Hunter

XXXV

The hotel was small and damp, and as they walked around, they could smell the mildew draping over the corners of the walls. The wallpaper was peeling, revealing stained walls with cracked plaster.

Aric glanced away from all that, his teeth chewing the inside of his cheek. His body felt like it was floating inside his clothes, making his skin feel even clammier. The sensation unsettled him, and it made his gut clench. Something was going to go wrong.

He mentally shook off the feeling, instead thinking about what he had to do.

Their monster should be upstairs, waiting, like the text had said.

A thud sounded against the ceiling above their head, letting loose pieces of plaster and dust and drifting it over their heads.
Aric's eyes widened in alarm, his jaw clenching as the feeling in his gut intensified.
Jade looked at him, asking him what was wrong. Her brow furrowed as she glanced up at the ceiling. She then looked at the receptionist at the desk a few feet away from them, and she gripped Aric's hand, steering him against the wall and up a staircase.

Aric leaned in, his breath momentarily catching in his throat, as they walked up the stairs. "The monster. He's here."
Jade murmured," What are we going to do once we find him?"
"Get info."
"Obviously." Jade rolled her eyes. "But how?"
Aric swallowed, feeling his heart start to pound. He could sense the cold sweat layering on his torso like a sheet of ice. "Just gonna have to fight."
Jade nodded and they headed up. She licked her lips, running her tongue over her teeth. She didn't want to fail again; she'd actually be useful this time. Jade would make sure of it.
Aric pointed at a room, going towards it. They stopped in front of it, their shoes scuffing against the dirty carpet, and Jade counted to 10 in her head, keeping in time with her heartbeat.
Aric put a finger to his lips, trying to stop his hand from shaking from all the adrenaline pumping through his system. He slowly turned the handle, his thumb resting under the warm metal.

Aric sucked in a breath. Warm? Metal?

The door blew apart in a shower of splinters and dust, and they were surrounded by blazing heat.

Fire flickered around the door, smoke wrapping around the flames and sparks like a ribbon. Debris from the door crackled in the fires, feeding the greedy flames.
Jade coughed violently, managing to cover her mouth and nose by pulling up her shirt. She took a straggling breath, squinting through the smoke at the strange, shimmery form.....walking?
Aric grit his teeth, feeling one of his canines slipping on a bottom tooth. The creak of his teeth sent more shivers through him, and he was overcome with a wave of exhaustion. He hadn't slept in a while now....  His eyes threatened to fail him, but he forced them open. He focused on the weird shape making its way towards him.
He muttered through his clamped jaw. "Gimme a hammer!"
A war hammer formed from his wristbands, his fist clenching it tightly. "Have to stay awake for Jade," he said aloud, stepping forward. An ember crunched beneath his foot.
The monster's figure shimmered again, glinting like melted steel. Looking at it made Aric's head hurt, and he tightened his grip on his hammer.
Aric lunged forward, striking it against the thing's torso with a clang.
It fell, but caught itself. It stood up straight, its foot jutting out to kick Aric.
They narrowly missed Aric's face, and he caught his breath. The hammer felt heavy in his hands, and he had to use all his willpower to just hold on to it. The smoke was hazy and black, clogging up his throat and making him feel light-headed.
He coughed, trying to swallow down bile. He had to keep going. He had to get through this! He couldn't let a few measly sparks mess with him.
The thing jumped forward, swinging its arms, its face contorted, and pushed Aric powerfully in the chest. Aric felt the air leap out of his body, his eyes bulging from their sockets. He could barely move his legs now.
He crashed on to the ground, narrowly missing a flaming section of the floor.
The thing snarled at him and jumped on him, pinning him down.
Aric stopped breathing. The smoke clouded around his face, from his being on the floor near the fire. He wanted to sleep, to just rest. To hell with the nightmares. He needed some rest.

The smoke lingered over his face, and the monster pressed down onto his chest. Aric felt like a balloon losing its air.

The smoke stung his eyes and his lungs gasped for air. A sudden desire to get up took over his body.  He refused to die like this.

He kicked his feet up, pushing the thing off his chest. His arms reached out suddenly, and he summoned enough energy to get his hammer back in his hands.
He leaped up, breathing in gulps of air. He took a deep breath, before lunging.
The thing fell quickly, and Aric twisted its arms under its torso.
He pounded its chest with his hammer, and he pinned its chest and torso under his knees.
He lifted the hammer to his mouth. "Gimme a hose or something," he hissed, the energy fading from him.
Water erupted from his hammer, spraying down the hallway and the room.
The fire was stamped out, and Aric looked looked back to where Jade was standing.
She wasn't standing there anymore.