***
Sylvester pov,
When I opened my eyes we were in what seemed to be a calm place. The snow fell gracefully down the sky, the trees were huge compared to the other gates, it was very peaceful until we found a monster village so our peaceful time ended there. We knew it wouldn't last long either way.
We ended up splitting up in groups of 2 making just 3 groups. One stayed behind near the village the other were left behind at the gait in case of an emergency.
I left with Harrison to see what we were dealing with. But it didn't last long, I ended up meeting someone who seemed familiar. I pushed Harrison back out of a gut feeling.
It was a monster with large amounts of energy. It was so much that I couldn't help but feel like throwing up, I couldn't even move.
"Why are you here as well? You need to know your own place if you don't want to end up killed. I won't warn you a third time. But you really need to get out of my way."
It was a familiar feeling just like that guy that went up that hill. Even the same way they spoke with authority saying the same thing, but this time said from a different person who I had never seen or met before.
" I hope you're not doing this on purpose."
" I don't understand what you're saying. Sr."
Its words were all confusing, I could understand anything after the first thing it said. It also looked like its patients was running out as well.
It lifted his hand about to flick me but froze. It seemed like it was waiting for something. But then I also felt another pressure. Could it be another higher monster?
Then I felt a hand cover my mouth. It was Harrison who pulled me back while the monster turned to look back at the other one.
"Shhhhh!!!" look, it seems like it doesn't want to attack right now."
"Yes but-"
"If we keep moving like this it will for sure kill us all, why not try to talk to them and then-"
"Did you not see that guy with the gray hair? There is no way anyone could fight that. I barely made it out of that. The only reason I got out was because he froze when those two monsters showed up out of nowhere."
"Are you talking about those two over there?" Harrison pointed over at two figures that were looking at us from a tower.
Don't you think it's weird there's two top tier bosses here, there has never been a gate with two bosses and look that one seems out of place as well. Could it be that that one isn't supposed to be here? Could they be friends?
Harrison pointed at the one with huge wings. It was just staring at us and it also looked like they were communicating with each other.
I looked at them "Friends? Those two? They seem to be the opposite of that. Especially the one with the wings, how could something like that-"
The air turned cold. It seemed like the two bosses were making their way over. I looked over at Harrison. It seemed to look sick from the amount of energy coming from them.
"We should try talking to them, Sylvester. We really can't afford to fight if they are this strong. We'll just end up dying here."
"Do you think they'll even understand us? There will be a language barrier."
" Perhaps, but it doesn't hurt to try talking."
"Isn't this supposed to be a low gate? How did we even end up here in this mess?"
"It was, I'm not sure what happened. We just appeared here, with bosses that none of us could fight."
"I'll try talking to them, you go over there."
Harrison pointed at a tree. I looked at him confused. Did he really think he could talk to something like that? Well I guess I could always interfere if something went wrong.
I sat at the tree he pointed at, and I closed my eyes for a bit wondering if that other monster would also be looking around for me. But for a moment, everything fell silent. It was too quiet. I opened my eyes to find Harrison making his way to those bosses, I got up and by the time I made my way to him he was face to face with them.
But then, the wolf monster, the one that seemed to be the boss here, covered the smaller winged one. It looked like something was going to attack them.
But why would something that seemed like the boss here, cover if it was weaker than the smaller one? Was it because it was smaller than it? Harrison was now very close to them he opened his mouth and asked.
"You." he pointed at the smaller one. "where are you from? You don't seem to be from here, What's your kind? I've never seen "something" like you"
I felt as if the surroundings were shaking a bit. Did Harrison not feel it?
It seemed to anger it, it seemed calm, not moving but just looking. . . The air felt heavy. It didn't answer, but it seemed to understand what Harrison asked.
But his moods seemed to swing back and forth. Was it sick? It didn't look like it belonged there, it would be a good opportunity to take it down if it was.
I made my way there and angled myself to first take out the one in front of it. Its attention was still and Harrison so it wouldn't notice me.
I ran as fast as I could and kicked it away from the top tier boss, but it seemed like it already knew I was there by the serious expression it gave.
"So, you must be the big boss here. Seeing how much energy you give off, but you seem much weaker than I thought."
It still didn't answer. But then it asked me about the other monster that I was with. I just answered, acting as if I did something to it trying not to sound like I didn't just get my ass beat from it, it seemed to just get bothered by it even more.
It started mumbling about how dirty and disgusting something was. It reminded me of 'Theodore'. he always said things like that. It wasn't only that but their energy were also kinda the same but there was no way. They don't look anything alike there was only one thing I wanted to ask. But before I was able to I said something completely different.
"How lucky of us to find something this strong you remind me of my friend".
Instead of 'how lucky of us to find someone as strong as him. You remind me a lot of my friend.' It made it sound as if I was looking for something stronger to fight. But before I said anything I hear a
-SNAP-
I glanced over at Harrison, it seemed like he also noticed. It was something that his worker also used to do before starting his projects. Something that Theodore used to do unconsciously every time 'he' started working. But this time it actually worked and the ground actually started terraforming itself.
Harrison pulled out a chain he made. It was one of the new things he made. It had strong sleeping stones engravings on it. It seemed like he wanted to catch that thing for some reason. So I might as well help and ask after. I grabbed its arm and pinned it down and chained it up. But before I did anything I saw a portal open up and both Harrison were hit in by something so inhuman it felt like I got hit hard by a boulder and swung into the portal. All I saw was two figures standing over him, but now that I looked at them it looked more like two parents protecting it.
******
"still asleep?"
"Sylvester, how long has he been asleep?"
"Don't you think it's time to wake up?"
"Did Harrison wake up yet Doctor?"
"He woke up about an hour ago, it's just this one's somehow got hurt more than him."
"Hurt? How could one of the top hunters get hurt and a mere craftsman not?"
"Well, he could have been protecting the weaker."
"That doesn't matter, hunters are completely different from other awakeners. So 'this' makes no sense."
My head still felt like it was still hurting and as I opened my eyes both the doctor and one of my companions were there arguing with each other. I sat up pissed.
"Why can't I ever just get some peace to myself."
They turned to look at me, it was my companion Ivery, seemed happy but that didn't last long. she looked pissed and just started shaking me around yelling about how reckless it was for us to enter an unidentified gate. To which I agree, we shouldn't have entered that gate.
"Where's Harrieson?"
"Harrieson, he's. he was dismissed not long ago well, he was less injured than you. He got a forced to take a week off as well. It looked like he really needed it."
"That's good, I thought for sure he was going to die out after that strong thing swung their staff at us and with that strong gust of wind that hit us. What about the rest?"
"They all made it out with minor injuries. Only Harrison and you got badly hurt."
I got up and started stretching and looked at the time. I'll go check on him to see if he's doing well.
Ivery looked at me. " So?"
I took off the Iv and changed back to my clothes.
"So? So what?"
I looked back at her waiting for her to finish her sentence.
" You know what I'm asking for. What was in there? I asked the others and they don't seem to remember anything from in there. They said that it felt like they were all dreaming and that everything was foggy. Did you experience the same thing? Harrison didn't even answer the question, he just ignored it."
"Is it still open?"
Ivery looked at me confused
"The gate? No after the last hunter fell out it closed on its own."
" How odd. . . Even with the bosses still being alive it closed."
"WHAT?!! YOU GUYS DIDNT KILL THE BOSS!!!"
Ivery yelled very loudly for the whole hospital to hear.
"Shut up will you, that hurt my ears and there are other patients sleeping as well."
She covered her mouth with both her hands, her face still shocked nodding.
"But, how's that possible? A gate can't close until it's cleared out or if the boss is killed."
"There were two bosses, one that seemed like the king of that place and on other entities that seemed out of place. Its clothes looked like it was made for warm and sunny weather. It's skin was clean, its eyes. . ."
Well now that I think about it I didn't really see it's well the wings were covering them. Did Harrison see them? Maybe not. It wouldn't hurt to ask either way.
" I'll be heading out Ivery, if you need me call me. I have something I need to look into."
" Every time you say that something goes wrong, is this about that guy's death?"
" . . .."
"No, I just need to go see Harrieson, there's something I need to ask. Nothing more."
"yeah , yeah."
Ivery waved me off as I left. As I walked over to Harrison shop it seemed like he still hadn't put any signs up for a new employee. Even if he needed the help it seemed like he just couldn't bring himself to look for someone.
"Harrieee~, i need to ask you something"
-CRASH-
I looked around to find where the sound came from just to find him at the back of the shop on the floor.
"Harrieson? What happened?"
" We're closed, get out."
" No, I'm not here to buy, you know that."
". . . well, what do you want?"
"I just want to ask about something. That thing we last saw before coming here, did you see its face?"
Harrison looked away, dodging the question.
" YOU DID! DIDN'T YOU!! TELL ME HOW IT LOOKS LIKE!!"
" What is wrong with you?? Acting like that, and why do you want to know that?"
"Why wouldn't I, you didn't take your eye away from it, even when it was threatening us. You always run away. And that isn't the only thing you were also trying to capture it as well. So why don't you tell me."
Harrie turned, avoiding me.
"Well, he looked like that guy son that's been missing for years now, you know Little-Bunny. That was the reason why, i wanted to chain him up to see closely, but that other thing was quicker than what I expected it to be."
" Little- Bunny you say? He gave me more of Theodore than him."
Harrison looked at me pissed now. I smiled at him.
"Come on, don't you agree?"
"I don't, he's already dead so that would even be possible."
I stood quiet letting him ramble about it.
"Harrieson, did you not find him strange?"
"What?. . . Who?" He thought for a bit "the monster?"
"No, Theodore, I always found him so out of place."
"Oh, of course, but who am I to say anything? I didn't know him before that day we did that competition, although I really did enjoy being with him. Would you have asked him if he was him?"
I looked at him confused about the question he asked "Of course not, that would be so weird to ask someone."
"Exactly, so why would I question him? Anyways, do you still remember what he told you to tell me?"
". . . no."
" I see. By the way, that thing. the one that pushed us, do you know it? It seemed to only keep a close eye on you when we got pushed in. Did you do something to it?"
"Me?? What would I have done?? I was with you the whole time, don't accuse me for something I haven't done."
I turned away.
Harrieson stared at me hard; it felt like he was going to make holes on me.
" . . . "
"You've done it before."
"So what?? That thing was already pissed off when we got there."
Harrieson looked at me with a dark expression this time.
"Well, it wouldn't be a first. You've always done questionable things. Why shouldn't I question this?"
I looked toward the door, trying to change the subject "why haven't you looked for someone new yet? Don't you need the help?"
"Oh, don't you dare change the subject. What did you do?"
". . ."
" I read something about "opening gates to different ports with core crystals. . . I didn't think it would work so-"
" That can't be true, . . Gates can't be opened without a shit tun of dark matter. And even if they could've been open it's almost impossible to do."
" Well it's not impossible."
Harrieson got up. Now sitting on the floor thinking
"What book was it? I wonder if the higher ups know about this."
" . . . " I didn't answer
" You, you shouldn't tell anyone about it."
"What why?? Isn't this a good thing? We could get more resources if we could open gates like that. How did you do it."
"There's books in the library just look around and you might find a good one. But I think it's best to keep it to ourselves."
" what?? Why?! this could help change the future-"
I covered his mouth.
"I think we need to talk about this somewhere else."
"Hmm???"
" They hear everything."
Harrieson looked toward the door, but didn't see anything. I grabbed him with my hand and I pulled him up.
I pulled him close now whispering
"Let's go where he stayed."
"What are you talking about?"
I pulled out a small piece of paper out of my inventory and ripped it and grabbed Harrieson's arm
'Uhmp–' Harrison closed his eyes "wha- what is this" with a flash of light we were somewhere else.
" Look Harrison," Harrison didn't open his eye
"What?? We better not be somewhere scary, like last time."
"No look, " Harrieson opened his eyes to see the old house. "What? What about this house?"
"Do you not know?"
" Know what?"
"Theodore stayed in this house. Did he not tell you?"
"No. . . , i thought he lived in an apartment near town, but this. . . Was he rich?!?"
"Perhaps, but there's no owner now, so it should've let us in."
"Let us in? What do you mean let us in."
"The house won't let anyone in without the owner's permission, but the owner is dead so I wonder if it'll let us in."
"What, what do you mean? You're confusing me."
" He said that he was staying here, but like I said he just didn't look the part. When Theodore was alive the first thing he did was come here, I thought it was his home because the gates opened for him but when I was invited in I noticed that there wasn't a single picture or anything that showed that he lived there."
" Uhhh??I'm confused, so why are we here?
"We're going in."
"We are? Do you have the keys?"
"Nope, come here harrison."
Harrison walked over still confused. I grabbed his shoulders and smiled.
"Harrison."
"Uhm? "
"I believe in you"
And with that I grabbed his collar and threw him over just for him to bounce off the clear air and fall back to where we were.
WHAT THE FUCK?? UhhG. . my head. . . IT really hurts"
Harrison ended up passing out right after. I crouched down to check on him.
"Who stayed here?"
There was a voice behind us. It was a voice I heard a lot on TV, the brother of the famous hunter. It was someone older than me and Harrison, around 29-34? I turned around to look at them. He looked at me and then Harrison then to the house.
"Do you want to come in?"
"Uh?"
"Your friend over there looks like he passed out. Bring him in, I'll take a look at him."
He pulled out a card, it was a hunters doctor's ID.
"Do, do you live here Sr."
"For now. Until my nephew comes back."
"Nephew."
" Yes, my nephew. This is my brother- in-law's house. His son has been out for a while i just been looking over it, but it looks like someone was able to get in and clean it while i was away on a trip."
" . . .someone?"
He pulled out some keys. And opened the gates.
"Pick up your friend, we need to talk. I know you were in here."
I felt a chill ran down my back, . . .He was pissed, and knowing how the first hunter was I bet her brother would be the same.