chapter nine

The monster hunter didn't bother taking the bus this time. Chord hastily ambled across the moody street with his black hoodie on, tailed by Castor, Emily, and Finley. They scrambled restlessly to try to catch up to Chord's striding steps and to avoid bumping into any pedestrians. One civilian had been carrying a bowl of nachos and had nearly smashed into Finley before putting his phone down and snaking around him.

"Watch it!" Finley cried after him.

The result of the confused walking led to a restaurant placed in an epicenter of stores, boutiques, and shopping malls that all the crosswalks led to. Dorrie's Dash was known for its burgers, nachos, and smoothies and most civilians preferred it over next door's Jeremy Junction subways. Castor had never been to Columbus that often to eat at Dorrie's Dash, but he's heard the name being whispered around before. Finley and Emily looked oblivious to the building.

"Chord, not that we don't want to eat or anything, but shouldn't we be doing the mission?" Castor asked, relishing in the smell of fries that waltzed in the air.

"Definitely. I just thought we should get a quick bite first and get to know each other."

The line wasn't long but people took their time to order. Once Chord and his group came up, he ordered three meals, and then they were led to a table on the far left side of the restaurant. As they ate, there was a large window that stood beside them that perfused the hazy colors of purple and dying orange. It seemed the day was snoring away and the night was getting a wake-up call.

"So, I guess we should fly through the names huh? Well, I'm Chord. I'll be your mentor this summer and your guide as you're doing your hunting missions. I'm well acquainted with Castor, but what about you too? What are your names?" Chord asked.

"I'm Emily. I'm Castor's uh.."

"Girlfriend?" Chord suggested. Finley stifled a giggle as he took another bite out of his burger.

"No. I'm Castor's friend. We're all just friends," said Emily as she awkwardly took a sip out of her smoothie.

"I'm Finley," said Finley with chunks of burger still in his mouth.

"Well, it's great to meet you all! Now I have something else to ask you. What scares you?"

Castor dwelled on this question for a bit.

"Death," Castor said.

"Interesting," Chord smiled.

"Thunderclouds," said Finley.

"The unknown," added Emily.

"Amazing," said Chord. "What's one thing that claws your mind till this very day or at this current moment? Me, it's knowing that I'll lose you guys."

"I had an English teacher once. She was pretty nice and she barely ever gave us homework. Then one day she just disappeared. No heads up or anything. Sometimes I wonder If I could've said goodbye or been nicer. It was just weird I guess," said Emily, pensively staring at her smoothie cup.

"I don't really know my father," Castor admitted. "He left me and my mother before I could even walk."

"Finley, what about you?" Chord asked.

"I uh…"

Suddenly there was a scream that scratched the air. People begin to stand up out of their seats and look in the direction of the shrieking. Some people began to leave the restaurant, whispering irritably. Chord led the kids to the woman's bathroom stall, the place where the scream originated. When they came there they saw a woman sitting on the toilet but blood was everywhere. Her head had been cut open, her eyes were gouged out and beneath her underwear, blood was leaking out. The woman who shrieked stood there just staring at the scene.

"Who did this?" Chord asked

"I don't know. All I remember seeing was a short little man. It had long ears and it was trying to get the girl to kiss him." said the woman.

"Elves," Chord muttered darkly.