Hunter

XVII

Aric's mom laughed, leaning over to buckle in his seat belt. Her black hair brushed his face, filling the air with sweet-smelling honeysuckle.
She smiled at him, her rosy brown skin bright. "Isn't your father so full of it?"
Aric giggled. "Yes, Mama."
His father slid into the driver's seat, grinning.
He winked at Aric. "Your mother's just mad that I didn't kiss her goodnight last night."
Aric laughed. "Ew! You're gonna get cooties, Daddy!"
His parents both laughed, and his dad started the car.
Aric tried to turn in his booster seat, so he could see Jason, but he was too small. He could just make out his short black hair, but that was about it.
"Hey, Jay! Isn't Daddy gonna get cooties?"
He smiled weakly. "Yep."
His mother frowned. "Aric, don't bother your big brother. He's sick remember."
Aric never understood the trips his family always had to make. They always had to take Jay to this big, cold building. It was so bright and the smell always hurt Aric's nose. All the people there wore white clothes and weird masks. Mom had called it a hospital.
"Jay, why are always sick?"
His brother laughed. "If only I knew. The doctors tell me it's cuz I can't fight the germs right or something."
Aric deadpanned, looking at his brother seriously. "Jay, do you have cooties?"
He laughed loudly, clapping his hands together. "No, little dude, I don't have cooties." Then he coughed violently, pounding his fist against his chest.
Suddenly, the car pitched forward.
Aric's father cursed loudly, opening the car door.
"Monster alert. Harpies." He looked back at Aric and Jason.
"You two stay in the car."
Jason shot up. "No way! I'm 13! I can fight that freak." He started coughing again and his father rubbed his back.
His mother frowned, twisting the bands on her wrists. "Jason, you're in no condition to fight. Besides, who will take care of Aric?"
Jason grumbled, sitting back down and giving in. "Fine."
His parents ran forward, summoning weapons to their hands.
Aric excitedly undid his seat belt, poking his head out the window.
His parents were fighting a whole flock of harpies. His mother shot arrows at them, his father swinging a massive sword.
"Yeah! Kick that thing's butt!"
Aric cheered them and his father turned around, sending him a wink.
Suddenly, a harpy launched forward, digging her claws into his shoulders.
His father screamed in pain and Aric yelled. "Daddy!"
Jason jumped out of the car window, wheezing. "Stay in the car!"
Aric frowned, yelling back at him. "Dad said for you to stay in the car!"
Jason smiled. "Don't worry. Just stay until the car, ok?"
Aric nodded, staring back out the window.
His mother shot an arrow at the harpy holding her husband, and it dropped him roughly to the ground. Its chest was bleeding and it collapsed behind her.
She knelt down next to her husband, checking for his shoulders.
The other harpies flew above them, circling like vultures.
"Damon, are you ok?"
Aric's father smiled weakly. "Feel great Rana."
She rolled her eyes, but stared as she saw Jason running towards them, holding a bow in his hand.
"JASON SAMUEL RICHARDS, I TOLD YOU TO WAIT IN THE CAR!!" She screeched.
Jason winced. "Sorry."
Aric watched wide-eyed as something started moving from behind his mother.
"Mommy! Mom! No!"
He started running out of the car, trying really hard to summon something to his hand. He concentrated so hard, he could feel his ears pop.
He ran faster, but he was too late. Tears streamed down his face as he tried to run faster. He fell, scraping his hips and knees on sharp rocks. Screams erupted from his mouth, but they didn't reach his mother fast enough.
The harpy that his mother had shot flew up behind her, sinking fangs into her neck. Blood exploded everywhere, her body limp and lifeless in the harpy's mouth.
His father screamed. "RANA!"
He lunged forward, stabbing the monster through the chest. Jason ran behind him, transforming his bow into a massive war hammer. He smashed the harpy's head and the others flew down lower.
Another harpy swooped down, her fangs tearing through the flesh of Damon's throat.
White mist drifted from his parents' necks, the harpies breathing it in heavily. The color drained out of their skin, making them husks of flesh.
Blood was everywhere, splattered across Jason's face. He was frozen in shock, his arm lying useless by his side.
He couldn't do anything, and Aric watched helplessly frozen into place as the beasts tore apart his older brother with their claws.