I

  The sun had already set by the time I arrived.

  “So this is where they were driven off this time,” I muttered to myself.

  In front of me stood a massive warehouse, clearly gnawed at by time. Something heavy hung in the air—a thick, sticky atmosphere seemed to spill out of the building and seep into the surrounding streets. That explained the complete lack of passersby.

  Time to get to work.

  I forced my way inside by prying open a rusted door on the side of the main gate. Inside, the darkness was deeper than it should have been—unnatural, suffocating. That alone was enough to confirm I had the right address.

  I switched on my flashlight and moved deeper inside, searching the hall and looking for the fuse room. As I wandered through the space, I felt it—a hollow, animal gaze fixed on me.

  The monster already knew someone had entered its den.

  The fuses worked only partially. Lights flickered on at the second floor and in the basement. It would have to be enough. I returned to the ground floor, hoping to force the demon out of hiding.

  I wasn’t disappointed.

  A massive shape emerged in the depths of the hall, barely distinguishable from the shadows. The beast was cautious, keeping its distance, waiting for an advantage.

  An interesting case, I thought, edging closer to the entrance.

  I wanted to cut off its escape route. I kept my weapon hidden, hoping it wouldn’t sense the threat. A moment passed. Then another. The demon hesitated.

  Then it charged.

  “I’ve got you!” I shouted, dodging the lunging, wolf-like creature.

  The pistol was in my hand almost instinctively. I fired several shots before the monster melted back into the darkness. A howl echoed through the hall.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Hit.

  Blood stained the concrete floor. I followed the trail.

  Upstairs, I realized after a moment. It wants to escape through the windows.

  I cursed silently. Focusing on just one exit had been a mistake. Even wounded, a demon was still deadly. I couldn’t let it disappear.

  I stormed upstairs and emptied my last rounds toward the source of the noise. A heavy, furious growl answered me.

  “Enough of this,” I muttered through clenched teeth.

  In front of me lay a massive, wolf-like body. Riddled with bullets, yet still alert. It kept me at bay, growling in warning.

  I tossed aside the empty pistol and reached for my machete.

  The beast lunged at me with the last of its strength—but it was too weak. I dodged and, with one clean motion, slit its throat. A moment later, I severed its head and stuffed the trophy into my bag.

  II

  I returned to the precinct after dark. A sizable crowd had gathered outside.

  Another protest.

  Towering over them was Commander Morgan, visibly irritated.

  “Charlie! Where the hell have you been all this time?! Get inside!” he shouted. “And don’t pay them any attention.”

  I squeezed past the protesters and entered the building.

  “I see you’re busy today, Commander,” I remarked.

  “Don’t even start,” he grunted. “Come on—show me what you’ve got.”

  I pulled the still-warm head from my backpack and dropped it onto the table. Morgan examined it with interest, then handed me a pouch.

  “One problem off the list,” he muttered. “But don’t get used to it. You’ve got a new job.”

  He handed me a card.

  After reading it, I immediately shook my head.

  “I’m not taking this.”

  “I know you don’t like authority,” he sighed. “But the pay’s good, the gear’s new, and the client’s solid. Besides… he asked about you.”

  That caught my attention.

  “About me?”

  “Anthony Davies.”

  That explained a lot. And at the same time, raised even more questions.

  “Tomorrow. Seven a.m. Sector One,” Morgan cut the conversation short. “Now get out of here. Susan’s probably waiting.”

  III

  “I’m home,” I said, stepping over the rotting threshold.

  The familiar stench filled the room. Someone on the couch was clearly pretending not to exist. I yanked the blanket away in one motion.

  “Hey, did you seriously have to do that?” Susan grumbled.

  “Get up. You’ve got work soon. And hurry—I want to wash up.”

  “No water.”

  “Again?”

  “The whole district. Get used to it.”

  I sighed and lay down beside her, only to be nudged a moment later.

  “My hair.”

  “What about it?”

  “Help me brush it. Won’t you help your older sister?”

  “First of all, you’re not my sister,” I muttered, reaching for the brush.

  She sat in front of me, clearly pleased.

  “Did you buy anything to drink?”

  “No. You go to work sober.”

  “As if there’s any other way to survive.”

  The conversation faded into silence. A brief moment of ordinary calm. I learned the parts had finally arrived and the laptop would be working again.

  “I’m heading out,” Susan said suddenly. “I’ll be back around dawn. I’ll buy something.”

  As soon as she left, I collapsed onto the mattress and fell asleep, hoping nothing else would wake me that night.