Applicant #347 began hyperventilating. That's how I knew he was going to fall soon. Unfortunately he was in my running path. So I agilely dodged to the left and pushed myself…just a little farther…there! Stairs!

I was panting heavily. Sure I looked stupid, but at least I hadn't fallen. Yet.

By propelling myself forward I eventually caught up with a dusty Kurapika and a shirtless Leorio.

I glanced over at them to see how they were faring. Both were breathing hard, but not as heavily as me.

"Keep going, we can finish this", Leorio panted to Kurapika. I shot Leorio a smile. Here he was, suffering more than Kurapika, yet Leorio still lent support and strength to his friend. What a good person...

Suddenly Leorio let out a yell and surged forward. 'That was some stamina', I thought to myself in awe.

Kurapika smiled, glanced at me, and whipped the blue/red outer cloth he wore from his body. It, of course, smacked me in the face. "You fucker!" I shouted as I covered my face with my hands. He must have still been mad from me tripping him.

Kurapika chuckled and ran up to Leorio. I was going to get him…he will die a painful death.

By the time I had regained my sight and ran fast enough to catch up to those two I heard the two dreaded words come from Kurapika's mouth. 'Scarlet eyes'.

I immediately ran closer and proceeded to hide behind a larger candidate. Close enough to eavesdrop. Good.

"That's why the Kurta were targeted. We Kurta are known for our unique scarlet eyes", Kurapika somehow narrated while gasping for air.

I rolled my eyes. Yes. And people like me wanted those eyes to make sure my parents could retire and the family business would thrive. I always tried not to think about the moral side of my family business.

"When our emotions are heightened our eyes turn scarlet, as though on fire", Kurapika stated.

I tried to snicker, but it came out as a wheeze. Emotions are heightened? So when Kurapika was jerking off to some porn were his 'emotions heightened'? 'That holier-than-thou prick probably has never looked at porn or ever viewed anybody as worthy of his presence', I sourly thought. I was still peeved from the clothing hitting me in the face incident.

But then guilt swept through me. Who was I? I was being disrespectful to an eighteen-year-old who lost his entire family and judging him unfairly. I shook my head. Nope. He's a target. He has no rights. He isn't a person like me. 'Don't think about the morals'.

I felt satisfaction creep through my head but the gnawing feeling of guilt remained in the crevices of my mind at my judgmental and nasty thoughts regarding the Kurta.

I collapsed on my hands and knees near Leorio who had done the same. Except I threw up. Kurapika threw me a disgusted glare when some of it splattered on his shoes. I looked up and smiled at him. Hopefully there wasn't vomit on my teeth.

He looked a bit disgusted, turned a light shade of green, and turned towards Gon. "Is this our destination?"

The teen was sitting near Killua while chugging water. "Nope. It's not". The kid was barely sweating!

"I see", Kurapika responded. I wiped the vomit off my mouth and shakily stood up. There was no way I could run like that again.

"The fog is fading!" Kurapika exclaimed.

I glanced up. The fog was fading. I squinted my eyes to get a better look at the surrounding area. And I smiled. This was where I kill the Kurta.

Immediately I looked towards Kurapika before I could stop myself.

He was glancing at the fog along with Gon and Killua who were still chugging water. I looked at their skin which lacked the tell-tale shine from sweat. Were either of them tired!? It wasn't fair!

"Avi", Leorio croaked, "Got any water?"

I smiled. At least I was somewhat useful. I dug around in my backpack and tossed Leorio a small water bottle. "Here".

Leorio muttered, "Thanks", and began chugging the water.

I stared at my shaking hands and shot a glance in Kurapika's direction again. He looked like he could run again. He was recovering while I…I shifted objects in my backpack until I found what I was looking for. Tshuaj. Did I really want to take it? I shifted the white powder around the bag and poured the tiniest bit onto my key. I put my finger on one nostril and snorted the stamina regenerating powder with the other. I glanced at my watch. Two minutes until the drug took effect and I would feel recovered. Then I could strike and kill the Kurta. I tied up the bag of tshuaj and hid it under some protein bars I had brought. Perfect.

Except that it was highly addictive. 'I am playing with fire', I thought as I glanced at both Kurapika and then the tshuaj.

"The Numere Wetlands", Satotz explained," Also known as Swindler's Swamp. We must cut across these wetlands to reach Phase Two of the exam. This place is home to many bizarre animals, many of them being cunning, insatiable creatures who deceive humans and prey upon them. Be very careful. If you let them fool you…you're dead", he warned. I gulped nervously. Okay…cunning creatures weren't a part of the equation, but still…I guess I just have to be smarter…

"Wait for me!" somebody begged. I glanced over my shoulder at the dark haired man who attempted to crawl under the quickly closing metal door. But he didn't make it. He was shut in that dark tunnel. I shuddered. That could not be me. I had a family to return to, a business to run, and parents to support.

I glanced at Kurapika's tan eyes.

"These wetland creatures will use every trick in the book to fool their prey. An ecosystem in which creatures obtain food through deceit…" Satotz said.

Kurapika tensed and his eyes suddenly shot over to me. Unluckily, I hadn't managed to avert my gaze in time so I settled my eyes on Killua, who was standing near Kurapika. Time to pretend like I was going to speak to Killua...

I elbowed Killua lightly and snickered, "Sounds just like home with greedy merchants and thieves". Killua snickered along with me. I knew Killua would understand. Killua seemed as shady as fuck in my opinion.

"Avi, Killua", Gon said, "Shut up! I want to listen!"

Killua huffed. "As if he's going to give us any tips on how to survive Gon". Gon said nothing and stiffly turned away. My eyes met Killua's and we both shrugged. Gon was such a rule-follower.

I shuffled closer to Leorio who I knew owed me for the water. When to call in that debt… "Don't let them fool you!" a panicked voice randomly called. I whipped my head to where I thought I heard the noise originate while everybody's head turned in the opposite direction. I reddened a little and turned my head the other way. I was not known for my prowess and exceptional abilities.

"Don't fall for it." The random voice shocked everyone again. It belonged to a tattered looking man, who had just appeared from around the corner of the building we had just exited. "He's lying to you". The man pointed a finger at Satotz. "He's an imposter! He isn't the real examiner. I'm the real examiner!"

I tilted my head and glanced at Kurapika. Our eyes met for a split second until I looked back at Satotz. Why was Kurapika ALWAYS automatically the first one I looked at!? Stupid brain! "An imposter!" Leorio said in a shocked tone. "What's going on?" I looked up at the sky in exasperation.

"Obviously we've been dragged around by some creature that killed the real examiner or we've been following the correct examiner this entire time", I stated in a pretentious voice. Served him right for asking such a dumb question. Really? What's going on!? What else could be going on? The edge of Kurapika's lips curled upwards in the tiniest of smiles in amusement. Not that I was staring at his lips of course.

If this examiner was fake, he would have killed us a long time ago in that tunnel, when we were in an unfamiliar, enclosed space. It is very easy to kill people with both those two things, if one is smart.

"Then who is he?" someone asked among the other candidate's mutters.

"Look at this", the man said as he hauled a body into our view. The body was of a grotesque man-ape thing with a face that resembled that of Satotz.

I shuddered. I always hated corpses. Some things never change no matter how much one tries to alter them.

"He looks just like Satotz!" Gon exclaimed. He then turned to Killua. "One of them has a Hunter's License….right? We could just demand they show their Hunter's License and we know that's the real one…right?"

Killua rolled his eyes. "There's a thing called stealing, Gon", he stated in a snobby tone. I shot Gon a pitying glance. Poor, backwoods Whale Island kid was not used to the concept of others stealing. Oh well, he'd learn soon.

"It's a Man-Faced Ape, one of the creatures that dwell in the Numere Wetlands!" the tattered man yelled, "Man-Faced Apes love the taste of fresh human flesh. However, their limbs are long and thin, so they're quite weak. That's why they disguise themselves as humans! They trick humans into following them into these wetlands where they team up with other animals to kill and devour them!" With that, the tattered man once again pointed at Satotz. "He intends to trap and kill every single applicant!"

My mind was whirring. Which one was the real examiner? How could I tell? Satotz ran us around for too many kilometers in the tunnel…maybe as part of the first phase or maybe because the Man-Faced Ape didn't know where the exit was. Maybe that's why…? Right?

"Bastard!" snapped Leorio.

"He certainly doesn't walk like a human", a bald man stated.

I glanced back at Satotz only to see blurs flying at him-which Satotz caught with both hands.

I wildly looked around! I looked at Leorio who appeared to be as shell-shocked as I.

"Where did those come from", I questioned as I wildly glanced around.

The shuffling of cards broke the silence. "I see, I see. That settles it…you're the real one", Hisoka said as he nonchalantly continued to shuffle his cards.

I shifted away from Hisoka. He was scary. If I ever had to fight him, I was fucked. Because I couldn't even see his cards and Hisoka hadn't even showcased his physical strength. Everybody here was physically stronger than me…I glanced around…well, except for maybe the other girl with blue hair and the weird hat. Then my lip curled up. But they weren't as smart, resourceful, or clever as me. Kurapika nudged me and I glanced at him. When did he move next to me? "Calm yourself, make no sudden movements. Hisoka is very trigger happy."

I nodded and then a wicked thought crossed my mind. Why not mess with Kurapika?

Kurapika was close to me...but he could be closer...I pressed myself against Kurapika's side and the Kurta flinched in shock. The next thing I felt was pain in the back of my knee as I fell forward, off balance.

And I suddenly found myself on the ground. I glared at Kurapika who was staring at me with a panicked look in his eyes. "No sudden movements, right?" I said with an acidic tone. Kurapika glared at me.

"Avi", he snapped,"Work with me, not against me. We can help one another, or I will personally remove you from this exam." My eyes narrowed in response as I pushed myself off the ground and my fist tightened. But then I realized he was right. There was power in numbers. If I was alone against Hisoka, I'd lose.

"No need," I coolly responded to Kurapika,"I'll work with you." Of course I couldn't help but add a taunt. "Though I can't promise to keep my hands off you."

Kurapika shot me an angry look and turned away. Somebody really hates physical contact.

Satotz's voice directed my attention onto him. "Should you attack me again, for any reason, I will report you for turning on an examiner. And you will be immediately disqualified. Are we clear?" Satotz stated.

Hisoka gave a noncommittal shrug. "Sure".

I pushed myself off the ground and then poked Gon in the side. "We have to stay away from this loon".

Gon glanced at me and shrugged. "I'm curious though", Gon said. "I saw him throw the cards…but they shouldn't have been that powerful because he only used his wrist. Paper, going at that speed, shouldn't have stabbed that Man-Faced Ape as deeply as it did. So did Hisoka change the paper to metal or something? I'm confused. And very curious". With that, Gon turned to Killua, who had been listening, to tacitly ask for Killua's opinion on what Gon just said.

Killua nodded in agreement. "The rate at which the paper was thrown at the Man-Faced Ape and the material of the paper shouldn't have even stabbed a body. How did Hisoka gain the extra strength? We can't relax our guard."

I lightly snorted so I wouldn't draw attention to our conversation. "You two are nuts. I want to stay as far away from Hisoka as possible."

With that, I moved back towards Leorio and Kurapika. 'I had to keep Kurapika in my sights, so when the moment was right, I could strike. And then I'd blame it on some 'cunning, insatiable creature'. It's not like the Hunter Exam produced the bodies of the dead. 'Then again, nobody would be looking for Kurapika anyway. Nobody cares', I thought.

I shook my head and focused on what Satotz was saying," I believe that a number of you were fooled into suspecting my identity?"

I dropped my eyes to the ground. Guilty as charged.

Satotz turned around and wanted to make his point crystal clear, "Do you understand? If you lose sight of me in the Numere Wetlands fog, you will never reach the exam's Second Phase. Do bear that in mind. Let us be on our way."

"He forgot to add alive", Leorio whispered to me. I stared at his dark brown, almost black eyes. Leorio was just as nervous as I was. Good, it wasn't just me. I sent him a weak smile which he returned.

"Please follow me", was all the warning Satotz gave us before he was gone.

"Damn it!" I growled. Luckily the tshuaj was beginning to take effect. I felt the soreness of my muscles fading away and my physical tiredness decrease. I stretched my arms. Good. Now that I was at 100% or 110% and in my element of chaos, now was the perfect time for Kurapika to go missing.

"Tsk, another marathon", complained Leorio.

"I'm having no problems whatsoever", I said with an unnaturally bright smile. I hated using tshuaj, but I had to obtain a Hunter's License and those scarlet eyes. Thus, I had to resort to using drugs so I could even physically make it through the exam.

"And we're running through marsh this time", Kurapika said in disgust as mud splattered on his white tunic. I laughed at the sight. Kurapika glared at me. "Running on wet ground requires more energy".

I ran directly behind Kurapika and slipped my switchblade up the sleeve of my long sleeve black shirt.

Weapon hidden, yes. Target in sight, yes. Witnesses? I glanced around in irritation. There were still too many applicants and Leorio was near Kurapika.

How was I going to kill Kurapika without having Leorio or Gon stop me? I don't think Killua would because he didn't care.

I glanced at the environment and wondered how I could separate Kurapika from the herd when I realized something.

I just had to shove Leorio in the way of a monster at an opportune time, tackle Kurapika, gouge his eyes out, and I'll be on my way!

Seemed like a good enough plan to me! 'But it depends on so many external factors and has numerous holes', my logical side whined.

I grimaced. It was good enough. It had to be. After all, I just found out Kurapika was a Kurta.

As Kurapika sped up to stay near Satotz, my eyes were locked on his light hair. I followed behind him, a dark shadow, waiting for the right moment.