Nina gasped stepping back as the bloody woman slowly stood up. Her nails grew and sharpened into claws as her arms were stained by not only the blood of her recent victim but of her previous victims. Her skin turned deathly pale tinged with grey. She slowly walked away from the remains now focused on the fresh meat before her.
She let out an inhuman screech as her mouth opened wider than was natural for a human revealing rows upon rows of sharp teeth. Before Nina had a chance to utter a word the monstrous woman broke out into a run dashing across the square with inhuman speed. Nina's whole body shook, she hadn't expected anything like this, especially not on her first day in the field. She had wanted to run but her body wasn't obeying.
The footsteps grew louder the closer the woman got, Nina gagged, smelling the woman's putrid breath as she reached her blooded arms out ready to grab her latest meal. The adrenaline finally kicked in and Nina's body was able to move. She reached out and grabbed hold of the shocked man's shirt pulling him out of harm's way as the clawed hands grasped at the air where Nina and the man were a few seconds prior.
The monstrous woman glared at Nina as she dragged the man round the corner. Another loud screech escaped her as she started to stalk down the street sniffing them out. Nina breathed deeply and nervously as she checked her gun. There were still bullets inside, but Nina knew that it would be a waste to use it on this kind of creature. She quickly emptied them out and pulled out the holy rounds and proceeded to load them into the gun. At that moment the man started to come around. "Th...that was…" he started to utter as Nina looked over at him.
"Glad you're back with me." She uttered as she kept an eye out for the creature. "We were about to become that thing's desert."
He breathed deeply as he slowly stood up, "so...that thing's responsible for those deaths?" He questioned.
"It sure looks that way…" Nina answered as she finished loading her gun. "It's a Ghoul...they're flesh eaters. Nowadays they're more civilised and have better control but...they have their moments."
"I know what a Ghoul is…" he uttered, shaking his head and growling uneasily. "They're foul creatures and enjoy the taste of flesh. Human flesh is their favourite but...they'll eat anything if they're desperate enough."
"Well right now, she seems to want to eat us…" Nina spoke up pointing her gun straight ahead as the footsteps grew louder and closer.
"Last night...I walked passed that alley…" he muttered to himself as Nina looked back at him. "I didn't know she was there...if I did I…" He was cut off as he heard low inhuman growls and the sound of gunshots at Nina fired at the creature but it was too fast and ran down the alley avoiding her shots.
"Shit…" She cursed under her breath as she quickly moved from her position as a clawed hand gripped the corner of the building and pulled itself round flashing its sharp teeth at them. "Move!" Nina called out to the man as he quickly ran to Nina while she fired another shot at the Ghoul this time she managed to hit it in the arm. The bullet piercing her flesh, she stumbled back screeching in pain.
"You actually hit it…" Hector uttered as they ran round a corner, he crouched down keeping an eye on the entrance whilst Nina checked her gun.
"Can't believe I wasted an entire clip trying to hit it…" She muttered as she reloaded her gun with more holy rounds. She looked over at the man whilst listening out for the Ghoul. The sound of shuffling footsteps could be heard as the Ghoul started moving again. "Hey, what's your name?" She asked the man.
His ears perked up as he heard the footsteps, the Ghoul would soon be upon them. He turned to look at Nina. "Hector." He told her.
"Nina," she told him his name as she prepared herself. "Hector, I know I suspected you and I'm sorry." She apologised sincerely, he had fit the bill and she was so sure until she saw that gruesome scene. "That Ghoul is dangerous, she already killed another person recently and she won't stop until I take her out. But...I need help...will you help me?" She requested giving him an almost pleading look.
"Wait...you want my help?" He questioned before he started laughing. "Oh man...this is priceless...the Hunter's Mark asking for a demon's help."
Nina scowled at him, she wasn't sure what annoyed her more, his words, or the smug grin on his face as he said it. She didn't have time to think about it any further, she heard hurried footsteps as the Ghoul ran and leapt at them. She grabbed Hector's collar and dragged him round the next corner as the Ghoul landed where Hector was before. She screeched again and tore after them. "I really don't have the time for your smug attitude!" Nina snapped at him as they ran. "That thing is hellbent on killing us and won't stop once it does! Our survival and the survival of others depends on it so are you gonna help or not?!"
"Ok, ok...sorry…" Hector apologised as he held his hands up. "It's just unusual that's all. I'll help, I'd rather not be dinner." He looked back and grimaced quickly looking forward again and picking up speed just as the Ghoul scratched at him just narrowly missing his head. "What's the plan?"
Nina and Hector quickly turned another corner and ran down the next small, narrow alleyway as their pursuer chased after them, the screeches now deafeningly loud. "These alleyways are too narrow, we can't attack without risking hitting each other and there's no room for dodging. We need to lure her back to that open square."
"Shouldn't be too difficult, these alleyways connect in some way, should end up back at the square." Hector told her gagging as the Ghoul's putrid breath hit his nose. "At least I can get away from that smell…"
"That's something we can both agree on…" she muttered as she ran down the alleyway looking out and listening for the Ghoul. But she didn't see or hear anything. Did it stop chasing them? Did it leave the area? She hoped not, she wouldn't be able to live with herself if more people died because she let the Ghoul escape. "Come on. Hopefully she's still in the area." She told Hector as she ran down the alley and peered round the corner to see the square. Good they made it. She gripped her gun tightly before she ran out into the square.
Hector followed behind Nina but stopped when he felt the hairs on his neck stand up on end. His ears flicked as he quickly turned around to find that nothing was there. He stared at the spot tilting his head in confusion, he was sure something was there. Taking a deep breath he turned round to catch up with Nina. As he walked he froze again as he heard a low rumbling growl. He turned his head slightly to see nothing behind him. He carefully looked down to see nothing under his feet. That only left one more direction, he gulped as he slowly raised his head to see the Ghoul perched on a balcony above.
He recoiled as the Ghoul growled again louder this time opening its mouth wide. Hector took off running as the Ghoul shrieked and leapt from the balcony. Feeling his heart beating rapidly in his chest he kept running focusing on the end of the alley. "Almost there…" his thoughts running frantically through his head as he reached out with his hand towards the alley opening.
A deafening screech filled the alleyways and the square, Hector froze in place holding his ears as they rang from the sound. Nina also froze visibly shaken from the sound, the creature was close, she could feel it. She quickly turned towards the alleyway she came from and gasped in horror as she saw Hector being thrown out of the alley landing back first on the ground as the Ghoul landed on top of him pinning him down.
Hector breathed rapidly as he looked up at the assailant shrieking and growling. The Ghoul opened its mouth wide as it held its head back. Panicking Hector struggled to get the creature off him, pushing it back with his hands as much as possible. It thrust its head forwards making Hector gag and retch from its rotten breath. Seeing its chance it lunged for his neck.
Bang, bang, bang!
The Ghoul shrieked as the bullets whizzed passed its body, it lifted its head up rapidly snarling at what was shooting it. Hector opened his eyes and followed the Ghoul's gaze to see Nina stood there with her gun in both hands, her fingers firmly on the trigger as she had the gun trained on the Ghoul.
Bang, bang, bang!
The Ghoul rose up staring at its new target, Hector grunted as the Ghoul leapt off him and charged at Nina as she kept firing at it, her bullets narrowly missing the charging creature.
"Shit…" Nina muttered as she reloaded her gun all while keeping an eye on the Ghoul as it ran closer and closer pouncing at her. Nina raised her gun quickly and fired, hitting it in the shoulder. It screamed as it fell just short of Nina writhing in pain.
"Hector!" She called out as she ran passed the thrashing creature and ran over to the hellhound still lying in shock on the ground. "Are you OK?" She asked him as she held a hand out to help him up.
"Yeah...thanks." He uttered as he grabbed hold of her hand and used it to pull himself up. As he did he caught sight of the Ghoul scrambling to its feet and charging at the two. "Nina, look out!" He warned her.
"Huh…" she questioned giving him a confused look before she was pounced on and skidded along the ground, her gun was knocked out of her hand.
"Nina!" Hector yelled in panic as he ran towards the struggling heap on the floor. Nina grunted as she struggled to push the Ghoul off her. She pushed on its stomach with her feet as the Ghoul slashed wildly at her with its sharp claws. She winced as her arms were scratched, but she kept on pushing and fighting.
Hector stopped and made some quick gestures with his hands creating a fireball between them. He watched the fight closely keeping his eyes on the Ghoul, he needed to aim carefully, he didn't want to hit Nina as well. Nina pushed the Ghoul upwards with her feet forcing it to be almost upright. Seeing his chance Hector threw the fireball at the Ghoul.
A pained screech escaped it as the fireball struck it in the side throwing it off Nina. It screamed loudly as its flesh ignited and it thrashed about wildly as it tried to put out the fire. Hector ran over and helped Nina to her feet, wincing at the scratches on her arms. "Those look nasty…"
"Hurt like hell too…" Nina muttered as she stared at the inferno that was the Ghoul. It's screeching sending chills down her spine. Soon the flames died down and the thrashing stopped, all that was there was the now charred Ghoul laying there lifeless. Nina knelt down to pick up her gun though she didn't take her eyes off the burned flesh, the sickening smell almost making her gag. "Do you think it's dead?" She asked, giving Hector a nervous look. "Damien used to tell me stories of undead getting back up again when he least expected them to."
"Yeah...undead are crafty like that." Hector remarked staring at the Ghoul seemingly lifeless on the floor. "Best way to make sure is to get a very long stick and poke them with it."
Nina shook her head and rolled her eyes at him, "really? That's your advice?" She questioned sceptically. "There are better ways of dealing with things than "poking them with sticks"."
Hector snickered and shrugged. "Well, I'm not going near it." He retorted as he stepped back refusing to get any closer. "I don't trust the undead as far as I can throw them."
Nina sighed as she watched him, "still, we need to make sure and since you've made it clear you won't it's up to me. Just make sure you're ready just in case." She warned him as she walked slowly and carefully towards the charred corpse. It still lay where it fell just as lifeless as before. She watched it carefully before nudging it quickly with her foot and stepping back.
She heaved a sigh of relief when the Ghoul didn't move. She took a few more steps back before she turned and walked back towards Hector who was stood ready to take actions though he soon relaxed when nothing happened. "It's dead, I'll just call Damien and tell him to get here as quickly as p…" she stopped speaking as she went to reach for her phone only to find out that it wasn't there.
Hector tilted his head and perked his ears up as he watched her seemingly confused. "Something wrong?" He asked her.
"My phone…it's gone…" she uttered trying to keep as calm as possible as she patted her other jeans pocket to make sure she didn't just put it in another pocket. "I must've dropped it back in that alley when you jumped me."
"He, he…yeah…sorry about that." Hector apologised sheepishly grinning whilst ruffling the back of his hair. "Were you able to at least tell him where you were?"
"I told him I wasn't too far away from "Drunken Alley". Hopefully he's not too far away." She answered folding her arms and thinking about the situation. "We should at least cover up the body…just in case anyone decides to come by this way. I doubt our fight would've gone completely unnoticed. I'm gonna need to borrow your jacket."
Hector gripped his jacket tightly and stepped back. "What?! Forget it! This is my favourite jacket! I don't want it reeking of undead!" He protested shaking his head vigorously at her.
But it already reeks of dog…so what's the issue?" She retorted smiling a little as she waited for his reaction.
An irritated growl escaped from Hector as his ears stood on end and his tail swayed irritably. "First of all that's incredibly racist and second I did bathe and wash my clothes recently…I do have standards you know."
"Says the guy who didn't want his jacket reeking of undead…" Nina muttered rolling her eyes. "Look, if it helps any I'll foot the laundry bill OK?" She pleaded as she held her hand out.
Hector grumbled before sighing, "fine, but I'm gonna hold you to that…" he responded as he removed his jacket and handed it to her.
"Thanks…see…that wasn't so hard was i…" she gasped as she felt something grab her leg. She looked down and almost screamed when she saw a burned hand grasped tightly round her leg. She heard raspy breathing as the Ghoul had managed to drag itself along the ground without them even noticing.
"Shit!" Hector cried out jumping back in shock, "should've known that thing would still be alive!" He growled as he flicked his fingers creating another flame.
"That's not gonna cut it…" Nina uttered as she tried to pull her leg out of the tight grip. She quickly aimed her gun at the Ghoul's head trying to keep it steady as the Ghoul opened its mouth wide. It was now or never. Taking a deep breath she fired, the bullet flying straight into the Ghoul's head. The Ghoul's grip on Nina's leg loosened as it collapsed to the ground for good this time.
Nina breathed deeply trying to calm her nerves before she slowly dropped Hector's jacket on the body making sure to cover its head. She let out a nervous chuckle as she collapsed to the floor exhausted.
Hector snuffed out the flame when he realised that it was over, he looked at Nina for a second before sitting down next to her. "You OK?" He asked her.
Nina nodded, "yeah…just need a minute." She answered as she brought her knees up to her chin. "Well this was definitely an interesting first day…"
"Not what you were expecting?" Hector asked curiously.
"No, I wasn't expecting to be chasing a hellhound through the streets and fighting a ghoul whilst teaming up with said hellhound." She responded though she smiled at him. "It was actually pretty fun."
Hector chuckled, "you have a very weird idea of fun." He muttered before standing up. "Well, while this meeting has been fun I gotta bounce." He stated as he started to walk off.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Nina called out to him as she pulled herself to her feet and started to follow. "You can't leave, not now."
Hector chuckled, "aww…need me to keep you company like a loyal pet? Sorry, not that kind of dog. I see myself as the loveable stray, show up when needed and then disappear into the wind."
Nina huffed irritably, "it's cute that that was your first thought." She retorted sarcastically. "Not what I meant, at the very least you're a witness and you need to clear your name with my superiors. Trust me, it's not a good idea to have more experienced Hunter's Mark members on your tail."
Hector started to shift uncomfortably, "I can't stay, I know what your kind is like. You think all demons and monsters are bad. They'll still find some reason to hurt me."
"No they won't, the Hunter's Mark has changed a lot since then. They only go after the bad ones. I'll vouch for you." Nina pleaded, "besides, what about your jacket?"
"Sorry, but my minds made up, as for my jacket, just come find me in Drunken Alley. I'm still holding you to the laundry bill." He remarked as he turned to leave only to bump into something.
He grunted as he looked up to see Damien stood in his path, "what's the rush?" He asked smiling at the hellhound who stepped back nervously.
"Damien! You made it!" Nina called out as she ran over to her mentor happy to see him.
Damien waved at Nina and pulled her into a hug, "I'm glad you're OK. I was worried when I lost contact with you. I thought that maybe you were hurt or knocked unconscious."
Nina smiled as she hugged him, "I'm OK, had some close calls though. Wait…how did you know I was here?" She asked as she let go of him.
"After you told me that you were North off Rose Way I made my way over as fast as I could." He explained visibly more relaxed now that he saw that his student was OK. "I was able to track down your phone and figured you weren't far away." He paused for a moment as he looked at Hector who was stood looking down ruffling behind his drooped ears nervously. His tail firmly between his legs. "This the guy responsible?" He asked as he started to approach Hector.
"Wait Damien!" Nina called out as she ran passed him and stood between Damien and Hector. "I know it looks bad but please hear me out." She pleaded as she looked up at him.
Damien stopped and stared at Nina, he was unsure about the whole situation. He sighed as he tried to decide what was best. "Alright Nina, I'm listening."
Nina smiled at him, "thanks, he was at Drunken Alley on the night that woman was killed and from the way he was acting I suspected him too." Nina explained as Hector looked up though he still didn't look Damien in the eye. Truth was he just wanted to leave. "I gave chase and he did give me the run around, that was until we ran into the real culprit." She added as she gestured to the corpse covered by Hector's jacket.
Damien walked over to the body and knelt down lifting up the jacket staring at the charred corpse. "A ghoul…haven't faced one of those in a while and you took it out?" He asked as he looked over at Nina.
"Actually…we both did." Nina answered as she nodded at Hector.
Damien smiled as he looked at them, "well, colour me impressed one of our own and a demon actually working together to take down a common foe." He chuckled as he stood up walking over to them. "That's something that's never been done before."
"Is it bad?" Nina asked nervously rubbing her fast healing arms. "Because we didn't really have any other choice?"
"Hey, hey. It's alright Nina I'm not gonna berate you for it." Damien told her trying to be as reassuring as he could. "Though you may have a tough time explaining it to the others, especially the older members."
"When you put it like that I'd rather face the ghoul again…" Nina muttered as she looked down. "Someone's coming to clear up the body right?"
Damien nodded, "yeah, I called the compound and some clerics are on the way. No one will know what happened here. I'll make a call to the police chief and let him know that the culprit has been dealt with."
"Well this has all been fun and I'd hate to cut and run but I need to see a man about a dog. Catch you on the flip side." Hector cut in giving the two a two fingered salute and started to walk away.
Damien followed him and grabbed hold of his shoulder and turned him around as he let out a shocked yelp. "What the hell?!" Hector cursed his ears and tail now stood on end as he bared his fangs at Damien.
"I didn't say you could leave yet," Damien told him in a calm manner. "While I believe Nina when she says you're innocent you are a witness and we need to hear your side. You can either do it willingly or we can drag you kicking and screaming, it's up to you."
Hector growled but he made no move to run, "I don't know what I can tell you, I didn't see the actual attack that night." He spoke up looking down, his ears drooping as he did so. "If I did I would've done something."
"Well, it's no use thinking about "what ifs" now, it happened, and we have to deal with it." Damien responded giving Hector a sympathetic look. "Look, I know these last couple of days haven't been easy for you, we just need your cooperation." He looked around as he heard footsteps and several men and women in white uniforms arrived. Damien gestured towards the body and they got to work removing Hector's jacket and casting spells to preserve the body and covered it in white sheets before taking it away. A few remained behind to clean up the fight scene to not cause a panic for people passing by.
Nina walked over to the jacket and picked it up as she watched the clerics do their job. She carefully walked over to Damien and Hector. Damien looked at the two. "Well, there's no point in staying here, it's best that we return to the compound and we can talk about what happened there."
Hector blinked as he stared at Damien, "so…you're not going to arrest me?" He questioned.
Damien shook his head, "we're not cops, we don't arrest people per say. Besides so long as you cooperate there's no need."
"You just want to talk, right?" Hector asked, still not convinced. "And after that, you'll let me go, right?"
"Yes, we'll let you go. As far as we're concerned, you're innocent in all this." Damien answered as he patted Hector on the shoulder. "You'll be fine."
Hector smiled a little before nodding, "alright, lead the way."
The three walked out of the square and back through the alleyways towards Damien's car. He opened it letting Hector get in the back, Nina got into the front passenger seat and Damien got into the driver's seat. After a short pause Damien started the engine and began to drive back towards the compound.
Nina stared out of the window silently contemplating everything that had happened that day. She yawned as the adrenaline finally left her system. She was ready for a nice hot shower, food when they got back but for now she felt her eyelids droop and she rested her head against the window as she fell asleep.