Oct. 6

When I decided to go back to junior year of high school to spend time with my friends, I thought it was a good idea. Just graduated high school, I thought maybe it would be easier the next go-around.

It was not.

I sat at my coffee table staring at the Algebra 2 homework in front of me. With every problem I solved, the more I realized how pointless math was to me. Deep into my assignment, I tossed the papers aside and rested my head on the surface. Math homework was now a Sunday-Hunter problem.

I picked up my phone and scrolled through my various apps. I passed through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram seeing my all my school friends having fun and living life at college. It made me sad that I was stuck here because of the curse. It made me feel sad it was my fault I was stuck here.

Then, my mood lightened when I got a text from my friend Reyes. ‘Hey man! Celebration on Grace’s first hunt! Meet us at Jordan’s for lunch??’

I felt the large smile grow on my face. ‘Totally!’ I was happy our new hunter was doing great. From what I saw on her awakening, I knew she would be a great asset. I got changed and drove off to meet the others.

“Hey, guys!” I made my way to the restaurant where I saw Reyes, Grace, and someone else I never met before. He had a fair similarity to Grace, with the key difference of his crutches. He smiled quietly behind his double. An endearing boy, maybe just barely fifteen. Was this really the other reborn? “Hello, I haven’t introduced myself.”

Grace’s eyes narrowed in thought. She twisted one of her curls in her finger, “Your that other hunter that I met. recognized your voice from your wolf mask.”

Reyes set his hand on the eager girl’s shoulder, “Remember Grace, keep the ‘you know what’ down.”

“Eeep!” She grabbed her mouth in embarrassment. There would always be times the new hunter would slip up and mention our secret lives out in public. Sure humans hearing us was just a mild concern, but who would believe us. No, the main concern was the presence of the witch the strangled the town. We luckily had a few rings of faerie circles, magic rings that sanctified areas, around town: The school, Caleb and Reyes’ apartment complex, etc. But sadly the best taco shop in Pyros didn’t have that luxury.

I gave her a kind smile, “It’s fine, my name is Hunter.”

The boy with crutches interjected, “Wait.. your name is Hunter, and you're a hunter. Hunter the hunter?” I swear I hear that joke every time. I played it off with a laugh.

Grace pulled her brother in front of her, “Sorry! This is my brother, Owen. He’s also in our ‘situation.’ Let’s go talk ”

We ordered our food and found a booth deserted in the corner of the room. The dining area was filled with general Spanish decor including a smiling cartoon taco saying ’Have a SpecTACOlar day!’ Faint radio music played over TVs broadcasting soccer games. In the air, you could smell frying grease and house-made tortilla.

I sat at the end of the booth next to Reyes while the twins sat across from us. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until my deluxe chicken quesadilla arrived and I devoured half of it with no hesitation. After realizing my gluttony, I calmed down to get to know my new acquaintances, “So what's your guys’ story?”

Grace picked at her nacho fries, trying to make the ultimate bite, “Well we moved here when we were middle school, live with our grandma, and now are undead I guess?”

“Wow, I completely feel you, I’ve been a hunter for ten-ish years now and it still feels crazy. I’ve been seventeen for so long age feels so surreal.”

“Speaking of,” Grace spun her fork at me, splashing me with salsa residue, “So we’re like never going to grow up?” A sober tone showed on her and her brother’s face.

I tried to assure her, “Well, usually a hunter will mature to the point that they are a young adult unless they’ve died past that point. It’s different for most though, like some will take a prolonged time to grow up, while some actually speed up aging. It’s really confusing to explain. In short, yes but don’t think too much about it.”

She sunk into her seat, dropping her utensil into the guacamole. Reyes joined in, “It’s not all bad! Now you don’t have to worry about growing old or anything! And don’t worry, you don’t have to be stuck in high school forever, but some people go just for the heck of it.”

“Yeah,” Grace mumbled begrudgingly, “But what about everyone around me.”

I noticed a long powerful silence. Then, surprisingly, a loud voice broke the lull. “Hi!!! Your favorite homeboy has arrived!” I felt a twinge in my chest as Caleb came around the corner. Without even thinking, I shoved Reyes to the wall, squeezing in room for Caleb to sit. “So what’s going on! Looks like I walked into a wake?”

Dumb, stupid, cute Caleb, being oblivious as ever. Luckily everyone’s morale seemed to jump with his presence. Even shy Owen smiled. I guess that was just the feeling Caleb brought with him. “Just talking about hunter stuff. How about you, why are you so late?”

“Had errand stuff to do, buy groceries and that.”

Reyes snorted, “You buying groceries?”

“Shut up Miller. ”He went over me and playfully punched him in the arm. Because of the booth size, he couldn’t help but sit extremely squished next to me, his arm elbowing my side. I tried to cover my pink blush face with a napkin. Like he would notice though, he was as oblivious as I was lovestruck. Even with trying to get closer to him, I still failed to tell him how I really felt. Reyes and Lin have been real ones, planning hangouts, just suddenly cancel, but no matter how perfect the time I couldn’t confess.

“Hey I do need to grab more soul dew, I gave my last bag away. Would anyone be down to go to McCyrus’?”

“Sure!” Reyes answered first. I nodded, still holding the grease-stained napkin to my face.

“Wait, what’s McCyrus’?” Grace was all but done with her food. The remaining fries on her plate were turned into mashed potatoes by her fork.

“Hunter store, it’ll be good to show you.”

After lunch, we walked a short distance in town until we arrived at our destination. From the outside, the store looked like your run of the mill Halloween store, but to us, it was much more.

Ding Ding!

As we walked in, a large brown Doberman ran up to me. She towered over me, having a great time licking my face with her large pink tongue. “Miaaaa!” I held onto her, but she continued.

Old man McCyrus popped out of the back room and waved us in. His voice was old and gruff. “Ah if it isn’t my favorite hunters! What can I do for you!”

Caleb stepped up to the counter. “Hey Mc, need another bag of soul dew! Oh and wanted to introduce you to the new meat. This is Grace and Owen.

They both stood quietly behind us. I turned over to see a sort of discomfort in both their faces. They didn’t greet McCyrus but shuffled to the counter. Owen was the first to look up, “I… I don’t know why, but you look very familiar. Do you know us?”