That was until he met them, the hunters that is. At the time, he was 16 years of age. It took little convincing to get him to join their cause. Back then, he thought it was the best thing that could ever happen. He met others, just like him, that could see the dreadful beings. With their hope, he would learn to fight, learn their weaknesses, and keep everyone he knew and loved safe.
He had spent those early months training with the other rookies, learning how to use his runic gun, gaining friends and forming alliances. The most memorable had been with a man called Jack Michelson. They were around the same age, both easy going, and both raring to kick some monster a**. Whenever they were off duty, they would head down the bar and drink themselves into a happy stupor, joking about how they would slay dragons and shoot werewolves and be the greatest hunters ever known to man. Neither of them were worried about dying, about injury. They were young, strong, how could they be stopped? They were invincible.
Ah, how foolish he had been back then, to think they could have survived.
~~~
"Hold on dammit, Just hold on!"
He was finding it hard to see, the blood from his head wound obscuring his vision. All around him he could hear the screams of his fellow hunters as they went down, the merciless monsters tearing the flesh from their bodies, feasting on their insides. It was a scene out of a horror movie, yet no director could do it justice.
"Damien...just go...leave me..." Jack coughed, blood dribbling down the corner of his mouth. It was hard to tell he belonged to the sun division anymore, his clothes so ripped up and covered with filth.
How had everything gone so wrong? They had gotten their orders to back up the other divisions, and to take out any FEAR monster that had appeared. But the hunters had underestimated their enemy, and very soon they become overwhelmed.
We're almost there Jack! I'll get you to a medic, and you'll be fine, and then you're gonna buy me that drink, just like you said. Alright?!"
There was desperation his voice as he used every last bit of strength he had to drag his friend to the portal. He was nearly there, almost...almost.
From out of no where, a screaming demon lunged out at him, jumping onto his back. He screamed, feeling the claws rake down his back. He shook it off and stumbled through the portal, collapsing on the other side.
"We...we're through..." He pushed himself to his knees, dragging himself over to were Jack laid. "Okay....lets get you some help...Jack? Jack??"
He shook his friend, desperately trying to get a reaction... but nothing. no breathing. no sound...silence.
"....Don't you dare...... DON'T YOU ******** DARE!...DAMMIT YOU b*****d! WAKE UP! IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO END LIKE THIS!....for ******** sake....just wake up..."
~~~
It wasn't long after that mission, that he had received Celestine.
It boggled Damien's mind as to why she had chosen him, out of all people. There were far better hunters then him, and he just managed to survive his latest mission, where many others had died. Many, including....
It made no sense, but even so, he found himself standing in the cove, Listening to the mysterious voice that called to him.
It didn't take long to find her, since there wasn't many tablets to chose from. He took her off the wall, studying the small thing before a flash of light, and he was now holding his new partner.
"Damien. Damien Bradley."
~~~
""Well that was wreck..." The Sun hunter mumbled, flopping onto the bed, exhausted from his latest mission. Or massacre, as he was starting to refer to these things. "We lost about 20 people this time...s**t"
"Yes...just barely..." He began to bandage his arm, a nasty gash going from his shoulder to his elbow. "...Though I wonder if I would of been better off being one of the ones who didn't make it..
"Because, don't see why I should be alive when everyone else is dead.... " He paused in thought, laying back on the soft mattress and staring up at the ceiling of his dorm room, his thoughts in bitter regret. "Why am I still alive? Why did I have to survive, just to watch everyone else perish?" He couldn't take it, couldn't take much more of this...
Celestine's voice was hard to hear, she was speaking so softly.
"I guess you're right..." Damien held up the weapon, regarding her for a moment. "...Besides, I'll be killed off eventually. It's only a matter of time."
~~~~
And it looked like his time was just about up.
He fell to the ground after the last shot, the monsters swarming around him as they pushed and shoved each other, hoping to get a piece of their prey. He held Celestine close, not wanting those bastards to lay their dirty claws on her. He saw his life as a hunter past by his eyes, a constant struggle to stay alive and the misery it brought. Other thoughts passed by as well; was Aaron okay? Will the mission succeed without him? What about Em? He realized he'd never keep that promise to her.
I'm Sorry Em, but I hope you understand I can't see you after all this.
I'm sorry, my comrades, I wish I could have done better.
I'm sorry Celestine, I never told you how thankful I was that you chose me. You have always been the one friend who has stayed by my side.
I'm sorry Jack... I couldn't save you. .
He was dimly aware of his heart being pulled out of his ribcage, but he could not feel it. The pain was fading away, as was his mind. And yet...was it his imagination? He could still feel the soft touch of a women's embrace, yet the skin was cold as ice...
The last thing he would ever see, was the faintest image of a fanged smile, as his partner followed his depart from this world.
I hope we'll all meet again. If we do. then I'm taking you all to the finest bar in town. The first rounds on me.
