Chapter 12 - Black Hunt

Section Seven

Loud Wailing Sirens

Breathing fast, a man being pursued by agents ran as fast as he could into the dark alley.

"I said stop" Chase Wyatt hissed firing at the man.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" the man shouted, his Claw coming out. Chase fired his gun at the roaring Claw heading dangerously towards him, it came at his front, Chase quickly slides down escaping the deadly sharp fingers that came for his head, he turned facing the man's Claw.

"CLAW KILL!" the ghoul shouted, the Claw roared coming at Chase, He fired at the Claw countless but it still came at him, this new weapon was supposed to work but it was like they were back to scratch one again.

Chase's eyes widen when the Claw was close to him. Like in slow motion a red bullet shot from an unknown gun, hit on an iron pole, and bounced to the ghoul's chest creating a bloody mess. Chase's eyes widen as the Claw coming at him vanish in form of ashes. He took a harsh breath turning, the ghoul on the ground in the pool of his own blood. He froze.

"Only a Claw can take on a Claw". His eyes searched and found Seth sitting on the iron fire escape near a building, his gun brought out steams and Chase knew he was the one who fired it, but how was it possible, he wasn't even in the right angle where the ghoul was, it was like the bullet just bounced on it own. Chase's eyes drifted to an iron pole that was compressed a little. 'He used the pole to spin the bullet to the ghoul direction'. Chase thought unbelieving. He slowly turned to Seth. 'Who is this kid?'.

"The new weapons are designed effectively to kill a ghoul instantly once the bullet is embodied deeply in their chest" Seth explained, with one jump he was on the ground walking towards Chase.

"Next time aims for the ghoul, not their Claw, I wouldn't wanna lose a partner like you this early" Seth said smirking, walking past him.

"Ghoul killer," Chase said, Seth halted, they turned in unison facing each other.

"It's Seth," he said amused.

Chase knew there was something off, he knew it the moment the Order joined forces with the agency. Seth squat assessing the dead ghoul.

"We have lotta ghouls to hunt, you best be ready". Seth smirked.

"Cause this won't be the only ghoul dying, all of them will" he added the last part darkly.

Chase didn't budge he just watch the boy driven by the cost of ambition. Chase wanted the same thing too more than anything, they had the same goals but different views, that was a realization he had come to understand.

***

Section Six

"In the past 1 week now ghouls have been hunted throughout the city. The new Captain of the agency has declared an order to hunt ghouls in the city, although protest of citizens has been made concerning their safety. Barbra Jones as Captain has ensured us it will go swiftly, all for a better safe city. We will like to urge the citizens of New York to stay safe while the hunt goes on" the newscaster said.

7 years old girl's brown eyes were fixed on the screen, she blinked as they revealed the exposed ghouls and the killed ones.

"Mummy, will they find us?" she turned to her mum who was busy doing the dishes.

"Turn off the TV Ella," her mum said from the kitchen.

"Okay," she said shutting it with the remote, Ella turned to face her Claw who squat in front of her. She showed it three fingers relating to a game, it just tilts its head to the side.

Ella's mother walked out of the kitchen watching the action, she trembled bringing out her phone to call her husband.

"Ethan where are you? I think we have to leave the city, it's not safe now, call me when you get the message," she said cutting the voicemail. She sighed.

*Sound Knock*

"Mummy someone is at the door," Ella said.

"Who is at the door by this time of the night," she said worriedly. She turned to her daughter.

"Ella takes your Claw back in," she said. Her Claw reversed back inside her.

Ella blinked. Her mum stood in front of the door clearing her voice.

"Um, who is it? It's late" she said.

"My name is Nicole Jose, I need to speak with you. Sage Tarek right?" she said from outside.

Sage peeked through the door hole. There was Nicole, a guy with her.

"Am sorry but I need a little more than the name" Sage reasoned. The man beside her brought out his gun. Sage eyes widen as she moved back panicking, she rushed to Ella's side.

"Mr's Tarek?" Nicole said, she sighed knowing she figured it out.

"You shouldn't have brought out your gun Tommy, she must have seen you" Nicole hissed to her new partner that was overbearing.

"Well, I have to put up a defense, who knows what will jump out there once the door opens" he reasoned.

Taking a harsh breath Sage quickly dialed her husband's number but it still went straight to voice mail.

Suddenly she gasped as the door broke down, Nicole and Tommy walked in, pointing their gun at them. Nicole froze for a moment when she saw the child. But she stood her ground, they were ghouls nothing more.

"Hands up," Nicole said sternly.

"Any false move and we will shoot," Tommy said. Sage look darken, she hid her frightened daughter behind her.

"Over my dead body". The moment she said that her Claw dashed out her attacking the agents. Nicole fired shots but it made no serious injury to the Claw. She froze as the Claw stood in front of her, she waited for the worse as the sharp fingers came for her but Tommy stood in front of her, it dug deep in his stomach, blood everywhere, Nicole was left frozen as Tommy's lifeless body dropped to the ground. She gasped looking up but the Claw, the mother, and the daughter were nowhere to be seen, they were gone.

"Come in, come in, report on your ghoul location" her comm sounded, she trembled as she answered it, her eyes fixed on her partner's dead body.

"The ghouls have escaped, man down," she said swallowing hard, her furious eyes drifted to the broken window, she walked towards it seeing blood.

"I think we have one injured ghoul" she adds darkly.

***

Somewhere In Section Six

"Ethan where are you, I think we have to leave the city, it's not safe now, call me when you get the message". Ethan's phone stained with blood sounded, he gasped for breath reaching for the phone when he heard his wife's voice but Seth took it. He ticks his tongue.

"A family of ghouls," Seth said.

"Seth, two ghouls escaped from Nicole unit, one dead, a ghoul injured. We have to leave now" Chase said walking in.

Ethan's eyes watered, he had the feeling it was his wife and daughter, Seth rose to his feet, Ethan held his ankle with his bloody hands.

"Please" he choked in pain, Seth's eyes slowly drifted to him.

"Please don't kill them, my wife, my daughter" he begged. Seth looks darken, Chase noticed this.

"So ghouls have feelings huh?" Seth said darkly, he turned to Chase who looked away.

'They are just ghouls'. He kept telling himself but seeing the man right now in tears begging made him wonder. Seth brought out his gun, Ethan's eyes watered.

"Don't worry they will be joining you soon" he said smirking.

*Loud Gunshot*

Chase cleaned the blood that splashed on his face. Seth walked past him.

"We have two ghouls to catch," he said leaving. Chase tore his eyes away from the building and turned to Seth exiting the hall, he could still remember that day.

***

Three Days Ago

Section Three

Ghoul Investigators Headquarters (GIH)

"What? You want me to team up with the Ghoul killer?" Chase said not believing his ears.

Barbra smirked.

"Well you seem surprised" she noted.

"Yes, Chase I think you are most suitable to be partners with him" she shrugged.

"Why? There are plenty of agents around here and last time I checked I heard the Ghoul killer partners always die" Chase said scowling.

He didn't want to babysit a boy he wasn't sure was a ghoul killer in the first place.

"I read your file, your skills are wonderful and I know about the death of your partner, my deepest condolences," she said. Chase looked away as the pain built up in his chest.

"You see Chase. Seth is a very gifted boy, am sure you and the other agents still doubt his existence as the Ghoul killer" she noted, his eyes landed on her.

"Gifted?" Chase said puzzled.

"I meant he's smart" she smirked, but Chase knew all too well there was more to this gifted stuff.

"I trust you will take good take of him" she adds.

"Doesn't he has a family or something, I mean who would want their kid hunting ghouls" Chase reasoned, she ticks her tongue.

"Are you always this curious?" she said.

"I am when necessary and this is definitely a reason," he said sternly.

"His parents are dead, the rest are confidential" she smirked.

***

Present Day

Chase wondered, Seth Judson the Ghoul killer was a boy of mysteries.

"What is your story Ghoul killer?".