Hunter's Return

Chapter 9: We found Him

Leonora's POV

"RANIE!" Marie called after the fox as she signalled the others to follow Ranie.

"Come on Leonora! I've got something to show you," Ranie said furiously.

Every step Ranie took was heavy. The crunching of grass was heard every step of the way.

After sometime, we reached a tree which was cavernous in size.

She harshly pulled down the branch and the doorway slowly opened on the tree trunk.

What on earth is this monstrosity? I asked myself.

Ranie grabbed my hand, pushed me through the opening and we scurried down the stairs.

"Wow...," Isaac said, his voice echoing throughout the inner part of the tree. "This is so cool!"

"But it's horrible...," Marie said. "This was Hunter's creation and his creations are always deadly!"

"Hmm... We'll see...," The prince said as he slowly went down the stairs.

Down, down, down the staircase we went. Finally, after a while, we reached the bottom, opened a dark wooden door, through a small hallway and opened a metal door into a big room again.

"Shhh!" Ranie said as she opened the door carefully.

Through the door, I can only hear the banging and crashing of things.

"Oh no," Ranie said quietly. "He's inside there..."

"Hunter?" Isaac asked.

"Hunter's shadow...," the fox replied.

Suddenly, the banging and crashing stopped. Ranie stood still, her face was beginning to become pale.

"Ranie, don't be scared," I said comforting the fox. "It's all going to be alright."

Ranie shivered and said "What if he... Takes over my body again?"

"We're not here for that to happen," I replied.

Ranie then took a deep breath and peeked through the door and saw the shadow getting closer.

"Get a grip if your weapons!" Marie shouted as she got a new shimmering sword. I assumed Isaac has given them some weapons that were upgraded.

"On the count of three," Isaac said "we enter the door and attack."

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

"NOW!"

Ranie swung the door open and the ran inside the room, enclosing the entrance which was now the exit.

Now I saw the shadow. It was in the shape of Hunter, his spiky hair and the height of a 17 year old teenager. It also had glowing red eyes, just like it's supposed to be.

I heard him laugh, a very sinister one.

"Hello there," he said. "And what are you doing here?"

"W-we came t-to stop you!" Ranie stammered.

The shadow slowly approached Ranie. I saw the fox shiver with fear.

Hunter's shadow took shape, now, there was no shadow, it was Hunter himself, in human form. We was wearing a shirt, trousers and shoes all in the color of black.

"Ahh! My good friend Ranie! I can't wait to enter your silly puny mind again!" Hunter said.

"We're not here for that Hunter," Isaac said firmly.

"ISAAC! Hey hey!" Hunter said as he tugged Isaac's horns. "Boy I can't wait to... You know... Do that again!"

You have no idea what Hunter did to us in the past. It was horrifying!

First he kidnaped Isaac and tortured him almost to the point of death.

Next he entered Ranie's mind and took control of her body.

He is so MEAN!

"You puny animals think you can stop me?" Hunter said with a smirk. "Well you can't!"

As he said this, Hunter conjured up a cage of fire, Ranie's element.

Last time, he conjured up a cage of solid steel. This time, I could tell that this cage is even more powerful than before.

"Hah! You animals are no match for me! I'm too powerful can't you see?" Hunter mockingly said.

"Hey that rhymes...," I said in my mind.

"Yessss... It does...," Hunter hissed.

I was surprised that Hunter heard me. I guess he had mind reading powers now.

"YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR ME AND MY MACHINE!" He shouted as his voice echoed.

"I have been building this for months and some little puny fox has been poking in my business...," Hunter said as he flicked Ranie's nose.

Ranie didn't move but I saw her fists twitch and clench tightly.