Things started out easy enough after we’d conscripted our new friend, Theodor. While he was still under the effect of Sandra’s sedatives, I set out for a quick check on a few areas on my own. The night, however, was quiet. I encountered more of the weird little puppets in an abandoned building, but that was about it. It was only a handful, and their efforts felt half-assed. Just thinking about it makes me shiver. It felt wrong.

When I made it back, Sandra had already hit up Headquarters and explained the situation to them. In the end, Headquarters made an exception, at least for now. Normally an organism such as Theodor would be sent over to them for studying. Given our current situation, however, they allowed Sandra to use him as she saw fit. Freaking Headquarters. At that moment, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the guy.

Next day, we set out on our very first little hunt together. Sandra made one thing clear right from the start. One wrong move, and the guy was in serious trouble. All he gave her for an answer was another one of his crazed grins, but I could see the slightest twitch in the corners of his mouth. It didn’t make me feel relieved, but I wasn’t as on edge as I’d been before.

Still, our new friend is fucking crazy. Well, I knew that already, but... I’m glad he’s here because he’s a great help. On the other hand, he’s a loose cannon. If not for Sandra, I’m sure he’d gone on a rampage a long time ago. Or, let’s say, sooner. What makes things even worse is that the fucker just shrugged when I offered him a gun and protective armor.

“Nah, man, I’m good,” he’d said and gotten himself one of the combat knives.

“I prefer to get my hands dirty,” he added with a little grin.

Isn’t that great? First a freaking mentalist, and now a psychopath. What a great team I’ve got here.

The first couple of days went fine, at least when compared with what followed. As I said, Theodor is crazy. If you thought I was reckless, you haven’t seen this guy. With Sandra around, I’d grown more careful, listened to her, and tried my best not to fuck things up as often. This guy? He’s the complete opposite. The moment he heard a creature was nearby, he barged right into its hiding place and tore the fucker apart. Seeing him take down D-class organisms is like watching a cat toy with a mouse. Hell, on the third day, he went up against a C-class like it was nothing. Sure, I’d seen him at the park, but that was against a humanoid type. That day he was going head to head with a beast type twice his size. I was sure the dude was finished when he took the thing’s charge head on. I heard bones break, saw him spit blood, but all he did was grin before he retaliated. And the worst? He was laughing the entire time. The dude was having fun, not only fucking up that creature, but his own body as well.

“At least it makes me feel something,” he said once things were over, staring at his busted arm.

Sandra didn’t like it one bit. While Theodor was still checking his injury, Sandra twisted his arm upward with her powers, making him feel more than just something.

“Sandra, what are you-?” I spoke up.

“He’s too reckless!” she screamed at me.

“And you,” she said while giving Theodor’s arm another twist. “We brought you along so you could support us, not to go wild. With an injury like that, you’re useless to us!”

Well, what can I say? She had a point. Third fucking day on the job and he was pretty much out. But you know what happened? After Sandra let him off, he twisted the bone back in place and bandaged it up without so much as saying a single word.

“Don’t sweat it. I’ll be good as new in no time.”

I just watched as the two of them stared at each other. Sandra was furious and this crazy asshole thought it was the funniest thing in the world.

The next day, though, I found his bloodied, stinking bandages discarded on the floor. When I asked him what was going on, he showed me his arm. Apart from some scar tissue and a slight bruise, nothing was wrong with it. You know what? Fuck this guy, really, fuck him. Why the hell did I even bother to go out anymore with freaks like him around?

I didn’t get to sulk for long. Sandra’s alarm notified us of a new signature. This one, however, like most we’d handled these past days, was transferred to us via Headquarters. It was supposedly a humanoid type, most likely C-class. Ever since Theodor had joined our merry band, there’d been no hint of any puppets and no new emerging signatures.

“What about those puppets?” I asked Sandra while I studied the signature data. “Do you think they are just... gone?”

“Let’s hope so, but I don’t think it’s the case. I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Dylan, a very bad feeling.”

I nodded. Shit, I knew what she meant, and I didn’t like it one bit.

Getting ready had been annoying enough with Sandra waiting for me in the hallway. Now two freaks of nature were out there, wondering why I bothered with guns, grenades and hell, freaking protective armor. God, this entire job had turned from annoying to total fucking bullshit.

As we set out, Sandra told us that today’s signature was located in my city’s very own little welfare town. It was the remnant of an old, forgotten urban development project. It comprised nothing but run-down tower blocks and half-abandoned buildings. Basically, the type of neighborhood you’d avoid like the plague.

The moment we made our way past the first ramshackle buildings, we noticed the stares. Disgruntled faces and mumbles curses told us we weren’t welcome here. I also noticed that some guys were ogling Sandra a bit too much. I couldn’t help but feel tense, but Sandra was her usual self and didn’t give them any notice.

“Well, what do you know, feels just like home,” Theodor next to me joked.

“Should’ve known you’ve been hanging around places like this.”

He shrugged.

“Been there, done this, you know?”

“No, I don’t,” I grumbled.

Sandra pointed to one of the tower blocks ahead. It looked as if it could come crashing down at any moment, and I was sure it was abandoned. Yet, when I gave it a closer look, I could see curtains in some windows. Here and there, people were leaning out from behind them, staring at the general misery surrounding them.

“Freaking hell, people live in there?”

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Theodor answered with a shrug, but for the first time, his face was somber, sad even.

“Shit sucks,” I agreed after a few moments.

He gave me a curious look, but Sandra cut our conversation short.

“Let’s go,” she said and waved us towards the building’s entrance.

The door stood ajar, barely holding onto its hinges. The moment we entered, a few figures scrambled away, retreating to wherever they’d come from. I was about to pull out my gun, but Sandra shook her head. Instead, she pointed upward.

“It’s up there, eighth floor.”

With that, we made our way down the hallway. It was littered with trash and at least half the apartments were abandoned. We reached an old elevator. The rusty doors and the general condition of the building made me opt against it.

“I’m not going to die in some freaking elevator accident,” I cursed and walked towards the stairs.

Sandra and Theodor reluctantly followed me. On the fourth floor, I came to regret my decision. Climbing eight flights of stairs is hell, especially when you’re wearing a suit of protective armor and carrying multiple weapons and god knows what else.

“Shit, hold on, freaking stairs are killing me,” I cursed.

Theodor stopped and gave me a probing look.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“You know, a couple of weeks ago, I’d have been the same as you, even without all that shit you’re wearing. Right now, though, I don’t feel a damn thing. Could do this all day.”

“Yeah, well, thanks for that asshole.”

He grinned at me.

“Can’t believe I threw myself into this cynic shit for years, living out in the streets like Diogenes. Should’ve read Nietzsche since I feel like I’ve become the freaking Ubermensch.”

“The fuck are you talking about now?”

“Philosophy,” Sandra chimed in from the flight above us.

“Diogenes,” Theodor explained, “lived in the streets like a dog, not owning a damn thing.”

As I heaved myself up, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Seems to fit just right.”

For a second, he glared at me before he shrugged. Yeah, this guy was a dog, a rabid one. He was already grinning and his hands were opening and closing in anticipation. He couldn’t wait to go in and kill.

The moment we reached the eighth floor, Sandra pointed at an apartment to our right. It was the only closed door. The rest of the floor was barren.

“Let me handle the door,” Sandra whispered before she rang the bell. “You guys hide nearby.”

When the door opened, a fat guy in sweaty clothes pushed his head out.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Hey there,” Sandra said in a voice as sweet as honey. “A friend of mine told me that things up here can be... interesting.”

For a moment, a puzzled look showed on the guy’s face before his eyes wandered over Sandra’s body. They turned hungry instantly as they went to her chest and then lower. It took almost half a minute before he looked into her eyes again.

“Well, sweetheart, why don’t you come in then?”

Angry yelling originated from inside when he held open the door for her. It cut off the moment Sandra stepped inside. The fat guy was about to close the door again when I pushed my foot in.

“Who the fuck are you?” he cursed.

Theodor ripped the door open, prompting a pained curse from the guy.

“Hey, you dumb bitch, you lied to me!” he screamed at Sandra.

The moment we entered, I saw a group of four other guys inside. They were all sitting on propped up camping chairs around a table on which innumerable bottles of cheap liquor stood. All of them jumped to their feet, screaming at us. All except one. He eyed us curiously as he watched the situation unfold.

“All right, gentlemen,” I started. “There’s a safety issue with the building. Unfortunately, we’ll have to ask you to leave so we can-“

“Shut the fuck up, you piece of shit!” one of them screamed at me.

“Get the fuck out before I kill you, asshole,” another one added.

I sighed. My hand closed around the gun in my pocket. If they wouldn’t listen, I’d have to make them. Sandra was focusing on her radar again, but I saw Theodor stepping towards a door behind the group.

“Hey what do you think you’re-?“ one of them screamed and tried to punch him.

Theodor easily caught his fist and pushed the guy back. Then he kicked open the cracked door. I saw the body instantly. A young woman was lying on a dirty mattress. Her body was beaten, bloody, and unmoving.

“Shit,” I cursed, but the situation had already escalated.

The fat guy next to me tried to jump me, but he went down with a single punch. Three of the other guys had stormed towards Theodor. He wasn’t grinning anymore. His face was hard, angry, and disgusted. I heard him whispered the words “fucking scum.” These three assholes must’ve thought they’d be able to overwhelm him, but they didn’t know what they were in for. Before I could even react, Theodor swatted one of them aside and knocked out a second one. He then got a hold of the third one. I heard bones break as he grabbed the man’s wrist.

“Dylan, it’s,” Sandra started, but she didn’t have to tell me who the creature was.

Guy number four was still sitting in his chair, not saying a word, and watched the surrounding chaos with a disinterested look on his face. I pulled out the gun and pointed. Right at that moment, Theodor threw his remaining attacker aside. The man’s unconscious body crashed into me, and my shot trailed off, missing the target.

“Fucking hell,” I cursed as I steadied myself again.

These few seconds, though, were enough for the creature. Sweatpants and clothes tore as muscles pushed through and additional appendages burst from its body. I lit the fucker up. Blood sprouted, but the bullets didn’t seem to have much of an effect. A second later, they were pushed from the writhing, seething mess of the creature’s muscles. Shit, this fucker was tough, and it was pretty damn huge.

I saw Theodor, combat knife in hand, but before he could land an attack, the creature tossed him across the room. I pointed the gun again, pulled the trigger, but at that moment, the creature focused on me. Appendages shot forward. The gun was batted aside and one of its clawed hands scratched over my protective armor, leaving behind a huge gush. God dammit! I jumped back, tried to bring as much distance between me and the fucker, but I knew I’d be too slow. I prepared myself for things to get ugly, but then the air around me crackled. A wave of Sandra’s powers shot forward, crashed against the creature’s giant body, but it was barely enough to stop it. It let out a loud screech. For a second, its eyes focused on Sandra before it retreated to a room to our right. By now, Theodor was up again and chased after it.

“Dammit, don’t be reckless. That thing’s dangerous!” Sandra called after him.

Shit! Where was the fucking gun? My eyes darted around the room. Finally, I found it, picked it up, and hurried after Theodor. I could already hear the sounds of fighting and laughter.

When I entered the room, I’d expected to find a mess of blood and gore and that Theodor had torn the creature apart. Today, however, was different. This time, it was Theodor who’d backed away. One of his legs was bleeding and his face was covered in blood from a cut on his forehead. He was still grinning, but his eyes were different. This was serious, they told me. The creature, though, had been wounded, too. Two of its appendages had been torn from its body, but I could already see it healing and could see new ones pushing outward. Shit, what the fuck was this thing? This was no mere C-class!

The moment it saw me entering the room, it let out a thundering roar. My ears popped, blood gushed from my nose, and I staggered. I tried to point the gun, tried to shoot, but my head was spinning.

The creature rushed forward again, not at Theodor, and neither at me. I was thrown aside as its enormous body crashed into mine before it threw itself at Sandra. It let out an angry, high-pitched scream as another wave of Sandra’s power crashed into it. Yet, it wasn’t pushed back. It was merely stopped. Then its body tensed up, muscles contorted before it pushed onward. Sandra’s face was covered in sweat. I saw her eyes growing wide, and heard her scream as she threw another assault against the creature. Yet, it wasn’t enough.

A moment later, it happened. The creature pushed through her assault with sheer force alone. Claws shot forward, and I saw them tear through the fabric of Sandra’s clothes. Blood sprouted from a cut and I heard her scream in pain. She staggered backward, fell to her knees, and her hands wandered to the wound she’d received.

I cursed, but by now my head was clear again. While the creature was still focused on Sandra, I saw my chance. I rushed forward, pushed the gun right against its body, and unloaded on it. Flesh evaporated, blood exploded outward, but even that wasn’t enough to finish the fucker off. It screeched in pain and a second later, I was thrown across the room. I crashed against a wall, the air was pushed from my lungs and I felt bones break. On the floor, I could already see the fucker’s flesh rending.

Just as the thing was about to finish Sandra off, I saw Theodor. For once, he hadn’t been reckless. For once, he’d waited and snuck up on the beast. He plunged the combat knife deep into its back and tore. Blood gushed from the body and the creature screeched up. Before it could retaliate, however, Theodor’s punch landed. The creature’s head was thrown backward, and I saw Theodor’s hands close around its lower jaw. I heard bones snapping and flesh tearing as Theodor ripped it off.

For a moment, the creature backed off, but then it was about to attack again. It took a single step forward before it seemed unable to move. I saw Sandra. She was holding up a shaking arm. Her face was covered in sweat. Blood gushed from her wound. After only a few seconds, her arm sank down again. This last ditch of effort had been enough, though. Theodor was upon it in an instant, and with all his strength, he tore the creature’s head off. He jumped back as the creature’s body went wild, flailing and trashing. It’s still not over, I thought. I already saw it sprouting a new head, saw it attacking again, but then the body crashed to the floor and lay still.

Once it was over, I thought there’d be silence, but Theodor started laughing and cursing at the thing and tore its body apart in a frenzy. Instead of watching him, though, I hurried over to Sandra.

“Hey, Sandra, are you all right?”

She nodded.

“It’s not a deep cut. I could avoid a serious injury, but it was close.”

As I stared at her bloody body, I felt the throbbing of my own. I wondered what the hell we had encountered here.

“This was no C-class!”

“No,” Sandra said, shaking her head. “The data must’ve been wrong or dampened. This thing was definitely B-class.”

By now, Theodor had stopped and stood there, panting. The cut on his forehead was still bleeding, and so was the gush on his leg.

“Hey, Theodor, are you all right?”

No answer. Instead, he walked over to one of the guys he’d knocked out before. I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could, he crashed the guy’s body against the wall. Blood gushed from the guy’s nose and mouth, bones snapped and his body fell to the floor in a mangled mess. The second guy followed soon after. A single hit to his chest was enough, and his body lay still forever.

“What the fuck are you-?”

“None of them deserve to fucking live!” he snapped at me as he went to the third one, who was desperately trying to crawl away from him.

“That girl over there? You saw her, right? What do you think they did to her? Fucking look at her!”

With that, he crushed the neck of the third guy. He was already making his way over to the fat guy I’d knocked out when I heard Sandra scream. Theodor crashed to the floor hard. I heard him curse and his eyes focused on Sandra.

“I told you,” she snapped. “Behavior such as this will not be tolerated. I warned you if you do anything outside of our jurisdiction, there’d be consequences.”

I saw her twist her hand, saw her arm shaking while Theodor cringed in pain.

“Sandra,” I started and put my hand on her shoulder, but she didn’t react.

“Hey, Sandra, stop it!”

She didn’t respond. Instead, her eyes still rested on Theodor.

“Sandra, fucking stop! You said it yourself! We need him!”

Finally, Theodor slumped down to the floor, unconscious. Her head darted around and she stared at me with angry eyes.

“Dammit, Dylan, we can’t just go around and... dammit!”

Her eyes wandered to the dead girl in the room. I stood there, staring at Theodor, at Sandra, and then at the fat guy. He was awake now, but still on the floor. When our eyes met, I remembered Theodor’s words. For a moment, I looked over at the girl’s body once more before they returned to the fat guy.

Fuck monsters, I thought, as I brought my foot down hard on his neck.

Fuck monsters and fuck morality.