A Guide to Surviving Against Monsters

Sunday afternoon, I went back to Hunter's World. I was dressed in less than usual; a plain gray sports bra and matching yoga pants. I didn't bother with a jacket or weapons, instead heading to the gym for cardio. It kept my mind off the Academy, and helped keep me healthy. Not only that, but my abilities needed rest. They could handle the constant use, since that was what I was built for, but it was always beneficial to relax them once and a while.

"Hey, it's Emmalyn, right?"

Walking to where I was stretching was none other than Parker, the hunter who rubbed me the wrong way. I nodded either way, deciding to be civil.

"And you're Parker," I pointed out.

"Correct," he grinned, "have you decided to start coming here more often?"

I shrugged. "Don't know. I just need to blow off some steam."

Parker leaned against the wall as I did child's pose, feeling the tension in my back disappear. He stayed there, watching me, for what seemed like hours.

"Can I help you?"

"You know... A little over a few years ago, when you first hit the solo hunting scene, there were all sorts of articles about you."

"And?"

"Purple fire," Parker added, "magic abilities. Then, all of a sudden, the articles just mention your recent conquests and leave all the conspiracies alone. Not a single peep about your personal life, unlike most celebrities and famous hunters."

I snorted. "Rumours will always be alive, Parker. They just got bored because for a story, or a theory, they need something to work off of." The symbols in my eye flashed once. "I just never gave them any hints."

He wasn't wrong about the articles. When the news caught whiff of a new graduate doing solo hunts and coming back mostly unscathed, they wanted to sink their claws into my story. I never devoted myself to hiding the abilities I had, but took a few precautions here and there when I didn't want panic to break out. Therefore, many people had seen a huntress with a glowing eye and purple flames before -- and the news had eaten that up too. However, their rumours and theories died away when I wouldn't speak a word about who or what I was. Even people who tried to attack me for information failed miserably. I let the public see my flames from time to time as a warning to anyone cocky enough to entertain the idea of taking me on, but I was sworn to secrecy.

Not that anyone else could force me to keep it a secret.

Everyone else working on my experiment was already dead.

"So you're just a giant tease, then?"

"Sure," I muttered, my attention leaving Parker. He got on my nerves, and I wanted nothing more than for him to leave me be.

"Wouldm't it be better to share your weirdness with the world? We could be much stronger."

A dark look sank onto my face. I got to my feet, unable to stay anywhere near Parker as the idea and the mental picture sunk in.

"That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard. Stay away from me, Parker. Leave it alone."

Before I could walk away, he grabbed me by the hand. I snarled like a real monster as he tugged me toward him, the noise getting the attention of everyone else. Since I was noticeably short, it looked like Parker was harassing a high schooler.

"Don't be a selfish and power hungry bitch," Parker spat in my face, "if you just got the stick out of your famous ass, less people would be dying."

He thinks these flames can save people? That they can solve everything?

We had an audience as I growled, overpowering Parker even without a glow in my right eye. I forced him to the ground, pressing my forearm into his neck as I straddled his waist. My other hand swatted his off.

"I don't know who died to make you into someone so blindly vengeful," I growled quietly, "but don't you dare take this out on me. I'm sorry that you lost someone, but this isn't the solution."

A real tear sprung into the hunter's eye.

"How'd you know... That someone died?"

My face was expressionless as I answered. "Because I know what it feels like. You lost someone to the monsters and moved here to get away from it all, but it didn't help, did it?"

He bit his lip. "You ungrateful, selfish asshole," he swore, "whatever makes you so freakish could be saving lives!"

"It only ruins lives!" I roared, driving my hand into his forehead. I pinned his head back, forcing him to strain against me as I snapped in his face. "Get your head screwed on straight!"

"You fuc--"

"Hey!"

I didn't relax, though I noticed Parker went limp. Everyone looked shocked as footsteps came our way. My eyes flicked to my peripherals, seeing someone reach for me.

I was up and a foot away in a flash, partially crouched. Two people dressed in suits stood next to Parker, who was panting on the ground. The woman and man were obviously twins, eyeing me up and down.

"Who are you?" The man asked. "And is Parker bothering you?"

My eyebrow raised. "You're not going to blame me?"

The woman sighed, offering Parker a hand. She pulled him up easily, barely glancing down. "Parker is our cousin. I'm Kiara, this is my brother Tobias."

"Call me Toby."

I nodded. "Emmalyn. And yeah, Parker may have overstepped a boundary or two."

He stayed silent, standing like a chastised child next to Kiara.

"Please forgive him," Kiara smiled, "even though I'm pretty sure you did more damage to him."

I didn't answer, instead fixing my hair so that it covered my eye. Toby and Kiara shared puzzled looks, especially as Parker leaned over, one hand hiding his lips as he whispered to them. I rolled my eyes, already turning away to avoid his bullshit.

"Emmalyn."

Stopping, I mentally groaned.

I could just walk away.

Why don't I?

Why do I keep stopping for something as pitiful as the human race?

I'm stronger than them. Better trained. Smarter. I could live anywhere, protected or not.

But I stay. I hunt for them. I fulfill my purpose that they gave me.

But why? I'm not chained like they were.

So I should just move my feet... Leave.

A smiling face appeared in my mind. Orange hair, green eyes, delicate skin. Another followed, this one with a head of brown curls, and the next had ginger hair. Then there was a face with the smallest of smiles, with sandy hair and a protective demeanor. After him was another brunet with short hair and a loyal streak. Even the pale, stoic loner with long, shiny hair came to mind.

My team. The ones who don't want me dead. The ones who I'm set to work with.

The ones I may damn well lose.

For some reason, my feet wouldn't move. I listen to Kiara as she spoke.

"Your parents were good people."

The world around me shattered.