As I savored the flavors of the giant donut in this whimsical world of Sugar Land, a sense of euphoria and satisfaction enveloped me. Gluttony had its tight grip on me. Each bite brought a surge of sweetness, momentarily easing the weight of the grim reality I had just faced.
As my vision faded from the vibrant candy land, I was thrust back into the world engulfed in red. The grim reality I had left behind. I blinked, finding myself surrounded by a macabre scene of blood and raging fires. It was as if I had glimpsed hell itself. Farhide and his men lay scattered. Their bodies were mutilated and disfigured, a ghastly sight that turned my stomach. The looming darkness of the alley and its ominous buildings pressed down on me, leaving me bewildered and shaken by the gruesome scene before me. What…happened?
HUNT COMPLETE
JOB STATUS: COMPLETED
REWARDS WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP AT THE PYRAMID
Desire released himself from my neck, and my bracelet flickered to life. It was done. I hunted Marcus Farhide. But how? What even happened? The overwhelming wave of thoughts were interrupted by Zara's enthusiastic pat on my back.
“GOOD SHIT, KID! You were a beast out there. Are you sure you’re not a veteran? Cause, goddamn, you were merciless. Ripping through them with that big smile on your face? Gave me chills.”
Wait. I did this? What? When? How? Questions filled my mind as despair creeps in. “Ms. Zara, may I speak with you privately, please?” Desire asked, floating towards a corner. Zara followed, her face showing confusion. They whispered to each other, Zara occasionally glancing at me with concern. Eventually, Zara nodded to Desire, ending their conversation.
“What were you guys talking about?” I asked, stepping closer to them.
"It's... uhm... nothing! It's okay, kid. Sometimes it's best not to know. Trust me on this one," Zara replied, her words tinged with a hint of hesitation.
“Nevermind that, let’s go collect this reward of yours! I’m dying to see that hotel room we’re supposedly getting. I hope it has a hot tub or something. I could use a good soak, and maybe we can order some room service. What do you say?”
We? I never invited her to stay with me. I shot a look of disbelief before rolling my eyes, surrendering to her nonsense.
Zara and I navigated through the maze-like streets, the flickering neon signs casting an ethereal glow upon our path. The Pyramid, a monolithic structure that pierced the skyline, beckoned from a distance. Zara moved with an effortless swagger, her steps gracefully dancing under the shadows and the neon-lit streets. Her nonchalant whistling echoing against the alley walls punctuated her happy-go-lucky mannerism. Contrarily, I strolled cautiously, my senses on high alert. Every shadow held a potential threat, and each shift in the urban landscape felt like a puzzle to solve.
As we approached the Pyramid, the anticipation in the air grew palpable. Robotic guards stood at attention near the entrance, their stern gazes scanning everyone and anyone who approaches. Dark red stains marked the floor, stark reminders of the fate of the “failures”. Zara, with her easy-going demeanor, breezed past them as if she knew every secret the city held.
Zara and I passed through the imposing entrance of the Pyramid, the air inside thick with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The grand lobby, bathed in eerie crimson light, hummed with activity. The hunters gathered at the holographic terminals. Their faces etched with determination and despair, hardened by countless battles. A mix of human and robotic guards patrolled the lobby, armed to the teeth. The atmosphere crackled with tension, the promise of danger and reward hanging heavy in the air.
“Zara, wait!” I exclaimed trying to catch up to her.
The bustling lobby hummed with a frantic energy, a sea of faces rushing past in a blur of colors and shapes. Her hand firmly clasped mine, her grip reassuring as she guided me through the overwhelming crowd. We approached the same terminal where I had the chip implanted, the very day my life changed.
"NAME AND HUNTER STATUS, PLEASE," a robotic voice demanded. Those words echoed in my mind. I felt a surge of deja vu.
"Marilyn Ridgewood and uhm…Hunter" I responded.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"MARILYN RIDGEWOOD, HUNTER. JOB STATUS: COMPLETED. REWARDS: MRE (6 BAGS) AND VISTA HOTEL (2 NIGHTS)"
As my bracelet sprang to life, the robot’s eyes started to glow. A whirring sound pierced the air, growing louder with each passing moment. Suddenly, a sleek drone seemingly came out from the shadows, descending gracefully before us. With a gentle thud, it deposited a black box at our feet. Inside lay neatly packed bags of MREs and a keycard, its surface adorned with a palm tree and the words "Vista Hotel" printed in bold, gold letters. Desire approached the box making it disappear.
“Nice, forgot these things have digital storage. Alright, let’s go! A luxury bathtub is calling for my ass!”
Zara's voice crackled with excitement as she grabbed my arm, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. Desire latched himself on my neck like a collar. A flicker of fire danced across her feet as her legs started to whir. Her hair ignites, forming a halo on top of her head. I had a feeling I knew where this was going.
With a sudden blast and burst of fire, Zara leaped into the air, blasting us through the open window. The world spun around me as we soared through the darkness. I knew it. WE’RE FLYING? AGAIN?! Even though I felt like I was going to die, a thrill of exhilaration coursed through me.
“WOOOO! HAHAHAHA!” Zara's energy was infectious, her unwavering belief in her abilities pushing us forward. She guided us towards a towering golden skyscraper, its gleaming facade piercing the night sky like a beacon of hope. We landed right in front of the golden skyscraper, the rush of air settling around us as Zara released her hold. Her laughter echoed in the night as she straightened up, brushing off imaginary dust from her clothes.
"HAHAHA, that never gets old!" Zara's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “Kid!” She shot me a mischievous grin. “Ready to soak up in some luxury?”
I nodded, trying to ignore the urge to puke. As we entered the fancy building, the grandiosity felt overwhelming. It felt like we entered a different dimension. Its glistening and luxurious interior was in stark contrast to the filthy street outside. Zara's eyes grew even wider. Her enthusiasm seemed unfazed, but I couldn't shake off the unease.
“Zara," I began tentatively, "do you ever feel like... you've done something, but you can't remember?”
“Oh? Get that all the time kid. My noggin’ has seen so much fucked up shit that in order to stay stable. Gotta remove some of them memories. You know what I mean? Anyways. Moving on. Look at this beauty! Vista Hotel! Always wanted to stay here. Thanks to you, kid, that wish came true.”
Her swift shift in conversation didn't quell the gnawing doubts within me. The luxury surrounding us felt suffocating. Her last sentence did make me a little happy. As we approached the front desk of the hotel, someone bumped into Zara’s shoulder.
“HEY! WATCH IT, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!” Zara snapped at the man.
“What the fuck did you just call me, whore?”
He appeared Korean, clad in an open black suit revealing tattooed skin. He had a pistol holstered to his side.
“Not only are you dumb as fuck, you’re deaf too? Hmmf.” Zara scoffed.
“I fucking dare you. Say that shit again.” The man approached her.
“I said. Deaf. Piece. Of. Shit.”
The air crackled with an impending clash as the man’s hand darted towards his weapon. Zara met his gaze, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. A radiant halo of flames ignited on top her head, her hair flickering like a living torch. Flames were dancing along her arms and shoulders.
“Try me.” Zara declared with a smirk.
In an explosive motion, the man lunged for his pistol. Before his fingers could even graze the grip, Zara surged forward, snatching the weapon from his reach. Fire erupted from her hand, a fierce inferno devouring the gun and sending him reeling backward. The flames raging on Zara's hand subsided, leaving her palm unscathed. The man's eyes widened in disbelief but later transitioned to a grin.
“Look at you. Tryna be like the Arsonist, I see? HAHAHA. Fucking fan girl. Even bought the Arsonist build. Oh my god. The Pyroteknic too?? HAHAHA. That’s actually hilarious.”
Zara’s mischievous smirk faded, replaced by focused intensity and rage. “Fan girl, huh? Bitch. I am the Arsonist. ZARA THE MOTHERFUCKING ARSONIST. INCENDIUM AD SOL.” As she uttered her final phrase, her body ignited into flames, an inferno enveloping her form.
She surged towards the man, pressing him to the ground.
"Any last words?"
"Yeah," the man sneered, spitting on her face. "Fuck you."
Zara seized the man's face, hoisting him up. A torrent of blistering flames consumed both her hand and the man's face. His excruciating screams pierced the room, a symphony of torment.
“I fucking dare you. Say that shit again.”