A Guide to Surviving Against Monsters

The world really was a funny place.

There were monsters in my world. Angels, demons, hunters, and innocent people who got killed every day.

Yet, I couldn't seem to face the idea of telling the story of how I became this for the first time. I laid in bed, the sheets tangled around my legs, and listened to the male voice calling my name, knocking on my apartment door. It was Mateo, probably here to pick me up.

I had been awake since six in the morning, and our brunch was definitely taking place way later than six. I hadn't moved, not even to get ready.

"Emmalyn?!"

That was probably the ninth time he called my name to wake me up.

If they start to think I'm not answering 'cause I'm hurt, they'll barge in here.

Well, alley-oop.

Dragging myself out of bed, I stumbled into the bathroom. Since I already looked like a worn-out embodiment of death, I didn't spend too much time worrying about appearances. I got into clean clothes, brushed my teeth, washed my face and ran my fingers through my short hair. I was still wiping away the crust from the corners of my eyes as I finally walked toward my front door.

"Emmal--oh."

"Morning," I grumbled, leaving the door open. "Come on in."

The cousins waltzed in without another word, following me into the kitchen. Theo shut the door ever so softly before trotting along behind Mateo.

"Are you okay?" Mateo asked, avoiding the subject of our current schedule. We were definitely going to be late.

"M'fine," I spat, grabbing the coffee pot. "I'm going to skip a meal, but I'm grabbing a coffee before we leave."

The cousins shared worried looks. Theo was the one to act brave, his expression full of comfort as he looked back at me.

"Emmalyn, you don't actually have to do this if you can't handle--"

"I'm a big girl, Theo," I grumbled. My coffee was finished, the warm liquid heating my hands through the travel mug.

He fell silent. They followed me out of the apartment, with Mateo eventually taking the front, leading me to their car.

I hopped into the back, my coat undone as I pulled the seatbelt over my shoulder. My sai were tucked into my inner pockets, a modified handgun strapped to my thigh. The usual knife was hidden in my boot.

Funnily enough, I felt much more comfortable -- heck, even sort of beautiful -- in my roughed-up gear.

It was a nice sentiment pre-brunch.

It didn't last long, however.

The other hunters were gathered outside the breakfast place we were heading for. They all looked like attractive people, wearing well-matched outfits and laughing like normal civilians with ideal lives. Even Luca looked good, with a brooding expression that was more thoughtful than spiteful for once in his life.

Not that I cared.

I was Emmalyn Foxit, a grade A bitch and an S-class huntress.

I practically felt like flipping them off just for looking good this early in the day.

But I had a semblance of self-control. I followed the cousins, keeping my weapons hidden as I strode toward the group. The seven of us were some of the best hunters in the country -- some of us, the world -- and yet here we were, looking like regular people.

And I was about to tell a not-so-normal story.

The story of a living nightmare.

Wendy took my hand as we went inside, giving it an affectionate squeeze. I felt sick to my stomach as we sat down around a round table, my face pale. All those memories floating in those swirls of darkness seemed to loom in the corner of my mind -- I felt like I could slip into another realm at any moment. It normally only happened in my dreams, but I wouldn't put it past myself to pass out here and now.

"Should we eat first..?"

Eyes passed to me for confirmation.

"Depends. Do you want to lose your appetite by eating second, or throw up after eating first?"

I watched as their faces filled with mortification one by one. An ugly snort left me, my vision swimming as I let them decide.

Eventually they picked to eat first. I ordered a simple bagel with butter, ignoring the look Miles gave me. It screamed, 'your diet is terrible,' which isn't surprising. It was coming from a medic, after all.

The group seemed to eat quickly, filled with anticipation. I chose to ignore the stares that were pinned to me, instead leaning my head back. I took small bites, chewing slowly as memories drifted over me.

I had to make sure that I didn't vomit mid-story.

It took under twenty minutes for everyone to finish, and a mere five minutes for the bills to appear. I paid for mine without so much as a second glance, my hands shaking.

It's now or never.

You can do this.

I cleared my throat. "Do you want to hear about Sasora or myself first?"

"Which is the shorter story?" Weston asked carefully. His bow was propped against the table, balancing precariously against the rounded surface.

"Sasora."

"Start there, then," the mature hunter decided. I shrugged, grateful for the subject that probably wouldn't give me nightmares.

"When that manticore attacked the school," I began, "I thought I saw someone else. I got there first, after all... And what kind of monster can get past a barrier alone, especially when it seemed to have a clear target in mind?"

A few of them looked shocked, as if it hadn't occured to them. I continued nevertheless.

"So, once it was dead, I poked around. I found a door in the back of the gym."

Mateo cut in. "But there wasn't a door there. The police would've mentioned it."

I pursed my lips, glancing around the table. A stunned silence met my grim expression.

"You're right, Mateo. There was never a door there... Just a pocket dimension laid by a demoness who wanted a certain someone to pay her a visit."

"You met Sasora back then?" Luca hissed. "I swear, if you recognized her and still didn't tell us..."

I averted my gaze. Frustration was clear on his face, as well as Wendy's. Weston looked disturbed, and the cousins shared worried looks.

"I probably broke your trust, didn't I?" I asked softly, momentarily pausing my story.

"...It's hard to trust someone we know nothing about, especially when they don't tell us important things," Miles answered. He was the only one who said anything.

"Noted," I said, forcing my voice to be still and firm. I wouldn't regret my actions. These people weren't fit to fight demons.

"Anyway... I knew who she was. And she... She knew who I am. She used the manticore as a way to easily get 'gifts' for her superiors. Sasora orchestrated the whole thing."

"I hope for your sake that Malekai never hears those words."

My head snapped to where Wendy sat. "What?"

"His cousin," she reminded me. "If Malekai were to hear what you just told us... He would hate you, Emmalyn. Do I need to explain why?"

I looked at the table, my face expressionless.

I need Malekai to separate himself from me.

To keep him safer.

Maybe I should tell him.

Just by chance, I looked back up in the direction of Theo.

And he stared right back at me. I felt just as transparent as the day I was standing on the sidewalk. Part of me wondered if he knew exactly what I was thinking. I wondered if it was clearly written on my face.

"So was that the last time you saw her?"

I swallowed uncomfortably.

"Foxit..."

"I know," I interrupted. "I should've... mentioned it. I mean, I sort of... Did."

It didn't take long for Mateo to realize what I meant, the hunter covering his mouth in horror.

"The man on our road who got torn in half," he gasped, "that was done by Sasora?"

The others didn't need my explanation for that. They already knew the case inside and out.

But, there was still some mixed reactions.

"You let human police investigate a demon's crime scene?! While she could've still been there?!"

I groaned mentally. Wendy was pissed, but at least I could focus on her anger instead of my nerves.

I was running out of Sasora stuff to talk about. Soon, I would be the focus of this conversation.

"Wendy, I had already hurt her. She slunk off. Plus, I was there. Everyone was safe."

"You're not a saint, Emmalyn!" Wendy snapped. "Those officers could've been killed in seconds!"

You just don't get it.

I'm trying my hardest here.

"God, when did you get this irresponsible?! Your brother would've never--"

"Don't cross that line."

She fell silent, watching in horror as I lifted my eyes to glare at her. Only one was exposed, my blue iris drilling a hole into her.

"You want to know who could kill a police squadron in seconds? Who could kill every hunter sitting here in miliseconds?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mateo gulp.

I didn't finish the sentence though.

I didn't want to scare them.

Instead, I deflated. "...You already know about Sasora appearing in the woods, considering she attacked you. She wants to climb the ranks of Hell, and will leave a trail of bodies to do it. I'm going to kill her before she kills anymore innocent people."

Wendy didn't have an answer for that one. Her mouth remained shut as her shoulders sagged, her gaze glued to the table.

She couldn't look me in the eye.

None of them could.

"Well..."

I sighed, feeling my eye twitch.

"Guess that leaves me, then."

"Is this really okay?" Mateo asked softly. "Maybe we shouldn't talk when everyone is so... Upset."

"I think he may be ri--"

I cut Theo off.

"I died when I was twelve."