Hunter

Chapter Twenty One - I Meet the Hulk

Have you ever been on a plane? Not a commercial plane, but one of those stunt planes. The really small ones that can do all the loops and tricks. Have you ever eaten funnel cake? And I mean the really good, really thick funnel cake with the whipped cream, and the different types of syrup draped all over it. The good ones that look like they could give you diabetes just by looking at them.

Now, imagine you've just had the biggest funnel cake in your life, and you're all full and need to let loose a button on your pants. Then, imagine being thrown into an old Boeing F2B aircraft with no cushions or seats whatsoever. Next, imagine being flown into the air by a woman with aviophobia who doesn't have her flying license and has the coordination of a four-month-old baby. She's shrieking in your ear because she's scared, you feel like you're going to throw up, and you're dizzy and sore because you keep hitting the edges of the aircraft. Then everything just stops because you've reached your destination, and you have an overwhelming sense of vertigo.

That's how my trip went.

I lay face down in the snow and waited until either vertigo subsided or I couldn't feel my face. Eventually, the latter won out, and I had to keep moving. I rolled over and hopped up from the floor. My eyes wandered up all the way to the peak of the summit and I knew that it was no easy feat. But I stepped onwards.

By the time I was halfway up, my lungs were burning and I felt like I was going to pass out at any moment. My thighs were on fire and the only part of my body that was cold was my face. Snot kept running down my nose, and my eyes were watering. My ears were on the verge of falling off and I was surprised that my teeth hadn't shattered, considering how hard they were chattering. I was miserable, and I just wanted to bury myself in a hole and fall asleep forever.

But I didn't. I didn't lie in the snow and make snow cones. I got up and hiked all the way to the top of the mountain because that I didn't deserve that luxury. Once I got to the top, however, I dropped to my knees. Every fiber of my being shriveled up and cried, teasing sweet pain out of my muscles. I stared at the snow, my eyes fading in and out of vision, and I pushed myself up.

Looking down into the crater of the volcano. The earth was barren and bare. No snow or any sign of life. Except one. Before me appeared a Raven in a cage, it's beady black eyes staring at me. A bronze brazier blazed next to the cage, a gold dagger leaning against the metal bowl. I picked it up, balancing it in my hand and opened the cage. The bird flapped its wings violently, a powerful shriek leaving its beak. I grabbed it by the legs, and in one swift motion, I decapitated it. The body went lifeless and I threw it into the flames.

A bright orange fire jumped into the air like a beacon, and there appeared the figure of a man. He wasn't just any man because he inspired fear in me in a way that no normal being could. He was tall and broad with matted black hair flowing away from his body. He wielded a broadsword the size of my body. His head was down, his pale skin and blood red eyes watching me. His hair flew over his face, a beard covering his chin, offering the illusion of wearing a mask. He wore a cloak the color of decaying roses, his armour as dark as obsidian.

"State your business, Demigod." His voice sounded like the mountain itself was talking to me, the vibrations shaking me to the core and instilling immense dread deep in my soul.

"I'm looking for someone." My voice sounded like the chirp of a just-hatched chick.

"Invalid answer. State your business, Demigod." Remembrance flashed in my mind.

"I am a descendant of Zeus." I picked Zeus because he was the god of gods, that had to work. He lifted his head and stared into my eyes. I held my breath when his bright orbs of fire landed on my face. Standing at his full height, which was more than seven feet, he stepped back and lifted his sword. He slashed and I shut my eyes. My eyes remained closed as I searched my body for any added pain. There was none, and when I opened my eyes, I saw everything.

There still wasn't any snow, but there were numerous small houses and buildings all surrounding a central palace, large and white, shining like a translucent pearl that was thrown into the sky in the middle of summer. Thousands of alleyways snaked in between buildings, ending at random and stretching beyond imagination. Several colors jumped and splashed in the city, creating a kaleidoscope of life and vibrancy. Hundreds of people, all dressed in white, strolled, and danced, and laughed. With my attire, I knew that I would stick out like an Eskimo in the middle of Africa.

"You may proceed, Hybrid." I stepped carefully around the human boulder and made my way down into the crater, following a path that seemed to make itself known.

When I had reached flat land, I looked back for the Hulk, but he was gone. I turned forward and descended into a valley. There was a single archway made of stone with Greek lettering etched onto it. As I stepped underneath it, my clothes changed and so did my bag. The Moonstone necklace became a bracelet and my boots morphed into sandals. My outfit became a white, jumpsuit toga, and my travel bag became an over-the-shoulder satchel. My frozen hair was braided to the side, and my chilled skin warmed.

As I walked through the city, I ignored the warm smiles and bright colors. I stepped around the vendors selling their glistening trinkets. Everywhere I turned, I could hear laughter and cheers, continuous sounds of happiness. The smells were fragrant and sweet, scents of delicious foods and flowers wafting in the air. The sun beat down on my back along with a gentle breeze blowing over my skin.

For a moment, I allowed myself to be carried away by the ambiance of the Sun City, embracing all that was thrown at me, allowing myself to relax, even if it was just for a little bit. Before I was too far gone, something caught my eye. A girl walked across an open courtyard, an orange dress covering her body and a red veil thrown over her long, brown, curly hair. I cursed myself for losing track of what was really important and trailed the girl.

I shoved people out of my way so that I could reach her. I threw elbows and pushed the closer I was. She was right within my grasp. I reached forward and pulled. I grabbed onto her veil and it slipped off of her hair. She turned around violently and just as violently glared at me. I was frozen by her stare and the look in her eyes. My heart slowed as I took in her face. I swallowed hard, not sure if she could see me.

Her eyes were milky white cataracts, almost as if she was the center of a storm. She didn't have a violent outburst as I had expected. As a matter of fact, her face softened into a look of utter contempt. She was as tall as I was and looked to be about the same age. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent. Her long hair was well below her waist and acted like a cloak around her body.

Had she not looked at me like I was something distasteful stuck to the bottom of her shoe, she would've had strong, innocent beauty to her. But because she took it upon herself to judge me with every fibre of her being, her features took on a harsh appearance. Her strong jaw and rigid nose, coupled with high cheekbones and small lips made her look like she was about to burst at any moment. Instead, she smiled, revealing perfectly white teeth. She stepped toward me and reached down for her red veil. The smooth silk slipped between my fingers, and I watched, entranced, as she wrapped it around her hair and then her body.

"Follow me, Hunter. I've been awaiting your arrival."