Smirking as the old Holden one-tonner Ute trundled into the sleepy riverside town of Morgan, population 426, I turned to my companion Axel, who had his head hanging out of the window acting like a puppy.
"I swear to God, I am not helping you if you cop another cicada to the back of the throat."
Axel quickly pulled his head inside the stuffy car as I changed down gears, pulling into the caravan park that was almost popping at its seams. This area was always popular with tourists and locals alike due to its proximity to the River Murray.
"Hot damn, I could get used to a place like this!"
Rolling my eyes as Axel was gawking at a group of blonde water skiers in bikinis that would not look out of place in a Playboy photo shoot, I turned the engine off. The door creaked as I got out to check us into the caravan park. The gravel drive through the park was teeming with people, young and old as I headed to the office, leaving Axel to his perv session.
"Hi there, can I help you?" A short grey haired lady asked, smiling behind the counter of the reception.
"Hello, I have a cabin booked for Hampton."
"Of course dear, let me just do the paperwork and get the keys for you."
Five minutes later I emerged, keys to a cabin jangling in my hand.
"Come on Creepy McCreepenstein!" I laughed as I hopped back into the cab of the Ute, turning the engine over noisily to head towards our cabin.
The gravel crackled pleasingly under the wheels of the vehicle as we slowly made our way to the back section of the park, surrounded by giant eucalyptus trees, where our small cabin was situated. The cabin itself was small, with a double bed at one end, and two sets of bunk beds lining the walls at the other end. In between the bunk beds was a door to a small bathroom that held a shower that could barely fit my slender 5 foot 6 body in it. The vinyl was sticky next to the kitchen, where there was a small bar fridge and a microwave. The double bed had a TV mounted on the wall near it, but it was almost old enough that it belonged in a museum.
Axel bounced into the cabin, squealing like a little girl at the prospect of being able to sleep on the top bunk. I shook my head, thinking to myself that my childhood friend was still 6 years old. I sprawled out face down on the double bed as Axel brought in the luggage. Two suitcases full of clothes, a gym bag full of books and a heavy steel trunk that resembled a tradesman's tool box were brought in from the tray of the Ute. The latter had a heavy padlock on it, which I quickly unlocked with a key hanging on a chain around my neck. Smiling as I pulled the antique Winchester rifle out of the trunk, I promptly started cleaning it whilst Axel unpacked the box of books.
The sun was beginning to set as I sat on the patio of the cabin, a book resting on the table. Australian myths and legends was opened to a page depicting a body of a man with his throat torn out. This was the reason that we were in Morgan, the little country town that people dreamed of. Axel had sauntered off determined to find the water skiers from earlier. I wasn't one for socialising whilst I was on the job, so I had stayed behind and started researching.
Inside the cabin, there were newspaper articles pinned up on the wall, pictures of crime scenes, and witness statements, all obtained via my alias Detective Sergeant Ophelia Franklin. I rose from the uncomfortable plastic garden chair, groaning as my joints complained from being sat in the same position on the three hour drive it had taken to get to Morgan. I ran my hands through my glistening black hair, as I reminisced on how it was that I had actually gotten myself in this position.
Flashback:
"Daddy!" I screamed, as the man I loved turned on my mother. I continued screaming, as I watched the man I trusted most in the world tear my mother to shreds with his own hands. His eyes glistened black, as he rounded on me, raising his hands like claws, preparing to attack me in the same way.
A blinding white flash was all that I remembered after that, and a man that I had seen around town took me in to his home. He explained to me when I was old enough to understand, that my father had been possessed by a demon who detested black haired women. I was a spitting image of my mother, right down to the exact same slate grey eyes and high cheekbones. Victor was Axel's father, and raised me as if I was his own. He was always saying I was the daughter that he never had. When I turned 20, and Axel turned 23, we were introduced into the world of hunting.
Victor had tried his hardest to keep the world away from us, and had succeeded until a friend of his travelled from America to gather some information on a demon that he had been chasing all across the United States. Axel and I had been playing the old Sega Dreamcast when we overheard their conversation, and Victor didn't really have a choice but to explain everything. That was when I found out that it was a demon that had killed my mother, and as a result of the exorcism, my father. I had passed out with fear, that was why I remembered nothing but a flash of white light.
Ever since that day, Axel and I had been travelling around Australia, training with Victor and taking on the nightmares that people try to pretend don't exist. Victor was a father figure to me, especially during the rough teenage years. We were taking over the family business as Victor developed Multiple Sclerosis and was wheelchair bound. Even though he was no longer out in the field, he did a lot of research for us when we were on the road, as well as being the one that usually found jobs for us. We didn't get paid for what we did, more often than not, as we mostly went unnoticed. I had however inherited a massive trust fund from my parents when I turned 18, and Victor was a consultant to hunters all over the world. I never let my money get to my head, however, as I was brought up with little money whilst living with Victor and Axel. I had been taught to appreciate the little things in life.
Sighing, I traipsed back inside, donning my blue boy shorts and bandeau pyjama set. I glanced at the mirror that was visible through the bathroom archway. My lean muscular body was covered in scars from previous encounters with the things that go bump in the night. This was why I didn't have a boyfriend. Most men were put off by the fact that I was covered in battle scars and couldn't really give them a straight answer about where they came from. Either that or Axel scared them off with his brutish stature. Everyone assumed that we were together, but being that I grew up with him, he was literally my big brother.
Shuddering at the thought of having a romantic rendezvous with Axel, I clambered into the double bed, drawing the curtain on the window. I needed to be well rested as tomorrow we would start our investigating around the small town. Axel functioned on bugger all sleep, but I needed at least six hours to be remotely human. I knew he wouldn't be back until well after when I was going to be asleep.
Rolling onto my side, I closed my eyes and allowed sleep to take over.
