A Guide to Surviving Against Monsters

We were back at the school on Wednesday. Michaelson led his class through drills with no mercy, leaving the seven of us on the sidelines. After the excitement of yesterday, tensions were high all over the city. Uneasy silence seemed to cling to us hunters like a perfume, and eventually, I couldn't stand being around my sullen comrades. Unlike most days, I wore my full get up as well as several weapons. I had a handgun holster on my thigh, knives in either boot, and special bracelets in my trench coat's inside pocket. The bracelets had blades attached to them that would rest on the outside of my forearm, perfect for drive-by slashing. They were one of my more stylish weappn choices.

"Emmalyn," Wendy called as I walked to the doors of the gym. "Where are you headed?"

"I'm going to patrol the Academy grounds," J answered flatly. "We agreed to protect everyone after all the monsters that have been spotted around, remember?"

She pursed her lips. "Maybe someone should go--"

"I will."

Both of us fell silent. Sweaty and panting, Malekai stood a little ways away, already finished with his drills. I wasn't surprised considering he was top of the class.

"That's not safe," Wendy protested.

Malekai snorted. "I think Emmalyn is the safest person to be with, no offense."

"And if you get attacked?"

I scowled. Something had made Wendy get all protective over me -- and I wasn't going to have it. I had been on so many more missions than she had, I'd fought so many more things and survived a lot more than she could imagine.

At the same time, her sudden worry about me had me curious.

What made her change? Was it the fact that I showed up at her house, acting like a little broken schoolgirl?

For a second, time stopped. Wendy and I locked eyes, my blue one staring back at her green ones.

Besides my family, the only person I ever considered a friend and someone I could trust no matter what was Wendy. Lucky for her, she was also the only one of that group left alive. My parents and brother were all dead, leaving me with Wendy to rely on. But I hadn't stayed close enough to keep our bond alive -- it had been years. If Wendy thought I needed her protection, then she hadn't seen the early articles about me when I first started freelancing.

But I was supposed to appreciate her concern. It was only natural for a friend to worry.

So why did it make me uneasy?

The violet symbols etched into my green iris flashed once from underneath my hair.

"I'll protect Malekai," I said firmly. "See you around."

Wendy opened her mouth to protest, but it was Miles who stopped her by laying a hand on her shoulder. The two healers deflated, watching us stroll out. Michaelson didn't even bother stopping me as I led his top student out of the gym.

"You guys are tense today," Malekai sighed as we walked away from his class. The Academy was as familiar as the back of my hand. We wandered outside, my plan being to scout the border before the interior. "I heard about what happened at the public school."

"It was a manticore," I murmured. "Easy to deal with."

"Did you hear about the casualties?"

I pursed my lips. My mind had been stuck on Sasora, the demoness. That, and I was too used to death.

The sight of the torn pieces of people surrounding the fourteen students sunk into my head, and I squeezed my eyes shut. "I didn't ask."

"The class was all seniors and had thirty-nine students. Thirty-three were there."

"And only fourteen survived."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him nod.

"Imagine if that was our class, Emmalyn."

I sighed. Hunter classes were small -- not many people were brave enough for this line of work. Malekai's class was probably twenty five students maximum, and even that would make it up to eleven deaths.

"Do you not care?"

I froze. Malekai was multiple steps behind me, his hands clenched at his sides. The top student had his head bowed, his teeth showing as he grimaced, grinding them together.

"Malekai, you know--"

"My cousin was in that class."

My breathing all but stopped. Despite the attitude I normally had, I knew to respect the grief of someone who had lost their friends or family.

"I'm sorry, Malekai. But I do care."

"...She's not dead."

His head lifted, and I saw tears shining in his eyes. Still, I kept my distance.

Someone else can comfort him.

"Her name is Nadine. The only reason I know about her class and year is because she came home crying last night, when yesterday was supposed to be a holiday for us."

I shut my eyes, hand dropping to the handgun strapped to my thigh. It was comforting, knowing my weapon was so close.

"Damn it, Emmalyn! Do you want to know what she said?!"

Why are you yelling at me?!

"She came home crying and pleading to one day meet the miracle woman who saved their lives! She sung praises about purple fire and a woman with a sword who killed a manticore almost single-handedly!"

I lost it, turning on him. My fists were empty as I shouted back.

"So why are you yelling at--"

I faltered. Malekai was right behind me, so close I could lick him if I wanted to.

My body tensed as his arms wrapped around me, the student falling into me.

"Thank you," he sighed, his voice muffled by my coat. "Thank you for saving my cousin."

"M-Malekai..."

"Everyone is always trying their hardest to become strong hunters," the student muttered, "but why should it matter when we have you, Foxit? It seems like you're on a whole other level... On an impossible level."

"Wait, Malekai, I'm just--"

"Help me."

I shoved him back. "What?!"

Malekai rubbed the back of his arm across his face, drying it of tears. He sniffed, staring at me with an amount of determination that made my skin prickle.

He can't survive the things I can.

I can't 'help' him. He'll die.

It's my job to keep him alive.

"I want you to be my personal teacher. Please, Emmalyn."

I shook my head. "Ask one of the others."

He stepped forward, balling his fists. "Why?"

"Because I do worse things than what they do," I pointed out. "Because I can survive more than they can. You can't do that. You'll be safer on their missions."

Malekai shook his head. "I can't do that."

"Why not?!" I shouted, crossing my arms. My fingers itched for a weapon, but this was not a problem I could solve with violence.

Not this time.

My teeth clenched together as he grabbed me by my collar. His grip pulled me upward since he was much taller than I could ever hope to be.

Violence would be good right about now.

"Because to be the best, you have to learn from the best, Emmalyn!"

Malekai dropped me, both of us stumbling back. I shook myself out, ready to strike.

Still, I hesitated. Malekai was staring at me with hope in his eyes.

"You're so good, Emmalyn. I need those skills."

"These ones?" I asked, my tone deadly as my eye lit up, a flame hovering between us.

This is all anyone wants. Unimaginable magic. The unfair advantage.

If I could give this back, I would.

Believe me.

"No."

The flame vanished as I gasped.

He... Doesn't?

Malekai walked straight up to me, his hand touching the top of my head.

"Not those ones. Your real skills, Emmalyn."

Could I?

Could I really teach this kid?

He smiled, brushing past me to continue our patrol.

And all I did was watch him go.