Chapter 7

The first meeting

"No word about her whereabouts, and the cops are yet to find anything."

"Really!"

"Yes." With a sigh of frustration, Mia reached for her brother's arms. "I know you can track her down, Zi...please can you do it for me?"

Her words caught Zarek by surprise. Did she really think he would do that, even if he were innocent, as she thought? 

But Zarek was not about to tell his sister a 'no.' If he did, it would only fuel her suspicions.

Yesterday, Zarek dozed off, leaving his kill book on his chest. However, his ears were quick to pick up some heartbeats, and Zarek found her tiptoeing across the room in an attempt to reach for the book. But she was made to change course at the sight of Zarek's stare. Then she gave the excuse of looking for her bag, which she had accidentally left in the sitting room. 

But Zarek was not stupid and had clung onto the book. However, what puzzled him was her line of thinking. And Zarek could not grasp the reasons for her suspicions.

"Sure! I will see what I can do," Zarek replied.

Mia pressed herself against his body as a way of a hug. Soon, he watched as she made her exit. Each time he saw her leave, he always wondered if she would ever come back.

Zarek turned on the TV, and a man began to speak.

"Yeah, it's such a tragic death. I wonder who would do that to a philanthropist."

"His death is such a great loss, but I'm hoping we get to the bottom of the investigation."

"Is there any lead on the murderer?"

"For now, nothing. Absolutely nothing. The guy is good at covering his tracks."

Zarek listened to the voices from the TV. Of course, he was a pro. Years of killing would do that to anyone. Satisfied, he went to his arsenal. He needed to grab some silver bullets, since the threat of werewolves was becoming more evident. However, when punching in the regular code that opened the automatic lock, Zarek was surprised.

Password error. The door wouldn't open. 

Sure, the code was 1998, his birthdate. But it wouldn't open. He tried a few times, but got the same result.

Password error.

Just as he turned to leave, a blue screen appeared before him. At first, Zarek thought he was dreaming. He cleared his eyes and realized he wasn't. The screen was real.

[Mission incomplete]

[Access denied]

[Class Varkon]

[Advanced weapons denied]

[Incoming danger]

[ Mission: Eliminate all creatures]

Zarek read the words on the screen. He pondered each line, but the last two caught his attention.

[Incoming danger]

[ Mission: Eliminate all creatures]

Of course, Zarek thought it could only be the werewolves. The creatures that had come to end the world. 

After much contemplation, Zarek made his exit. All the while, he contemplated whether someone had hacked his lock, or maybe his client had access to it and had denied him entry. 

Zarek pondered, but none of it made sense. But he was well aware of his incomplete mission.

Emma Grant, the 776th target, was still breathing.

Having been denied access, Zarek thought of an alternative. He needed those silver bullets anyway. Soon, he got to his car and drove almost ten miles to a gun shop.

"Mr. Slade himself, to what do I owe this honor," the salesman greeted when Zarek entered. But Zarek's eyes were fixed on another guy who had come to purchase some guns. 

Zarek thought he looked familiar, but couldn't place his face. The salesman continued to load all calibers of weapons into his bag.

"Got some of those supplies?" Zarek asked the salesman.

"Anything for you," the salesman replied.

The other man turned, and Zarek finally locked eyes with him. Grey eyes, dark hair, and almost six feet tall, Zarek was sure he had never met the man. However, there was this feeling of familiarity.

Just then, an announcement began on the TV.

"…There is some latest development on the investigation into the murder of Harrison Grant and the sudden disappearance of his daughter. After days of searching, the police finally found a lead on the missing daughter…"

The voice from the TV continued, but Zarek was unbothered. What lead could they possibly have?

Zarek turned his attention to the salesman. However, he noticed that the other man was still paying attention to the announcement.

"Hey, I need the latest of what you've got," Zarek reiterated. The salesman was taking too long to attend to him. 

"Sure!" The salesman disappeared into a corner and reappeared shortly, carrying various types of guns.

"Here, this is a semi-automatic pistol, capable of hitting targets even at a close range. Here is a sniper—"

"I'll take everything," Zarek interrupted the man. Access to his arsenal had been denied, so he thought he needed as many weapons as possible.

"We hope the murderer is brought to justice in the shortest possible time," the voice on the TV concluded.

"Tragic death, huh?" Zarek commented.

At this point, the other man shot Zarek a glare. Then he grabbed his bag of guns and headed for the exit.

After the door closed, Zarek turned to the salesman.

"Hey! Who is that guy?"

"You mean Lucas, the guy who just left?"

"Yeah!"

"He's a regular customer. But these days, I feel sorry for him," the salesman said with sympathy.

"Did he lose his mother or something?" 

The salesman chuckled at Zarek's comment.

"Nah! Haven't you heard of Emma Grant, the missing lady?"

"Yeah! Sure. What's about her?" Zarek asked with curiosity.

"That's her boyfriend."

At this point, Zarek was no longer paying attention to the salesman. He had heard all he needed to hear. That man, the man who had just left the store, was Emma Grant's boyfriend.

Zarek returned his thoughts to the salesman. "I'm gonna need some silver bullets."

After getting his orders, Zarek grabbed his bag and exited the store. His thoughts were a continuous echo of the name: Lucas. That was the name of Emma's boyfriend, the man Zarek had earlier seen.

Minutes into the drive, Zarek thought to adjust his passenger mirror. Behold, there was a black sedan car following behind. Sure, Zarek had seen the car; it was earlier parked at the parking lot of the gun shop. But now it was following him.

Zarek reached for his gun, knowing it could be Lucas, Emma's boyfriend.