Chapter 6: ENCOUNTER (2)

The boys took a train and headed home. No one spoke. Each was lost in thought. Kim was worried, Mwas had his eyes on Thia and, even though today was avoided in an amusing way. However, it's only a matter of time before he sinks his already stretched fangs deep into Thia.

Mwas was a son of a rich industrialist in the village and also one of the few people who could trace their ancestry to the beginning of the village. His father was known for his benevolence as well as contribution to technology. This wasn't the case with Mwas. He used his father's power and money to create a 'Hunter's Guild'. It was a front. A way to steal hunts from other warriors who didn't have influence or money to bribe the Deles. He often cajoled and lied to unsuspecting warriors on the pretext of promises of the high life. However, these promises only lasted a week. After that, one would work for him in hunts like a slave until, unable to take it anymore would give up hunting and become farmers or laborers or worse choose death over humiliation. It was unfortunate that even in a post apocalyptic world, there was still a distinction between humans. The haves and the have-nots.

"I'm getting off here", Thia said stuffily, his nose clogged. Kim, remembering earlier, smirked. Serves him right. " Alright lets meet tomorrow at the Gate, " Kim said smiling. Thia nodded waved and got out. The train went on. From the window, he looked up. The filtered moon looked beautiful and breathtaking. He stared at it, quietly lost in thought.

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With his eyes still closed, Alvin the priest continued to pray. The hybrid screeched and came closer and closer. He saw his life flash before his eyes and wondered, was there a second life, reincarnation or anything that could help him go back in time? The hybrid's breath caressed his hands that were clasped in prayer. Then came the wet saliva. This was it. He opened his eyes ready to face death bravely. A tongue lick and a saliva bath hit him as the hybrid tilted its head sideways to take a bite. It was a good life, he thought.

A low rumbling sound from the distance made the hybrid freeze mid bite. The priest was too stunned to move, after all he was inside its mouth. One wrong move and those razor sharp teeth would shred his skin like butter on a hot knife. The hybrid retreated and began to let out a low screech. It looked ahead. Something was coming, something that scared it. The priest still sat there coated in saliva, staring at the hybrid as it retreated and focused on something in the distance.

The moonlight shone brightly. This helped him see what the hybrid was looking at, the owner of the rumbling sound. For the first time in his life, Alvin wished he was dead. Before him , with its body glowing and shimmering in the light, stood the Hound. A creature that was supposed not to exist. A creation from the citadel once used to subjugate and induce fear into humans so that they could join the hot water religion. He wet himself afresh. For him, fear was always his major weakness.

The silent night could hardly contain the tension it held. No one moved, the three seemed frozen belonging to a world detached from reality. Then, a flash of light and it was all over. His mind unable to comprehend what had just happened and coupled with fear, he passes out. Still in a praying position.