Having just heard that someone she knew is now dead, Pori would obviously be freaked out. And that is exactly what happens. At first, she assumes it isn’t true, or that she is being toyed with. But unfortunately, it seems that Drew is being completely honest.

“Who did it!!?” Pori yells.

“We don’t know,” Drew replies, “they just said there isn’t any work for today.”

While yes, she would be happy that she gets a day off, she currently cannot think of that. Pori goes inside. Drew tries to stop her, but she gets in anyway. Immediately, she is stopped by a police officer who is at the crime scene.

“Ma’am, you can’t be in here,” the officer says.

“Is everything okay!?” Pori demands.

“This is not a safe place, we need you to leave.”

Pori is ushered back outside, which to her is all the confirmation she needs. Even if it wasn’t Danny, someone did die here. And why would Drew lie? Why would he act like he knew Danny was dead if it turns out he didn’t? Pori even questions the possibility of Drew doing it, but then why would he still be here, at the crime scene? She quickly disregarded it, considering Drew is a very polite person.

For a brief second, the old man in the ruined house crosses her mind. She doesn’t exactly believe it, but she wouldn’t so much be surprised if it turned out to be him either. Still quite shaken, Pori decides to leave for the day, since it seems like Dorotheos isn’t even there.

Action Pact

The Invasion

Story by Connor Perry

Demon Hunter

4

When she gets back home, she notices her grandpa in the living room practicing more of his martial arts. That’s something that Carter has always been obsessed with. For as long as Pori can remember, her grandpa would take her to all of his championships. He’s won world tournaments in a multitude of martial arts, and has even created his own. Pori likes to personally regard him as one of the best martial artists out there, solely because she has never seen him lose a fight.

“You’re back so soon, Pori!” Carter paused his activity. “Did anything happen?”

“Yeah, something really scary,” says Pori. “One of my coworkers seemingly died.”

Carter does a double take, not having been sure he heard what he thinks he just heard. “What happened?”

“Yeah, one of my coworkers was killed at work this morning.” Pori says with tears rolling down her face, now that the situation has begun to process in her mind.

“I’m sorry Pori,” her grandpa responds, “I can tell you’re really sad about it.”

“It’s not entirely that, I’m just mostly shaken is all.”

“No I get it, I get it.” Carter comes up to hug Pori. “I’m just glad it wasn’t you.”

“I guess.” Pori wipes the tears away from her face. “I’m gonna spend the rest of the day in my room.”

“That’s fine dear,” Carter replies, “want me to make you anything? You didn’t have much for breakfast this morning.”

“I’m all set,” Pori says. She mopes into her room and closes the door.

The rest of her day consists of her releasing her stress through things like watching movies, talking to her friends, and just generally getting her mind off the situation. She also tends to Adrian a lot, as he and Danny were good friends.

I haven't seen him all day I think it was him - Adrian

I'm so so sorry, I don’t know who could’ve done this. - Pori

Its okay im just taking it easy now

I'm not gonna jump to any conclusions so soon - Adrian

Here if you need to talk, and you can always come over too - Pori

It’s fine I think I’m gonna stay in today - Adrian

Pori and Adrian text back and forth until she goes to sleep around nine at night.

The next morning she forces herself out of bed, feeling less energized than she normally does. She does not want to have to work today, but knows Molly will kill her if she doesn’t. It also hits her all at once that she has not eaten yet today, and so devours a massive amount of the breakfast that Carter prepared yet again.

“Thanks so much for making breakfast grampa,” Pori says, “this makes me feel better.”

“I knew it would,” says Carter. “Now you go have a better day today than you did yesterday, k?”

Pori makes it halfway to work before she meets up with Adrian at a crosswalk downtown, where they usually do when going to work on Sundays. Normally Adrian didn’t work at the grocery store during the week, but he does back to back doubles for the weekend, so he makes the double for Pori a bit more tolerable.

“How you doing today?” Pori asks.

“Better.” Adrian replies. “I was actually able to get out of bed for once.”

“That’s good. Let’s try to make today a bit more enjoyable for us, k?”

“K.” Adrian responds.

They get towards the grocery store, when all of a sudden, a cop car pulls up beside them. The police officer gets out and points to them for confirmation.

“Poriyander Briggs and Adrian Sanders, correct?”

“Yes. Why, what’s up?” Pori asks.

“Do not be alarmed,” the officer says, “we just need to detain the two of you for questioning real quick.”

“What!?” Pori and Adrian say in unison.

“You are not in any trouble.” The policeman escorts them into the car without cuffing them, since Pori and Adrian move willingly. They understand they are only being detained, but they are still nervous having been simply plucked off the streets by an officer. And on top of that, he knew where they would be in the morning. Creepy, Pori thinks

They get to the station and are isolated. Pori ends up getting questioned by a detective, who decides to ask passively upon observing Pori’s body language. She considers pleading the fifth, but in a call she makes–that she would come to consider stupid later on–she decides not to.

“Where were you yesterday morning?” The detective asks.

“Well, I was in my apartment until about nine AM, then I left to go to work, and that’s when I discovered Danny had been murdered.”

“When was the last time you saw Danny?”

“The day before yesterday, when we walked to work together.”

Pori attempts to remain as honest as possible, in hopes that she will rightfully be negated of all suspicion. Just when she begins to feel like it’s going to last an eternity, it seems her hopes are answered.

“Alright Poriyander you are all set,” the detective says.

“Really?”

“Yup. It seems you have little to no connection to this case, and you seem to be telling the truth. You are all set, have a great day.”

“You … too?”

Pori is escorted out of the police station, and the officers apologize for any inconvenience.

“It seems they are checking everyone that was close to him,” Adrian says.

“Yeah, I’m just glad they gave work a heads up.”

“Right?” Adrian also replies.

On a rooftop nearby, a large stone-carved giant stalks Pori and Adrian, noting their every move. “Their residuals are strong Fossan, they would work very well also.”

A human sized man, with reddish-grayish skin, a trench coat, and a cigar responds.

“Very well Brash. Let’s intercept them on 3rd Street. It seems like they are heading that way, as per usual.”

Our demon nemeses from the first chapter re-emerge, a bit more knowledgeable about Poriyander and Adrian than our first look at the encounter would have suggested. Alas, our main heroes’ first encounter with the occult is coming to fruition!