September 30, 2028845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeo5HwC5MS
@8:17 A.M
This is the first time I woke up without any nightmare showing its ugly head. And I was very thankful for it. I turned to stare at my window and saw bright daylight.
Oh shi-.. I’ve slept in.
Yawning, I stood up from the bed and followed daily routine like eating, showering, and other stuff people do in the morning. 50 curl-ups, 50 sit-ups, 50 push-ups. I tend to do it so that it’ll keep my body in good condition.
I went to my living room and sat in my beat-up couch, which squeaked in protest. Then, I reached for my ledger and scanned the bounty page. No acceptable prize. And everything in the bounty page were species I already caught. But this can’t be all the monster out there. After all, I still haven’t found the perfect match.
September 30, 2011845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PKnWbwyDp
@9:13 A.M
“Please, don’t!” Someone begged. “Don’t take her!”
I was clutching the back of the shirt of the man who spoke. I hid behind him, looking for protection. But somehow, I knew it was useless.
He was pushed to the ground as I was pulled roughly.
I cried, “Please don’t take me!” I begged.
“Shut up!” Someone slapped me and I fell to the ground. Though I was quickly pulled up and thrown in someone’s shoulder. I kicked and I thrashed.
And I could hear my older brother’s screams and shout; begging them to release me.
Then, I heard a gunshot.845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0wBWmhe6C
September 30, 2028845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU4OaikXfT
@9:20 A.M
I jumped up from the couch and stared wildly at my surroundings and my hands poised for attack. But my house was empty. So, I shook my head and sat back down. So much for a nightmare-free day.
I picked my phone up and dialed the only number I knew; Sky’s. He picked up on the third ring.
“Hello?” He grumbled.
“Hey, just woke up?” I asked.
“Nah, I was asleep. . ‘til you called. Up all night hunting.”
Oopss. “Oh, okay then. Go back to sleep.”
“Thanks, ‘night, beautiful.” He answered sleepily.
Blush creeping up my cheeks, I answered. “It’s morning already, Sky.”
“Then, good morning.” He corrected before hanging up.845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaGe3aJFok
Now, what am I going to do? Bored out of my mind, I picked my ledger up and randomly picked a hunt to occupy my day. Anything beats staring at my ceiling all day. So, my stylus landed on:
Wanted: Dead845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5kbAw9Ze2
Bounty: 500 silver845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMlQajPaxS
Species: Shrimpolim845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYywKTilMqy
Warning: Fast. Poisonous845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrcpvNUVc3
Location: Dead Water845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGVittQbn5
Shrimpolims are an easy catch. Though, hunters rarely sign up for it since it lives under the water and they couldn’t be bothered to swim. Besides, most people can’t breathe long enough in the water to find its hive let alone catch it. And if you were smart enough, you won’t wear air tanks. It will only slow you down. But I was not most people. So, I signed my name. And it was the only name on it.
I armed myself. Putting a dagger on my belt, on each side of my waist. Then another two at my back, forming an x. I took a rope and hanged it on my left side. Two more daggers were hidden on each boots I was wearing. Lastly, I took my jacket and wore it before stepping out.
September 30, 2028845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5JIDslRr2
@1:37 P.M
I dived in the water holding my daggers. Better safe than sorry. I swam and swam for hours, which is no fret since I can breathe under water. I looked for any possible dwelling of a Shrimpolim. I turned a hundred stone upside down. Still, no luck.
I felt water rushed behind me. I quickly turned and saw a Shrimpolim swimming away. I kicked and followed after it. It was fast though I didn’t had trouble getting up to its pace. And in no time, I was directly behind it.
Shrimpolim looked like shrimp (duh?). But a thousand times more bigger. And I’m not exaggerating. It was 7 feet long, bend and all. Its pleopod and pereopod as sharp as knife. Its shell as hard as a turtle’s. The only way to kill it is to stab it in its mouth, which is definitely crazy dangerous since it only open its mouth when it’s ready to release its poison or to pull it towards land, which is almost impossible for most humans because of its rapid swimming. But like I said, I’m not most humans. I tied the rope in one of my dagger and stabbed it in its tail. It shrieked and tried to swim away but I swam towards the shore and pulled it behind me.
Upon reaching the shore, I gave one more hard pull at the rope and the Shrimpolim jumped out of the water. It landed on the ground, struggling but after a minute or two it stopped moving. Now, all I got to do is bring it to the headquarters.
I started walking and eventually I reached the headquarters before it even got dark. People were looking at me strangely. ‘Cuz who wouldn’t when you got a giant shrimp on your back? I’d stare at me.
I nodded at the guard and he greeted me with a salute. I wasn’t comfortable with it but no matter what I say he still does it. I, honestly, don’t know why. He pushed open the door for me and I entered the headquarters.
The inside was a replica of a hospitable. White. Clean. And it smell strongly of antiseptic. I moved towards the counter and placed my catch in front of a man. 27 in age. Just a couple of inches taller than me. His blonde hair gelled and fixed. His blue eyes laughing. He looked up from his papers
“Gretel!” He beamed. Showing his white teeth.
“Hey, Jack,” I greeted back. “Here’s your Shrimpolim.” I gestured towards the mutant shrimp I just put on his table.
“Yeah, I can see it.” His eyes grew as he took in the monster before him. “You caught this? Alone?”
“What? Are you doubting my abilities?” I faked a gasp. “Who do you think I am?”
“Gretel, of course. The best hunter there is.” He replied. Then, with a laugh he added. “Didn’t you just signed up for this today? I heard Shrimpolim are hard to find.”
“Huh,” I scoffed. “Not for those who knows where to look.”
He laughed loudly and a bunch of people turned to stare at us. Some hunters and others like Jack, who work at this headquarter. I turned and gave them my beat-it-or-else look. The workers quickly rushed away but the hunters gawked at me with recognition.
“Jack,” I called when I turned to look at him. “Hurry up with the pay with yah? You didn’t told me there’s a bunch of newbies here.”
He laughed again as he started to record my catch.
“I don’t know what you hq-ers tell these newbies about me but I don’t like attention. So, hurry up!”
“For the record there is no word ‘hq-ers’.” I rolled my eyes at him, he obviously enjoyed my discomfort. “And we don’t tell them any lies. Just the truth. You sign for a hunt and delivers it on the same day. They idolize you, because really? Gretel no one can do that but you.” He explained.
“Just hurry up!” I urged him with a roll of my eyes.“Here,” He handed me a ledger to sign and I did. Then, he gave me a pouch. I quickly took it and exited out of the building as fast as I could without looking like I’m running from something.845Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW68JdpJjq
