Authors Note: I re-posted this in a more reader-friendly format via suggestion from my beta reader. Please let me know what you think! Thanks!

Your Humble Servant,

~The Silent Hunter

Disclaimer: I don't own much, but I wish I owned more. Warning: Language, and graphic violence.


Chapter 1: Artifacts

It's cold - - cold and hard. The groan ripped from my lips as feeling flooded my face. My hand twitched and then my entire body moved. I shoved myself up, quickly spotting a toilet on the far wall and floundered towards it. The cold metal gripped in my hands was the only object keeping me kneeling as the contents of my stomach emptied into the bowl. I collapsed when the cold reached me, finally done. As I calmed, I looked around, suddenly noticing where I was.

The dingy metal room was lit by unseen lights, and miniscule; the metal cot I recently laid on was built from the wall. Everything was made from metal - - the only thing here that wasn't metal was my bag. Rubbing my sore head, I realized that I couldn't remember anything - - about what had happened, how I ended here. I cursed and stood, swaying for balance - - my stomach thankfully remained calm.

I tried to step forward, but my right leg buckled beneath me, and with a pained scream I was on the floor once again. I rolled over to look at the injury, biting hard on my lip. A large glass shard stuck from my calf which was stained with blood. I ripped the glass out and screamed at the shredding sensation. My hands shaking, I rubbed my tears away and ripped the bottom of my shirt to staunch the fresh blood. The glass shard in my hands drew back a sudden memory:


My breath came in gasps, a pain in my side slowing me. I shoved myself on, my legs burning from running so far too fast. Ducking into an alley, I stopped, peering out into the street. The broken street-lamps placing the entire area in shadow; I shrank back, knowing I wouldn't be able to see who was chasing me. There was a screech behind me. I turned slowly, breathing harsh.

The large black shape screeched again and I bolted, running again. This time, I knew what was behind me, a utter monster, and didn't stop - - not even when someone appeared in front of me. I used him as a spring board, jumping up and doing a flip over his shoulders. As soon as my feet were on the ground, I continued running, even as I heard the two collide with a roar and a screech. I heard thwumps from some sort of gun, then saw blue light flashing past my head, connecting and exploding against a car.

I screamed, throwing up my hands as the heat hit me. Glass exploded around me and pain laced through my thigh. I looked down and saw a thick shard sticking from my leg. Collapsing, I looked up, my vision tunneling. The last thing I saw was someone standing over me. The last thing I heard was a strange clicking. And the last thing I felt was a set of large hands picking me up.


Ripping my eyes from my leg, my breath came out in a sigh. I pulled my bag closer and fished the contents. Finding broken car keys, another memory flooded my mind.


The cold metal of keys fell from my trembling hands as I ran. I raced back, scooping them up before racing towards my car, the tears in my eyes causing my vision to blur. Skidding to a halt, I fumbled with the keys, trying to find the right one. Hearing the heavy steps approaching, I let out a fearful moan, my hands shaking even harder. There it was! I'd found it!

I inserted the key and started to turn it before the large hand fell on mine. I pulled back, screaming, but I merely ran into him. He growled and snapped the key, leaving the unlocking part in the key hole and leaving me holding the rest. I screamed again and shoved myself away, under his right arm. Racing away, my feet carried me away from the parking lot, farther from any help that I might have found and into the downtown streets of the city.


Chronologically that memory came before the first and I frowned, wondering why I had been so scared. Hopeful that the next artifact of the night would clue me in, I set the keys next to glass shard and took out the next item. Holding up the fired bullet, I once again regressed into a memory:


"Run Jess!" I screamed, pulling up the hand gun. The huge man continued to approach, undaunted. "Stop right there!" I screamed at him, cocking the gun. He merely tilted his head at me and reached out, attempting to take the gun. I pulled the trigger, the gun jumping in my hands and the sound scaring me. He just stood motionless before he looked down. I stared at his chest, eyes wide. Reaching out, I grabbed the bullet, the tip smashed and the back burnt. The bullet had caught in the armor he wore without harming him.

I gasped, stumbling back and dropping the gun as he stepped closer. I tripped over something dense and fell on my back as he hesitated, looking down at the thing I had fallen over. I looked as well and screamed, realizing that it was my best friend, Jess. Her head had a gaping hole in the back and her eyes were wide with shock. The man regained my attention by growling, whipping out what appeared to be a spear.

I reacted instantly, scrambling backwards and to my feet, racing away screaming. I heard something behind me growl as I raced around the corner towards my car, the tears filling my eyes as the realization hit me. My best friend was dead.


Hot tears poured down my cheeks, scorching my skin with the pain of the memory. Swiping them away, I reached into the bag once more, discarding the bullet by the shard and keys. The next thing I pulled out is a strange necklace, the clasp broken. The feathers and skulls filled my gaze as yet another memory returned, bringing with it more tears.


Slamming out of the building, my hand wrapped around Jess's, I stop, breathing hard. "What the hell WAS that?" She screamed, her voice high with fear.

"I don't know," I sighed, pulling her closer. She was shorter than me, so she had no problem resting her forehead against my shoulder.

"Honey, I don't know what is going on," she moaned and I nodded, the cold metal of her gun pressing into my hip.

"Give me the gun Jess." She stared up at me, her mascara smearing from her tears.

"But Susan, what if-" I just held out my hand and she trailed off, sighing and handing me the weapon. I shoved it into my pants, grimacing.

"Come on, let's get to the car." I held out my hand to her and started to leading towards the parking lot. The loud sound of a door crashing open made me whirl around and I heard Jess scream as the man who wasn't a man turned towards us. He was huge, towering a good foot and a half over us and covered in what reminded me of light medieval armor. Where the armor didn't cover his body, a strange fish-net mesh covered his skin. A strange metal mask covered his face and strange dreadlocks flared around him as he turned. I was immediately intimidated, but I knew that Jess would be scared shit-less... and that I was the only one who could protect her know.

"Get behind me Jess." I said quietly, pushing her back and stepping forward. I grabbed a large board sticking out of the dumpster beside me and held it tight. As he came closer, I smashed it against his head, shocking him with the amount of pure force behind it. As he stood there, slightly dazed, I leapt at him, throwing the broken board aside. He fell and I landed on top of him, tearing at his mask as he fended me off, suddenly roaring and shoving me.

With one full push, I flew backwards, his necklace snapping in my hand and coming with me as I collapsed a few yards away. I remembered the gun and pulled it out as I scrambled to my feet, aiming. I didn't want to shoot, but if he didn't leave us alone, I'd have no qualms with filling his gut full of lead.

A shudder ripped across my skin as I put the necklace down. I reached into the bag, but at first don't feel anything else. Then my hand brushed against a small piece of paper; I quickly read the words. 'Dance-a-holic'. It was an admissions ticket to a night club…

"Susan! Let's go dancing!" I smiled at Jess, her arm wrapped around my waist as we walked down the darkening street. We stopped in front of the night club, the bass from the music inside thrumming through our feet.

"Okay Jess, let's go!" She beamed, bouncing towards the entrance. I smiled at the two bouncers and flashed the pass card at them. The one on the left nodded and Jess squealed, running in. Taking the admittance ticket from the guy on the right, I followed her, letting the music flood through me as we neared the dance floor. Jess was already in the throng, finding someone to dance with. I hesitated on the side, watching and swaying/bouncing with the beat. Soon enough, someone grabbed my hand and I was on the dance floor, dancing just to dance.

The songs changed, but no one could tell. I danced my way out of the throng and to the bar. The bartender nodded and passed me a drink. I sipped my drink until a familiar form showed up beside me.

"Hey Susan! Thanks so much for going out with me." I nodded, smiling and pulled her closer, her giggles making me light-headed. I wasn't bi, or lesbian, but it was her birthday, but we were in the moment, enjoying it all.

That was when the screams started - - no one noticed for a few moments. Then the lights came on.

Blood and carnage was all around; I whirled in shock. People screamed and ran frantically, but I was frozen, my eyes glued to the opposite end of the room. A man stood there, towering in the shadows, blood dripping from the knives on his thick wrists. He seemed to stare right at me. Then he moved towards me, cutting through all those that got in the way.

"Susan! We have to get out of here!" Jess screamed. It was too late to run, so I shoved Jess behind me, squaring up to take the man on, to keep him away. He was only a few feet away when a loud BANG cut through the screams, the shot-gun blast pushing him back. The bartender reloaded and aimed again, yelling at us to run. As we raced away, I saw the humanoid back on his feet, coming at the bartender. I raced around the corner, pulling Jess with me as we avoided the masses crowding at the front door and raced towards the back.

Shoving out of the back door and into the alley, I took a deep breath, wondering what had just happened.

I pulled out of my thoughts as a hissing sound filled the room and a door began to open opposite of where I sat. I stood up shakily, ignoring my pain, and turned to face whoever entered. Whatever happened, I'd never forget what I saw, or the one who had died. I would never forget, never.