The Technological Tracker

Chapter 3 - Black feather

I say bye to Aria and leave the building. On my way out I open the door, catching a cool breeze crawling upward my spine.

"A bloodthirsty murderer huh?" I say low to myself.

So many impossibilities hit me at once. I have killed many people through the months I've been working for CyoTech, but this mission? I don't even know if it's a human. Their identity is a mystery wrapped in layers of rumors. I wonder what the truth is. Either way, I will find it out.

I start walking my way home, thinking and summarizing the day in my head. My mother has a problem with my father and his boat issue, and I just got a mission that may kill me if I don't do it carefully. What a day huh? Not just that, now I have to explain to my mother where I have earned such money, and how. Of course I will never tell her the truth. Forgiveness would not be an option if she or any other person knew what I do for living. I probably did my parents a favor by moving out. Now they have one less mouth to feed.

I stop by a grocery store on the road to buy loaf, milk and eggs. That's going to be my breakfast tomorrow. I'm going to need lots of energy, because tomorrow is when I will track them, Bloodhound. It's going to be a difficult and a challenging hunt, but worth it. I am going to become rich! I let my imagination take over and before I know it, I'm standing in front of my doorstep. I unlock the door and walk in. My House isn't that big, but enough space for me, and maybe a guest.

I turn on the lights in the house. Everywhere but not the living room. I like it dark and cozy when I am watching television. Walking over to the kitchen, I store the food I bought earlier. Right after, I take a cloth and clean the kitchen counter, while trying to think of how I am going to find this beast of a hunter.

I put on the kettle and the sound of  boiling water fills the silent house. Nothing else can be heard. I grab myself an apple from a bowl beside the fridge. I turn my gaze back at the kettle again, which is still boiling. Something isn't right. I turn my head to the side, and I see a dark figure in the corner of my eye. I choose to close my eyes, without turning towards the figure. What is happening? I feel cold and I can't move my body, almost like I am frozen. I am scared. This has never happened before. Why do I feel like my life has come to an end? I don't understand. Move damn it! I manage to turn slowly around, towards the direction where the figure stood, then I open my eyes. Gone. There is nobody there.

I'm standing still, listening to the sound of boiling water getting weaker and weaker. What happened just now? I run over to a light switch and turn on the lamp inside the living room. The whole house is glowing, but I see nobody. I am so sure that I saw someone standing right in here. I try to think back. I saw someone, but I couldn't see the details. It was too dark. I gaze around a second time, no one, but I notice someting. The window across the living room is open. I walk over to the window, cautiously looking out. It's dark outside and the only thing that can be seen is light from other houses.

A strong wind blows from outside and into the house, causing the curtains to move wildly. With the wind, a feather flies along. I close the window and look down at the feather which has landed on the floor. The feather is black, looking like a raven feather, maybe that's what it is? I pick it up, taking a closer look. Now I remember...

... gas mask.