The Gateway whirled, waiting to be entered.
“Can we go?” Rachael implored, staring intently for an answer, but there was none given.
As a plea, a series of questions were asked rapidly by those in the group, “Is it ready?,” “Is it working?,” “Is it safe?,” “Marcy?”
However, Marcy was elsewhere, her attention drawn by the snapping of a single twig. Listening more intently heard other sounds not natural to nature. Then she caught the scent of human sweat, metal, maybe gunpowder in the air.
She reacted before— Bang! Emily was shoved into Olivia. Both were knocked a surprising distance out of the way, landing hard on the ground but in the safety of the trees. Marcy, at the exact same moment, grabbed hold of Rachael by the wrist to drag her in the opposite direction. They found cover behind trees as well. All these actions happened before a barrage of bullets ripped through the ritual sight. The only victim claimed in the chaos was the television. But that caused the Gateway to shut.
“What the hell!” Emily shouted as she struggled to her knees to then be helped by Olivia who was just as confused and alarmed.
“Emily!” Mark could be heard shouting from elsewhere.
“Marcy!” Screamed Rachael in her panic.
“I’m fine,” Marcy finally had the chance to say something. She touched her head realizing she lost something. “Where’s my hat? What am I talking about? That’s not important right now.”
“You’ve been shot!” Rachael saw and was horrified.
Marcy raised her arm to see the red stain on her side that was slowly expanding. But she did not seem in pain, or surprised, or even distressed in the least as she declared, “Nothing to worry about.”
Another volley of gunfire ripped through the woods exploding chunks of bark from the trees. Rachael fearfully ducked her head at the eruption. The others could be heard yelling out in fear.
Marcy did not flinch. Instead, she stood very still. Her head tilted slightly up, and her eyes darted this way, then that, trying to pinpoint the location. She stepped around the tree, calling back just before going out of sight, “I’ll deal with this. Keep your head down.”
“Wait! What’s going on!?” Rachael moved two steps in chase only to be left surprised that Marcy had vanished.
In the depth of the woods, a dozen armed Hunters stood in a firing line, using the trees as cover. Each wore a heavy black coat with many pockets, a black face mask that covered all the way down their neck, black gloves, brown cargo pants, and black leather boots. As well, each wielded an old-style, bolt-action rifle.
After the volley, they unloaded the spent bullet nearly in sync and loaded the next.
Marcy suddenly appeared, stepping around the tree that the Hunter on the furthest end was taking cover behind. He had not noticed her until she already grabbed hold of his wrist and was pulling with a strength that he could not match. He looked to see her predatory stare. She raised her other arm and flexed her fingers like claws and that was what they became, nails growing long and sharp. He pointed the gun with his free hand and fired point-blank into her stomach. The recoil knocked the weapon away right after the bullet tore through her guts. Yet, she was completely unfazed by pain or even the concern of death. She swiped viciously, ripping his throat open. He dropped dead immediately.
The other men turned toward the uncoordinated gunfire to see the scene. They were quick to aim at her and fired without regard to their ally, assuming he must already be dead. The ground and trees, her and him were riddled. Dirt, splinters, and blood burst from each impact. Yet, she was not truly harmed. Her wounds spat out the bullets that were lodged in her flesh and completely healed seconds after.
The Hunters understood right away that conventional weapons would not work. They began to retreat, and one called out, “This one’s altered.”
Marcy launched forward at an insane speed, grabbing the shoulders of the closest Hunter whose back was turned. Her jaws opened wide, her canine teeth longer and sharper than anything human, and they sunk into the soft flesh of the neck. Ripping away caused blood to erupt and she feasted.
The death of one allowed the other Hunters time to regroup, orders being given, “Break off into teams of two. Capture or eliminate the other Witches. The remaining four of us will handle this one. Elimination is the order.”
Each acknowledged their assignment with an “Understood.”
Six Hunters split away.
Those that remained quickly drew wooden stakes from the interior of their coats along with a sack. In the sack was silver salt which they dunked the stake in. The coating strengthened the weapon against supernatural creatures. They were as ready as they could be for this fight.
Mark pushed through branches and thicket to reach Emily. When he found her, he cupped her face while his face filled with worry, his fearful eyes looking over her for any injuries. Luckily, there were none. “Thank God you’re alright.” He then shared some concern for Olivia who was standing right by. “You, okay?”
Olivia nodded but “Do you know what’s going on?”
Mark shook his head not having any certain answers but, “Gunfire,” was all that was needed to explain the severity of the situation. “We have to get out of here.”
“That won’t be easy,” Emily tried to explain, “These are Witch— Look out—”
Bang! One Hunter had stepped around a tree, caught sight of them, and took a shot. Emily shoved Mark and used the shove to push herself in the opposite direction. The bullet missed both of them. Olivia, petrified with fear, did not even move as the bullet shot over her shoulder and disintegrated a portion of her hair.
The one Hunter began to reload and more arrived.
Emily threw her foot back to bring her stumble to an immediate stop. Both her arms pulled back like they were being loaded, hands clenched into fists, then she cast them forward and released her fingers, screaming, “Eldish!” A transparent, golden bubble flashed into existence before them. Gunfire exploded but the bullets ricocheted off the surface. The shield, instant cast and durable, saved them but could not exist for long, blinking into nothing within seconds.
Mark pulled out a pistol from his coat. Two of his shots rung, hitting a tree near a Hunter, and barely missing another. But the threat was enough for them to take cover. That gave him, Emily, and Olivia the same chance and they moved out of the line of sight.
Bracing against a tree, Emily questioned, “You brought your gun?”
“Of course,” Mark said as if that was an obvious decision. “Magic in the woods.”
“Fair,” Emily was quick to understand. Then she looked at Olivia who had said nothing, asking, “Are you okay?”
Olivia nodded silently. She was clearly in shock.
“I don’t think you are,” Emily said otherwise. “But you’re going to need to hold yourself together long enough to get through this. We need to make a move.”
Unlike Marcy and Emily, Rachael had little talent for Spell Craft, meaning a lack of destructive and defensive magic that could be used quickly. She also had no combat skills to speak of. She ran into the depths of the woods knowing that was her only chance to survive the situation.
In her blind run, a tree root seemed to move just in front of her foot causing her to stumble. But that was to her benefit as she nearly avoided two bullets to the back. Regaining balance and looking back saw two Hunters, one reloading while the other was quickly rushing at her. There seemed no chance for her to get away. That was if not for a bird swooping in from out of nowhere to claw and peck at her pursuer. The distraction allowed her to put just a bit more distance.
The Hunter in the back took aim before he lost sight. Trigger pulled but right then a branch fell from above, knocking into the barrel of his gun. He missed her and hit his own ally who had just started to give chase again only to be stopped by a round through the shoulder.
Rachael had a moment of reprieve in the nook of a large tree and thought quickly over her options. She clearly had no chance of getting away with how much faster the Hunters were, regardless of the absurd amount of good fortune she was having. She needed to do something more.
Checking her pockets found a few items she did not recall having, the simplest kind of candle and a matchbook. She got a very dangerous idea. But not like she had any other options at this immediate moment. However, this would only work if the timing was right. A quick look at her phone showed the time was mere minutes to midnight. How perfectly everything was aligning.
She tore off the cover of the matchbook, then dabbed one of the matches in the bloody cut on her hand to scratch her name on the piece of cardboard. The invitation was placed on the ground at the entrance of the nook. The candle was placed on top and lit using another one of the matches. She slowly knocked on the trunk of the tree twenty-two times. She watched the time on her phone to match her final knock to strike right at midnight. The candle went out, a clear sign that the guest had arrived. She was honestly surprised by the success since the ritual was intended to be conducted in a house, not out in the woods. There was no going back now. The Midnight Man was somewhere here.
Rachael picked up and relit the candle as the light was the only thing that would keep her safe from Him. Anyone without one would soon be haunted. To protect her friends, she shouted out, even if giving her position away, “Candles!”
Marcy, without regard for her safety, leaped into the small group of Hunters who had stayed behind. In a forward dash, her arm stretching outward, claws ready to tear, she reached for one. Stakes struck down, aiming for her head or heart. She caught the wrist of the Hunter right in front of her, stopping his attack. Then pulling brought both of them closer which moved her just a bit out of the way of the other attacks, though, not completely. Two of the three stake tips grazed the skin of her back causing an intense burning sensation. Pain was expressed on her face unlike when she had been shot. Even so, that did not stop her. She pulled her other arm back with fingers pointed to pierce the one she had a hold of.
At the very same moment, the Hunter recognized the danger and drew a large knife. But the knife was not for Marcy, knowing, made of silver or not, he had no time to stab her. Instead, he cut upward to hack off his own arm and leaped back just as she struck, barely able to avoid being punched through the chest.
The Hunters shifted their attacks and stabbed at her back with their stakes. The one with the missing arm charged in as well.
Marcy still held the severed arm in one hand and quickly placed her free hand on the shoulder of the Hunter to her left, using her hold to pull herself to the side. Tips, again, barely grazed her. Then she planted her feet, tightened her grip, and shifted her hips as she yanked her arm back. The Hunter she had a hold of was thrown into the other that had the knife and missing arm. They fell on top of each other, both being knocked to the ground, one stabbed in the stomach by the other.
In that immediate moment, silver salt was cast into the air. Marcy was blinded as her skin and eyes were dissolved by the repellent. But she did not panic. Even unable to see, in a split second, she recalled the positions of the remaining two Hunters and focused her hearing to determine their movements. She threw the severed arm and shifted her body enough to the side. The limb struck one of the Hunters causing a stagger. She was struck in the chest by the other, but the stake missed her heart. She grabbed that Hunter by the arm and face and pushed his head back so hard that his neck snapped completely backward. Body was thrown to the side for her to quickly jump on the last. Her teeth sunk into his throat, and she drank his blood which helped her to heal.
Able to see again, Marcy realized that the One-Armed Hunter and the other thrown at him had fled.
Then she heard a callout for, “Candles!” She promptly followed by igniting a small candle flame between her fingers.
Emily was ready to swing around the tree. But first, aware that the moment she did she would be shot at, she needed a distraction. Arms were drawn to her chest and then, with a slight release and the word, “Coyde,” an indistinguishable copy of herself duplicated directly from where she stood and ran out into the open. Two shots rang out obliterating the clone into particles. Then she stepped around the corner and immediately cast, “Eldish!” The barrier appeared just as another shot was fired.
From the other side of the tree, Mark swung around and fired five shots. Unfortunately, he was not any kind of professional. Bullets went wide, nearly missing every shot, except for one. But that one was the only one that mattered. The Hunter who still had a loaded weapon was winged in the arm and was prevented from firing as the barrier dropped.
Emily, no longer projecting the barrier, flicked the fingers of her right hand and cast “Rikest.” A flash of lightning shot out from her fingertips, hitting one of the guns and conducting to the others, which forced all the Hunters to disarm at the surge. Then she cast the spell again with the other hand, hitting one Hunter in the chest, the force launching him backward.
The other three Hunters were not deterred. They drew knives and stakes in place of their guns as they rushed in to fight up close. Two went for Emily and one for Mark.
Emily met the challenge by stepping out of her position and moving toward them. Sweeping her arms sideways with, “Lalqus,” created a gust of wind that threw them to the side. They both tucked and rolled back onto their feet, quick to return to their charge, splitting directions to attack from both her flanks. She swept her arm throwing a streak of fire, “Chrocs,” that held off one. The momentum to spin was used to turn to face the other, blocking his backstab with “Eldish.” The barrier dropped and she thrust both hands forward with “Lalqus.” The Hunter was blasted away with an intense force which was also used to throw herself backward. The move had her slam her back into the other Hunter who had been held off by the flames.
The Hunter that Emily collided with did not falter. Instead, he reacted immediately by driving his knife back on himself and her. She pulled to the side, getting grazed by the edge but avoided anything fatal. She had also been put into an advantageous position to push his knife with her hands. It plunged into his stomach. Now both Hunters were left greatly wounded, making a continued fight not promising.
Mark scrambled with a magazine in his pocket, but he had no time to reload as the Hunter was on him quickly. He attempted to dodge but got stabbed in the shoulder. Not going down without a fight, he threw a punch and landed a headshot. The Hunter staggered back, pulling the knife free. Mark stepped forward and pistol-whipped. At the same time, the Hunter went for a stab to the throat. Not something that Mark could avoid.
Suddenly, Ligaya erupted through Mark and passed through the Hunter, causing both a chill but only inflicting shock to the enemy. Mark’s punch landed, knocking the weakened Hunter to the ground, and causing the knife to be let go. Mark followed with a kick to the stomach. The Hunter was fast to recover, catching Mark by the leg and then rolling to bring him to the ground, getting on top and throwing punch after punch.
Ligaya reappeared behind the Hunter and bit him on the neck, not causing any physical wounds but consuming his life force. He grabbed silver salt from inside his coat and cast a handful into the air forcing her to dematerialize. The distraction was enough for Mark to get a hold of the knife to bury it in the Hunter’s stomach.
The Hunter dismounted, slowly stepping away while holding the wound. Uncertain of his odds, he turned and fled.
“Candles!” was heard echoing from somewhere else in the woods.
Mark made no sense of the warning. Emily did understand and rushed back to him, dragging him to the ritual sight where they collected a candle for each of them.
Rachael had not taken more than a few steps away from the tree before being thrown to the ground by a Hunter. But this was not something unexpected. She knew that they must have been close when she yelled out and were going to be on her position quickly. She just needed to hope her efforts would save her. Even so, she did not simply wait or give in until then.
The Hunter sat on top of her and pinned her by the wrists. She thrashed and was able to slip one hand free which she used to claw him in the face. That gave her a chance to free her other hand, and with both, she tried to push him off. But that did not work. He was too heavy, and she was too weak. However, in her attempt, she had hit something on his person causing the said thing to go off. The Hunter ignited in flames. However, it seemed she would be consumed by the rapidly spreading fire along with him.
The air rushed as Ligaya swooped in and launched the Hunter off. He hit the ground screaming, rolling, and writhing to put himself out, but he was already completely engulfed. Soon, he went quiet other than the sizzle.
Rachael looked at Ligaya for a moment in surprise. They had never been close, so to be helped like this was unexpected. So much so that appreciation was hard to show, but not impossible. “Thank you for that.”
“I think everybody else is safe,” Ligaya skipped over the pleasantries. “Let’s get back to them.”
“I’d like that a lot.”
Rachael was back on her feet and ready to run. A warning shot stopped that. She slowly turned around with both hands raised. There stood the other Hunter reloading as he stared her down.
“You can’t keep running, and I can tell you’re not much of a fighter,” the Hunter recognized. “You won’t get away from me, and you can’t beat me. I’d prefer to take you alive, but I won’t hesitate to kill you right now. That goes the same if the demon attached to you tries anything.”
The Hunter was not wrong about Rachael’s helplessness. That left her very scared that this might be the end. However, her current fears slowly subsided with a different kind as she began to notice the shadows warping behind the Hunter. From them emerged The Midnight Man.
Skin without color. Bulbous pockets of fat on top of fat covered every layer of flesh, from bloated head to pudgy finger and toe. Eyes beady, black, and without lenses. Only a few strands of hair sprouted. He glided through the air without any motion or sound.
The Hunter did not know what was behind him until too late. Hands grabbed, dragging him into the fat, absorbing him. A panicked shot was fired into the air. His screams were soon muffled as his head was completely engulfed within The Midnight Man, and the rest slowly followed.
Rachael did not want to watch the terrible spectacle and had already turned away, beginning toward the ritual sight. In her hands she held the matchbook, carefully lighting one after another as she slowly walked. She would be safe from the same fate as long as she remained within the protective perimeter of the light.
Emily was leaning over Mark who was sitting on the ground, healing the gash in his shoulder with magic as she disappointedly reprimanded Marcy, “You turned yourself into a Halfblooded Vampire!? Irresponsible! Dangerous!”
“Full-Blooded actually,” Marcy corrected. “Though, I doubt you’ll believe me.”
“You’re right because that shouldn’t be possible,” from what Emily understood. “But that also doesn’t change why I’m angry. You really don’t see a problem?”
“No,” Marcy did not.
Emily was ready to respond to Marcy’s dismissiveness. Instead, both went silent as they softly and sadly looked at Rachael as she walked onto the scene. She glanced down at the destroyed television with disappointment. There went their chance to save Andy.
“Calling me irresponsible?” Marcy took a step back to the argument from before. “Rachael summoned The Midnight Man. That’s irresponsible. And dangerous.”
“Is that what you did?” Emily looked at Rachael with a disbelieving accusation.
“What happened?” Rachael disregarded the question and everything else that was being bickered about to know why they had just been attacked.
Marcy became serious but said nothing. Not that she refused to say but because she could not.
So, Emily said, “Witch Hunters tried to kill us.”
Then Marcy added, “And I thought I dealt with the problem already.”
“So, you knew about this and said nothing until now?” Rachael blamed.
“I mentioned that I killed a man,” Marcy reminded her of the conversation back at the hospital.
“The guy that you said tried to rape you was a Witch Hunter?” Rachael began putting the pieces together. “He wasn’t trying to rape you. He was just trying to kill you. But you couldn’t say because of a Curse of Silence. That would mean the man you killed three years ago was also a Witch Hunter.”
“Yes,” Marcy was able to answer without consequence. Now that the truth was known meant that the curse was broken.
“How did they even get into Darkess?” Rachael questioned the world. “The city’s a protectorate. Threats to the supernatural aren’t invited in.”
“Doesn’t mean they don’t find ways,” Marcy chose to answer. “Though, even I’m surprised to learn they were able to enter with so many. Not something I could’ve foreseen. That’s why I didn’t worry much after I killed the one. I suspected he was the only one for a while, and they’d only be able to send one at a time. This is going to complicate things—”
“Wait?” Mark interrupted after walking around the perimeter of the ritual sight, swinging back and forth while searching the area. “Where’s Olivia?”