Abscond
Van did not fail to miss the quite stunning duo from picking stuff toys after they had won on some sort of gun booth. Unconsciously, he smiled as he saw her face, ignoring her companion that is also attracting a lot of men within the vicinity. He quietly walks behind her and took her by surprise. She squealed and touch her purse before playfully slapping his arm. “Don’t you ever do that again or else I will turn you upside down.” She warned.
As gullible as he is, he ignored her warning. “Is this for real?” He glanced suspiciously at the pink hippopotamus stuff toy she’s holding at.
“What? This?” She waves the stuffed toy.
“Yes.”
Felt ignored Jane went to the nearest keg material and began to take a stride wherever her eyes led her to find a keeper like a girl scout on a hunt, except this time it’s a man thing she’s gawking and she won’t fail on hunting one. On the other hand, Kate who felt mocked probes the pompous remark of Van.
“What are you implying?” She flatly asked.
“I guess I never thought that you can do it. I find it hard that you’re doing it,” He came closed to whisper on her ears. “Without using any kind of magic.”
“Can do it? Are you implying that I’m cheating?” Van pretentiously looked around as if he’s innocent.
“Did I say that?”
“You sound like saying that.”
“Do I now?”
“Van, is this your way of challenging me?”
His lips puckered. “Maybe.” Her eyes returned to the owner of the machine with her stricken face and picked up the two guns and gave one of them to Van.
“It’s on then.”
It did not take a while for Van to have an utter taste of defeat from Kate. There’s muted ting when the metal bullet hits the target. The owner dictated her won and slid smoothly the gun back to the counter.
“You’re good. You are too good for this.” He said while gasping for air.
“Told ya.” She grinned and proudly chose another one of the stuffed toys. It’s an orange tiger this time. Just like a child, she giggled and raised her palm to his face.
His shoulders shuddered knowing what it meant behind that wayward smile that cannot be dented by some masking words. And yet he still chose to do so.
“What now?”
She shakes her palm. “Gimme money.”
“Give you the what now?” Feeling tense, he couldn’t help but to felt uncomfortable.
“I won. So, I think it is right for me to get compensated.”
“Wow. Compensated?”
“You’re the one who gambled first.”
“You’re the one who accepted my challenge.” He retorts.
He pushed his thoughts away this time. “Come on, let’s go grab something to eat.”
“Then what about my money?” She asked.
“Hey, we never agreed how should I repay you. This-this is my way of getting back at you, so, don’t be such picky.” His boots heeled and with muted echoes, he led her.
It wasn’t special, although, the place is quite lovely. There are string lights outside and there are seats and tables. The lake’s view from the café is perfect for a view to enjoy while sitting and enjoying the brew of coffee that Van treated her. The best part of the café it was festoon with ornamental plants such as marigold, thyme, the string of pearls, aloe vera, and croton.
“To be fair, you have magic.”
“Oh, no, no. Don’t use that on me. I never cheated.”
A chuckle escaped his mouth. “To be honest, you really are a good sharpshooter.”
“I know. It’s really hard to be pro.”
It was grey and the magenta sky overcast by the approaching night. Van stood and came closer to the river. Kate stands beside him. Ever since Van activated his unknown powers, he felt this anxious feeling. For some time, this anxiety subsided, but whenever he thought of it, he couldn’t stop thinking ‘what if his existence is made of darkness?’. Such abominations he thought of himself. As he glooms over his thoughts, Kate snaps her fingers and interrupted him to his thoughts.
“Why the gloomy face?” She concerningly asked.
Van waves his hand dismissively, “It’s nothing serious.”
She looked at the sky and the twinkling orange lights gleaming like torches before finally disappeared from their sight. The moon ascends and lording the stars, but even still the cloud glooms over a host. Its light fell upon and reflected on the lake, perfectly still.
He warily observes the lake. Somehow it felt familiar, but he has no recollection on where or when he had seen such exact scenery, maybe on another similar occasion.
A few couples can be seen finally leaving the café. Some of them hastened to go to the music festival, while some went the other way.
She places her hand on his shoulder and asked, “You had an epiphany, did you? Tell me what is it?”
“I was thinking… that maybe I was a mistake. Most of my childhood I spend doing mischievous acts, all of that because I hated being part of Mick’s family. I did my best to act on my best behavior, but even still I have no control over myself. Now that I know that I am something more than a human, it keeps me thinking, what if I was born that way? Maybe, I’m just a mistake. Maybe… that is the reason why my own parents abandoned me.”
The young spoke as if it was nothing but a nonchalant expression. Just as she turned to survey her face, he glanced away to gaze at the lake.
“Don’t think of yourself so low, Van. No child was born as a mistake.”
“How come? If I were to say, I haven’t able to change for the past years. I am still that ungrateful child who never makes his foster parents proud. My brother must’ve hated me for being a pain in the ass.”
“I don’t think so. Your brother seems pretty cool to me. Look, no matter what you are before, it doesn’t define what you will become. You can choose whatever path you want, for better or for worse.”
“You know, I’ve always imagined that being a young adult would change everything I am… that I would be able to make myself feel better and think as a better version of myself.”
“I wish that were easy, but not everything goes according to what we want.” He still not best pleased by her comfort, but his manner changed to concern as he heard her next few words. “Will it make you feel better if I tell you what I found out about your heritage?”
His attention returns to her with hiding concern and allows her to continue.
“There are similar symptoms of your drastic change to aggressive behavior, that includes your blackouts. At first, I thought that you’re a werewolf. You see werewolves have traits of being aggressive, it’s in their nature, but the thing is that I never saw you transform into a werewolf during the full moon, plus you don’t have the mark of a crescent.”
“Crescent?”
“Yes, the crescent mark indicates if you’re a werewolf or not. Thus, prior to my explanation, the werewolf is off the list. The next thing is that you’re an impagnia. A creature born with magic that uses life force but at the expense of one’s consciousness.”
“I- look, you saw me in action. I never use magic or any other voodoo stuff.”
“I know. Believe I know. That is why your case is perfect for the last one.”
“What is it?”
“A Jaeger, A Hunter.”
“Jaeger? What are you saying?”
“I’ve stumbled on this old textbook. There I read their lore, that they exist in Persia during the 6th century just after the Persian Empire lasted and they moved out and spread in Asia to Europe and Western America.”
Van interrupted her, “I get it, they’re a bunch of nomads. How come I related to them?”
“It indicates that in their younger years, the young hunters are bound to lose themselves and to be subjugated to their aggressive nature until they reach late adulthood. Their monstrous strength gives them an advantage against some powerful monsters. They literally hunt monsters most of their life.”
“Are you saying that I’m a what? A freaking belligerent supernatural creature?”
“Well, simply to say yes, but look at the bright side,” Kate held his hand and tried to reassure him with her weak smile. “The process may be gruesome but at least there’s still time for us to sort this out.”
“You just confirm it. I’m just a freak.”
“No, no. No one thinks you like that.”
His soulless eyes are narrowed and sullen, it barred her from saying.
“I need some time to think. I don’t know what to do or to believe right now.”
Tolled by under the pressure, Van walked away and into his cycle of thoughts. When he was back to the street and out of the people’s sight, his mind betrayed him again. He fell under the gesture of the very being that Kate had told him earlier.
His eyes shone brightly in dim yellow and onto the woods he ran.