The room was settled and still, pristine white walls illuminated by a single light in the ceiling. A bed sat in the corner, the pillows neat and square, a single white blanket folded halfway to the centre. It was the only piece of furniture in the boxed room.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOek6TbCFhD
Legs crossed in the centre of the room sat a woman without hair of brown complexion, dressed fully in a black cloak and a white ceramic mask sat beside her. Her eyes were closed but her ears were open to the tiny vibrations of footsteps creeping outside of the blue metal door behind her.
The bronze handle slowly tilted as a shadow crept from underneath the frame. Without a sound to crack the silence the door slowly opened, barely an inch away from the frame.
A tiny mirror peeked into the room from the door. A tall black cloaked man on the other side observed the room with the mirror, but saw that nothing was there. Little did he realise that the woman in black was already positioned behind the door, pressed hard against the wall, displaying her white mask.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL7WYxwBip
Through the crack in the door, a black gloved hand emerged. Pushing the mirror further into the room, the reflective surface tilting as the man searched silently.
But as the mirror caught glimpses of a black cloak, suddenly and without warning, the woman in black slammed the door hard with the back of her fist. The force of the impact crushed the man’s hand wedging it between the metal door and the steel frame.
A piercing scream echoed the hallway outside as the man tried to wriggle his hand free. The man banged the door frantically, begging for it to open and set him free of his torment.
And as if his prayers were answered, the door violently swung open releasing his hand and let loose a fisted black glove to his face.
The woman in black launched his feet clear off the ground as the force of the punch propelled him across the blinding white hallway.
Exiting the room brimming with confidence, the woman in black observed her surroundings, taking in every noticeable detail she could.
The hallway was a part of a boxed complex with metal doors aligned on each side. Each door was designated a number between 30 and 21.
In the centre of the complex was a series of stairs leading to seven floors up and three floors down. Each floor had ten doors with designated numbers from the lowliest 1 to the highest 100.
Tap...Tap...Tap...
The sounds of footsteps encroached down the set of stairs as another man in a black coat set foot on her floor.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGSj9v03Wd
Entering at the far end of the hallway opposite the woman in black, the man stood firm, locking eyes with his target. He needed to stop her from proceeding down the stairs.
Without hesitation his legs tensed into a sudden jolt, sprinting towards his target at an alarming pace.
Quickly closing in the gap between them, the man reached for a right hook aiming for the woman’s head with ferocious momentum.
Anticipating his sudden movement, with little effort the woman in black twisted her body, spinning around the man’s swing elegantly and tripping him at his feet.
Unable to stop his acceleration, the man tumbled and rolled, crashing into the room from whence the woman came.
The woman, satisfied that the attacker was subdued closed the door behind her, locking him in. But as she was about to leave, a sudden but quick sense of emotion took over her.
Taking one last glance at the number displayed on the door, the woman in black knew that no matter what happens this day that would be the last time she ever saw her room... Number 30.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt0EKKdsza
With the brief feeling of emotion gone, the woman in black made her way to the stairwell and headed down at a casual pace.
Gracefully lifting off the last step and barley touching the next floor, a glowing blue sword whistled past her, grazing her white porcelain mask as it soared, stabbing into door number twenty.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcV48QfqxO
Greeting her on this floor was a pale woman in black who quickly summoned her Weapon back into her hand. She too was ready to stop the woman in black at all cost.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki11fPr2Fh
Rapidly tapping her chest thrice, the woman in black summoned three dark metal Kunai, nestling then in-between her fingers.
The pale woman braced herself ready, taking a defensive position as she held her sword above her head pointing towards the ground (hanging right). She believed her defence was impenetrable.
Swiftly flicking her wrist in rapid succession, the woman in black threw her blades like darts, cutting through the air.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAcAh4lZQA
At a moment’s breath and without wasting any movement, the pale woman waved her sword deflecting two of the incoming knives as they pinged off her steel blade.
But as the third, unaltered from its path was of no mere threat, the pale woman let it glide past her cheek, slightly grazing it as it passed by.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BLzAgwAER
Taking an aggressive stance, the pale woman raised her blade ready to attack... nothing... the woman in black had disappeared.
Scouring the hallway in front of her, the pale woman was dumbfounded as to how the woman in black escaped from her line of sight. Never realising the woman in black was creeping up behind her ready to strike.
With a graceful snap of her wrist, the woman in black struck the pale woman behind her on the back of her neck.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEvsyUAqyo
Darkness swarmed the pale woman’s vision as the world turned black, her body growing limp as her eyes closed, slumping to the floor as the woman in black casually headed down to the next floor.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpPELC0eqK
Finally reaching her designated floor, the first floor. The woman in black cautiously turned her head slightly, surveying the hallways around her. Not a single soul except for hers was on this floor, and no one was coming from the ground floor or proceeding from the higher floors.
Taking note of what was around her, the woman in black examined the blue doors. They were the exact same type of doors found on every other floor, no different from the rest...except for the roman numerals etched into the frame.
Numbered from 1 through ten, each door felt like a prize ready to be taken. If it were not for the doors suddenly opening, the woman in black might have rushed into one.
Emerging from the doors loomed ten individuals in black robes and white masks.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG7jMxgEEe
Displayed on each mask was a roman numeral, the same number as the door they revealed themselves from.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5klHVYJxzZ
They each had sense of overwhelming presence about them. It was as if the air got thicker the longer they stayed out in the open.
Out of the ten present, the man designated Number One stepped forward with his hands crossed in front of his waist. Even though he was far across the stairwell from the woman in black, she could feel his presence near her, it was as if he was standing right next to her, breathing down her neck.
“Welcome Number 30, your trial of the hunt is nearly over” he said calmly without tone.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfQ7MHXMQp
And without rhyme or rhythm, Number One walked around the boxed hallway slowly passing his fellow numbers.
“You have proven yourself worthy Initiate, to wear the mask of the Hunt, you must first be the Hunt. Of that you have made remarkable progress” he continued as Number 30 watched without blinking. She dared not to take her eyes of him, it was unsettling to even hear him let alone see him.
“During your years of training, you have Awakened your eyes, and opened your Soul”.
Number One stopped dead at the end of the hallway, opposite of Number 30. His body stood expressionless and still like a corpse.
“What does your Soul tell you now? Does it tell you that you are ready to be a Hunter and join the Hunt, or will you fall and become Hunted yourself?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhIlsT9Yfv
Heart beating steadily, Number 30 nodded with resolution. Today she was ready to join the Hunt...or die trying.
Raising his hands and clasping them together, Number One praising Number 30’s unyielding devotion to the Hunt as the other nine bowed to her conviction.
“Now... pick a number between One and Ten. This number will be your life, however as each number has already a life attached to it... you must first end the Hunt of any who wields the number you desire” Number One explains as he gestures to the surrounding numbers.
With the numbers on full display standing by their doors all around her, Number 30 proceeded to make her way around the boxed stairwell, carefully observing and choosing the number she desires.
But she had already known which number was to be hers, she had planned this from the very beginning, way back when her training for the Hunt first began.
Her choice already made, Number 30 stopped and faced Number Six who in turn simply nodded, accepting her choice.
Abruptly and simultaneously turning around, the remaining numbers returned to their rooms, setting the final stage for the Hunt. But as Number Five closed his door behind him, he smiled a secret knowing smile behind his mask as his door shut tight.
As the sound of the final door closed, Number 30 immediately summoned her blades in between her fingers and at half a beat, she threw one to the other side of the boxed stairwell.
Glowing green, the Kunai soared like a bullet as Number 30 turned into thin air chasing after it.
On the other side of the stairwell, just before the knife pierced into the wall, Number 30 solidified and caught the blade in-between her two middle fingers pointing backwards to Number Six, trying to insult him.
Unfazed by her actions, Number Six tapped his chest thrice and summoned a white war hammer as his Weapon, wielding it in both of his hands.
No words were exchanged between the two as the final battle was about to commence.
With a sudden flick of her wrist, Number 30 threw her three knives, sending each in different directions.
Two imbedded themselves into corners of the room while the last darted towards Number Six.
Without hesitation, Number Six slammed his war hammer into the ground, sending shockwaves reverberating the air, knocking the last blade off course, sending it hurling down the centre of the room.
As the last blade tumbled to the ground floor it hummed green as Number 30 solidified grasping it.
Her body was light as a feather as she fell, but her movements were fluid as she sent the blade soaring into the air, whizzing past the first, second and third floors, ever reaching higher.
Her Core glowing green, Number 30 faded into the air and reappeared in a corner of the first floor, grabbing the blade embedded there while suddenly being greeted by an arching war hammer.
Gracefully dodging the blow as Number Six shattered the wall behind her, Number 30 took a swipe at the man’s waist, cutting him deeply before vanishing once more.
Number Six’s black robe darkened even more as his blood stained it crimson. Retracting his Weapon from the crater in the wall, the war hammer flared a shade of brown.
Crystalline dust from the walls concrete shattered remains began to emerge, swarming the head of the war hammer, creating a stronger and more intimidating head.
With his Weapon upgraded with Magic, Number Six’s eyes darted around the room, searching for shimmers of Kunai or the woman in black. He did not need to search long as Number 30 presented herself eagerly running headlong at Number Six.
Reacting swiftly to her suicidal charge, Number Six swivelled with his mighty War Hammer into the body of the woman before him.
But his senses deceived him, or at least he believed they did, as he could not feel the Weapon connect with anything solid. It had instead passed through her as another blade tore through the illusion of the woman in black and pierced the man’s chest.
Suddenly realising he had been tricked once more, he angrily yanked the blade from his wound and tossed it into the floor below in his fury.
But as he did, his heightened sense of vision caught glimpses of a shadow reflecting onto the blade as it fell to the ground.
And out of the corner of his field of his eye, Number Six couldn’t react or respond as Number 30 emerged from the floors above.
Falling gracefully with the knife she had sent flying earlier now in her clutches. Number Six could only watch as Number 30 rotated her body spinning in motion.
Releasing her blade at the height of momentum the piece of steel vibrated as it cut through air and body tissue alike.
Dispersing into the flow, Number 30 emerged unscathed on the ground floor, grasping the tossed aside blade.
Kunai in hand and ready to end the Hunt once and for all. Number 30 re-emerged startling Number Six as the woman in black twisted the embedded Kunai in his chest.
Wielding two blades in each hand, the woman in black sent a flurry of cuts and lacerations into Number Six.
The poor man couldn’t even react fast enough as the woman in black blinked out of sight with each cut. Slashing and then stabbing the man before reappearing and starting the process all over again, over and over as the cold sting washed over his body.
With each passing moment the man was an inch closer to death as his black robes turned to shreds. His body red and oozing as drops of blood trickled from his mask’s mouthpiece.
Breathing heavily, Number 30 swiftly stopped after one last slash to his throat, making sure his Hunt was over.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcaKgfTSER
As the man’s lifeless warm body slumped to his knees, Number 30 removed his mask and replaced it with her own.
Symbolising the end of the Hunt.
He was now Number 30 and she was Number Six.
Fixing her new identity onto her face, Number Six de-summoned her Weapon and faced the emerging Numbers as they have witnessed the birth of a new Number.
Standing tall and resolute, trying to hide the heavy breathing behind her mask. Number Six stared at Number One for approval, his words or actions now will define the rest of her life.
Clap... Clap...
The sound of a single set of claps from Number Five echoed around the room. Awkwardly glancing towards him, Number Six slightly shrugged in confusion as to why he would initiate the applause.
Clap, Clap, Clap
One by One the other Numbers clapped in approval of their newest member, all except Number One was stood lifeless and still.
Staring blankly into Number Six.
*****************************************************
Some time had passed after the ceremony and Number Six was officially sworn in as a Hunter by the Soul Corporation.
Waiting anxiously in her new but familiar room, Number Six stared fondly into her new mask, stroking the number displayed.
This was it, this was the result of all her hard work, she was now an official Hunter, one of the Ten.
Knock, knock, knock...
“You may enter” Number Six replied calmly as she put back on her mask, not knowing who it was on the other side.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddfK1QYffL
Entering the room casually was Number Five and by the way he was moving, Number Six could easily tell he was thrilled with the results.
“Excellent work Layla, I see you took my advice to heart picking Number Six” he said warmly as he removed his mask.
Underneath the white visage, was a handsome pale man with rich black hair and a goatee. His smile was as devilish as it was charming.
Feeling comfortable knowing it was her friend that had entered the room, Layla removed her mask, setting it beside her on the bed.
“It was due to your teachings that I made it here today Seth. My new life couldn’t have started without you” she said feeling full with gratitude.
Not one to miss an opportunity, Seth took a graceful bow while feeling very pleased with himself.
“I know my dear, and thanks to my ever growing wisdom, I believe you are now ready to embark on your second Hunt”
Second Hunt? Already?
She had just completed her first Hunt marking her as a true Hunter and now Seth is already throwing her out the door.
“Yes my dear Layla, your second Hunt is ready to commence... in fact it was ready about an hour ago when your first Hunt concluded, in a spectacular fashion I might add” Seth began with a flare of flamboyance.
Feeling annoyed that Seth was explaining without actually saying anything Layla piped up with her frustration “Seth! Enough with your theatrics, I need a bit more information... please”.
Seeing the look of disappointment and confusion forming on her face, Seth thought it best to start explaining himself properly, for his favourite lady’s sake.
“Well, you see. Roughly an hour ago a team from the Crimson Claw Guild returned from a Portal”
“However, not all of the team made it through. One of the members, a young man named Alex apparently, he never made it back to the Portal”
“As to whether or not he is alive though is not our problem”
A sense of intrigue piqued in Layla as Seth continued his story. Hunters are only deployed when another Guild cannot deal with the problem with conventional means.
The idea that something serious could come forth from a common occurrence as the loss of life in a Portal had gripped hold of her interest.
“You see it was when the Crimson Claw Guild Master, Gurion started to investigate is where things turn our direction”.
Reaching for his pockets in his robe, Seth pulled out his phone with a very large screen that filled the device.
After a few taps to the surface, a holographic image bloomed from the device.
“As you can see here, the team leader for that mission, a mister Bastion Arch. Apparently he has been bribing a mister Daniel Waters for quite some time”
“Normally once again this would never interest us, except for the fact that Mr Waters has been searching through quite a few confidential files on Miners, Collectors and Warriors...”
“Especially interesting is the fact that in the selection of files he has somehow procured. Is the names and locations of the victims of the Scorched Murders”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNEAieBvSu
Layla’s eyes widened at the realisation of her second Hunt.
“Yes my dear Layla, we believe that Mr Arch may be in fact the Scorched Murderer and that Mr Waters is supplying him with names of Awakened”
With his explanation over, Seth put away his phone and waited patiently for Layla’s response. After all, she could refuse the Hunt if she wanted to, all Ten Numbers could refuse the task if they wanted.
“So...we’re going after the evidence, to support that theory correct” Layla asked confidently.
A happy but cheeky smile bounced on Seth’s face at her answer, he knew she wouldn’t disappoint him.
“That’s right, and our first stop is in a place called Greendenn. We need to speak to Miners who were in the Portal last night, they might be able to shed some light about our might be murderers”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXqoBkCnCR
*********************************************************************
Trivia Section:
Hunters: a group of ten individuals who are tasked with dealing with problematic Awakened. They are the law where the law cannot be provided through conventional means. If a Warrior went rouge or violent in a severe capacity, at least one Hunter will be sent out to capture or eliminate the target. Hunters are specially trained to deal with even S-Ranked rouge targets.
The Hunt: referred to the action taken when a Hunter accepts his or her mission. To Hunt is to find and capture or eliminate a target chosen by the Ten. The first Hunt that any Hunter ever takes, always results in another Hunters life.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8XBejc7TK
The Numbered: the Hunters association is made up of 100 individuals. 90% of those are Initiates, these individuals train every day since becoming an Awakened. Their task is to become stronger and better than the Ten, and one day surpassing and replacing them as better Hunters.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUOZQAGuWU
************************************************************************
Authors Notes:
And there we go, the last main character to be introduced... finally.
The Hunters were an interesting bunch to invent, it was quite difficult in making a group or set of people seem intimidating at first... until I watched the Matrix and Equilibrium.... and V for Vendetta.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8DzvKEedx
I know the trope of people in masks is an old and used one, but I still find it intriguing to see who is behind the mask. Is it a man? Is it a woman? Is it someone who will be my friend or my enemy?
Anyway, next chapter will be a mixed one, focusing on Layla and Carin.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw52dcaWmGB
See you next time.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXSIVGzhOg
