.

A few hours later I wake up in a panic. What time is it? I scramble to my phone. 10:50 am it reads. I exhale my panic and collapse back into the bed. I lay there for a bit before getting up to get dressed.

I finished my report while we were on the road, so all I have to really do is show up today. I look in my closet at the long leather jacket hanging from a hanger. Ugh I hate the guilds uniform. The leather jacket looks stupid and the silver chain is gaudy. At least the chain doesn’t make me sweat for five months out of the year.

The long leather jacket is supposed to ward off unsavory magic that our prey might cast towards us, but we all know that agility is far more reliable, and a leather jacket in the middle of august will definitely slow you down.

The chain is a symbol to tell others in the guild our ranking, sort of like the military. But it’s so impractical, that no one really wears it outside of the guild meetings.

To the outside world the guild is a club almost like the boy scouts, except we hunt and kill creatures of the night. Not the best way to get a girl in bed. I usually keep who I am and what I do to myself.

I affix my chain to my leather jacket, and wrap it around my arm before grabbing a bottle of water and heading out of the door. I walk down the block and turn right. There it is, the guild. The building itself isn’t that impressive. It reminds me of an old church. It’s an old stone building in the middle of this city. It definitely doesn’t fit in with the plaster and concrete buildings all around it. I walk inside and see Patty behind the desk.

“Hey there Patty.” I say as I slip my arms into the sleeves of my jacket.

“Here’s trouble. I just saw your dad a few minutes ago, I knew you couldn’t be far behind.” Patty is in her forties, but she takes care of herself so she can still pass for 30 of a good day. I’ve known her my whole life. She keeps an eye out for me and my dad.

“Did you miss me?” I say walking up and grabbing a candy from her bowl.

“Yeah I always miss the person that doesn’t finish their paperwork.” I flash her my completed forms from the last hunt. Her jaw drops open.

“No way. Cole Pierce actually completed his H-11 form. Are there pigs flying outside?” She teases.

“So funny Patty. You learned how to be funny while I was gone.”

“If you can learn to do paperwork, I can learn to be funny.”

“Finally you’re here.” My dad yells from across the room. He comes over to me.

“Rod, look what your son did.” She holds up my paperwork. “You must be so proud.” She adds.

“No father had ever been more proud of their son.” My father says sarcastically.

“Come on, let’s go give our report and get our next assignment.”

“It’s good to see you too Rod.” Patty says stiffly. My dad stops.

“Sorry Patty. It’s always a pleasure to see you.”

“Oh don’t try to soften me up. Go on.” She gives my dad a smile and we head into the main chamber.

Another part of the guild I loathe, the endless formalities. We hand some guy our card and he calls our name when we are to appear, like we’re debutantes being presented at the ball. It’s all very stuffy and ritualistic, and some people take it way too seriously.

“Rodney Pierce and Cole Pierce.” Our names are called and we step into the middle of the room.

“Welcome back gentlemen. I heard your hunting went well.”

“Yes journeyman, very successful.” My father says. Journeymen are the administrative members of the guild. The level above them is Master.

We hunters are part of a different level system. We have our own names and ranks. There are seven of them total. The lowest rank is Porcelain, then Obsidian, next is Steel, then Bronze, Silver, Gold, and the highest rank a hunter can achieve is Platinum.

Platinum is hard to achieve for three reasons. One they often recruit them into a leadership role prior to earning that level, two they die, or three there are a lot of hunters and not enough monsters to merit the level up. My father and I are Steel, one good fight away from Bronze.

“Good good. We have another assignment for you. Complete this one just as favorably and you will level up.” If we level up, we will be able to fight harder things. Vampires are on the easy scale because they are limited and their numbers are low.

“We have a disturbance up north. In Lancaster. From all accounts, we believe it to be a troll.”

“A troll?” I ask. My father gives me a look.

“Yes, a troll. It has been awhile since we’ve had a confirmed sighting. Here is the case.” The Journeyman passes the folder to someone and they hand it to us. My father looks at it for only a moment before shutting the folder and accepting the assignment.

“Consider it taken care of.” My father says.

“Good, report back when it’s completed.” Journeyman says. We leave the main chamber.

“A troll, a real life troll. Have you ever seen one?” I ask.

“No, they are really rare.” My father says.

“When do we head out?” I ask.

“We need to restock our supplies, but I don’t want to wait for too long. Meet me tomorrow morning, 8 am at Remys. We’ll restock then head out.”

“Are you giving me the night off?” I ask in shock. I can not remember the last time I had a night off.

“Yes, don’t make me regret it. Don’t be late tomorrow. And don’t get into trouble.”

“Don’t worry I’ll be there. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I say before I b-line for the front door. What to do with my night off?