The Black Heritage

Chapter 19: Set A Trap Around The House

"Andrew, did you see Uncle Fabian? He just suddenly disappeared." Ethan immediately asked Mang Fabian's steward who they met in the yard in front of the old man's room.

"Auh, don't worry Sir Hunter. My boss is in his room." The young man holding a bucket answered. He approached Ethan and whispered, "Sir Hunter, what happened to Don Fabian. He looks so sad. I even noticed tears in his eyes when he came back here."

That's exactly what I said to Brother. Uncle Fabian is crying." Said Jotun. He shook Ethan's hand that was holding him. "Brother, I'm hungry."

"Andrew, can you accompany Jotun in the dining? I will try to talk to Uncle Fabian." Ethan said.

"There is no problem. But I can say that it is a waste to talk to my boss. Because when it's early in the morning and the room is locked, it means he doesn't want to talk to anyone." 

"I understand." Ethan nodded.

"Jotun, let's go."

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Ethan knocked three times before saying, "Uncle Fabian, are you all right? Jotun said you were crying. I'm sorry for disturbing you but we are worried about you."

Ethan received no answer or noise from inside so he knocked and spoke again. "Uncle Fabian, if you want someone to talk to, I'm here. Just find me and I'll listen."

Ethan was about to leave when the old man suddenly spoke from inside. "Hunter, I'm sorry if I left without saying goodbye and left Jotun. I just couldn't really control how I felt that time. I felt like I had lost myself. Let me be alone first. If only you could take care of the outside here. If you need anything, even money, just tell Andrew and he'll give it to you. "

"Don't worry Uncle Fabian, I will take care here outside, but how is your food?"

"Just lay it down at the door and I'll take it."

"All right. Then I'm leaving." The old man no longer replied. Ethan could only sigh as he left. 

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Ethan was leaning next to the well with a narra tree with his head pillowing in his arms, legs folded into a four position and having deep thoughts while staring at the sky.

"Penthelope--Elen- Celix Brother, they are all victims of a relationship. It only means one thing, this kind of trick fooled many victims." Ethan muttered to himself.

"Mr. Hunter, here's everything you need." Andrew awoke Ethan's flying mind. Behind him, there were two other caretakers of the mansion carrying a large box.

Ethan immediately sat down, "Did you pawn the watch?"

Andrew sat down next to him breathlessly as he waved his hand to the two companions. "Please put them here. Oh, please fetch the small white plastic box in the kitchen. Thank you."

"Why are you out of breath?" Ethan asked as the two left while rummaging through the contents of the box. "Did you race with someone outside? Or did anyone want to rob you?" 

"Not like that. I am not you. You fear no one, fighting here and there. Unlike me? My God, since the rumor spread about monsters eating people even I was terrified of walking alone on the road. Look, it's late. Anyone will hurry back to their houses. Especially us, we are away from the neighbors." Andrew replied as he was pulling something out of his pocket.

Ethan tapped Andrew on the shoulder, "Don't worry, the peaceful day will come when everyone will be comfortable wandering around at every corner. There are no monsters to fear." Ethan gritted his teeth and clenched his fists with a cracking sound. "I will destroy them all."

"You are going to break your hands. Oh by the way, the money inside the envelope was the only left after purchasing all of these irons and chains and many more. These are too many, what are you going to do with these?"

"Hunting!"

"Hunting? What are you going to hunt? Don't tell me you are going to hunt monsters?" 

"You are right! I am indeed going to hunt monsters."

"What? Only by you alone? With so many of them, you will be killed before you can kill them all."

"That's why I ask you all of these. I only need a perfect plan and careful preparation for the incoming most ruthless war. I am also going to build an organization and train every member to become an elite fighter. We will unite and fight together to exterminate all monsters. I don't believe we can't defeat them. "

"Build an organization? Train members to become elite fighters? Mr. Hunter, are you sick? How can you build an organization and train members if you don't have any single member at all."

"Just wait and see. Starting tomorrow night as my wounds no longer aching, I will recruit members."

Andrew stood straight and firm in front of Ethan, "Then Mr. Hunter, am I qualified to join your organisation?"

Ethan frowned as he watched Andrew from foot to head once rubbing his chin and thinking, "You want to join?" Ethan confirmed.

"Yes. I really want to join. I want to be strong and be useful to our country  and then I can protect myself, especially my family." Andrew straightened up even more as if he were confronting a General in front of him.

"Okay." Ethan said once again, paying attention to the things inside the box.

Andrew crouched and held his arms, "Okay? Are you going to admit me in the team?"

"Yes. But I want to warn you, my training is not easy."

"Don't worry. I will surely pass the training and I will work hard for it."

"I hope you will keep your word. I don't want anyone to stop in the middle. If there is, I am going to feed him to the monsters." 

"Mr. Hunter you are so bad. But I am not scared because I made up my mind. My decision is firm. I will join. I want to become a fighter."

"Great."

"Then what is the name of your organization? "Andrew asked with a smile.

Ethan looked at Andrew deeply, and sternly said, "Monsters Hunter."

"Whoahh, so cool."

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Everyone was sound asleep and the night was too deep but Ethan was still wide awake and very busy. He planted traps outside of the mansion against the monsters, two hundred meters away from the fence.

The traps were made of large chains that he hid somewhere covered with tall grass and large trees. When someone stumbled on the trigger, the chain would coil on their waist and dragged them and tied them against the large tree. Of course, to ensure that the trap could not kill the wrong creature, Ethan also hung every tree a small plastic filled with coconut oil that he personally cooked. Anyone who received a drop of coconut oil, his true form would be exposed. If he was a monster, he would transform back into his monster's appearance. At that time, a bagacay spike attached in a concrete log would release and straightly pierced on their throat no matter how he avoided his head. 

The chain was designed to only trap a size of a body as big as the size of the monster. The monster was big as a grown carabao so there was no reason that a real human would be killed with the trap.

Another trap he set up was bamboo whips. Bamboo whips constructed of a length of green bamboo with spikes (normally bamboo) attached to one end. The bamboo pole was bent and held in an arched position by a catch device triggered by a trip wire stretched across the track. When released, the bamboo pole whipped back into the straight position impaling the person triggered the trap.

When Ethan was finished setting the trap, he sat down again against the tree next to the well and watched the stars. Drowsiness did not visit him. His mind wandered everywhere as if he saw every abominable scene of monsters killing their prey. One night passed, Ethan couldn't imagine how many victims they preyed on. He punched his fist on the ground. If only his wounds did not need to have a rest, he would have gone around tonight and beheaded those monsters. But tomorrow night, he swore to go around and began his hunting operation.

"You seem to be having deep thoughts. What is in your mind?" Suddenly, a voice said as he was approaching him.

Ethan turned his head, "Uncle Fabian, it's about to be morning. Why are you still awake?"

The old man sat down next to Ethan with two cups of hard coffee in his hands. "Shouldn't I be the one to ask you that? I usually wake up really early. But you, instead of resting, why are you here and just looking at the sky?" He handed Ethan the cup. "Just have some coffee."

"Thank you Uncle Fabian. You even bother to make me coffee." Ethan took a sip once then sighed. "I can't sleep."

"What is bothering you?"

"A lot. Jotun's safety and how I can stop the monsters from killing us. Also, I remember the m******e in Matiwasay Village and my brothers." Ethan's voice was streaked with sadness.

"What is your plan? I heard you bought a lot of things this morning. What are those for?" 

"I set a trap here so I am relieved when I go out. No monsters can get close here. Also, I am preparing something useful for the organisation I planned to build." Ethan heard the old man sighed so even though he was not an inquisitive person but he couldn't help but ask. "Uncle Fabian, you seem to be experiencing something too. Would you like to share it with me?"

Mang Fabian sighed again as he looked up in the sky. "The sky is now beautiful but the world is full of ugly sides." He glanced at Ethan. "Do you want to know why I ran away to home this morning and locked myself inside my room?" 

"Yes. I presumed, what happened in the clinic has something to do with your mood." 

"Exactly." Mang Fabian dropped the glass on the ground and squeezed his palms. At the same time, his tears flowed down. Ethan did not know what to say to alleviate the old man's sadness and grief so he just rubbed his back.

The old man cried even more. "My daughter, my poor daughter." The old man said.

"Uncle Fabian, I'm sorry but I'm not good at comforting people. But let go of all your resentment to lighten your heart. It's fine. Just cry."

"I finally now confirmed the case of my daughter's death." Mang Fabian said under his broken voices. "She was also a victim of having an affair with a monster. I kept warning her to stay away with that man because he was so mysterious and perfectly kind, sweet, modest and handsome but she didn't listen."

Ethan couldn't help but smirk, "Mang Fabian, with those good traits of her boyfriend, why don't you like him?" 

"Because he is too perfect. Tell me, is there really a perfect person in this world? Well I don't believe it. That is ridiculous. 

"So no one knows before how your daughter died?" Ethan asked again.

With grief in his face, the old man shook his head, "No one believes my speculation. They said I am sick. They don't believe that my daughter was being eaten by a monster." Mang Fabian kicked the cup, causing it to shatter into pieces as it clashed on the stone. "I will make them pay."

Mang Fabian suddenly grabbed Ethan's hand and stared at his eyes seriously. "Hunter, I know I am already old but I hope you can allow me to take part in your organisation. Please?"

Ethan smiled. "I am more glad if you want Uncle Fabian." Ethan stretched his hand for a hand shake. The two shook hands as Ethan said, "Welcome to my team Uncle Fabian. Don't worry, we will avenge your daughter and everyone."

"Great!" Mang Fabian rose on his feet as he spread his hands looking in the sky. He shouted a bit, "Daughter, be happy now. I can finally avenge you. I will kill them for you."