by Mazhar, S
“Hunter,” it said, its accent heavy and clumsy, giving away its unease with the English language.
Kyran smirked. “The name’s Kyran.”
The Abarimon regarded Kyran before a deep, throaty laugh escaped it. “Hunter,” it growled again. “No come here.”
“It wasn’t intentional,” Kyran replied. “I was sort of pushed into coming.”
The Abarimon leant in, sniffing at Kyran again. It reached out with one of its claws and parted Kyran’s coat. The silver spiral caught the sun’s ray, shining proudly. Kyran tensed as the Abarimon trailed its filthy, curved nail down his chest and looped the chain. With a sharp tug, the Abarimon yanked at the chain, snapping it, and pulled it away. It held it up, as if to show to Kyran what it had done.
“No Hunter more,” it growled and threw the chain aside.
Kyran glared after it as his pendant cut through the air before plopping into the nearby stream. Another Abarimon strode towards Aaron and did the same, snatching the chain from his neck with such vigour that it left long scratches down Aaron’s neck. The Abarimon paused, staring at the fine red lines. Aaron recoiled as much as he could when the Abarimon leant into him, sniffing at his neck, growling low in its throat. Its black as coal eyes glinted with hunger.
“Hey! Easy there,” Kyran called, getting its attention. “You’re gonna ruin your appetite if you keep smelling him like that.”
The Abarimon pulled away from Aaron, turning to look at Kyran with its nostrils flared and teeth bared.
“Don’t you know that smelling your food fills you up?” Kyran asked with a smirk.
The Abarimon standing by him growled and grabbed Kyran’s face with its clawed hand, yanking it back around to face him. The Abarimon said something that sounded like nothing more than guttural groans. The Abarimon’s native tongue wasn’t intelligible but Aaron could tell from the tone alone that it was grunting threats to Kyran. The Abarimon finished by jerking Kyran’s face to the side, leaving small scratches on his cheek. Kyran turned back to the Abarimon with narrowed green eyes but his smirk was still in place.
“I didn’t get any of that,” he said. “But please don’t repeat it. I can’t take any more of your breath.”
For a terrible moment, Aaron was sure the Abarimon was going to lash out, but the demon only growled at him and moved back. It turned and left, the crowd following after it. They disappeared from sight behind the tall trees.
Aaron let out the breath he had been holding, sagging with relief. He turned to look at Kyran.
“Are you mad?” he asked. “Why were you mouthing off to him?”
“Why not?” Kyran asked, tensing, pulling at his hands. “They’re gonna kill us anyway. And it’s not like they can understand everything we say.”
“Yeah, but–” Aaron stopped, his mouth falling open when Kyran pulled his hands forward, freed but with loops of rope still around each wrist. “How’d you do that?” he asked.
“Magic.” Kyran grinned, holding up a small blade.
“Where were you hiding that?” Aaron asked. The Abarimons had been thorough in snatching the weapons from them.
“Always keep at least one blade in the lining of your sleeve,” Kyran instructed, pulling the loops off each wrist before walking over to him.
Aaron felt himself smile. “You had that all along?” he asked. “You couldn’t have told me?”
“And ruin the fun?” Kyran asked before cutting through the rope tying Aaron’s hands. “You have any idea how hilarious you look when panicked?”
The moment the rope parted, Aaron pulled his hands forward, holding back his groan of relief. He reached up with stiff arms to rub at his sore shoulders before turning to face Kyran. “Now what?” he asked, pulling the scratchy loops off his wrists.
“Now we get out of here,” Kyran said.
“You said we couldn’t leave the valley.”
“We can’t,” Kyran confirmed, “unless we take the valley from the Abarimons.”
Aaron nodded. “And how do we do that?”
“Simple,” Kyran replied, meeting Aaron’s eyes. “The valley is ours after we kill all the Abarimons.”
***
Keeping to the shadows, Kyran and Aaron made their way deeper into the forest. When the trees finally thinned to a large clearing, Aaron saw a cluster of small huts. The Abarimons bustled in front of them: some carrying wood, others dragged what looked like the carcasses of wild animals to one side. A few Abarimons scratched and sniffed each other, their claws poking at each other’s flesh. The female Abarimons were just as wild-looking as their male counterparts, with long, straggly hair and clawed nails on their hands and backward feet. They too wore loincloths to protect their modesty and their long hair covered their naked fronts.
Sitting in the middle of the village was a wooden cage – a square monstrosity. Crammed inside were children.
Aaron’s stomach turned so violently it was a miracle he didn’t retch. Around thirty young boys and girls were trapped inside, forced to kneel in the small cage. It wasn’t tall enough for any of them to stand up in. Their tears tracked paths down their dirt-streaked faces; small hands pressed against the wooden bars, begging to be let out. Aaron felt sick.
“My God!” he breathed.
Kyran didn’t say anything, but his eyes had darkened as he stared from one small face to the other.
“They’re mages,” Aaron whispered. “Why don’t they use their powers?” He knew the place was an open zone – an area without a Gate – but surely the instinct to survive would have taken over.
“Take a closer look, Ace,” Kyran said, a slight growl underlined his words.
Aaron didn’t know what he was supposed to be looking for, but after a moment or two of staring from one sobbing child to another, it clicked. The mages, all of them, were children. None of them looked even close to the age of thirteen, when their core would awaken and give them their powers. They were just kids; completely vulnerable and unable to protect themselves.
“Come on,” Kyran said and turned towards the hut that was adjacent to the caged children. “Our weapons must be in there.”
“What makes you say that?” Aaron asked.
“It’s the only decent-looking one, which makes it the chief Abarimon’s hut,” Kyran said. “I swear, if he’s touched my sword with those filthy claws of his I’m gonna split him in two!”
“Focus, Kyran,” Aaron said. “We have bigger problems.” He stared at the caged children. It was one thing to kill all the Abarimons and take their valley so they could escape, but a whole other situation when they had to do it with thirty panicked, sobbing children at risk of getting caught in the crossfire.
Aaron followed behind Kyran, going from one tree to another, hiding behind each. The Abarimons seemed distracted; between scraping the last bits of meat off the carcasses and dragging wood into a large pile, none of them noticed who was moving in the shadows. It took Kyran and Aaron almost eight minutes to time their stealthy, short sprints from one tree to the next. They had almost reached the hut when two Abarimons walked out of it. One was the marginally clean-looking Abarimon – the one who had stood in front of Kyran. The other, Aaron realised, was the demon they had chased into this valley.
“He must be the chief,” Aaron whispered, staring at the slightly cleaner-looking Abarimon.
Kyran didn’t say anything. He simply watched, waiting for the two demons to walk away. Unfortunately, only the chief walked away, leaving the other Abarimon to guard the doorless hut.
“Now what?” Aaron urged.
Kyran gave the hut and the demon pacing before it a final look before gesturing Aaron to follow. Using the cover of the trees and the shadows from the setting sun, both boys made their way to the back of the hut. Leaving Aaron to stay behind, Kyran inched around to one side of the hut. Staying pressed up against the wall, Kyran leant around the edge to see the Abarimon still pacing and growling, staring at the caged children with barely hidden hunger. Kyran shift
ed from the side of the hut, just enough so the frightened children could see him. Looks of surprise and desperate hope flitted across the faces of the children, alerting the Abarimon. The demon turned to look behind, following the childrens’ stares. It didn’t see anything.
Grunting with suspicion, the Abarimon moved forward, the curved nails of its backward feet scratching against the dry ground as it headed to investigate behind the hut. As soon as the Abarimon turned the corner, Kyran leapt at it. His hands grabbed the Abarimon’s head, his feet on the demon’s chest. Without missing a beat, Kyran twisted his hands and the Abarimon fell to the ground, taking Kyran with it. As the dead demon hit the ground, Kyran simply stepped off. Straightening his coat, Kyran turned to look at the body at his feet. Glancing up, he found Aaron staring at him with horror.
“What?” Kyran asked. “At least it can see its toes now.”
Aaron gaped at him, rapidly turning pale.
“Don’t go squeamish on me, Ace,” Kyran warned and gestured for him to follow.
Aaron carefully stepped around the collapsed body of the Abarimon, trying not to look too closely at it or its broken neck. He hurried after Kyran, who was standing at the edge of the hut, scanning the area, waiting for the right moment to slip indoors. He met the stares of the frightened children again and quickly held a finger to his lips, winking at them. The children nodded, taking in deep gulps of air in effort to calm down and stem their tears. Taking their chance, Kyran and Aaron slipped inside with only the children watching them.
The hut was small and dark but pleasantly cool. Aaron wiped a shaky hand across his sweaty brow, breathing out in relief. Kyran had already moved towards the single table in the far corner, upon which rested their familiars.
Kyran picked up his sword with a grin. “Hurry up, Ace,” he said. “Get your stuff.”
Aaron picked up his pistol. A blissful feeling of calm overtook him as soon as his fingers touched the cold metal. He picked up the holster and quickly clicked it around his waist before sliding his pistol safely inside. Kyran did the same for his twin pistols. They worked quickly, snapping and clicking their leather bands and straps back onto their sweat-drenched bodies.
“What’s the plan?” Aaron asked, slipping the last of his daggers into his pocket.
“We go out. We kill,” Kyran replied. “What more you looking for?”
“Bullets will...will kill them?” Aaron asked, his voice shaking a little.
“The bullets have Aric’s mark carved on them,” Kyran said, slotting the last dagger into his pocket. “As do our blades. One shot, doesn’t matter where, will bring the demons down. You just have to make a hit.”
Aaron paled but gave a jerky nod.
Kyran looked at him and narrowed his eyes. “Ace?” He moved closer. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” Aaron said. “It’s just...” He swallowed heavily before looking up to meet the intense green gaze. “I’ve never...killed...before.”
“Aaron,” Kyran started, reaching out to hold him by the shoulder. “I need you to focus.” His grip tightened. “I know you haven’t had enough training. I get that you’re nervous, but we don’t have a choice here. It’s just you and me, Ace. We’re the only Hunters in this valley. There are kids out there who need our help.” He shook his head. “I can’t take out a whole valley on my own. I need your help.”
Aaron’s mind went back to the crying children, trapped in a cage, waiting to be killed. He steadied his resolve, his hand gripping the gun at his waist before he gave a slow nod.
***
Aaron took in a steadying breath and stepped out of the hut. He stood at the threshold, watching and waiting for the Abarimons to notice him. The demons went about their business, taking no notice of him, until one Abarimon turned its head and caught sight of him. Its eyes widened and mouth dropped open, showing glistening, sharp teeth. A hand came up and a clawed finger pointed at him before a shrieking sound left the demon. It was as if Aaron was watching it happen in slow motion, as every demon head turned in his direction. The Abarimons growled. Almost at once, the back-footed beings came at him, dropping what they were doing. Aaron waited, forcing himself to stay at the threshold, watching the demons race closer. He counted down in his head.
The countdown wasn’t even complete when Kyran attacked. His bullets rained down on the distracted Abarimons. Standing on the roof with a pistol in each hand, Kyran fired bullet after bullet into the demons. Aaron watched as the wounded Abarimons dropped to the ground, their flesh turning grey as life evaporated out of them and their bodies turned to dust. The others scampered away, fleeing from Aaron, eyes turned upwards to the roof – to Kyran.
One Abarimon took the risk, dodging the bullets as it came for Aaron. Aaron’s trembling hand gripped the pistol and he raised it, willing himself to pull the trigger. He found he didn’t have to. In a heartbeat, Kyran had jumped down, standing directly before the door, shielding Aaron. Holding up both guns, Kyran fired two bullets into the approaching Abarimon. The rest of the demons had hurried back, growling and grunting to one another.
“Oh come on!” Kyran called after them. “We were just starting to have fun.” He darted after them, chasing them into the dark forest.
Aaron raced out of the hut, straight to the wooden cage with the frantic children inside. He found a thick stake slotted through two loops, holding the lid down on the cage. Aaron pulled at it, trying to get it out but the thing wouldn’t budge. It was jammed right in. Aaron didn’t waste time fighting it. He pulled back and pointed his gun at it.
“Move back!” he told the kids.
The children did, as much as their limited space allowed. Aaron fired two bullets, splintering the wood so the stake weakened. It slid out easily and Aaron quickly threw back the lid. The children scrambled to get out, lifting themselves off their aching knees. Aaron helped the younger ones out of the cage.
“Come on, quickly,” he said, leading the panicked children to the chief’s hut. All thirty children ran out from under the scorching sun into the cool shade of the hut. “You have to stay here,” Aaron said as he grabbed the table that had minutes before held his weapons. “Just until the Abarimons are gone.” He pulled the table towards the door before stepping out. He tilted the table to stand on its side. “We’ll come back for you,” he promised before wedging the table into the doorway, successfully blocking it. There was only a tiny gap at the top, enough to give the children some light in the dark hut. Aaron eyed the mark Kyran had carved on the underside of the wooden table. Aric’s mark would keep the children safe. No Abarimon could touch the table now.
Aaron turned, pistol in hand, searching for Kyran. He saw him in the far distance, fighting the Abarimons with a combination of guns, blades and kicks. Aaron raced forward to Kyran’s side.
Kyran swerved out of the way of the vicious claws aiming to tear his chest open. He retaliated with a point blank shot. Turning around, even before the dead Abarimon could hit the ground, Kyran fired another bullet into the nearest Abarimon.
The demons seemed to be in two minds: fight or flee. Some had already torn down the murky path, running deeper into the forest. Others were trying to get to the Kyran, to take him out before he killed all of them. In the midst of the growling demons, Kyran spotted the furious chief. Kyran smirked at him and beat his hand, still clutched around his gun, to his chest.
“Hunter!” he introduced, mimicking the chief’s rough accent. “Gonna kick your ass!”
The chief growled but backed away, joining the frantic crowd running away. Kyran fired shot after shot, dropping Abarimons to the ground, where they turned to dust. One of the demons approached from behind, claws out and teeth bared, as it prepared to rip into Kyran. A shot just missed the Abarimon, hitting the tree next to its head. The Abarimon fell back and turned to see Aaron racing towards him, his pistol still aimed. Before Aaron could aim a better shot, Kyran took care of the Abarimon, delivering a bullet to its chest.
As soon as Aaron reach
ed Kyran, both boys darted behind the large tree, taking refuge for a moment. Kyran slid out the empty magazines from both guns, dropping them to the ground. He pulled out his last full magazine. He gave it a long look before slotting it into one of his pistols.
“How many bullets you got?” he asked.
“Two in here,” Aaron panted and held up his pistol, “and this.” He pulled out his one and only magazine from his pocket.
Kyran stared at it, green eyes narrowed and his glistening brow furrowed. Aaron met his troubled eyes with a sinking heart. They didn’t have enough bullets. There were still at least thirty or forty Abarimons left. Maybe even more hiding throughout the valley.
“What do we do?” Aaron asked.
Kyran pocketed his empty pistol and pulled out his sword. “Close combat,” he said. “Stick close and don’t waste the bullets.”
Kyran took in a breath, pushed himself out from behind the cover of the tree, and paused.
The Abarimons were gone.
Kyran looked around, his fierce gaze darting this way and that, searching for demons.
“What now?” Aaron asked.
“We have to get every last Abarimon,” Kyran said. “We can’t leave this valley otherwise.”
They hurried down the dark path, searching for the demons. With every step, Aaron’s heart pounded, expecting an Abarimon to jump out from behind a tree. He kept a firm grip on his gun, aimed it before him, but feared he might not react fast enough. The only thing keeping him somewhat calm was Kyran’s presence by his side.
“Maybe they left?” Aaron suggested, hoping that was the case. “If all of them run away, that makes the valley ours. Then the enchantment in the air ends and we can leave too, right?”
Kyran nodded, his eyes scanning the area. “Yeah, but...but Abarimons don’t do that,” he said. “They don’t abandon their valley, not that easily.”
“You call that easy?” Aaron asked.
Kyran stopped and turned to give Aaron a look, shaking his head at him. “Come on,” he said. “They’re here...somewhere.”
They crossed the clearing. They searched for what felt like hours, but there was no sign of the Abarimons. They came to another clearing, a bigger one, marked in a perfect circle by the surrounding trees.