Hellbound Hearts

2. No Broken Limbs Today, I Hope?

The building where the energy led Kaja is entirely abandoned. I find some relief in this, knowing there's little chance of encountering anyone else here, which eases my concerns.

We decide to split up, keeping in touch through our earpieces. I quietly sneak along a corridor on the second floor, but I don't find anything unusual. I'm confident the demon hasn't noticed our presence yet.

Suddenly, a thump echoes from behind me. I turn, cautiously moving toward where I think the sound came from. My hearing doesn't deceive me. Through the edge of a door frame, I catch a glimpse of movement within the room.

By a shattered window stands a tall man. A red cap with a beak obscures his face, hiding his features, but there's no mistaking it. He's the demon we've been hunting. A hideous patch of scaly, bluish-grey skin on his neck gives him away.

I freeze, watching him. As he moves, the scales on his skin glint ominously.

"Second floor, corridor on the left. There's a hostage—probably unconscious," I whisper to warn my teammates. "I'll make the first move."

"Nate!" Eleonora's voice echoes in my ear, but my body's already moving. 

With a sudden burst of energy, I lunge at him. The noise alerts the demon, and he manages to back away just in time, looking annoyed.

"Who dares to bother me?" he growls, tilting his head to the side. "What a fool."

Without warning, he charges at me. Prepared for his move, I sidestep at the last second, feeling the rush of air as his fist swings past my face. I counter with a quick jab, my knuckles connecting with his jaw. I land a couple of punches, but he's cautious, skillfully dodging every critical hit while trying to strike back.

"Let's see who's getting their beaten," I grin, bracing for the next round.

I aim a precise kick at his knee, targeting the vulnerable spot right at the joint. He growls in pain and stumbles. I take advantage of his imbalance, landing a kick to his stomach that sends him sprawling.

With a sigh, I jump on top of him, ready to finish this. Unfortunately, I underestimate his strength. Just as I reach to press my hand to his forehead, he shoves me away, and I roll to the side, scrambling to get back up. He's gained the upper hand.

The demon lunges closer, grabbing my neck. I struggle to break free, but his grip is iron-strong. Even for a first-level demon, his rage is intense; his fingers dig into my skin, cutting off my air.

Suddenly, a metal rod flashes out of nowhere and strikes the back of his head. The demon falls again. Arthur, holding a pipe, grins and extends his free hand to me.

"Just in time, right?"

"You've redeemed yourself for the last time I saved your ass," I chuckle as I get to my feet. "Let's finish him off."

Arthur doesn't reply, but I know he's more eager than I am. With the two of us, restraining the demon is far easier. Soon, he's pinned to the ground.

Holding his hair, I press my palm to his forehead, focusing intensely to summon the demon. His body convulses, confirming that it's working. Slowly, the scales fall from his skin like dust. The wind, seeping through the shattered windows, carries them away.

Our mission here is complete. The demon is successfully banished. Breathing a sigh of relief, I check his pulse.

"As good as new," I state. "How's the girl?"

Arthur moves to the girl curled up in the corner, bending over her. "Only unconscious. We got here just in time," he replies.

I nod. Just then, Eleonora and Kaja appear, ready to fight, but they relax when they see it's already over.

"I told you we'd wrap this up soon." I straighten up, allowing myself a small smile.

My back aches, but it's manageable, so I don't dwell on it.

"Only because he was weak. He hadn't killed anyone yet," Kaja mutters, rolling her eyes as she crouches next to the victim. "I'll erase her memory. We need to leave quickly. I've already called the police."

Smiling, I brush the dirt from my clothes, ready to walk away as if nothing ever happened.

"The easiest part," I say.

Eleonora narrows her eyes suspiciously. "No broken limbs today, I hope?" She raises an eyebrow, clearly targeting the question at Arthur.

"Nope. Unless you're volunteering to patch up this scratch on my handsome face." Arthur taps a small cut on his cheek and pouts.

"You wish. There are bandages at home." Elle crosses her arms and turns to leave.

This little quarrel makes me smile, but I refocus, helping Kaja stage the scene. We leave the building without a trace.

On the ride home, I yawn a couple of times. I'm not exactly tired, but I'm not in the mood to work at the bookstore, either. I would gladly nap for a couple of hours.

This demon hunting thing never chooses a convenient time or place. We move without hesitation, whether it's the dead of night or early morning, in crowded streets or deep woods.

And that's part of the thrill—the perfect blend of creativity and skill. Each mission is unique. We're always facing new environments, new people, and our enemies' unpredictable tricks, which force us to create new strategies.

In this line of work, there's no second place, no consolation prize—only winning or losing. Even when the odds are against us, that's not an excuse to surrender. It's a call to give everything we've got.

I never found out why I became a demon hunter, but I blindly believed in the value of my work. That belief guides me even through the darkest days.

After all, someone's got to save the world, right?