Evan stood in the doorway of Dante and Isabella’s apartment, his usual awkward posture evident as he shuffled from foot to foot. His eyes darted around the room, never settling on any one spot for too long. Dante was sprawled out on the couch, flipping a knife idly between his fingers, his mask lying next to him on the coffee table. Isabella sat nearby, her laptop open, the glow of the screen lighting up her calm, focused face. The three of them couldn’t be more different, yet somehow, whenever they were together, everything felt seamless.
Evan cleared his throat, breaking the silence, and Dante looked up, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"You look like you’ve got something on your mind, Ev," Dante said with a grin, his voice full of that wild energy he always carried. "What’s up?"
Evan hesitated, glancing toward Isabella, who gave him a small, reassuring smile. Her and Dante both knew Evan well enough to recognize the signs of when something was weighing on him.
“I, uh…” Evan started, his voice quiet, almost unsure. “I made a decision the other night.”
Dante raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Oh? Do tell. Don’t leave us in suspense.”
Evan looked down, shifting nervously. “I... I killed someone.”
The room fell silent for a moment, but there was no shock on Dante’s or Isabella’s faces. It was as if they had been expecting this, waiting for the moment Evan would step into the same dark world they had already entered.
Dante leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees, his eyes locking onto Evan with a new intensity. “And how do you feel about it?”
Evan shrugged, still looking anywhere but directly at his best friend. “I don’t know. I just... did it. He deserved it. I didn’t feel anything.”
Dante exchanged a look with Isabella, who nodded slightly, before turning his attention back to Evan. “You didn’t feel anything because you did what had to be done. And sometimes, that’s all there is to it.”
Isabella’s voice, soft but firm, cut through the tension. “Evan, you did what was right”
Evan’s gaze flicked to her for a moment, surprised by her words. He had always thought something like this would be something she would be against, Dante yes of course he knew his best friend but never expected her
Dante stood up, the air around him shifting as he did. He walked over to Evan, slapping a hand on his shoulder in a way only Dante could—both rough and friendly at the same time.
“Listen, man,” Dante said, his voice quieter now but still full of energy. “You know why you did what you did. We all do. And I know we’ve been doing this together, me and Izzy, but it was be a big help if you tagged along what do you say ”
Evan’s brow furrowed. “tag along?”
Dante’s grin returned, but it wasn’t as wild as before. It was serious. Focused. “To take this to the next level. You know houses, blueprints, weaknesses. You’re the one who can see the cracks in places that others miss. You can get us in where no one else can. You’ve already crossed that line, Ev. Why not make it count?”
Evan stood there, processing Dante’s words, and for the first time, he didn’t feel out of place. For the first time, he felt like he belonged. These were his friends, his only real connections, and they understood him in ways no one else ever could.
Isabella closed her laptop and stood, moving closer to the two men. “We’ve been working on something,” she said, her voice steady. “Interceptions, police scanners. We’re not just reacting to things, we’re staying ahead. Dante’s the blade, and I’m the eyes. Though I'd be lying if I said some extra eyes and protection isn't wanted, it would take so much worry off my plate, you know how my Dante is.” she said looking at Dante with a big smile as she ran her fingers through his hair playfully
Evan looked from Dante to Isabella, and then back to Dante, who was waiting with that patient yet impatient energy he always carried. It was a lot to take in, but it felt right. Finally, he nodded.
“All right. I’m in.”
Their first job together felt like the start of something larger. The target was a local criminal who had been slipping through the cracks for years, using money and influence to dodge justice. Evan had already studied the house’s layout in detail, mapping out the weak points, the vulnerable areas where they could enter without being detected. Isabella had already hacked into the police networks, securing enough time for them to move before any alarms could go off.
Dante sat in the dark outside the target’s house, hidden behind the wheel of a car parked across the street. The target was alone inside, oblivious to the storm that was about to descend on him. In his ear, Isabella’s voice came through softly, guiding him as always.
“Police are about ten minutes out,” she said, calm as ever. “You’ve got time, but we should move soon. Evan, you ready?”
Evan’s voice crackled through Dante’s earpiece. “Yeah, back door’s the best option. Weak latch, no sign of reinforcement. I’ll be inside in less than a minute.”
Dante grinned, the familiar rush of adrenaline flooding his veins. “That’s what I like to hear.”
He glanced up at the house, his hand idly tracing the edge of his hunting knife. He pulled out his phone and dialed the target’s number, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the handle of the knife as he waited for the man to pick up.
“Hello?” The voice on the other end was groggy, confused.
Dante smiled, his voice low and smooth as he asked, “What’s your favorite game?”
There was a pause. “What? Who is this?”
Dante laughed softly. “No, no, dear boy. Not who. Where.”
The man froze. “W-what are you talking about?”
Dante tilted his head, glancing up at the window. “Look outside.”
The man shuffled to the window, pulling back the curtain. A flash of lightning illuminated the street, and for just a second, the man saw Dante standing outside, his mask pulled over his face, a wide, sinister grin carved into the front. Dante waved slowly, his fingers wiggling in mock cheerfulness as another flash of lightning struck, illuminating the smile on his mask.
The man gasped, dropping the curtain in panic, but as he turned around, his breath caught in his throat. Evan was standing behind him, his machete gleaming faintly in the low light.
The man’s eyes widened, fear flooding his system as he stumbled back, but Evan didn’t hesitate. He moved swiftly, his movements precise and deliberate, his usual awkwardness gone. The machete struck, and as the man fell, the sound of Dante’s hysterical laughter echoed from the phone that had dropped to the floor, now resting in a pool of blood.
For a moment, Dante’s laughter continued, filling the room with a manic energy. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, the laughter abruptly stopped. Silence filled the air
YOU ARE READING
Hunters
HorrorIn the dark corners of a decaying city, a twisted trio takes justice into their own hands. They don't just hunt; they torment, laugh, and play with their victims before delivering the fatal blow. Each member of the group brings their own unique appr...
