I made the right decision here, without my actions that Demon could have attacked anyone of us. Hesitation and sympathy got people killed. I leapt from the convoy and as the last one out I had some catching up to do. I didn’t expect the tight grip on my shoulder with enough strength to stop me mid run.

Ugh, here we go.

“Riley.” Conner only called me by my name when he wanted me to really listen to him. He says it’s because he cares, but it makes me feel like a child.

“Yeah?”

He sighed.

Come on, just tell me I messed up and get it over with. I’m going to miss out on all the action.

“I’m not going to pull you from the mission, like I should.” His free hand pinched the bridge of his nose. “But, when we return you will see Mar for a session before curfew.” His hand felt heavier for a moment.

No, no that was not so subtle code for ‘You’re still on probation because you’re a screw up Riley.’ Damn it, I was really hoping it would end today. Even if it would only be for a few days at the minimum.

“Fine.” I groaned. I would have chosen to argue with him, but the others were getting further away and I wanted this kill to be mine.

“Go.” Conner nodded ahead.

I broke into a sprint. Running, hunting, feeling the rush of catching a Demon; better yet killing it, is what I live for.

I caught up just in time to see ‘Ms. Clark’ backed up against a grate. Water rushing beneath it.

“This is your last chance.” Jordan offered.

Chance? Please. Demons don’t deserve chances. I loaded a bullet into the chamber of my gun and raised it chest height at the creature.

“I see. You’ll kill me either way.” It hissed and its body extended, making its torso disgustingly long.

Large dirty red gemstone spikes erupted from its shoulders, tearing its clothes to pieces. The same red gems curled out of its skull and around its ears forming horns. A thin orange fur tipped tail whipped out behind her and it panted. Its open mouth filled with fanged stone teeth, lava like blood leaking from its mouth and wounded leg.

The Demon tilted its head back and roared. Long ears folded down, and its eyes lit up a bright orange. The same fiery glow illuminated outward from inside it, lighting up its mouth and ears. A mark of three triangles curled up from its jaw under its left eye, and pulsed with the internal light.

How could something like that ever hope to be welcomed in to human life?

The Demon glared at us, three small stones lit up under each eye, it’s mark in full view now, and it lunged.

“Hunter!” Marcus shouted.

Detainment was no longer an option. Hunters, somehow, used those small extra eyes to see our weak points. They knew exactly where to hit us, whether to cripple or to kill with a single blow.

Demons were tall, thin and fast on a normal basis, but when aggregated those traits became stronger.