Chapter 5

At night, Alister checks himself into a room at an Inn, he takes off his mask and places it on the bedside table. He sits on the end of the bed and then he rubs his eyes a bit. He takes out a notepad and pen that he bought after having lunch earlier in the day and starts writing in it "Noki said that there have been many disappearances, Huntsmen and civilians. But the receptionist at the hotel, the bartender and Maggie never mentioned anything about that" Alister thinks for a moment "If it is more than just Dimitri, this could turn out worse than I thought. Maybe if I go back to that bar and ask if they have heard about people going missing. I will go there tomorrow and try and get more answers. I should try going back to the police office and see what I can get from there too." Alister closed the notepad then he gets up and then lays on the bed and closes his eyes.

The next day Alister is back out on the streets asking around if anyone knows anything about Dimitri, he even checks in with Noki just to say hi. All the while the same figure that was following him yesterday was still watching over Alister "he's going to be trouble, just like brother said. I can't wait to see that despair on his face" they said as they chuckle. Alister goes to the police station and shows his huntsman's license then a picture of Dimitri on his scroll "Do you guys have anything you can tell me about this guy's disappearance?" Alister asked to the officer that was at a desk. Another officer perks their head up a bit to listen in. However, Alister was just told the same things that he already knows except two new bits of information. "From some witness reports they said that they were lured into an alleyway near the construction site. A child's voice saying, "Help me" followed by a what sounds like Mud hitting the floor" Said the officer that Alister was talking too. Alister tilts his head "Mud? A child's voice? So, we would have to entertain the thought that these aren't just kidnappings but possible murders?" Alister's tone of voice was a mix of serious and concerned

"Yes, we did find a skull once but everything else was gone. We found out that it belonged to a Huntress in training by the name of Fait" The officer said as they showed Alister records of the recent cases of people going missing. Alister takes the records and reads them "It's just as you said, child's voice, near the construction site and mud" Alister said as he hands the records back. "In order to find Dimitri this needs to stop, that implies that Dimitri is even still alive at this point" continued as he looks up at the officer "Could this be the work of some new Grimm that we don't know about?" Alister asked.

"You could be right; it seems there have been reports of new types of Grimm popping up lately. We heard about a few types that we have nicknamed "Mimics" they can transform into objects and it has been theorised that they can mimic living things. "Summoners" these ones cannot fight but once they spot you, but they can summon Grimm such as Boartusks as well as "Tickers". Tickers are roughly about the size of your hand; they explode on contact. You know when you are near one by the ticking noise that they make. And the last one is called "The Gluttonous" they are big, surprisingly fast, fat and dangerous, they open up their chest and suck anything in with a powerful suction" The officer warned Alister "However everything but the Mimics are found outside these walls" They continued.

"Thanks for the warning, Officer" Alister said as he walks out of the station "This job got a whole lot more complicated" he said as saw something move in an alleyway, across the road from him. Alister shrugs "Maybe I should try looking around the construction site. Better to go at night though. I do not want to get caught trespassing. Though I should get a weapon, I saw a weapon shop yesterday. Oh! I hope they have gauntlets" He thought to himself as he walks to the weapon shop. Half an hour later he's in the weapon shop, the shop itself is covered from wall to wall in all kinds of weapons that any hunter would want. This store had everything from basic swords to cannons that transform into even bigger swords. Alister didn't want anything that bombastic, as he was looking around, he found a pair of gauntlets. Alister was busy admiring the craftsmanship that he didn't take any notice of a huge shadow looming over him.

"Like what you see?" Alister jumps and quickly turns around to see an absolute mountain of a man, tall, muscular, bald and with a big grin. "Sorry little fella, I didn't mean to frighten you" He said as he laughed "Name's Torn and I own this shop and make the weapons" He said as he looks down at Alister. Alister was a tall person himself being at 6'7 but Torn towered over Alister "Uh yeah, these gauntlets are exactly what I need. I haven't finished making my weapon back home" Alister was intimidated by Torn's Hight.

Torn looks at the gauntlets then flexes his muscles "Ah! Yes, a perfect choice dear customer. These gauntlets have razor sharp claws at the tips on the fingers which can rips through Grimm like a hot knife through butter, as well as" Torn struck many poses as he flexed his muscles "being tough and reliable" Torn was quite enthusiastic, telling Alister about the gauntlets. Alister was confused but at the same time under his mask his face was red as he looks at Torn's muscles "Something has awaked in me and I'm okay with this" Alister thought to himself. Torn stopped flexing then he folds his arms and smiles.

"So, are you buying them?" Torn asked, Alister was silent for a few seconds then he snaps out of his daze "Oh! Yeah of course I'll buy them" Alister was uncharacteristically flustered as he hands Torn the lien. Alister puts the gauntlets on as he walks out of the store "So, I'm into big muscular dudes as well as regular dudes. And women of course, wait does that mean I'm into muscular ladies as well?" Alister was deep in thought as he walks back to the inn that he was staying in. "Is this what people call "Bi panic"? I heard Wrench say something similar at some point" His thoughts continued on while he walked into his room where his thoughts stewed further.

Night arrives and Alister is standing in front of the construction site. "Well here goes nothing" Alister said as he takes his first step inside.