HUNTING

Half an hour later we hadn't found any more monsters. The hunger and the fatigued and the stress finally took a toll on me. As we sat down to rest, I felt the weight of our situation clearly. We are trapped in a forest forced to hunt fantasy like monsters. The alternative was dying. "What do you think they are doing at home?" Sid asked.

I glanced at her in irritation. "I don't know about yours, but my mom is probably celebrating that she wouldn't have to deal with me anymore," I sighed picking a branch from the ground. "Who am I kidding? She probably don't care either way."

"You can't say that,"

"Say what?" I glared at her, only now realizing who I am talking to. "You can say shit about your mom but my mom is none of your fucking business!"

She scowled. "I was just trying to help,"

"And who asked for your help? Shut the fuck up already!" I glared at her and she glared back.

We were glaring at each other so we didn't notice the monster until it was right in front of us. It was a different kind from the other two types we had seen before. It was as tall as a nine year old, looked human too except of course it had green skin, big round eyes, a squat flat nose and long ears. It was also wearing only loin cloth, but held an improvised spear with the stone tip tied to the shaft with vines.

There was a moment of mutual startlement as the creature blinked in surprise, then it threw its head back and shrieked. I quickly drew back rising to my feet. The creature did not follow, it just continued screaming loudly. The sound was piercing that I felt an headache coming.

I aimed my rifle at it and shot. To my surprise a translucent dome appeared around the monster blocking the lasers. I continued shooting though, unrelenting, my gun soon went empty however. "Sid, a little help!" I screamed in panic dropping the firearm and reached for the handgun tucked in my waist band.

But to my horror, the energy dome surrounding the creature suddenly vanished___ the creature shrieked and ran towards me. I drew back, my fear made me unable to pull the handgun. Just as I despaired though and braced for my end, the creature suddenly screamed and was sent flying from laser fire. Sid has broken out of her daze!

The creature burst into particles of light as it hit the ground; a monster orb fell out of air, bouncing once then rolled to a stop. All that happened in seconds. I was suddenly left feeling overwhelming relief, my fear was washing off slowly, my fast beating heart slowed. I took a deep breath, my hands shaking as I wiped the sweat on my forehead. "Thanks for the timely help!" I snapped.

"Sorry," Sid said. "Fuck, that was terrifying!"

"Yeah," I laughed then chocked and coughed, tears in my eyes. Sid started laughing at me; we doubled over laughing our relief. When we were done, I walked over to the orb. It was brighter than the first two. A level two? Maybe..... This goblin seem higher leveled than those we have faced before. Yes goblin, that's what I figured it was. I told Sid my thought and she nodded, though she added.

"If that's a goblin, and these creatures are supposed to follow fantasy tropes," she finger quoted. "Then they might be more of them close by___ they usually go about in groups."

I nodded. "Probably why it was screaming, it was calling for help. We should get out of here!"

"Do we continue towards the wall?"

I furrowed my brows and fell in thought. I looked towards the wall and nodded. "Nothing's change. We might go any one direction and cross path with them. Or...."

"Or what?"

"Or we can wait here in ambush,"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Sid said seriously. "Plus we are running out of ammo. We should move on, hunt these things in small doses,"

I fell in thought then nodded. She's right, I have always been a little impatient. "Sure, then let's go,"

We encountered two more monsters after we moved on. Both Sheepmen were dispatched effectively as we were getting used to this. After that we saw no more monster until the sun started to set, and that too brought a dilemma. "Where do we Camp for the night?" Sid asked.

"I have no idea," I said. "Do you think we should make a fire? I have a feeling it'll get cold out here at night."

"Well, a fire might not be a good idea with monsters crawling these woods,"

"I have the same thought. So death by cold or by monsters," I sniggered. "Hardly options,"

We found a glade and decided to settle here for the night. "I would give anything for a tent," I said sagging. "And food," Honestly we could hunt, if we saw any game that is. This forest is deadly still, the only living things we have seen are those monsters and even that is under debate.

The fire sparked to life after Sid's effort with two stones. The flames grew under her patient guidance and soon roared into a formidable force. Sid grinned then sat back and leaned against a tree chewing a branch idly. I crouched at the side and watched the fire.

"Do you think it's true?" Sid asked casually.

"Hmm? What?" I turned.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Dunno, the whole level up thing. Grandma hinted at something extraordinary here," she shrugged. "Just saying... Maybe I am just tired and hungry and fucking scared,"

"Yeah, we have to figure out a way to get food. Now I am glad for those hunting trips. If there's a single game in this forest we'd get it."

"Yeah," Sid nodded. "You know maybe you are right, maybe they had been training us to survive this. It'll be the only reason they'd be comfortable to throw us into this hell."

"Or maybe we are expendable," I scoffed.

Sid glared at me. "You know that's not true,"

"Do I? Fucking blondie. Go to sleep, we have a long day tomorrow, I have first watch."

Sid stared at me deeply for a moment then nodded. She lay with her back to me and curled up. I sighed softly then stared into the fire in deep thought, reflecting back on my life for the first time in my life. Considering what I should have done better.

Come morning, when we woke up we were not the same girls that found themselves in a train yesterday, all scared, all curious, all full of questions. No now we were angry, hungry and desperate. We have no time to consider what is or is not real, nor the luxury. We just wanted to eat, to survive, to feel safe.

It's funny how a few hours could change ones priorities. Just yesterday I was worrying about school, my mom, and repeated food. Now those aspirations seem distant, too out of reach. Today we hunt. But we don't hunt monsters only but good old game too. We decided to go towards a different direction. South, I called it for reference. Besides, the sun rose from the direction of the wall. That's east. Facing East, my right is south.

Heading south things changed for the better. After an hour's trek and killing two more Sheepmen, we spotted a hare sprinting through the undergrowth. I reacted the quickest shooting my handgun at it but it'd already disappeared in some shrubs. Searching for it we came out empty. I screamed.

Sid scowled too and we continued on. Some half an hour later we succeeded on hunting two rabbits then made a fire and roasted it. It was not supposed to be delicious but it was fulfilling, somehow. We found another stream, possibly the extension of the one we saw yesterday, but it was wider in this location. Another thing different today was that we finally saw other people, though they always kept their distance which was fine by us. Before we knew it, the sun was starting to set as another day ended.

It was a sad feeling watching the sun sink in the horizon whilst still trapped in the hopeless situation.

We made a fire and roasted another rabbit. Not much was said between us. I gave Sid first watch this time as I decided not to bully her too much. I felt I only slept for a blink before she was waking me. I tried to say something but she covered my mouth with her hand. "Something is coming," she whispered and eased back. I quickly sat up, fumbling for my gun.

It seemed a wise decision as a giant creature stumbled into the clearing, shielding its eyes with a hand. I took a moment to take it in. A grey monstrosity wearing only loin cloth with small tusks protruding from its mouth. It roared then barreled towards us, unarmed. Me and Sid fired without hesitation but lasers only seemed to slow it down.

The giant stepped into the fire as it charged at us, raising sparks, and drew back in fear. I reached my hand into my pocket for the grenade but Sid was faster. She threw her grenade at the foot of the monster, it landed and rolled between its legs. With a thunderous roar it went off brightening the night for a moment.

When it stilled, I squinted into the night. The moon offered not much light and the fire was just a pile of scattered glowing sticks. Seeing no sign of the monster we went over. Sid arrived first and picked up the glowing orb. It was brighter than the one yesterday from the goblin. Though I suspected it was because it was night more than its level. "It's yours," I shook my head as she offered it to me. I let her absorb it as I went back to fix the fire. I thought we should probably move but it's already night and finding another glade to camp will be difficult.

The next day we saw signs of other camp fires, all ash and charcoal and stones; we saw more of other people too. Hunt was bad today, both monster and game, we saw nothing. We decided the traffic was the cause of it but we still went on. At midday, chasing a rabbit we ran through the woods. Just as I thought we had a clear shot I saw the animal run towards a group of people, making me hesitate to pull the trigger. That's all the rabbit needed to swerve to the side and elude me. Just when I thought it'll get away though, laser fire sent it flying, blowing it in two. I gave Sid a nod in praise and grinned.

We were about to go get our game when I recognized most of the people gathered there. It was Brad and his friends, four of them like last time, but the other two beside Dan didn't look the same as the ones we met in the train, or maybe I didn't get their faces. Opposite Brad's group was the asian guy that called himself Dragon Claw Ming___ I am going to humor him and call him Dragon____ and Chloe, the busy body blond girl. The two groups were pointing guns at each other.

More importantly though was the crate beside them that must have been the cause of the confrontation.

Our appearance visibly disturbed the two sides as they stared at us warily. Me and Sid paused for only a moment before pointing our guns towards Brad's group. "This is just interesting," Dragon said.

"Talk for yourself," Brandon huffed, then glared at me. "You should leave, this is none of your business,"

I blinked and stared at the crate of weapons. Is he serious? I really want it. It'd been bothering me since this morning that we are running out of ammo, and he just wants me to walk away? That's akin to suicide. As without ammo me and my sister won't survive a day here, hell even if the monsters don't kill us we will die of hunger. "Are you stupid?" I sneered. "I want the weapons too!"

Brandon glared at me angrily but said nothing. "Are you two enemies?" Dragon asked smiling. He was probably Chinese, good looking too, I noted in passing.

"Nothing we can't reconcile," I said. I understand he sensed a rift between me and Brad and is trying to capitalize on it, I wasn't about to make it easy for him. If he wants me to join his side he has to work for it.

"It's complicated," Brandon added trying to make things difficult for the other side too.

Seeing all that Chloe sighed and looked at me. "Why don't you join my team, I promise you and your sister 30 percent of the weapons we get,"

"And how do we get the weapons for ourselves, a shootout?" I was not ready to kill anyone but I am not above a little bluffing.

Chloe smiled. "That could work, none of them are pointing their guns at you, you can take them out before they turn."

"Come one," Brad scoffed. "She won't shoot me, my dad and theirs are old buddies."

"Don't be so sure about that Brad," Sid said coldly.

"We have arrived at a sort of an impass, what do we do now?" Chloe asked.

"How about we share?" I suggested.

"Share?" Chloe laughed. "You thought we haven't tried doing that?"

"She wants fifty fifty," Brad told me, "But my group has more people!"

"How about twenty five percent for every two people?" I suggested. Brad looked at me in surprise, I winked. The reason I suggested something beneficial to him was because I have a feeling the only way I am getting something here is by being good with him. Yes of course he'd get only fifty percent in the end but that's not the point, the point is Chloe and Dragon gets 25 percent only. It's a matter of pride.

"I agree," Brad said as I expected. Chloe and Dragon scowled at me but I only grinned. That's why I didn't support them___ you see, Brad might be bad news but it doesn't mean these two are good guys. If I help them, I wouldn't get anything. 30 percent of what they get? Greedy motherfuckers they are!

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