The monster hunter and the monster

*Episode 1: The Failed Hunt* The rain hadn’t stopped in three days. It made the blood hard to see. That was the problem. Mira crouched behind the broken fountain, crossbow locked against her shoulder. Below her, in the alley, something dragged its claws along the stone wall. Wet. Slow. Hungry. The Guild’s notice said it killed three kids behind the market. Took them whole. Her first solo hunt. If she messed this up, they’d send Kade to finish it. And Kade didn’t leave witnesses. She breathed in. Out. Aim for the chest. Monsters didn’t have hearts, but the chest was where the sigil glowed. Her finger found the trigger. _Click._ Nothing. The bolt stayed lodged. Misfire. The rain had gotten to the string. Below, the thing stopped moving. Its head tilted. Like it heard her. Mira’s stomach dropped. She’d been told what happened when you froze. You died. The creature stepped into the dim light of the broken lantern. Tall. Too tall. Skin like wet slate, eyes too bright, mouth wrong. But the face… the face was almost human. It saw her. “Guild dog,” it said. Voice rough, like gravel. “You’re early.” Mira scrambled back, dropped the crossbow. Her knife was in her hand before she thought about it. Useless. She knew that. But running meant turning her back. The monster didn’t charge. It just stood there, rain running down its face. “You’re shaking,” it said. “You’ve never killed before, have you?” “How do you know that?” “Because if you had, you’d know not to miss.” It took one step forward. Mira’s foot slipped on the wet stone. She hit the ground hard, knife skittering away. This was it. She closed her eyes. Silence. Then a sound like a sigh. “Get up.” She opened one eye. The monster was crouched in front of her, but not attacking. It looked annoyed. Like she was wasting its time. “Are you going to kill me or not?” she asked. Voice came out steadier than she felt. “I could,” it said. “Guild pays well for my head, right?” She didn’t answer. Everyone knew the price. “But if I kill you, another one comes tomorrow. Younger. Stupider. With a crossbow that works.” It stood up, towering over her. “Run.” Mira stared. “What?” “Run. Tell them the monster got away. Next time, aim better.” That wasn’t how it worked. Monsters didn’t let hunters go. Hunters didn’t let monsters live. “You’re lying,” she said. “Maybe.” It took a step back, giving her space. “Or maybe I’m tired of killing kids who don’t know how to use a weapon.” Her hands clenched. “You killed them.” “Did I?” Its eyes flashed. “Check the bodies. No claw marks. No bites. Whatever killed them, it wasn’t me.” Before she could answer, a whistle cut through the rain. The Guild’s signal. Kade was close. The monster’s expression changed. Cold now. “Go,” it said. “Now.” Mira didn’t think. She grabbed her knife, turned, and ran. Behind her, she heard it say, “If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead.” --- She didn’t stop running until she hit the Guild gate. Kade was waiting there, arms crossed, rain dripping off his coat. “Report,” he said. Mira’s chest burned. She lied before she could stop herself. “Dead,” she said. “The alley monster. It’s dead.” Kade’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s the body?” “Drainage ditch. Rain took it.” He studied her for a long moment. Then nodded once. “Pass. But you’re on watch next week. Learn to check your gear.” Mira nodded, slipped past him, and headed for the barracks. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. She made it to her room, shut the door, locked it. Only then did she look at her wrist. A mark. Black, like ink burned into skin. A circle with three lines through it. The same mark the monster had on the back of his neck. Her breath caught. That wasn’t possible. Binding marks only appeared if… If both sides agreed. But she hadn’t agreed to anything. Outside, thunder rolled. And from somewhere in the city, she heard a low laugh. Like he’d heard her panic. *[End of Episode 1]