Just the Maid

Chapter 21- Hunter Exam: Phase One Part Two

"Examiners are Hunters selected by the committee to perform this duty without pay," he explained. "Any Hunter, bearing the title we seek, would have been able to block that attack."

"I shall take that as a compliment," said Satotz. "But, if you attack me again for any reason, I will be forced to report you for turning on an examiner, and you will be immediately disqualified. Understand?"

"Sure, sure..." replied the pink haired man.

After that, we continued on. Satotz led us through the forest, but he was running at a very fast pace. People all around us kept falling behind.

"Be sure to stay close to me now!" called out the examiner.

"The fog is getting thicker," murmured Kurapika.

'No duh,' I thought. I crept up closer by Killua's side, so I wouldn't lose him. Suddenly, he glanced to his left.

"Gon," he said.

"Hunh?" he replied.

"Let's move up."

"Okay." My eyes widened. Okay, I may have a lot of strength, but come on! I don't like doing more than I have to. At that point, I decided to cheat a little. I wrapped my feet in little balls made of air, and used those to levitate me so I glided along the ground, but still could keep up with the boys. I looked up and saw that they were getting ahead of me, so I sped up.

"We don't want to lose sight of the examiner," Gon was saying.

"I'm more concerned with increasing the distance between us and Hisoka," said Killua.

'Hisoka? Is that the pink haired guy?' I looked at him and saw that he was a few yards away. It almost looked like some of the other guys were surrounding him for some reason.

"Staying close to him is dangerous," he said, seriously. He hardened his eyes. "I can smell it in the air."

"I can too..." I put in.

"Smell?" asked Gon. He sniffed. "Hmm... I don't think he smells."

'Oh poor innocent Gon... So much to learn...' I sighed out loud.

"Are you getting tired at all?" whispered Killua to me.

"Oh! N-No, I'm fine now," I stammered. He just nodded.

"Leorio! Kurapika!" called Gon. "Killua says that we should move up!"

"Hey!" Killua exclaimed. "Don't you feel the tension around us?

"Dummy! If I had the strength, I'd already be there!" came the reply.

"Don't worry about us!" came another.

"Whaaat?" questioned Gon.

"C'mon, Gon!" said Killua as he ran ahead. I felt rested enough to run again, so I hopped off my air and followed close by Killua's side.

"Ah! W-Wait for me!" he exclaimed.

As we ran, I watched the people around us. I saw proof that Satotz was right about this place. Even the plants killed people.

"I can hear people screaming from everywhere..." murmured Gon. He looked worried.

"Just keep your guard up," Killua reassured.

"I wonder if Leorio and Kurapika are okay..."

A pulse beat through me and I stopped.

"Wait!" I called. They stopped but it was too late. The ground caved in underneath them, and they fell along with it. My eyes widened.