The Hunt
by P.J. Serrano
The Hunt, Chicago, IL
Caitlyn Epstein, Thursday, January 20th, 1994
Walking west under the yellow tinged streetlights of Superior Ave. in downtown Chicago, I moved as fast as I could to get to my car.
I did not enjoy the cold frigid winters in Chicago.
My overcoat did little to warm the chill coursing through me from the icy waters of Lake Michigan.
The frigid breeze did nothing to cover the mixed smell of garbage from the alley and fast Chinese takeout.
With a pink knitted hat and matching scarf, I wore a thick lengthy sweater underneath my black overcoat. Thin, black, polyester dress slacks and pink swede winter boots finished the outfit I hoped would help keep me warm.
The short distance to the garage where I parked my car seemed like miles away in the cold slush-filled streets. Why I ever thought Chicago would be a great place to get my medical degree is beyond me.
Truth be told, getting accepted into the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine was an honor. Although at times like these, I wished I was back at home in Southern California.
Chicago winters suck!
Approaching the stairwell of the parking complex, I climbed the stairs and reached the second floor exit. I had keys in hand ready to jump in my vehicle and hopefully get warmed up in a few minutes.
Looking for my red Mercury Sable, I clicked the remote finally locating my vehicle near the west end of the parking garage. With the wind chilling me to my bones, I walked to my destination.
Dropping my keys, I felt clumsy as my hands were beginning to feel numb. I tried switching hands but failed miserably.
I kneeled to quickly grab them. When I stood up, I froze as someone was standing right in front of me with the most sinister grin.
I gasped, as the ice-cold air muffled my breath coming out.
“What the-”
This strange man smiled wide, showing his elongated incisors. He covered my mouth with a rag before I could elicit a loud scream.
Is this chloroform? No…
A vehicle skidded to a halt next to us back door thrust open and in a second, I was being forced into the back seat of a gray and white rusted-out pickup truck.
I kicked and butted my head and twisted and squirmed, but nothing worked. I couldn’t get free. Adrenaline kicked in as I doubled my efforts with every ounce of my being.
My muscles tightened with extra strength as I tried to kick and flail my way out of my abductor’s firm grip.
Panic stabbed me in the chest.
Why wasn’t my body responding like it should?
I was growing slower, weaker. My muscles refusing to do what needed to be done, and each movement, each breath became more laborious.
My knees and thighs were slacking and refusing to move altogether, as my head was being forced into the back seat of the four-door pickup truck.
I looked at the driver who was grinning ear to ear.
Numbness began coursing through my body. I couldn’t let them get me inside that truck.
But fighting was so hard now… Each movement a tiresome effort. Tires screeched close by, and I tried turning to look. My heart soared at the hope of a rescue. My vision blurred as the chloroform was taking effect. The rag fell, giving me a renewed sense of hope once more.
Shots were fired.
I was dazed as liquid splashed my face, and my attacker let me go. My knees finally gave out, and I slumped to the ground. A hand grabbed me underneath my arm and pulled me up.
As I inhaled another round of chilled air, my lungs stung with the icy breath. My heart pounded hard as a sense of hope brought me enough adrenaline to move my wobbly knees.
I struggled walking as my legs felt like jello, but my rescuer didn’t slow her pace. She brought me to another vehicle.
She tossed me inside the van like a ragdoll and yelled for me to stay put. Her head was a dark blur.
I fought to focus. She was a brunette with long hair.
She closed the door, leaving me in cold chilling silence. I tried to breathe deeply, battling the effects of the chloroform.
Pinpricks started crawling up my legs. My vision was getting a little sharper as well. This van had benches and gear inside.
So odd…
I pulled myself up to sit on the driver’s side bench, then I noticed a bag of rags. Grabbing a rag, I didn’t care if it was clean or dirty, I began wiping my face from whatever liquid was splashed on me.
After wiping my face, I looked down and noticed the rag covered in blood. Fear spiked through me as the effects of the chloroform dissipated.
My mind tried to process the events that just took place, but nothing was making sense.
What the hell did I just get myself into?
* * * * *
David Conley, Thursday, January 20th, 1994
“Connor!”
I looked on as my partner, Connor, lay dead slumped over the steering wheel. Dropping the captive woman, I dashed between the cars, trying to get some cover.
I took stock of the situation, noticing there were four humans and two… other worldly creatures.
Shit!
This was going to get tough. My mind raced, and with my vampire speed taking over, I jumped several cars. Bullet holes trailed me as I avoided rounds from the assault rifles the tactical unit was shooting.
I found a decent hiding spot and looking back, I noticed the four humans closing in on me. Another figure, one of the supers, I assumed, walked slowly behind.
I couldn’t see the second supernatural anymore. I figured they were with my victim. I knew I had to get them to split up. So, I began sprinting up the ramp to the third floor.
As I passed rows of parked cars, glass broke and metal pinged as the barrage of bullets followed my every step. I knew I needed a hiding spot to plan my ambush.
Surveying the third floor, I sprinted by any lighting that was illuminating the area and broke through, putting all of us in darkness. This leveled the playing field.
Finding a nice spot next to a support pillar, I slid up under the cover of darkness and waited for my prey. As I expected, the tactical unit split up. Half the group heading to the east stairwell to try and flank me, no doubt.
As the first soldier walked by, I ignored him and waited for the second to appear. Then I sprang into action. I extended my claws from my fingertips, as I sped by the trailing soldier.
In one motion, I sliced his throat clean. With my vampiric speed, I was able to glide over the parked cars with ease and take cover.
The first tactical soldier turned around when his comrade fell and hit the ground. Rushing back to his fallen partner, he surveyed the area with his night vision goggles to make sure the coast was clear.
He called in the attack on their COMM channel.
“Man down, Man down, third floor, central location, Section D3!”
I knew I had to make my move and kill this asshole before backup arrived. Jumping out in haste, I used my speed to gain the upper hand.
Claws extended, I went for the throat. However, the soldier was waiting for me and used his AN-94 Burst assault rifle to block my attack.
Why is The ROG using brand new Russian tech?
Surprised at the speed at which he was able to defend my attack, I swung with my left hand and tried to stab him in the ribs.
The soldier was fast, but not fast enough as part of my claw penetrated the Kevlar vest he was wearing.
Hearing the soldier grunt in pain, I batted away the assault rifle before I jumped off of him to get the fuck out of here.
Turning to sprint towards the east platform, I saw a figure standing there with a sword drawn and held to the side in a resting gesture. With my enhanced vampire vision, I was able to make out none other than Hunter Arcane.
“Hello, David,” said Hunter in his courteous, Slavic accent. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
I knew Hunter by reputation alone. Heard the stories of the ruthless vampire killer. I knew my time had come; my fate was sealed.
Hunter was flanked by two armed guards, plus the injured man on the ground, no doubt pointing a gun at my back.
Weighing my options, my chances were slim.
I was a former Army Ranger who served in Vietnam, I had seen a lot of atrocities in my time. Having stared down death many times, I always came out alive. Facing colon cancer ten years prior, I was prepared to die a lonely death.
Until a vampire found me and took pity on my sorry excuse of a life.
Esmerelda.
She was looking to feed on the worst of society. Drug dealers, gang bangers, rapists, murderers, and thieves. When she found me, I was ready to die by her hands.
I chuckled as I remembered telling her I would rather die in the arms of a beautiful vampire, than a lonely death from cancer. Esmerelda refused at first because she lived by a code but took pity on me and decided to turn me to spare my life.
I became Esmerelda’s lover and confidant. We lived comfortably in the downtown area of Chicago while following Esmerelda’s code. Life was good for us; we were happy together.
That changed the day she was executed by the ROG.
That was the day I snapped and lost all sense of humanity. I came back to reality, now focused on Hunter again.
“You killed my wife! Now I must repay you in kind.”
Hunter replied, “Really? How interesting. How many lives have you taken, David?”
Hunter took his sword and sheathed it.
I smiled widely, my incisors releasing from my gums. I knew if I could play to Hunters arrogance, I may just get a chance to kill him and find closure.
“Do you know how your wife died?” asked Hunter.
“What?”
All I knew was that Esmerelda was being targeted by the ROG and that she was going on the run. Word quickly spread that she was assassinated by an ROG agent. But I didn’t know how or why she had been murdered.
With all the anger and hatred built up inside of me, I coiled my muscles and prepared to strike at Hunter, taking his head off.
Before I took that leap, my chest burned with pain. That pain was always reserved for Esmerelda.
Today was different. Looking down, I noticed the knife sticking out of my chest.
Shock filled my mind as the searing pain filled my heart.
I realized my fatal mistake. I never accounted for the second ROG agent. I was so focused on my revenge with Hunter that I disregarded his partner.
Falling to my knees, I could smell the sickly-sweet scent of copper in the air.
With seconds left of my life, I looked up as this raven-haired woman walked around my left side and whispered, “I killed your wife, David. Now I have sent you to join her in the halls of Valhalla. Go, rejoice with her!”
I closed my eyes, smiled, and welcomed death.
* * * * *
Hunter Arcane, Thursday, January 20th, 1994
“Kind of melodramatic I would say, huh, Kira?”
“Sometimes truth brings closure,” she responded, “As in this case, the truth gave him an honorable death.”
“Ah, that is such bullshit!”
“Is it, though?”
He shook his head. “With the fall of Asgard during Ragnarök, Valhalla is no more.”
“True, but he doesn’t know that!” Kira said with a grin.
I looked back at Kira and admired her fierce strength and cunning mind. She was an old Valkyrie who survived the Titan wars as well as Ragnarök.
With her long, straight jet-black hair, she was as menacing as she was beautiful. Her alabaster skin adorned her ageless body along with her piercing indigo eyes.
She was centuries old, yet looked to be in her late twenties. Battle hardened, and a strategic genius, Kira’s value to the ROG was immeasurable.
She was a vampire hunter, sniper, an enforcer, and a pilot. Being partnered with Kira was perfect for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I never had to worry if she had my six.
Snapping back to reality, I whistled to the rest of the crew. They immediately fell in line and went to their fallen comrade.
They grabbed his body to bring him back to the van.
Kira went to the other soldier who was stabbed by the vampire.
Luckily, he didn’t sustain any lethal damage. She helped him up and put his arm around her shoulders as she helped him walk back.
“So, what do you think of our target?” Kira asked.
“No go. I think we had more promising leads than her anyway.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.”
I looked at Kira, waiting to gage her response, “We should eliminate her,”
“I disagree, she’s a med student, we should recruit her.”
I thought about Kira’s idea.
“Why? We can hire more qualified doctors with experience.”
Kira shook her head as she gave me a disappointed look.
“Sure, but we can train her. We wouldn’t have to worry about loyalty. She would be groomed and indoctrinated.”
“You mean, mentored properly.”
“Yeah. Whatever, Hunter.”
Kira looked at me as we got closer to the van.
“Where’s your dad?”
“He’s getting ready to visit Hel, then they’re going to Muspelheim to visit Queen Xin’Drea.”
“What about the time continuum issue? Won’t this bring him back around March-April?” Kira asked, anger flushing her cheeks.
“Don’t worry, I think he has a lead on who the vampires are.”
“Then why aren’t we moving on them?”
“Relax, Kira, plans have changed… a little.”
“What?”
“Yes, we’re going to Florida, and we’re going to be patient. Observe. We’ll wait until Damien comes back and gives the word.”
“Should I find a way to infiltrate? I could keep an eye on them and report back.”
“Maybe, Kira. Now let’s handle this situation and get the hell out of Chicago.”