Watching in silence as the door cracked open an inch, Sam knew full well that Matthew would act if he didn't come up with something in the next few seconds. He could feel the eyes of his hunter companions boring holes into the back of his skull as they waited for him to take charge, with Alice still quietly hidden out of sight somewhere close by. He froze on the spot as the door opened further and the toe of a shoe could be seen stepping through. Sam was unsure of whether he should leap at them or try to hide behind the door itself, but he knew that at least one of them would be spotted in the stairwell no matter what. Fortunately for him, a late intervention kept his plan on track.
A massive explosion shook the foundations of the building, sending a shockwave through the concrete pillars and causing tremors to move the ground beneath their feet. The deafening sound echoed up the stairwell and reverberated down the empty halls, making it impossible to determine its point of origin. Chunks of plaster and dust fell from the ceiling as the rumbling continued, but the building somehow remained standing despite the sheer destructive force.
What Sam presumed to be the Loco's over the top distraction had achieved the desired effect, as the door slammed shut behind the man who was likely making his way back towards the explosion’s epicenter, somewhere near the front of the building. That hopefully meant that all the rest of TJ’s guards would be rushing to defend the main entrance too, leaving the way open for their small group who had been waiting for their cue to enter.
Sam had instinctively covered his ears to protect them from the loud bang, but that didn't stop them from ringing. It took a moment for him to recover before he turned to see the concerned expressions upon the faces of his allies. He could only just make out the words of Tommy who sounded as annoyed as he looked. “Great… Way to alert the cops, douchebags. Trust a bunch of street thugs to go overkill!”
Despite it being his plan of attack, Sam hadn't expected the Locos to start with such a large explosion either, but he now understood how they earned their namesake. There was no point complaining about it though, as it had drawn out TJ’s men with a head on assault, and he knew that it was time for them to play their part. “That's our signal!” His own words sounded louder in his head than they likely did to the others, a result of his temporary loss of hearing.
As the ringing in his ears began to die down, Sam heard the usual complaints coming from Matthew who had wanted to run a professional operation, not realising that most of them had no clue at all about military tactics. “Are they trying to bring the building down on us?”
Sam ignored the usual cynicism that spouted from the man’s mouth. He refused to dignify the question with a response as he returned to the door and slowly opened it just enough to see inside. The modest sized room beyond was a hangout of sorts, a disorganised home for those who had sworn fealty to TJ and his gang. It was a place for them to kick back and relax, with beaten couches angled to face a large entertainment center complete with oversized speakers, rows of CDs, and a white bed sheet that had been nailed to the wall to act as a screen. The projector still displayed some sort of racing game that had been muted and left on pause, the friendly competition having been rudely interrupted.
As Sam surveyed a table loaded with stacks of cash, drugs and scattered bullets that surrounded guns in various stages of disassembly, he noticed that the chairs around the tables had been overturned as if their occupants had left in a hurry. The open door to the far left of the space was wide open, showing another stairway from which a great deal of commotion could be heard. Voices cried out in panic, with another barking orders as gunshots rang out. The Loco’s assault was in full swing and TJ’s goons had been caught off guard. They would hopefully be distracted for a while, which would give Sam and his team the time they required to find TJ and deal with him accordingly. The big question that had yet to be answered was the current whereabouts of the Huntsman.
To the far right, past the boarded up windows and stained cots, lay the double doors that led into TJ’s inner sanctum. It was a place that Sam had only briefly visited before, but it was a memory that had been permanently seared into his mind. Confident that the coast was clear, he pulled the door open all the way and stepped into the room itself, beckoning for his allies to enter behind him.
The rest of the group filed into the room, with Matthew taking the lead. His eyes darted around the corners as he searched for signs of an ambush, not seeming to trust Sam’s conclusion that it was safe for them to enter. Alice followed him in, making her way around the edge of the room as she idly ran her delicate fingers across the smooth concrete surface. She didn't appear to be concerned by any potential dangers at all, a feeling of calm emanating from her like some sort of aura that made even Sam feel a little less apprehensive.
Aaron and Tommy burst in a moment later, their guns trained on each and every shadow that moved. They seemed even more on edge than Matthew, which was likely due to the fact that they were mortal and much more fragile than a vampire who could take a bullet to the chest and keep on moving without too much trouble at all. It was understandable that they would feel that way, as they were deep in enemy territory with a team that they had no love for and with whom they shared very little trust.
Sam edged across the room with caution, his pistol still gripped a little too tightly in his hands. He had set his sights on the double doors that led towards his target, but kept glancing around the room nervously as he made his way towards it. It was as if he expected the very walls to leap out and attack them. “Stay alert! Getting in to the building was the easy part...” He tried his best to sound assertive and full of a false confidence that had slipped away the moment they had entered the premises.
Aaron’s lowered voice startled Sam as it came from a closer proximity than he had expected, the hunter having crept up behind him at a much faster pace. “Maybe we got lucky and your ‘Huntsman’ isn't here.”
The booming voice of a hidden assailant caught everyone by surprise and instantly filled Sam with dread as it responded sinisterly. “Luck is not on your side!” It was the familiar, foreign accent of the very man they had only just mentioned. Akoni the Huntsman had found them before they had even laid eyes upon him and it was from that moment that the plan fell apart.
The towering figure of a well dressed man stepped out from the shadows, positioning himself between the group and the door to TJ’s sanctum. He adjusted the cufflinks of his shirt as he flashed a grim smile, the whites of his teeth standing out in contrast to his ebony skin. The man’s bloodshot eyes were open wide with an intense stare that made Sam feel weak and unprepared. He knew full well that the Huntsman’s power was far beyond him, but that was the reason that he had brought along backup.
Matthew strode past Sam and the others, taking his place at the front line as he stood up against Akoni in defiance. Considerably tall himself, his muscular form was still overshadowed by the sheer size of the Huntsman who must have been almost a foot taller. The toughened soldier bravely faced his foe, looking somewhat scruffier in his practical clothing compared to the man who had appeared before them in his finely tailored suit. He was the guardian of TJ’s chamber and wasn't about to let anyone past without a fight.
Tommy stifled a bought of nervous laughter. “I expected him to be taller…” Sam was quickly learning that if you could count on him for something, it was his smart-aleck wit and consistent wisecracks.
Matthew seemed unphased by Akoni, despite being dwarfed by his near gargantuan size. “You must be the Huntsman.” He said as he cracked his knuckles before raising his fists up in front of him. “I've heard a lot about you.”
Sam began to draw from the confidence of his allies to bolster himself as he too spoke up against their adversary. “Are you scared yet?” His bold gaze was returned with a terrifying look from Akoni that felt as though it was overpowering his will. He appeared to have more than just physical might at his disposal, as he crushed Sam’s spirit with a single glance that looked through him as if h
e wasn't even there.
The Huntsman took a step forward, the wicked smile disappearing from his face as it was replaced with the serious look of a man who meant to tear them apart limb from limb. “I do not know fear, but fear knows me.” And with those words he set upon them at lightning speed, his motion nothing but a blur.
A gut wrenching blow to the abdomen sent Matthew staggering. He had barely moved an inch before the Huntsman reached Sam, who he sent spiralling across the room and into the wall besides a large speaker that rocked precariously on its stand. Sam's body crashed into the plaster, leaving a crack in its surface before he fell to the floor. After the impact, he found that it was a struggle to pick himself up, instead having to watch in bewilderment as the rest of his team was dispatched all too quickly.
“Surround the son of a…” Tommy’s words were cut short as he was tossed into a table at bone shattering speed, the Huntsman continuing to run rings around them with seemingly little effort.
Aaron tried to catch him with a quick blast of his shotgun, but the pellets hit nothing but air. In the blink of an eye, he found himself empty handed, his foe having disarmed him in an instant. Akoni bent the barrel of the weapon with ease before using it to club the shocked looking hunter over the head, causing him to drop like a sack of potatoes. His body sprawled out over the floor and it looked as though he wouldn't be recovering any time soon.
Not wasting a second, the Huntsman turned to face the final member of the group, the blonde haired girl who stood her ground despite the knowledge that she was outmatched by her opponent. He took a moment to adjust his tie, smoothing a crease in the red silk as he grinned at her wickedly. Alice didn't even attempt to move out of the way as the man lunged at her, raising an arm to strike her with his unnatural strength. Fortunately for her, his hand didn't even get close to making contact as his wrist was caught in the powerful grasp of someone who he thought he had already taken down.
“You don't get to touch her!” Matthew’s voice was stern and carried the weight of his words with grim determination. He had quickly recovered and had moved to intercept the Huntsman with surprising speed. It seemed that Akoni wasn't the only one in the room with an impressive degree of strength and resilience. Even if the soldier wasn't his equal, perhaps he could keep him distracted long enough for the plan to get back on track.
The Huntsman looked serious for a split second as his hand was suspended in the air by someone of comparable power. His blank stare didn't even acknowledge Matthew standing there as he paused for a brief moment of silent contemplation. Another second later and he flashed a deadly grin, nodding at his new rival with satisfaction. “Finally, a challenge.”
Akoni somehow managed to break his hand free of the vice like grip and turned to face Matthew. The pair of them instinctively raised their fists and began to trade vicious blows, duking it out in an impressive display of brawn and aggression that the others were hesitant to interrupt. It was a clash of titans, with only one able to emerge as the victor. The other would surely meet their demise.
**********
Aaron awoke to a splitting headache, with the sounds of a nearby scuffle only adding to it. The first thing he laid his eyes on as they opened was the face of his best friend coming into focus as a wooden chair shattered against the concrete wall behind him, a little too close for comfort.
“You okay, man? This isn't a good time to nap.” The smirk on Tommy’s face barely concealed his obvious look of concern.
“What… what happened?” Aaron noticed the cuts and red marks on his friend’s face that would no doubt swell up and leave behind some impressive bruises.
“You got nailed. We both did…” Tommy cringed a little as he spoke, clearly hiding more than just a few bumps and scrapes. He flinched just a little as another loud crunch signified the destruction of yet more furniture, causing him to quickly glance back over his shoulder. “We're out of our fuckin’ league on this one, dude.”
Aaron nodded, his neck aching as he sat himself up straight to see the vicious duel that was still raging between the Huntsman and their own powerhouse of an ally. “Maybe, but I'm not giving up.”
Tommy shook his head slowly as he forced another brave, but goofy smile. “Did I say I was giving up? Come on, man… You know that’s not my style.”
Aaron picked himself up and quickly dusted his clothes off as Tommy stood by him, facing out towards the ongoing chaos. The fight was still going strong, with both them and Sam’s friend Alice giving the large men a wide berth.
The carnage caused by the battle of the powerhouses was almost immeasurable. An immovable object had met an unstoppable force and the building around them was paying the price, with structural damage that was beyond repair. The walls were dotted with fist sized holes and even the concrete pillars holding up the ceiling were in danger of collapsing, meaning that the threat of the structure coming down upon their heads was very real indeed. The pair seemed oblivious to the extent of the destruction that they had left in their wake, colliding with each other over and over as they moved at speeds so fast they were exhausting to watch.
It was then that Aaron realised that Samuel Mitchell wasn't present within the room and was nowhere to be seen, but it was Tommy who beat him to the punch, voicing his concerns. “Wait… Where the fuck is Mitchell?”
Aaron was tired of letting Sam give him the slip, but he knew exactly where he had gone this time. “I don't see him... He must have snuck inside while we were distracted.”
Both of them peered back towards the battle that was still raging, where it finally looked as though the pace was beginning to slow down due to overexertion. It seemed that even these immortal beings could eventually tire, albeit much slower than a human would. Unfortunately, Matthew’s strength appeared to be fading a little faster than his opponents and he was showing signs of obvious weakness as he struggled to keep up. He was definitely tenacious, but was becoming increasingly reckless in his wild attempts to strike at his foe. The Huntsman would soon have the upper hand if they didn't do something to even the playing field, which was easier said than done.
Aaron knew what had to be done, but he couldn't risk leaving Sam Mitchell to face TJ alone. They were supposed to be the ones that finished him off, not some stranger that neither of them had ever laid eyes upon. “Tommy, go find the kid. I'll do what I can in here.” However resistant he had been to coming along in the first place, he was invested in the outcome of the mission now and had to see it through to the end.
Tommy nodded, patting his hand on his friend's shoulder. “Got it. Don't get yourself killed!”
Aaron couldn't help but smirk, knowing full well that death was always a high risk in their line of work. “Likewise.”
Tommy handed over his shotgun and nodded a second time, drawing his pistol as he turned to head in the direction of the doors to TJ’s inner sanctum. Aaron took a moment to watch his friend leave before turning his attention back towards the chaos. He could see Alice edging around the room and made brief eye contact with her, a look that was returned with a surprisingly warm smile. Aaron wasn't sure what that meant, but it looked as though she was biding her time for something. Was she waiting for the Huntsman to grow tired before she made her move, or was she avoiding the conflict altogether? He wasn't sure, but he wasn't about to wait and find out.
Checking to make sure that his gun was loaded and ready to fire, Aaron prepared to enter the fray. He would try to keep his distance for as long as possible, taking pot shots at the Huntsman in an attempt to stagger him, or slow him down long enough for Matthew to land some vital hits. He longed for the days of fighting skin stealing slime monsters, confirming the fact that he was out of his depth this time.
Wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead, Aaron raised the barrel of his weapon. He then began to track his target, his finger moving up towards the trigger as he steadied his shaking hands. As he took a large gulp, his mouth felt so dry that it was as though his throat would crack. It was unlike
ly that his buckshots would have much effect, but if he could distract their gargantuan foe for just a moment then perhaps they could have a sliver of a chance at achieving victory. Perhaps he could survive the night after all, or maybe he would simply anger the beast and bring the man’s wrath down upon him.
Chapter Twenty Seven: It all came crashing down.
The lone figure upon the throne remained seated as Sam entered the inner sanctum through the double doors. The room itself was exactly as he remembered, a stage engulfed in darkness, other than the dwindling light of the burning twin braziers that were slowly dying out.
“Big man come to take my throne!” The tone in TJ’s voice was that of annoyance as he glared at Sam with wide eyes, his hands gripping the arms of his chair.
Sam strode further into the room before stopping a few feet from the skulls that lined the raised platform. He scowled at the self proclaimed lord who refused to stand in his presence, his own words shooting from between his lips like venom. “No! I've come to burn it to the ground!”
TJ leaned forwards, his massive fur coat shifting as if it was part of him. He raised his voice in anger, spittle flying from his mouth and landing on the floor between them. “Who are you to challenge my power?”
Sam maintained eye contact, provoking the man at every opportunity. “Me? I'm no-one. You made sure of that the day you took everything away from me.” He paused a moment to let his words settle in as TJ studied him with calculating silence. “That was a mistake on your part, as now I have nothing else to lose...”
Appearing to be increasingly aggravated by Sam’s insolence, TJ stood from up from his throne and shed his coat, letting it fall in a pile on the floor around his feet. A tapestry of scars and unusual tattoos marked the man's skinny torso and arms, with runes and unidentifiable symbols covering the majority of his skin's surface. The meaning behind the markings were obscured in mystery and Sam didn't let himself linger on them long enough to make any new discoveries.
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