Chapter 72
The city lights flickered in the distance as the Waymakers gathered in a secluded alleyway. Their breaths are visible in the cold fall night air.
"I gathered you all here on this night because. Despite us managing to avoid Benjamin's direct wrath thus this far, the arrival of his hunter changes everything." Duke said.
"Oh no!" Becky said. "That same wolf demon that tracked us before we left for Keetoowah Island!
Baby kept her voice low as she addressed the group. "Yes! Benjamin sent someone ahead of him—a hunter. Another demon tracker. If this thing finds us, Benjamin will know exactly where we are."
Josh folded his arms. "Then we take it out before that happens. Before he has a chance to notify Benjamin!"
Duke nodded. "Agreed. But this won't be easy. You already know that demon hunters are specialized for tracking and eliminating their targets. It's not just going to walk into a fight unprepared."
Micah smirked. "Well—this time, we're not stronger than what we used to say."
Becky took a deep breath. "So, what's the plan to take him down?"
"We set a trap," Baby said. "We need to isolate the hunter and take it down fast before it reports back to Benjamin. We'll use the abandoned railyard on the east side. Plenty of space, plenty of places to control the battlefield."
I held my head, and standing there, a flash of memory came to my mind.
"Kaysi? Are you okay?" Becky looked at me, and Evan put his hand on my shoulder.
"The abandoned railyard on the east side is on the east side. I remember that place. I believe that's where I first met you, Duke. But at the time when I was young, I didn't realize it was you. It was all so the same time you revealed yourself to me, baby. But you are not just my pet!"
Hey, look at you! Some of your memories are coming back. Yes, we were being chased by wolf demons. Ironically, Duke was hunting them down at that time. I couldn't reveal everything to you yet, but now you know."
I scratched my head. "Yeah, I remember thinking that Duke was after me and the demons were his pets."
"Well, how rude." Duke chuckled. "Thankfully, you got a chance to get to know me before that memory came back, and there was some type of misunderstanding. I was sent there to try to destroy the wolves, and I was in the area.
Don't you think it's ironic that this is so unusual? Maybe the wolf demons were what created Benjamin! Everything seems to come back in full circle."
"I agree! Okay—we can use Evan and Josh as bait," Duke suggested. "They make the most sense. If the hunter already has their scent from them living and going to the abyss, it's probably following them."
"That would also include me. I would have a recognizable set as well."
"I want you to stand by as a plan B. You'll be with us, keeping an eye on things, and can only jump in if you need to attack."
Josh exhaled sharply. "I am not thrilled about that idea, but you're right. If it's tracking us, we use that to our advantage."
"Fine," Evan said. "But we need to make sure it actually follows us into the trap and not just straight to our safe area where you guys are located."
Duke smirked. "Leave that to me. I'll keep it occupied with interference while you two lead it where we need it."
Micah stretched her arms. "And the rest of us?"
"Ambush team," Baby said. "We'll be waiting at the railyard. Once the hunter steps in, we drop the hammer."
The group exchanged nods; their nerves were unsettled, but we had a focused determination.
The plan was in motion. Josh and Evan moved through the darkened streets, acting casual but keeping their senses sharp. The city was alive with distant sirens, dogs barking, and muffled conversations, but they could feel it—something unnatural lurking just out of sight.
A shadow flickered across the rooftops.
"I believe we've got movement," Josh muttered. "I saw a shadow. It's close."
"Are you sure? Then that's good," Evan said, picking up his pace just slightly. "Let's make sure it follows."
A low, unnatural hiss echoed from above. Then, in a blur of movement, the hunter leaped off of the wall, landing in a crouch. It was tall and humanoid but twisted; its elongated limbs were wrapped in a dark, shiny, scaly, muscular body. Its glowing eyes locked onto them with predatory hunger. It was a chameleon demon with human features. This was the second stage of the demons.
"Run!" Josh shouted just as the demon disappeared again.
They bolted toward the railyard, their footsteps pounding against the pavement. The hunter was fast, too. Fast—but they had planned for that. As they wove through backstreets and alleyways, Duke appeared from the side, hurling a flash grenade. The alley lit up like daylight, making the demon shriek in rage.
"Move it, get in!" Duke yelled.
Josh and Evan pushed forward, just making it to the railyard entrance. They skidded to a stop inside, turning to see the hunter reemerging from the shadows; its form wavered like a field vanishing and appearing unnaturally as it snarled.
"Welcome to your last stop," Micah called from the rooftop.
The trap was sprung. Baby, Becky, and James emerged from the surrounding structures, forming a tight circle around the hunter. Duke pulled a chain across the entrance, locking them all inside.
The hunter realized too late—it had walked right into a kill box.
"That's not going to work!" Evan shouted. It's a chameleon. It can climb and disappear!"
Just as the Waymakers prepared to strike, a sharp cry split the air. They turned to see Kaysi struggling in the air and dangling from the hunter's invisible grasp. You could see the indent from his claws pressed against her throat.
"No, let her go!" Becky shouted, stepping forward, but the hunter tightened its hold, making Kaysi wince. Blood indentation points were located around her neck as it dug its claws.
A deep, hissing voice rasped from the demon's throat. "She is merely leverage. I am here for him. He pointed to Josh."
Without hesitation, Josh stepped forward. "Then take me instead and let Kaysi go."
The hunter's glowing eyes flickered with amusement. Then, with a slow nod, it released Kaysi, shoving her toward the others. As she stumbled into Becky's arms, dark tendrils erupted from the hunter's form, wrapping around Josh and pulling him forward. He didn't resist. His fate was sealed.
"Josh!" Becky screamed, lunging toward him, but the hunter leaped back with its captive, disappearing into a swirling portal that closed behind them.
The group was left stunned. Their trap had not worked, and now they had a new mission.
"We get him back," Duke growled. "No matter what it takes." He quickly flipped open his Sourusensa. "I programmed a GPS in your deviced in case you kids got into trouble. I also equipped it witha radar to be able to pick up other people in the surrounding area. Josh is somewhere close. They have not took him back to the Abyss.
"Did you say they?" There's more than one of them present?" Evan inquired.