Love the Taste of Fear

Chapter 4

    Like magic, the complaints and grumbles silenced as the face of determination set in... funny how with just a few words stop a mob in its tracks. The veterans were used to this, it was never the same wild card so veterans stuck with veterans, liked to think they would be better by themselves...but it just makes it easier to kill them. Licking my lips at the thought of all the stupid people I get to kill, my eyes briefly locked with Satotz. He and I went awhile back I enjoy racing the dude; the long-legged male was one of the few you made me work for it.

    "All 405 applicants will now participate in Phase One." He then turned on his heel and walked with straight legs and arms like he was a damned Robot. I'm 90% sure he does it just to piss everyone off. Once he started to pick up the pace and everyone was running, he looked over his shoulder to the heard behind him, "How rude of me. I neglected to introduce myself. I am Satoaz, your Examiner for the First Phase of the Exam. It's my responsibility to lead all of you to the Second Phase."

    "Second? What happened to the First?" the loudmouth ninja whined.

    "The First Phase is already underway. The First Phase is quite simple. All you have to do is follow me to the second Phase. So, try to keep up."

    "Follow you? So that's it? There's nothing else?"

    "That's right," Satotz answered plainly...knowing how far we'd have to run and how many would die by my hand. "I cannot tell you where or when you must arrive. You need only to follow me."

    We ran for two hours, nearly 30 kilometer run foot and people we starting to drop. Apart of me wanted to head back and kill them but if they couldn't withstand this they didn't deserve death by my hand.

    Running was easy for me, spending most of my life in training running was something I did for fun...well more like chasing. 

    Humming softly I chanced a glance toward the back only to catch eyes with Tonpa who waved me to him...ok I'll bite.

    Slowing my pace I easily jogged next to him, "Whatcha want Tonpa??"

    "You know of the kid named Nicholas." Shaking my head, no I waited for him to continue. 

    "187, made a fool of me earlier."

    "Oh! The computer nerd!" I giggled realizing who he was talking about.

    "Well if the hacked into hunter exam info-" he gave me a knowing look. I easily caught onto what he was wanting me to do.

    Ducking my head I chuckled darkly, sneaking a glance at Tonpa, "Consider it done."

    Slowing myself to a walk...letting the last of the pack go in front of me until I front my struggling prey. Jogging to quickly catch up, I kept pace with him until move people were ahead of us.

    "Nicholas, right?" I asked sweetly.

    "Huh?" he panted.

    "You're Nicholas right??"

    "Yeah," He was trying to keep moving but he was barely limping along. "Why..do..you-"

    The pale nerd dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. I stopped and offered him my hand, as he reached for it a low rumbling came from behind him. Three sets of eyes glowed in the darkness, he turned a complete 180 ignoring my hand...big mistake on his part.

    Two large black paws stepped into the light followed by three heads of a dog all attached to one body, Cerberus. The family pet, he was a sweetheart until he didn't need to be. The hand that once offered help to the human turned quickly and held the miserable thing by his neck, now offering his head to the dog. The beast lunged forward tearing into the boy as he let out a marvelous scream, petting the dog I hummed a left him to his meal.

    Turning I ran to catch up with the rest of the back, passing Tonpa with a slight nod he grins and seemed to have a little more skip in his step. Making my way back to the front, I easily passed both Gitta and my lovely clown, giving them a cheeky smile and wave before making sure I was in front of the pack.

    "You know, it's hard to backstab when you're in front of your prey right?" A barely audible voice whispered to me as I ran a few steps behind the lanky man.

    Chuckling I hummed in agreement, "Yes but it also makes it that much more fun. They all have their guards up for behind them when the true hunter stays one step ahead." 

    I watched as he shook his head before stepping up his pace again. The pack that was behind us was all yelling and complaining but it didn't stop us until we reached the top where two kids, my adorable little brother and 405, raced passed me yelling how the won. Shaking my head I started to lean against the wall to relax a little bit before the cause that would be the Swamp.

    People were slowly dragging themselves up the stair for a good 30 minutes before Satotz started another lecture, "The Milsy Wetlands, also known as Swindler's Swamp. WE must cross it to reach Phase Two of the Exam. This place is home to a variety of truly bizarre animals, many of which are crafty, voracious creatures who deceive and feast on human prey. So please be very careful," he turned back to the group to show how serious he was being," If you're deceived, you'll surely die."

    And he didn't just mean from the swamp, I was hoping to at least half the number of wannabe hunters...their screams would fall on deaf ears, their blood would feed the forest and their deaths would be mine.

    I wonder if Father would really put in overtime just for me...My crazed smile streched its way across my lips...I can't wait to begin my work, my purpose. For fear is truly the best thing in this above ground world.