I Know What You Did Last Summer // 5SOS + AGB \\

FIVE: Hunter Initiation

»THIRD P.O.V

When Ariana got home that day, something was off. Her mother was sitting on the stairs, reading a book and waiting for her daughter. Her mother, Joan, lifted her head up slowly, maintaining eye contact with her daughter. Ariana could tell something weird was about to happen.

"Follow me."

Joan stood up, kicking away a rug and unlocking the trap door underneath to reveal a basement. Ariana's jaw dropped as her mother climbed down. Gun, arrows, and swords decorated the walls and tables. There were jars of unrecognizable substances, even one filled with fangs. Her eyes widened at the Death Stars. "Is this even legal?"

"You've lived here for 17 years and didn't even know this rooms existed. Shouldn't you be excited?" Joan chuckled. Her daughter didn't laugh. "Don't look so scared. This is what I've been waiting to show you for ages. It's your right of passage," she stated proudly.

"My right of passage?" Ariana asked, extremely suspicious as her hand lightly grazed a bow and arrow. She was growing uncomfortable.

"The Grande family is a long line of hunters, dating back two centuries in this town. The scars literring my body aren't from an accident. I'll admit, I've lied to you a lot in that department. But now that you're old enough, you're going to see a new side of me, and of yourself. Until now, you've lived a sheltered life, but it's time for you to discover what's in our blood." Joan said, picking up a gun and shooting a target painted on the cement wall. She made a perfect shot without even looking. "This is the year you start your training. I'm not going to be easy on you."

"Mom, I don't even eat meat! What the hell is this?" Ariana stepped back. This was too much, all in one day, she felt disenchanted and like nightmares just kept coming.

"We don't hunt to eat! We hunt werewolves." Joan furrowed her brows, gripping the pistol tightly. "I know you can barely fathom this, but they're a plague to our town. They murder and attack us. We do this keep people safe. We are from a family of heroes. We've kept you safe for all these years, now it's time for you to protect this town. Trust me, Ariana. I raised you with love and care, but this is the tough love. You have to learn. Or else you'll be defenseless."

Ariana scoffed. She believed. But, she didn't want to kill, she wanted only wanted to protect herself. "How did you get so good at shooting? Can you also fight?"

"I can do anything I want. Soon, you'll be able to, too." Joan said, grabbing a bow and arrow as well as a weapon belt. They got into her car, heading god knows where.

Ariana furrowed her brows. She suddenly felt so lost. That's what her mother does...Hunt werewolves? That meant Luke, and all his friends, they're werewolves. It explained the fight today, but lead to another devastating reality; she would be taught to hunt them. On the other hand, Ariana has seen what they are capable of. They looked so evil, vicious and merciless. But Luke was only trying to break up the fight...

Once they were in the woods, Joan stopped the car and told Ariana to get out.

"Fight me." Joan stood.

"What?"

"Fight me. Now, this is your training." Joan commanded. Ariana nodded, slowly lifting her hand up. She found it hard to try to hit her Mother.

Joan grabbed Ariana's arm, flipping her around and pushing Ariana's back down against ground with her knee.

"I can see you're not taking me seriously. But this is life or death. I don't care how nasty you get, I need to see what you're really made of. Any combat could be your last. Do whatever you can to come out on top; You HAVE to win. Imagine I'm someone else, not your mother, because that woman is gone anyway. Focus on your anger. Fear is worthless."