Everything went quiet at around a quarter to eleven at night. It is a bad omen to the people around Sharp Manor. The guards where on edge, the way Valmont was talking the attack was about to begin and they could almost believe it. The wild lands surrounding the manor are eerily quiet, noise from all local animals suddenly ended. It did not diminish slowly, one second the world was filled with the sounds of nature and the next they are gone. The artificial man made sounds are still there but they brought no comfort, without the sounds of nature the world felt off.
Thanatos is the cause. The wolf-man has been running wild for an hour searching for Sharp. As strong as his sense of smell is the wolf-man often loses track. He has the attention span of an animal and just about any interesting smell or noise can grab it. Most of the wild animals were quick enough to get away but a few were not lucky. After he ripped open and eat a bird he searched for a source of water and found a small creek. It was when he reached this creek that his attention was once again focused on Sharp. He looked up and saw that the creek led to a house with a large fence surrounding it. The half transformed wild man stretches out his arms and howls at the half crescent moon. His time has come, now he will feast on the blood of his greatest enemy.
Thanatos ran up to the gate and slammed into it. It was electrified and the charge sent him back with a howl of pain. “Graaaahhh.” However the pain was nothing to the Thanatos. He slams into the fence again and once again is pushed back due to an electric shock. This time as he straightens up the lights turn on and a spotlight is aimed directly at his face. There is also a loud siren. “Arrrrrg.” Thanatos stumbles back a few feet mainly due to being temporarily blinded.
“Intruder at the south Gate. Intruder is identified to be Vargas Thanatos.” A voice screams out of the speakers all over the manor grounds. There guards rush over to Thanatos location from all over the grounds, some of them are dressed in green and brown the colors of the Wayte Security team and others are uniformed Albern police officers. They get in position and wait to see what the wolf man does.
Thanatos looks at the men with indifference. They are nothing but meat to him and food is the last thing on his mind right now. He is hungry for revenge and for that he needs Valmont Sharp. Still they are in his way and anyone who gets between him and sharp is expendable. Thanatos charges at the electric fence one more time and grabs it with his hands. He pulls at the chains and shrugs off the electric shocks as if they were nothing. The chain linked fence starts to snap and as Thanatos makes a large enough hole to fit himself though. The wild man flashes a wicked grin that would terrify the strongest man. “Heheheheheh.” The wild man laughs.
“He has broken though.” One of the police officers says. He looks around, all of the cops and security personal have their guns pointed at Thanatos, “Should we fire I have a clear shot?”
“Our orders are not to shoot.” A fellow offer says not liking those orders. “The chief says we should obey Sharp's command.”
At the mention of the word Sharp Thanatos twists his head to the side and looks at the officer. He then turns his body around. That name, the name that fuels all his hate. It woke up even more of his raging fury. Getting down he starts running at the officer imitating an animal that is running on all fours.
The officer is shaking his finger on the trigger, his target looks like something stuck half way between man and wolf. Vargas Thanatos's face is elongated, he has more hair over his nearly naked body then a human should have, his claws are sharp and twisted, his teeth are pointy and drool is falling out of his mouth. It is in that moment the young officer realizes this is real. “No...” He mumbles as he realizes the beast is charging him. He fires a bullet and it goes wildly over Thanatos head.
A low pitched growl emanates out of Thanatos's mouth as he charge the cop. He is in a blinding rage, his eyes seem to be filled with fire. A bullet flies past his head and that only slightly annoys him. Thanatos grabs the police officer and slams his head into another the cop's face. Thanatos then drops the officer he was holding on top of the other officer. Thanatos smiles at the man, breaths in his face. He then slams his clawed hand into the man's chest.
The officer's life seemed meaningless in those final seconds in his life, seconds that seemed to take forever. The last thing the officer thinks as his fire of life dies out is how rancid Thanatos breath is. That and why none of the other officers fired their guns. The officer underneath him was lucky, he was alive, he just had a corpse on top of him.
“Fire guys fire.” The lead officer says. After watching one of his men the cops have decided to screw Valmont's orders. Now is the time to act.
“But the Chief's orders?” A stunned officer said who is ready to fire regardless.
“Screw Randal's orders, take the monster down.” The officers started to fire.
The Wayte Security team nodded and start firing as well, “The boss will understand.”
One of the silver bullets hits Thanatos in the shoulder. The cops and security personal are firing with shaken nerves and most of their shots are going wild. They should not be wasting silver bullets the way they are. The ones that hit cause Thanatos to howl in pain. He starts thrashing wildly and knocks down a security officer. The force of the blow shatters the man's arm as he falls to the ground. Thanatos then jumps into the air over a rain of gun fire and lands ten feet away. He is holding his injured arm as he runs.
Some of the officers and security personal run after Thanatos, while others stop look around and asses the situation. “Damn.” A Wayte security team member says as he takes out his phone, “This is Morose of squad B at the south gate, Thanatos has gotten away. He was last seen moving toward the manor with about six men on him. Squad E is also on patrol.” As Morose puts his phone away he turns and sees Nashton Wayte looking at the security officers with a disappointed look. Next to him, his face radiating with anger is Victor Randal. Neither of them speak.
It is Valmont sharp who is dressed in full costume with the wolf pattern cane in hand who speaks. He mutters a few things to Alfred and then looks at the camera. He kicks the dirt looking at the police officers and security personal he smiles, it is not a happy smile though. “You did your best. Continue the patrol and make sure Thanatos does not leave the manor. He must be taken down.”
Randal walks over to the dead body one of his officers, “I knew it.” he mutters. His face is blazing red as he looks up, his eyes are intense and filled with rage. He points a damning finger at Valmont. “I knew it would be one of my men that died first. Damn. All because You ordered them not to kill on sight.” Randal charges at Valmont like a wild bull, his punch goes wild and hits air. He then swings at Valmont again.
Nash grabs Randal's fist and twists his body around Randal and pushes his arm to his back., with Randal restrained Nash looks at him, “Valmont is doing what he thinks is best.”
Randal snarls and spit flies out of his mouth as he speaks, “Yeah what is best for his own ratings. He does not care about you, he does not care about anyone. All he cares about is his show. His orders cost a good man his life.” He struggles to break from Wayte but the trained ex agent is too strong for the chief of police. “I am sick of his crap and I won't stand for it anymore.”
“Now is when you have to stand for it.” Nash said tightening his grip. “He's the authority on these matters not you.”
Valmont places his hand on Wayte's shoulder softly, “Let him go.” he looks at Alfred who is talking on his radio giving out a general order. There is a sly smile on Valmont's face and a twinkle of brilliance in his eye as he look his two friends in the eyes. Alfred nods and continues talking.
Nash understands and loosens his grip. The chief of police looks at Valmont his rage has not subsided in the slightest. Rather then forming a fist he reaches for his gun. Feeling it's weight he lifts it up and points it at Valmont, “I hate you.” Vincent said with the urge to kill in his eyes.
“Yes you do don't you?” Valmont says staying cool on the outs
ide. He is shaking on the inside. Valmont is always scared but he can't know weakness now. “And you have every right to. I am responsible for the death of your officers. I took a risk that I thought was worth it. I am sorry.” With his left hand tightening around the cane he extends his right hand for Vincent.
Vincent looks down at the hand then at Vincent's face then back at his hand, “I do not except.” He does not move his gun, “Words are cheap.”
While this is going on the camera man Adam shakes his head and keeps his eyes on the action. He knows he should stay out of it but there werewolf, the werewolf is on his mind. “Uh guy's Than...” His eyes then catch Nash and Alfred who motion him to be quiet. With hand movements Alfred lets him know everything is okay and Valmont knows what he is doing. Adam swallows his words and continues rolling.
“Yes they are. Alfred have you sent out the order to the staff?” He does not move as he says this.
“Yes sir.” Alfred responds having the same calm attitude as his boss.
“What order is that Sharp?” Vincent Randal says in a harsh voice.
“The order to shoot at Thanatos on sight, to kill him. You are right. No more unnecessary deaths. No more trying to distract the beast until I get there. That will only cause unnecessary deaths. Each of those deaths will be my fault as much as they are Thanatos fault. If I don't get get the standoff with Thanatos I want then so be it. My fans will understand.” Even while being humble he plays up his character's ego to a point.
Randal lowers his weapon and smiles, though his face is still clearly angry the smile is smug, he feels he has won. Valmont can tell that Victor has a huge ego and so he appealed to it. As a result the police chief is feeling better. “Alright Sharp.” He does not put his gun away but his finger is off the trigger and it's pointed to the ground. “Well lets go get that bastard. If I can't shoot you I want it to be Thanatos.”
“Take the lead then.” Valmont says and watches as Randal does not need to be given that suggestion twice. Nash walks along side Valmont with Alfred following just behind them and Adam is at the back catching everything on tape.
“So Val do you think Vargas is going to be taken out before we get there?” Alfred asks.
“I don't think it will matter. I believe that Thanatos will refuse to die until he gets a chance to kill me. I think even with the shoot to kill order he will find me and only one of us will survive.” Valmont is feeling confident about that. The werewolf is obsessed with him and will life long enough for a confrontation.
Chapter Thirty
Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter Page 32