"We need this gig. Simon, act professionally, don't take no for an answer, and no matter what, stay calm and collected," Sam instructed me, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his trousers as he gave me a firm look. "I've got bills to pay and beer to buy," he added, a small smile creeping across his wrinkled face. He's not old, but a tough childhood and a series of bad decisions have made life difficult for him, and the wrinkles are evidence that it's starting to catch up. I can relate; neither of us has any living family members, and money is tight. A hard life leads to hard choices, and eventually, we found ourselves taking on questionable jobs just to survive.
"I got it, don't worry about it; it's just a meeting, don't be so anxious," I replied as I stopped in front of the small bar where the meeting was set to take place. Sam gave me a small nod, mumbled something I couldn't quite understand, and went off to attend to other obligations. Entering the bar, I stood at the door, unsure of who I should meet. I had no information about the mysterious contractor's appearance; it was an odd job, but it paid well.
As I scanned the small bar, I noticed a family celebrating something in one corner, while a few solitary men sat at the bar, soaking their sorrows in alcohol. None of them, however, caught my eye.
Deep in my thoughts, a hand landed on my shoulder. "I think we should sit down, Sam," a calm and youthful voice I didn't recognize said from behind me. I turned around, and what I saw sent shivers down my spine. It was a Hunter—a real Hunter, wearing a long-sleeved white academy uniform adorned with the serpent logo on his right shoulder. Hunters are known to be strong and vicious, yet he appeared rather friendly. With long brown hair tied into a ponytail, baby blue eyes, and a warm smile, he exuded a welcoming aura. He pointed to an empty table at the far end of the bar, and we made our way toward it. He left me in complete awe.
"This job will be interesting," I thought. Usually, the military doesn't hire people like us. Once we sat down, he picked up his drink, which had just arrived—a whisky glass filled with a transparent liquid and three ice cubes. He raised his head and locked eyes with me."I guess you can tell already how I make my living, so you have some idea why we're here, I assume," he said, maintaining intense eye contact that made me swallow hard. I blinked and nodded slowly. "We had some bad luck recently, and a few spots opened up. We're going into the portal tomorrow, and we need non-military personnel with us." His gaze dropped to the ice in his drink, slowly spinning the glass and making the ice rotate within it.
Portals appeared on Earth 40 years ago, long before I was born. At first, nothing happened; they just stood there, glowing with a hypnotic blue color. Then, out of nowhere, monsters emerged, pure nightmare material. Most of the human population was wiped out within the first few months until Hunters appeared. Some humans became stronger and faster; the more powerful ones gained godlike abilities. They became the apex predators, ruling the food chain.
"It's simple; I need to get a sergeant certificate, and one of the tests involves protecting non-military personnel during travels through portals." He took a sip of his drink and set it back on the table. "You and your friend just need to follow my crew's orders; there will also be a higher-ranking officer to ensure everything goes smoothly." He explained, watching for my reaction.
"So we go into the portal, walk around, come back out, and get paid. Is it really that simple, or are you leaving something out?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice; it all seemed too easy to be true.
"You know the risks; you could still be killed if I fail. That's why it seems obvious to me," he replied, smiling at me as if I had just asked something incredibly foolish. I pondered his words; it felt too good to be true. Normally, I don't accept jobs if my gut feeling doesn't align, but I had never worked with the military before; maybe they were different, and I desperately needed the money.
But my gut feeling has saved me more times than I can count, so I stood up and decided to decline. As I prepared to speak and decline his offer, runes suddenly appeared in my vision, making me feel as though I was losing my mind. Everything became hazy, as if someone was hacking into my thoughts. The runes weren't too intense, but they left me feeling uneasy. Having never experienced any mental issues, I was terrified by the sight of these runes and the texts I couldn't understand. Yet, I also sensed that I wasn't in danger, so I remained there in front of him, wanting to say no. However, my gut feeling shifted, and I felt compelled to accept this job. An urge to shake his hand surged within me. In the small bar at the corner of the city, a deal was made.
.