the Hunters 'n' the Hunted [Dorian Perez]

March 7, 2011.

Dorian is driving a patrol. there has been some strange murders happening on the city. lately the city can't rest with so many crimes. burglars, drug dealers, and killers. the world is going to hell indeed. so much to do. so little to save.

Dorian never wanted to be a police officer. he only became one to satisfied his father's desire of his first born following his steps. now that Dorian sees the type of life his father use to live. it feels like it is too late to change careers.

one of the good things about the job is that mostly everyone is nice. Dorian doesn't have any issues with the coworkers. everyone is respectful. but once more the job does feel too heavy at times like tonight.

Dorian receives a call. it is his partner. they are investigating a serial killer who commits ritualistic homicides. every kill is more gruesome than the previous one. every time they feel closer to finding him. he gets away from them.

Dorian goes back to his department. he takes out a beer. he receives a call from some coworkers and friends. there are some people moving out of the city. there are some people moving inside the city. the world feels so lonely.

Dorian is all alone on the city. his mother died when he was a child. he never had any siblings nor close cousins. his father, Don Pablo Perez died four years ago. the man died for throat cancer. he was a heavy smoker.

because Dorian's mother died young he never met his family on the maternal side. he only knew an uncle on his father's side. the uncle was killed six years ago while playing the hero trying to stop some bank robbers.

Dorian has a cousin who visits him every once every two months. Dorian isn't close to his only living relative. they talk to each other about serious stuff. but they are more strangers than family at this point. Dorian is all alone on a big city.

Dorian receives a call. he is told that one of his coworkers found the serial killer. they participate on a shootout. the cop and the serial killer. both died at the same time. Dorian feels relief for a moment.

it is sad for the cop who died. but at the end of the day what matters is that the serial killer was stopped. too much crazy shit happening on the streets. it is easier to just care about the criminals who are stop. and forget those who died stopping them.

that night like every other night. Dorian couldn't sleep, he used prescription drugs to be able to sleep for four hours. every time he falls asleep. he has some strange nightmares that includes monsters and killers. he isn't safe, not even while dreaming.

.....

Today.

Dorian is inside of a car. next to him is Lorenzo. they are on the front of the car. it is night time and the dark cloud is above them. anyone could become claustrophobic with the pressure of knowing that thing is suppose to be a God.

Dorian is eating some homemade chips. he asks Lorenzo if he wants some. Lorenzo doesn't answer back. Lorenzo is too busy looking at the deity above them. no one could blame him if he is too scare to look around of him.

Dorian is thinking about the old days. there are many things he left unsolved. he was always busy with work. there was always something to do. now he asks himself if it was worth it to waste his youth like that.

Lorenzo takes a wallet from his pockets. he is looking at his kids and his wife. he looks at the pictures to fight his fear. now that he feels better he shows some pictures of his family to Dorian. he talks about them feeling so proud.

Dorian feels a bit uncomfortable. he has many things on his life. but he doesn't have a family of his own. when he found himself alone on the world, work was the only thing in which he could think.

more dense becomes the Dark sky. the Darkness like a watchful eye is there looking down on the mortals. waiting for one of them to break. just one to be today's meal. there is no desperation like that of a hungry Pagan Deity.

Dorian grabs a plastic bag from the floor. he takes a beer out of the bag. he drinks it. Dorian is on a constant battle against his past, his present, and the future. he starts to think about how desperate he is to live.

Lorenzo isn't much of a smoker, or a drinker. he asks Dorian for a beer. it has been a while since the last time in which he enjoyed of a beer. the heavy work, his wife, and the kids were too much. he never had time to have a beer.

"I fear that Karla has already left. if that is the case. we are going to fight for the opportunity to escape from here. I don't like that, I don't want to be selfish enough to fight against a friend for my own survival."

"Lorenzo you need to be selfish sometimes. that is how our species became the dominant species on earth. we are weaker than most animals. there are smarter species on earth. but our arrogant ego pushed us on the top."

there are moments of silence. Lorenzo looks at Dorian. he doesn't feel capable of having a fair fight against him without getting killed or disabled. a monster like that can't be easily defeated. Lorenzo will need more than luck to win a battle against Dorian.

Dorian smiles enjoying the faces that Lorenzo is making. he doesn't have much to do. he has been driving for one hour now. he haven't seen the exit Door jet. he needs to search for the exit before the night time ends.

.....

July 12, 2011.

Dorian is in front of food truck. he is eating asada tacos. next to him is sitting Dorian's cousin who decided to become a police officer. at Dorian's left is sitting another police man with who Dorian has worked previously.

they start talking about the job. then the cousin points out the case of the serial killer who died some months ago on a shootout. he then comments that the corpse disappeared from the morgue. some suspect that the serial killer came back to life.

Dorian ignores the conversation. he just wants to eat on peace. he listens to part of the conversation between his cousin and his coworker. the cousin's name is Jose Perez. the coworker's name is Rob 'Coins' Jefferson.

Dorian finish eating his tacos. he asks for more. he waits for the other two to be done. he wants to forget all about his work. there are new criminals on the streets, some old criminals that came out of jail, and some that haven't been cough jet.

there is so much to do. it is for that reason that Dorian has thought about asking to be move to another department, or to be transfer to another estate. there is so much work that at times Dorian questions how well is he doing his job.

"for real. they called him the Ritualistic Priest Ripper, or the R.P.R. for short. even he has chosen that name as his alias. it is hard now days to be a cop."

"what is my soup for brains cousin talking about?"

"oh. there are rumors about the serial killer coming back to life months after his death. some people believed that he is some sort of supernatural killer. I suppose people watch too many slashers now days."

"what is a slasher? wait, erase that question. never mind. those are basically Giallo movies but without style, right? leaving that behind. why does people care so much about some unhinge sick person in need of help. he is just human."

"like you said Perez. we are just human. life is too boring. people need to believe in something else to feel especial. that is how religion and urban legends are born. those are the perfect seasonings to add something extra to a boring common life."

the discussion continue for another two hours. they had different opinions and it felt like the perfect time to let their opinions be heard. the argument was so tense that even the taco seller was paying attention to it.

Dorian says his goodbyes. he then walks away. he gets inside of his car. he gets some messages from his cousin. it seems like Jose wanted to talk about something private. Dorian could think about different topics that Jose wanted to touch.

Dorian is thinking about letting Jose be part of his life. it is not like Dorian is a big fan of his foolish cousin. but he is his only family. he is the last breathing member of his family. probably will be fine to also be friends with Rob. that is what he thinks.

Dorian just accepted that he can't live the rest of his life dedicated to his work alone. he can't walk this path by himself. it is okay to have a friend or two. someone to help you on times of crisis. those are all things that Dorian thinks.

Dorian didn't know at the time jet what was to happen. some years later Dorian came to regret many things. among those things it was the fact that he didn't became friends of those two fools sooner. but regrets are pointless.

there are actions that are impossible to stop. there are things that are meant to be. and Dorian was just a mortal surrounded by a river of things beyond his capabilities.

.....

Now.

Dorian wakes up. he was driving for a long while. he eventually fell asleep. he was even dreaming about the past. about the time he lived with his best friend. the reason why Dorian decided to investigate the cult.

he offers a cigar to Lorenzo. he says no with a grin. Dorian starts smoking inside of the car with no care for the smoke. Lorenzo is angry with Dorian's actions.

the Darkness has been there for many hours now. it may be a whole day since the Darkness came out. it haven't left jet. it is possible that it haven't eaten jet. it may be so hungry right now. it may be desperate for a midnight snack.

Dorian doesn't feel the confidence to keep searching for the exit door. then he hears a sound similar to a voice. before he questions his sanity. there are some people walking outside on the darkness. they came out of a car that is behind them.

Dorian didn't saw anything in particular. but on the darkness of the artificial night. the screams of horror and desperation are more than enough for Dorian to have an idea. those fools are now becoming meal for a Pagan God.

"they may be still alive. I think we can save them. we are still on time. it isn't too late. come on lets save them."

"sorry, but it was too late the moment they left the car. they never had an opportunity. it is better that way. for our own safety I recommend you to ignore their screams."

"this world is too cruel. it is hard for me to believe that I am still alive."

Dorian didn't say anything. there is nothing else to do. the world is cruel and there is not a single word that can change it. the natural order of things doesn't change by magic, or by wishful thinking. it is all about adapting to breath another day.

the weak will be destroyed by the weight of the world falling on their shoulders. the strong will only live by adapting and accepting the weight, or by sending the weight on top of the weak. that is how it is, that is how it is meant to be.

the creams are over. it is obvious to assume that they all died cruel and graphic deaths. the Darkness is gone on seconds. Lorenzo leaves the car. he screams and cries when he finds the remains of those unlucky bastards.

.....

April 14, 2014.

Dorian is on a bar. he is drinking like there is no tomorrow. he looks terrible. a cop walks behind him and touches Dorian's shoulder. the cop tells him that everything will turn out better sooner or later. the cop leaves.

Dorian asks for another beer. some people say something behind his back. Dorian stands up and has a fight inside the bar. he fought against another four cops. Dorian won the fight. he is still standing. then he falls on the floor.

the reason why Dorian is like this now is because there is a new serial killer on the city. the new serial killer is going after police officers, lawyers, and doctors. Jose was badly wounded not so long ago. he was on a hospital when he disappeared.

no one found the body. but they found parts of his body. is easy to believe that the serial killer took him. other police officers who are close to Dorian had died. Dorian received a death threat from the serial killer not so long ago.

every cop that gets too close to the case dies. 'Coins' is the only cop standing who dares to continue with the investigation. Dorian has warned 'Coins' about the severity of his actions many times by now. 'Coins' believes that justice will overcome all.

the more Dorian approaches the case. the more clear it seems like something big and bad is about to happen. more cops keeps dying every day. many other cops had resigned from their jobs, some had asked to be send to another city.

there are others that work the minimum and avoid all kinds of conflict. those who run away from the night. those who hide behind religion. those who run behind the doors of their homes before it becomes too dark outside. and Dorian is becoming one of them.

the fear to the unknown is every human's weakness. the fear to what hides on the mantle of the night to hunt. the fear to the eyes of the killer. and is by fear that the killer loses all humanity, and becomes a supernatural entity.

Dorian is now on a dilemma. does he stands up to fight the killer and becomes someone who could make his father proud, or does he allows himself to be the coward his father hated the most.

at the end of the night Dorian needed help. so Rob 'Coins' Jefferson came for him and took him to his home. in there Dorian was barely awake. Rob made a promise. he promised to avenge Jose's death. that was the last time Dorian saw Rob.

.....

Now.

Dorian is standing in the middle of the desert. he is looking at some corpses. he thinks about their deaths. he then looks at the scarecrows around the road. Dorian puts a cigar on his mouth. he stands in there for some minutes.

Lorenzo is behind drinking some apple juice. he looks at the suns. knowing that those suns are living beings is creepy. at least it is rare for those things to move. Lorenzo keeps drinking his apple juice.

"we are running out of time. the day time is becoming shorter and the night time is becoming longer. I don't think we have much time before it is too late."

Lorenzo is kissing the picture of his wife. he asks to his god for strength. he needs strength to stay standing another day. it has been so long since the last time he heard the voice of his wife. an eternity since Lorenzo saw his wife.

"I am losing my mind. I need to see my wife. I am not sure if by the end I will be a man, or I will be a monster. we all tell ourselves about our humanity. about how there are limits we can't cross. but then there are times in which you are push to cross that line."

"think about your family. hold on to that desire. don't let the desperation take control of your body. once you fall into desperation there is no salvation. don't ever forget about your brother's final wish."

"I don't know what to think. I don't know what to do. I just know I can't. I am not mentally strong enough to stay another day in here. I feel like my sanity is leaving my body. I think at times that I am about to explode and give up to my darkest thoughts."

"I suppose that is a normal reaction to what is happening around of us. I don't blame you if you ever think about.... I hope we can help each other for a bit longer, just until we find the Green Door."

out of nowhere starts to rain. both Lorenzo and Dorian are surprise by the rain. the rain seems to be harmless. Dorian gets some bowls from the car. he leaves the bowls on top of the car. he opens his mouth and drinks some drops of water.

Lorenzo gets inside of the car. the rain is too suspicious. he eats a bag of pork rinds. he opens another bottle of apple juice. he knows that soon will be night time. he is just counting the time before the Darkness comes out.

the Darkness is nothing less than a territorial beast. the Darkness is an intelligent being capable of comprehension on a human level. jet it is mostly driven by an animal like hunger that is never satiable.

the Darkness is a hunter, it is a God, it can be many things. it will be different things to different people. but one thing it will always be is a hungry being. a creature driven by a never ending hunger.