The boy walked through the dimly lit house, sweat pouring down his face and back.

Each step he took was slow and gentle.

He looked forward, never blinking as he tried searching for the most important thing in his life.

The only thing that made him smile, and hope. The only thing that kept him from complete despair. His sister.

Crash!

The sound made him jump slightly.

However he quickly regained his composure, knowing he needed to focus on the source of the noise.

All he wanted in this moment was to call out to his sister but no! That would only endanger himself or possibly her if the demons heard.

The boy stopped in his tracks to see if he could possibly hear another noise.

Crash!

There it was again, that same noise.

It sounded like glass that had broken or a plate possibly.

The source of that loud noise was coming from the kitchen! 

Now knowing where he needed to go the boy rose once more and slowly started walking.

This time he turned around to walk backwards, towards the direction of the kitchen.

As he reached the kitchen doors he held his chest in anticipation.

He was scared, not just scared of possibly opening the door to find a demon but scared to possibly find its last meal. 

After pausing at the door for a brief moment the boy stood tall, deciding to stow his fear.

All he needed to do was grab his kid sister and hide from them.

After slowly opening the door the boy then peaked in and to his horror he saw……

His sister, Emily there but in torn, ragged, pieces. 

“Ah!” Jovian jumped out of bed, his body drenched in sweat.

The loud clock next to him was blaring, and for that he was grateful.

The alarm clock was by no means pleasant; it was more annoying than anything but to Jovian he could at least appreciate its assistance in waking him from the horrid nightmare.

“Argh, that same dream again…” He clutched his head in pain and grasped his shaking legs tightly. “Come on, you need to wake up and get prepared for the day!”

Jovian slapped the cheeks on his face hard, to try and psyche himself up.

He slipped out of bed to groggily walk to his sink; turning the knob and soon after dipping his hands under.

He scooped water and splashed his face as a minor attempt to help wake himself up.

His room was very minimal, there weren’t any posters or mementos.

It was like a ghost room, even with his presence there it felt lifeless. 

He didn't think of the place he was staying at as his home, he had lost that the day his sister died.

Jovian stared at himself in the mirror, his eyes had huge bags under, and his red hair unkempt.

He stood staring at the long scar going across his chest.

[This scar is a reminder of one thing, that I’m not invincible. Neither is anyone around me so never, ever get attached!]

Ring Ring

Jovian sighed “I know that ringtone…”

He walked out the bathroom, making it to his bed and slowly but surely reached for the ringing phone. 

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Heya buddy! How’s it going this fine Monday morning!?”

Jovian irritatingly gripped the phone tighter, slowly pulling it away from his ear before responding. “I’m doing just fine, Markus. Now, would you mind not yelling so loudly? It's 6 in the morning…” 

“Ah jeez sorry ‘bout that but man, you’re so grumpy especially in the mornings.”

Jovian held his head in irritation. “Well maybe my grumpiness is a result of a coworker who yells at me on an early morning phone call day after day...”

“HAHA you should’ve just told me you felt that way buddy!”

Jovian released a exhausted sigh, a sign of how tiring the whole routine had become for him. “I have told you that... multiple times but you always forget, your memory sucks...”

“Well anyway I called for a very important reason."

Jovian scoffed in his head. [Somehow I find myself doubting that.]

Markus spoke again but in a more serious tone. “So, it looks like some demons will be coming through the portals again today.”

Jovian instantly snapped at attention, now listening intently. “Okay thanks for the heads up. When and where will the portal be opening?” 

Just like it was natural, Markus' previous seriousness faded as soon as it came.

“HAHA you must be excited huh buddy? You always get super into our conversations when I mention taking out demons!”

Jovian scoffed, “Well yeah it's kinda our job. Please just get to the point already.” 

“Right, sorry man. The portal should actually be on Rural Avenue so just a couple streets from where you are. The estimated time of breakthrough is about 2 minutes.”

“Okay sounds good, I’ll head out immediately.”

“Oh wait there’s one more thing I should tell y-”

Jovian hung up. 

[It doesn’t matter whatever else he has to say. There are demons coming so I’m going to kill them. It's as simple as that, they’re a scourge on this planet.]

Jovian started scuffling around his room looking for his supplies.

It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for, his room was bare and bland.

It was simply a place for him to lay his head when he was tired, nothing more, nothing less. 

He grabbed twin daggers and their respective sheaths, a long sack and his uniform.

After equipping it all he turned to walk out his front door, “okay, time to go to work.”

The sky was gray, the clouds shielding the Sun. ‘I wonder how many years it's been since the sun was clearly visible…’ 

The area was practically deserted.

He smiled, thinking how it was the perfect place for him to live.

He wanted to be alone despite getting the offer of living in the dorms or the Ember facility. He wanted a constant reminder of what he was fighting for, and there was no reminder better than a ghost town.

The town was a reminder that people had once communed and lived there, at least until the demons drove them out. 

He thought deeply as he walked. [I know what I’m fighting for, I’m fighting so one day people could move back to this area. They wouldn’t have to worry about a ‘danger zone’ or wondering if one day all the demons would come through and kill them all. My ideals will see me through this mission, just like all the others…]

“Oh, that doesn't look too good…” The sight before Jovian was a portal.

It radiated a bright purple, and was huge, at least 10 times larger than Jovian.

[Hmm by the size of it I'd say there'll be about 10 coming through.]

He pulled out his twin blades and crouched down in stance; preparing for the upcoming onslaught. He waited, and waited, and waited….

“Hello there, you must be a demon hunter, yes?” The voice that seemingly appeared out of nowhere was deep and raspy.

Jovian clutched his blades tightly as he looked towards the portal in silence, not so much as moving an inch. 

“Wow, that's not very nice ignoring me.” A big bulky demon stepped out of the portal, it's face looked to be a mixture between a lizard and wolf.

The demon was at least 2 times taller than Jovian, and it had a big round belly and thick meaty arms.

It was humanoid and appeared to have human level intellect at least, from it speaking to him.

Jovian clutched his blades even tighter than before now that he could see his adversary, “Well I don't usually have much to say to a demon that'll be dead before the day is over.”

The demon gave him a sinister smile in response. 

[This thing isn’t anything to scoff at, I can tell. My instincts are telling me running would be better than fighting it. This scum must be at least grade 3. It’s weird that it can communicate with me though. It might be a higher grade 3 or even lower 4. If it’s a lower 4 this could get real rough.]

Jovian continued “So, is it just one of you coming through?”

“Ha ha I'm surprised your curious. I thought you didn't talk to 'dead demons walking' Mr.hunter?”

“Fair enough.” Right as the words left his lips, Jovian blitzed the demon jumping high above; quickly raising his blades high in the air.

The demon reacted, tracking his movement fairly accurately. 

In one smooth motion Jovian slashed down at the demon with one dagger but To Jovian’s surprise; he felt no connection slashing down on the big demon.

It had easily sidestepped his attack despite it's size and in an instant swung its large fist at him.

Jovian, barely able to react, blocked with his twin blades but got sent flying back a couple feet.

Right after landing and gaining slight balance the demon dashed at him, going for a second swing but this time with both arms.

Everything seemed to slow down in that moment as Jovian hurriedly thought of how he could survive this.

[I underestimated it's speed due to its size. I'll have to take things seriously.]