The Hunter

Chapter 3

    Hours passed, and I had finally arrived at my destination.  I pulled up to a run down hotel on the outskirts of town. This place has definitely seen better days.  Paint peeling from the side of the building. Dirt clung to the outside of the windows as if they hadn’t been cleaned in years.  I stepped out of my vehicle and onto the old dirt parking lot, getting dust all over the outside of my black, leather boots.  

     I walked into the front office to find a plump, elderly lady sitting behind a tall wooden counter.  The place reeked of cigarette smoke, despite the no smoking sign hanging on the door outside. The old lady gave me an unfriendly scowl, and I replied with a smile and walked towards the counters.

“I need to book a room for week please”

“I’m going to need some identification” she growled to me with her hoarse voice.  No doubt damage from years of cigarette abuse.  

    I politely smiled at her again and handed her my fake ID stating that I was 20 years of age.  Courtesy of my brother. One of his many specialties. Badges and IDs are a must have in our type of work.  Dom once forged an FBI badge that looked so real, my dad was able to fool a real FBI agent to gain access to a case involving a rogue witch who had cursed and killed 4 humans in Maine.  The elderly clerk checks my identification and runs my card. She then hands me some towels that reek of nicotine and my key card to my room number 106. At least I didn’t have to lug everything up the stairs.  Since there is no elevator in sight.  

    I pull my car over close to my room and start unloading my luggage.  The room inside is just as old and ran down as the outside. The covers on the bed look and smell like they had been there since the 80’s and the shower had build up in all the corners.  Hair left on the sink from previous guests.  

“It’s only for a week.  I can do this” 

    I repeat to myself over and over as I am unloading my baggage and putting my clothes in the closet.  Hoping they don’t take in the cigarettes stench that lingered in the room. After my clothes are put away, and my toiletries all stored in the bathroom, I pull out my laptop and begin looking over all the details for my hunt again.  Refreshing myself on the case and what I would be up against.  

    My plan of attack would be simple.  Find where they are hiding out, drop a couple wolfsbane bombs, make a couple head shots and be on my way.  Maybe even get in a few punches along the way. Have a little fun.  

    I found a couple abandoned warehouses not far from the hotel I had chosen.  I planned to start casing those areas first. They were secluded, and would make the perfect hideaway for a pack of filthy rogues.  I then spent the next hour sorting through my equipment. Making sure I had extra clips loaded for the guns I was preparing to pack with me, and carefully loading a couple wolfsbane bombs into a smaller bag to make it easier for me to tote through the woods and the area around the warehouses.  My cell phone ringing pulls me out of my pre-hunt bubble, and I look to see my father’s name flash across my phone screen. 

“s**t!” I proclaim as I realize I had forgotten to check in when I had arrived.  I quickly press the green answer button. “Daddy! Hi! I'm so sorry i forgot to call when i arrived.  I was just getting settled in and reviewing some notes to prepare for tomorrow.”

“That’s ok baby.  I know how you get on a hunt.  Your mother just wanted me to give you a call.  Make sure you were fine.” He says through a chuckle.

“Tell momma I’m just fine.  About to order a pizza and maybe watch a movie to wind down.  Then get some rest.”

“OK honey.  Have fun tomorrow, and don’t be afraid to call us if you need help.  I don’t care what your grandfather says. A real hunters knows what tasks he can handle, but also when to ask for help.  We love you, Lydia. Goodnight.”

“I love you all too, daddy.  Give momma a goodnight kiss for me, and I’ll call in the morning before I head out.  Goodnight.”

    We hang up the phone for the night, and I proceed to look up nearby pizza places that would deliver to this dump.  Luckily for me, there was a little restaurant just a couple miles down the road that would deliver. I ordered a large pepperoni and asked for extra banana peppers on the side.  That should be enough for tonight and possibly even breakfast in the morning. If I could fit it inside the small, ancient mini fridge the room provides.  

    I decide to shower off while I wait for my food to arrive, and sit down on the bed to find something on Netflix to watch with my dinner.  I decide on a Netflix original called After. Dom never would let me choose a sappy romance movie when we went on hunts with father. Always had to be action or comedy.  Which is fine, but a girl needs a little romance in her life. Moments later there is a knock on my door. I open the door to find the delivery guy with my food.  

“Oh thank goodness.  I’m starving!”  

The delivery guy looks young.  Most likely high school aged. Messy brown hair and deep brown, almost black eyes.  He flashed me a bright smile that would make any girl weak in the knees.  

“Your pizza miss.”  He says politely as he hands me the box containing my dinner.  I had already paid over the phone. So, I handed him a five dollar bill for a tip.

“My names Theo by the way.”

“Lydia” I answer back while reaching to shake his outstretched hand. 

    I caught him peeking through the door me at the arsenal I had forgotten was laying out on the end of the bed behind me.

“Planning to rob a bank Lydia?”  He raises his perfectly shaped eyebrow at  me, still flashing me that million dollar smile.

“Oh! Um..no, it’s, um...just...a little family business.  N-nothing to to crazy.” I stuttered out with a forced smile back.

“Don’t worry.  Your secret is safe with me” he says through an even wider smile.  Making him look even more handsome. If that was even possible.  

“Enjoy the pizza Lydia.”  

    He turns to walk back towards his vehicle, leaving me staring after him.  Enjoying the view. He must have felt my stare. He stops and turns, giving me one more glance at his devilishly handsome smile before entering his vehicle and driving away.

“Damn, that was hot” 

    I fan myself dramatically and laugh at myself before grabbing a slice of pizza and hitting play on my movie.  Half way through my viewing, I start to get very sleepy. The drive and preparation of the day finally getting to me.  I decided to save the rest of the movie for another time, and turn off my laptop and put away my food to save for tomorrow.  Then after one last quick check that everything was together, I set my alarm and hoped to fall fast asleep.

    I tossed and turned on the worn out, hard mattress all night.  At least this place was cheap and close to the warehouses  I thought to myself as I gave it another try to get comfortable.  Eventually, I was able to doze off, but sleep was far from restful.  

    That night I had a peculiar dream.  I was standing by a stream. Listening to the water rushing over the pebbles, and the wind lightly blowing the leaves on the trees.  It felt calming and serene. I heard a rustle to my left, and turned to see a rather large black wolf slowly walking towards the running water.  I stood there, scared, but the wolf paid me no mind. It bent down, taking small sips of the streaming water. After it was finished, it turned to me, staring with its milky, silver orbs.  I’d never seen anything like it. It opened its mouth and began repeatedly calling my name.

    I shot up out of bed to the sound of my alarm clock.  I felt the sweat dripping from my brow as I tore off the covers and made my way to the bathroom to wash my face.  I kept thinking about that wolf. More specifically those eyes. They looked so familiar, yet unknown all at the same time.  I then shook it off. Must just be pre-hunt jitters getting to me.  That's all. Just nervousness bleeding through.  Just got to forget about it. It was just a dream.  

    I walked out of the bathroom, grabbed a cold slice of pizza, and called my father to let him know I was getting ready to head out.

“Remember, just observe for now, but be careful.  Stay downwind. Keep an eye on your surroundings.”

“I will daddy.  Tell momma I said love you, and give brother a slap on the head for me, will ya?”

“Of course.”  I could hear the amusement in his voice.  “Love you baby girl.”

“Love you, daddy.”

I finish gulping down another slice, and walk back to the bathroom to pull up my hair and brush my teeth.  I then proceed to pull on a pair of blue jean leggings and a white tank top. I finish off my outfit with my signature black, leather, combat boots and jacket.  I grabbed my keys and bag of weapons, stuck the do not disturb sign on the door knob to my room, and headed out to start my hunt.