I turned to Reina, and then to Naomi. She didn’t know it, but that look on her face was betraying her. “There’s more going on here than you’re not telling me,” I said, looking at her seriously. “The victims need our help now, not tomorrow. We’re their only hope,” I said as thunder struck. “Sensei didn’t pass us so we can take it easy. I didn’t break my back training to bench it when things got rough. Now, I don’t know when tired feet and wet hair ever stopped a hunter from completing a mission, but they sure as hell aren’t going to stop me. So the both of you can head back home if you want to. I’m going in there and searching high and low for those victims.”

I pivoted around and headed to the cathedral, the large wooden doors inviting me in right away. Once inside, I noticed the darkness and shadows played tricks on my eyes, causing me to squint. The musty scent of damp wood and aged stone filled my nostrils, a testament to the cathedral’s years. I continued to pace along the stone slabs, drawn toward the nave and the moonlight peering through the stained glass windows. Finally I stopped, the sound of the downpour outside making me hear things. Statues of saints and stone pillars edged my eyes, drumbeat tapping lining my ears. I was getting a real eerie vibe from this place, until I heard wet footsteps approaching me.

I turned around to see my girls. “Naomi?”

“You wouldn’t stand a chance fighting off walkers without me,” she said.

“You’re lucky I can’t take much more of this rain,” Reina followed after her as she took my side and squeezed the tail of her long hair.

I smiled. “Thanks, team. I think we should split up.”

“What?!” Reina squeaked. “Not two seconds inside, and I’m already regretting my decision.”

“This isn’t Scooby Doo,” Naomi piggy-backed. “We are stronger as a team.”

I grabbed my shoulders and hugged myself as I chattered my teeth. “Hey, can you quit agreeing with Reina? You’re giving me goosebumps.”

“Haa, such a riot! But no, absolutely not. I am not about to scan these halls alone, where I can be caught off guard by a blood hungry monster.”

I smirked. “But I thought you said there were no monsters in here?”

“Did you hear that?” Naomi said, her head turned to the right.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Reina said. “Nothing but the thunder and heavy rain outside.”

“I didn’t hear anything, either,” I said. “Want to pursue it?”

“No,” Naomi said quickly, then she turned to me. “We’ll take your lead.”

“All right. I’ll respect your decision to stick together, just know it’ll take longer. We need to be thorough, top to bottom.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“The power is dead,” Naomi said as she trailed away from us to turn on the lights. “Storm must have killed it.”

“How about starting us off with some light?” Reina suggested as Naomi made her way back to us. “I can’t see a thing in here.” Just as she said that, the front doors slammed, Reina jumping at the sound. All three of us jerked our heads behind us, Reina then backing further into the cathedral with a spooked look on her face. “Please tell me that it was just the wind?”

“Well, it was a little windy outside,” I said, then ignited a fist of flames.

“It doesn’t have to burn that hot,” Naomi suggested. “Spare your stamina.”

I downed the fire a little and nodded. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Oh, no way!” Reina cried, scurrying her feet in between Naomi and I. “I refuse to be stuck in the back where something could snatch me up!”

“You sure I won’t just step aside and let them snatch you?” Naomi teased.

“Nothing is sneaking up on us. There’s a stairway to the second floor just over there. Let’s go.” We went up to the second floor of the cathedral and began our search for the kidnapped victims. My flame gave off a warm orange glow as we made our way up the ancient wooden stairs, making figures dance along the walls with light. The eerie stillness in the air made the space around us feel even emptier, the howling winds coming from outside adding to the spooky vibe of the cathedral. It wasn’t until we reached upstairs did I realize just how dilapidated this place was—peeling paint, broken floorboards, and debris scattered across the ground. Upstairs needed some serious TLC.

As we slowly walked through the dark hallway, the boards groaned under our feet. Reina jumped at every little sound, grabbing onto my arm. I could feel Naomi rolling her eyes without turning around, the same thought crossing my mind, too. She was a certified monster hunter. Shit like this shouldn’t scare her anymore.

When we got to a certain spot upstairs, I stopped short, registering a cold draft blowing in. It was strong, the kind of strong to blow out my flame fist. Naomi walked up to me and told me not to ignite another, and also told us to be quiet and still, like she was trying to pick up something.

“Ahhh!” Reina cried, and before I could blink, a huge glowing scythe came for my head!

I ducked Reina’s shot like I didn’t have physical invulnerability as a meta, and then jumped back up on my feet and hissed, “Reina!”

“Sorry!”

“What the hell was that?!”

“I swear I saw that statue behind you move!”

“What?” I pivoted around and looked behind me, scanning the area where Reina had seen movement. But there was nothing there except an old stone statue of an angel in the thick darkness, its wings folded and head bowed.

“I don’t see anything,” I said, squinting. “Are you sure you’re not just seeing shit because you’re spooked out of your mind?”

Reina nodded, her eyes wide. “I swear the statue moved! Its head turned and its wings unfurled, like it was going to attack you.”

I studied the statue more closely. It seemed innocuous enough, covered in a layer of dust and grime. The angel’s face was turned down in a serene expression with its stone wings folded around its body. Nothing about it suggested imminent attack.

“Reina, are you sure you didn’t just imagine it?” I asked. “Old places like this can play tricks on your eyes, especially in low light.”

Reina glared at me. “You think I’ve lost my mind? I might be terrified, but I would certainly not fabricate things for the sole purpose of your entertainment!”

“And who exactly were you trying to entertain? I nearly got my head sliced off!”

“Quit being a drama queen! We all know you would have survived!” she hissed back. “I know what I saw! That angel came to life and tried to attack you with its fangs, and its long pointy claws!”

“So it turned into a fucking vampire, too?”

“Let’s keep moving,” Naomi suggested stoically. “No point in loitering around if the victims aren’t here.”