The Hunters Plight

Naivety. You could say that it caused my death. Both my own and others naivety is at the core of the reasons for my death. Myself, well I was aware of what could happen as a result of my venture, but I allowed myself to relax. I got cocky because I was naïve enough to think that I was in the clear. I never truly considered the consequences of making that mistake, the mistake of letting my guard down before the time was right. Before it was safe. To most my job appears mundane and safe, that’s where the naivety of others comes into play, the harsh truth is that this line of work can be life threatening, that a single mistake could cost me my life. However, the few years I had worked within my field, completely safe, had made me unbearable naïve and completely unaware to the dangers. I had never had to face the ugly truth – my research hadn’t become quite noticeable enough. It was this time. This time the crushing weight of reality hit and tore everything I’d built apart. This time I had to face the consequences with the bitter taste of fear burning at my mouth like acid. This time my precautions didn’t seem silly or pessimistic but perfectly placed for the series of events that befell on me. This time, one misjudgement was enough for my entire world to come crashing down around me. It was in the early days of February the idea that caused it all struck me. In a pub of all places, if you can believe that? In the darkness of the pub, I had glanced at the TV and there on the news there had been some story about a military dog being retired after years of faithful service and dedication. This story sparked something within me, and I was plagued with the thought that most dogs retire without their handlers: without their only family to accompany them to retirement. So, I had begun to consider ways to make something that worked in a similar way to a military dog but without it having the limitations and fatal weakness that chain animals to a cruel fate. Old age and incurable illnesses. I began by researching wolves specifically. Their build is perfect for being silent whilst also being a powerful and savage adversary. With this in mind I had begun designing. I commence my world-altering work by sketching the parameters for the body. I then proceeded the arduous task of considering the materials that would be most beneficial to this device. The material needed to be light but durable to withstand the brutal conditions of war. I eventually settled on titanium. Once I had completed the designs of the physical aspects, I turned my focus to the coding. I had managed to get my hands on the common commands for military-trained dogs, so I included them into the extensive code. I had attempted to make it so that bot would learn and progress while remaining completely loyal to its handler. Don’t want a repeat of the terminator, do we? In the year that followed my work progressed tremendously, I was consumed in piles of research and designs. Friends and family faded into the background, drowned in a haze of calculation and lines of code. I didn’t answer my phone or actively try to socialise. I allowed myself to bury myself in my work and the rush of adrenalin at fulfilling my aspirations. The idea of making my mark on the world in such away became a d**g for my mind. I was so glad I had done that. I had done it. I had managed something I had dreamt of doing since I was a child. The robotic wolf was made to appear as just an average animal to the average civilian. It would act like any dog however when the handler was chosen a chip would be placed in their arm. This would allow them to call it to them and this chip would also prevent anyone using the dog without the handler. I was so careful. I knew better than to let others see my work, so I hid it away, kept my lab securely locked. I kept the prototype and blueprints behind the false wall I had thankfully built. I had done everything I could to keep anyone from finding out, to keep my work away from prying eyes. Worry had tormented my every moment, knowing that had I made a single mistake could have caused this to be all in vain. I had kept silent about my work. My time at the company before my inspiration had been unremarkable. I had done nothing other than the commissions I was required to - I hadn’t done anything to make a reputation. My purely behind-the-scenes presence allowed me to complete my work without anybody becoming suspicious or questioning me. It was perfect. Nothing remains perfect for long. It always has to break. After a year of work I had put in, the days between completing it and presenting my final product to my superior felt like bliss. I could breathe again. I could take a second and appreciate life. Looking back now it was stupid to relax like that. I should have known that until it was released to the world properly that we wouldn’t be safe. Darkness had long since blanketed the hills surrounding my house when it happened. When it happened on the 7th of May. * * * I stayed at home in the quiet of my isolated cottage, the room was quiet, and the fire cackled to itself. Although I was becoming less isolated and I was starting to socialise again, I still didn’t go out to meet in person much. Not whilst my task still had to be completed. I still needed to present the finished product and get it approved for distribution. After a late-night video call with my parents, I began contemplating how I was going to gather up the various things I needed for the presentation. I also began planning the speech to persuade my superior and potential investors that this product was worth the effort. I wasn’t aware of what was about to come to pass. I wasn’t aware that the future I was planning would never come to pass. At least not for me. In the distance I heard the clock tower, signalling the start of the next hour. Once. Twice. Three times it rang. My sleep schedule was stuck in that of my anxiety ridden, work obsessed state. It made sense that it was the witching hour, I was so used to drifting off into the depths of my mind that I never noticed when the world outside went quiet. My living room was dark the fire I’d had lit had long since gone out. Shadows danced across the walls like ghosts, every sound echoed like a ghoul wailing in pain. Shivers ran down my spine. Something was coming my instincts told me. I was not alone. I rose from seat. Crouching slightly, I turned and there lit up by the moon stood a woman. Her face looked like a goddess; I could only see the top of her face. She had black mask and a half hoodie that shielded any defining features from me. Not even a glimpse of her hair. What I could see was muscles from years of training and arduous work. That’s when I realised. This wasn’t going to out well for me. I turned away from the door preparing to sprint out the back into the depths of the forest, but it didn’t work like that. In the time it had taken for me to realise her presence she had unlocked the door. She was silent. No sound alerted me to her presence. Blood rushed in my ears and panic strained in my chest. There was no one around, I was completely alone. Faster than viper she pounced out in front me. Her eyes were knives plotting a path of destruction. She had come to do one thing and nothing was going to stop her. My breath caught at the sight of before it became pants of frantic fear. My thoughts whirled. There was no escape. Nobody would hear me. No one would find me. I backed up and she followed. Her movements calm and calculate – she was practised. I knew there was no hope but croups and sprang back around hoping to run to the now open front door. It didn’t work out like that though. As I turned the screech of banshee met my ears and I collapsed my ears ringing in pai and my body seizing from the pain. The frequency was too high. I tried to rise to fight back but my limbs wouldn’t cooperate. They couldn’t cooperate. I was unable to move. I was paralysed. I was completely at her mercy. She approached my corpse like body. Her eyes were focused but lit up with the glee of a child who had a new toy. I knew in that second that this device would not let me move and no matter how hard I fought I was completely and utterly at her mercy. Her eyes promised me no mercy. Staring up at her my eyes frantic with fear. I was the mouse and she had caught me, but she wasn’t going to kill me, not yet. She was going to force me to give her a bigger prize before killing me. I was just the beginning. The beginning of a series of dreadful kills. She knelt beside and staring into her eyes, I recognised them. In my fear I couldn’t place a name, I couldn’t piece together who she was. I felt a small prick at my jugular before the world faded to darkness.