The Hunt Is On! 1/3


Ben leaned against his car; shoveling a particularly tasty bear claw in his mouth. His car was parked outside a martial arts dojo. Several bags of Dunkin Donuts and two coffees were sitting on the hood of his Camaro.

Looking across the street, Ben saw a woman wearing a form flattering sundress. With a Cheshire grin, Ben's eyes flashed green before his body flickered. A powerful breeze blew around the woman exposing everything under her dress, the woman's cheeks burned as she tried to retain her modesty.

Unlike everyone—whose eyes were drawn to the female—Ben snickered, amused by his newfound speed.

It was late morning as a beautiful redhead of a teenage girl walked out of the building. A duffel bag was carried over her shoulders as she walked up to her cousin.

"Hey Ben," Gwen embraced her kin, "long time no see!"

"Long time no see?" Ben passed her a coffee, "It's been only a month."

"Tomato, tomato," Gwen gave him a questioning gaze when she saw family sized breakfast.

Ben shrugged, finishing off his pastry and starting on another. "Regardless of whether I eat three meals a day or more, I've been having hunger pains the last couple of days."

Gwen's eyes enlarged, "I'd see a doctor if I were you."

"As long as I'm not in any real pain I see no reason to."

Gwen shook her head before getting into the car. "So, why'd you come here in the first place?"

"I—" Ben hesitated, "I came here to hang out. To feel normal."

Gwen gave him a sympathetic look, "Normal? What do you mean?"

"Well," Ben ran his hand through his hair, "the last few days I've been feeling off. Like I'm transforming into something that isn't me, and I have no control over it."

"I think that's called puberty," Gwen laughed. Ben gave her a serious look, "Do I look like I'm in a joking mood."

"Ben, we all have those days where we feel off. You're not transforming into something you aren't, you're becoming something you're meant to be." Gwen's words held truth and empathy. "And whatever it is, it can't be helped. Don't fight it."

"But, is it good or bad?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Gwen gave Ben a smile, "It all depends on how you look at it, and your actions."

Giving Gwen's words some thought, Ben mumbled, "I suppose."

"Now enough gloom and doom, you said you wanted to hang out, so let's do that!"

Ben rolled his eyes and started the car. The Camaro's engine roared to life, before speeding off.


~X~

Gwen ducked from a roundhouse kick. Ben and Gwen stood in Ben's garage. Ben had his hands up, his chin tucked, his knees bent with the heels above the ground. Gwen had her hands up as well with her knees bent, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

After picking up Gwen, the cousins started off the day with shopping. Afterwards, they had lunch at Red Lobster, not before arguing about going to Panda Express or Red Lobster. The rest of the day they decided to walk around town. The cousins decided to end the day with a friendly sparring match.

"Hey, did you hear about the disappearances recently?" Gwen executed a front kick, Ben easily parried with a knee. "Disappearances?"

Gwen blocked an elbow before continuing, "You didn't hear? Several people around town have been disappearing the past month."

"Why would this be relevant?" Ben blocked a Brazilian kick before sweeping Gwen's feet. "People disappear all the time."

"No. The disappearances leave no trace for the cops to follow. Kind of like they disappeared out of thin air."

"… I honestly have no follow-up."

"And get this! Some of the people that come back, come back with no memory or clue what happened. They just show up confused about what happened. But some of the others come back with vague memories."

"Vague? What do you mean?"

"Well, when the police do an interrogation on the victims, they state they barely remember anything."

"Barely?"

"But that isn't the weirdest. Some of the victims claim—wait for it… aliens!"

Ben dropped his stance with an arched eyebrow. "Aliens? Not in as illegal immigrants?"

"Yeah," Gwen dropped her stance before taking a swig of her water, "out of all the mythical creatures, they said aliens."

"They must be delusional if they think aliens abducted them." Ben sat down on the bench next to his cousin.

"I guess. So, how's school working out?" Gwen passed her water to Ben.

Taking a long swig, Ben answered, "Well, I got into a fight. My mom's been giving me hell about it. And I met this cute girl."

"Cute girl?" Gwen questioned, already knowing about the fight, "What's she like?"

"Her name's Julie. She's Asian with dark hair, she's athletic, funny—"

"Okay, stop, you sound like one of my friends raving about a boy." Gwen sniggered.

Ben's cheeks turned pink, "Obviously! I mean, you don't find a lot of women with the perfect hourglass shape that doesn't look like they starve themselves. Anyway, I was going to ask her if she wanted to go to the pier tomorrow."

"Aww, Ben's got a crush!" Gwen tussled his hair playfully.

Ben's face turned red from the embarrassment. Regardless, Ben's lips tugged into a dumb grin.


~X~

Ben stood outside Julie's house with mild butterflies in his stomach. After dropping off Gwen, he finally developed the courage to ask Julie out. Although Gwen called it a date, Ben denied it with every fiber of his being.

"Ben? What are you doing here?" Julie opened the front door with an incredulous look.

He hesitated, "Hey, Julie, um, I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me tomorrow night, to the pier?"

Ben's stomach dropped when he heard how straightforward his question was. He didn't mean to be so blatant with his request. He was going for stealthily subtle, like casually bring it up in a random conversation.

Julie beamed, "I'd love to!"

Ben hung his head in disappointment, "Okay, I knew it was a long shot—wait, you'd go with me?!"

"Of course," she giggled, "why wouldn't I want to go with you?"

Ben scratched the back of his head, "Well, I thought you'd say yes, but really you'd plan a convoluted scheme to humiliate me in front of everyone. Like they did in Carrie."

Julie laughed some more, "No, Ben."

Ben was visibly relieved, "Oh, okay, good, cause I've seen Carrie several times and it doesn't end up good for anyone–"

Julie put a finger on his lips, silencing him. "I'll go out with you tomorrow night."

"Um, okay, I guess I'll see you tomorrow evening then." Ben said awkwardly turning to leave. Julie waved at him, "See ya!"

Walking to his, Ben was inwardly celebrating while outwardly he grinned idiotically.

His iPhone began to vibrate before he noticed his cousin's name on the device. He answered, "Gwen?"

"Yeah, it's me, so, how was it? She rejected you, didn't she? It's okay if she did."

Ben scoffed, "I'll have you know that she said yes."

"Really? Well, I hope you have a good time with her. And…"

"Yeah?"

"You do know what to do after your time at the pier, right?"

Ben questioned, "Take her home?"

"I mean after that. You are gonna be responsible, right?"

"Excuse me?" Ben responded confusedly.

"Wow! You are oblivious! Protection, you're gonna use protection with her, right?"

Ben's cheeks flushed pink at his cousin's implication. "Of course, I'm gonna use," he caught himself, "That's none of your business!"

"Look, I just want to make sure you're being responsible if you're gonna be doing anything aunt Sandra won't approve of."

With burning cheeks, Ben hung up the phone, "Bye Gwen."

Ben's face was contorted in a childish pout when he thought about he and Gwen's conversation. Momentarily, while at a red light, his green eyes trailed away from the road. They were upon a drugstore near the intersection he braked at.

He thought again about his previous conversation. Rubbing his temples, Ben sighed, "Damn you, Gwen."

Reluctance in mind, Ben drove into the drugstore's parking lot after the red light turned green.


~X~

"You look nice," Ben complimented.

Julie gave Ben a winning smile. She wore a white t shirt, black jeans, and heeled boots. "You don't look to bad yourself."

Julie's eyes were drawn to Ben's arms and shoulders with what he wore. A dark green tank top, black cargo pants, and boots.

"Shall we go?" Ben opened the passenger door for his date.

Julie partook in his gesture, "A gentleman as well, I really lucked out."

"No, I lucked out," Ben whispered, admiring the dark-haired woman in his passenger seat.

The pier wasn't a Six Flags or Disney Land, but it's customers and tourists were satisfied with spending money on it. Rides, carnival games, concession stands, the whole works. Since it was the weekend, there was a good amount of people enjoying the park; children, families, teenagers. It was a nice night for good, wholesome fun.

"This is nice," Ben commented, "so what do you want to do first?"

Julie looked around before her eyes widened at one of the games. "How about that one?"

Ben chuckled at her, "Julie you're athletic and all, but, I don't think you have that kind of strength."

Julie smacked Ben's arm. "Well, that's why I have you, right?"

Ben saw a classic strength tester, complete with the pivot board and mallet to strike it with. "I guess."

Walking over there he also saw another couple, a blonde, burly man and brunette, top-heavy woman; both in their mid-twenties. Ben walked up to the operator and paid for his turn.

"Hey, kid, no offense, but aren't you a bit small for this?"

Ben turned to the burly guy, "Excuse me?"

"It just seems you don't have the type of muscle to pull this off."

"And you do?"

"Kid, look at me," he gestured to brawny form.

Ben looked at the man's busty counterpart before a grin formed on his lips, "Okay, how about a bet?"

The man raised an eyebrow before Ben continued, "Whoever gets the highest score pays for the other's turn?"

"What's wrong, you broke?" The brawny laughed as he jabbed at Ben.

Ben jabbed right back, "What's wrong, you scared?"

He narrowed his eyes, "Okay, deal."

Grabbing the mallet, the man went to the carnival machine. The machine's maximum was twenty feet, so Ben was thoroughly impressed when his competition hit fifteen feet. Passing the mallet to Ben, he grinned.

"You know you don't have to embarrass yourself," he taunted, "you could just pay me now and save yourself the humiliation."

Ben took the mallet, "No thanks. I'd rather say I tried and failed than to say I didn't try at all."

"Wise words." The game operator spoke.

Julie watched as Ben walked to the game machine. She almost did a double take when she saw how the veins in Ben's arms bulged and shown clearly. In a burst of strength and speed he struck the target.

The target broke under Ben's strike and the pluck flew upward faster than the eye could see. The puck itself broke the machine after it went passed twenty feet. Flying, momentarily, it fell back in front of the game. A few people saw and gawked at Ben and what just happened.

Ben grinned sheepishly at the game operator, "Sorry about that, how much do I owe?"

"Don't worry about it, it's an old machine, it was bound to go out anytime. Anyways, I think you just won your bet."

His opponent had wide eyes before a scowl was produced. Ben walked up to Julie with a satisfied grin, putting away his well-earned money. Julie gawked with wide eyes, "How did you just do that?"

"Luck, I guess," Ben shrugged, "you heard the man, it was old."

"O-Okay, s-sure."

For the rest of night Ben and Julie enjoyed themselves and each other. Julie was liking Ben more and more as the night progressed. For Ben, he tried to use his powers to make Julie's night as magical as possible. His strength, speed, senses, and claws. Anything to make Julie either smile or laugh. He was not disappointed when Julie shown her pearly whites.

The pier was closing with all the remaining people leaving for the night, readying for the next day. Vehicles were leaving the parking lot. Rides and attractions were shutting down, darkening the boardwalk.

Julie walked with Ben, her arm intertwined with his, to his car. "So," Ben started, "did you have a good time?"

"Yes, I did," she replied sweetly. "I especially like how you were able to get me cotton candy when the line was pretty long. Remind me again, how?"

"Haven't you heard the expression, 'a magician never reveals his secrets'?"

Julie giggled, "I guess so." She stopped to face him fully, "Did you have a good time?"
"Yes," Ben stepped closer, "I sure did."

Julie stepped closer as well, "Well, what was your favorite part about it?"

Because of the height difference, Ben towered over Julie as she looked straight up at him. Unconsciously, their fingers meshed when Julie started leaning on her toes.

"My favorite," Ben whispered, "was when the attractive female smiled or laughed."

"Really?"

Ben grunted in agreement. Their lips, barely a centimeter away from each other, brushed up against one another. Before both could seal the deal …

Screaming alerted and drawn them away from the budding lip lock. People screamed as they ran for lives. Grotesque monsters tore through crowd, ravaging anything in their path.

Ben grabbed Julie's wrist before taking off into the parking lot where his car was. As Ben and Julie went for his car, one of the monsters leaped in front of them.

It was large, taller than any human with much more muscle. Its leathery body was yellowish gold with black arms and legs that only had three digits. Its body seemed like a covering because there was an opening in its chest that held purple tentacles. The head only held an oval-shaped green eye with an exposed brain.

"Ben," Julie whimpered as she stuck closer to him. These grotesque monsters surrounded Ben and Julie. Ben did his best to look for any opening, but they all had them in a corner.

Suddenly, one of them leaped at the couple. Thanks to Ben's heightened senses he saw it coming. Ben pushed Julie out of the way and fell to ground with the beast atop of him.

Looking at the ugly monstrosity, Ben grew his extra set of eyes before kicking it back into two of them. Kipping up, Ben's skin became crimson as he donned a fighter's stance. The monsters took no time in rushing him. Ben's strength, speed, senses, and combat prowess gave him martial superiority against the 'things'.

He elbowed one in the chin before he gave another a teep to the chest. Receiving a strike to the face, he fell to ground before their legs. Getting to his feet, he struck it with an axe kick in the chest that led to a small crater in the ground underneath it.

Being tackled to the ground on his stomach, Ben's hands was splashed with an adhesive goo from the monster's mouth, or rather tentacles, onto the ground. He tried to get up but was unsuccessful as the goop was like super glue in nature.

"Ben!" Hearing Julie's voice, Ben struggled to move from his spot. More of the beasts tackled onto him as well. "Julie!" Ben was dogpiled by a crowd of them that wouldn't give him an inch.

"Ben! Help! Help me! Please, Ben!"

For Ben, Julie's cries triggered a fire in his belly. His eyes turned a fiery, emerald green. Willpower, alone, gave him the strength to free himself from his binds and the crowd of piling monsters.

On his feet, Ben saw Julie being carried off into the trailer of an eighteen-wheeler. Ben was about to take off after the truck, but his body burned like lava after his skin turned to its normal peach color.

Dropping to his knees, Ben felt an unimaginable amount pain… everywhere. From his shoulders to his fingers, he gained thick orange fur. He grew taller when his pants and shoes were ripped to shreds from the orange fur he had from the waist down. The bones in his legs reformed to shape that of a dog's. Nails were replaced with black talon-like claws. Ben's chestnut hair became orange and grew longer that it covered his new orange eyes and reached his shoulder blades. Sharp quills extruded from his forearms, elbows, shins, and back.

His shirt, pants, and shoes were shredded beyond usage. The fur on his waist covered his sex, to retain his modesty.

Utilizing the powerful senses from the gills in his neck, he saw the monsters take off in the truck. He released a hellish, nightmarish roar that made everything in his vicinity shrink in fear. Leaping after the truck, Ben took off, on all fours. A predator chasing its prey.


Sorry about my absence, huge thanks to all the ones that stuck around with me. Look for the new chapters on Fridays, if not, then on Saturdays. As for the one that asked for him to have the powers of a Necrofriggian, don't worry...