(Dad) “pfft….fft…fft…fft”

(Wil) *sighs*

(Noah) “it’s not even funny”

(Dad) “Buahahahaha”

(Noah) “I’m serious”

The reason my father is laughing, is because my little brother Noah proposed something ridiculous: he wants to have a duel with me. So how did this start? Well it’s been about a month since my little brother woke up from his long “nap,” and things were looking good for our little rag-tag group of people. Well…. Not everything was good, I noticed that my little brother was always tired. When we talk to him, he would sometimes be in a daze, as if he was sleeping. i figured he might be dealing with depression, due to mom. I was concerned, at the time, about him; I wanted to help him as best I could. Late one night, while everyone was sleeping, I decided to slip into his room.

(Will) *whispers* “Noah”

I tried to keep as quiet as possible, for fear of waking the others.

I didn’t receive a reply, so I got closer.

(Will) “huh?”

I can’t say I wasn’t fooled at first, but what was laying there, was an example of the oldest trick in the book. Two extra pillows under the cover. I was not enthused, not even a little.

Why did he slip out? Furthermore, why hide it? This couldn’t just be a midnight stroll! I searched the entire compound that night, not getting a wink of sleep I might add. When I went back to his room in the morning, the sneaky little bastard was just lying there. I didn’t even confront him about it.

For an entire week after that I kept going to his room at night, he was never there. One night I tried to catch him when he came back, so I waited in his room the entire night.

*shhhhhhhhhhh* *water running*

All of a sudden I heard the shower turn on. I was obviously confused, as I hadn’t even seen him come in. he’s seems to be really good at sneaking around, guess I’ll have to fix that.

*water stops*

I waited for him to finish.

(Noah) “ah…w-will…. What are you doing here.”

When he finally came out, he was startled at my presence. When I looked at what he was holding, my heart leapt, and knew instantly what he was doing. In his hands was an article of clothing, that was torn and bloodied by, what I can only assume is an abhorred.

I furiously grabbed the item in question out of his hands, and angrily belted a question his way.

(Will) “SO THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE DOING AT NIGHT!!??”

(Noah) “ i…… uh….. wai…”

*BANG*

Before he could wriggle out an answer, I quickly left, not forgetting to slam the door. I quickly marched to my father’s room, who had just woken up, due to me slamming the door.

After I reported to my father about what happened, he ordered a couple of the guards to constantly be at my brother’s side, in shifts.

Fast-forward about a week later and my brother was practically begging my father to join the cleaners, so that he can go on “hunts.” My father of course didn’t think he was strong enough. I won’t lie he does kind of look weak. My brother trying to prove something to my father, decided to propose a duel.

And so here we are….. in the courtyard…… facing off.

(Will) “ are you sure you want to do this little brother”

I felt bad not taking him full heartedly, but what can I do, he’s my little brother.

(Dad) “begin”

Almost instantly, I regretted not taking my brother seriously.

(Will and Dad) “where……?”

Immediately after our dad gave the signal, my brother disappeared! That’s right! Just disappeared! As if his being there was a lie all this time.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

(Will) “gah…….ka..ka…ka”

What had welcomed me back to this world was a nice cold bucket of water. I don’t even remember what I was doing…… no I do, I just don’t want to.

(Dad) “buahahaha”

All of a sudden my father started pointing and laughing.

(Will) “Quit laughing, it’s not funny”

(Noah) “Pfft….”

(Dad) “Hahahaha”

And now my brother started snickering. I mean it’s not like I can’t see the irony in this situation, but still.… NOT FUNNY!

(Dad) “in all seriousness… Noah I think it would be fine if you joined the cleaners”

“I just have to ask though…. How did you do that?”

(Noah) *sighs*

And my brother began explaining to us, what his power is. He also explained the different stages and how to evolve. He was even nice enough to give us the crystals he hunted from stage ones.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A couple of days after the “duel” with my brother, I decided to take him out on one of our weekly missions.

It was currently day time, while my brother, the cleaners, and I were currently heading deeper into the city. The area around our compound has been cleaned out recently, so the only work the cleaners get right now is searching for supplies. We were currently heading towards a supermarket, however, about 3 quarters of the way there……. We were surrounded on all sides by a swarm of abhorred.

(Will) “Form up!!”

The cleaners were a group made out of my father’s old military comrades. When I gave out the order, the group, very quickly, got into a back-to-back-to-back formation.

(Will) “Light them up”

*gunfire*

Soon, loud “symphonies” rang throughout the atmosphere. The cleaners were my orchestra, and I was the composer. We proceeded to mow down enemy after enemy.

As we were controlling the crowd, something caught my attention…… I found myself in a daze…… Noah….. he…… is…

Flickering in and out of reality, dancing throughout the battlefield. One second his knife is buried deep into the skull of an abhorred, the next, gone…… his phantom image, like the grim reaper when passing, cleaving life away from existence.

The scene of a hostile crowd soon grows desolate. Bodies pile up at our feet, nearly a hundred by rough estimate.

(Will) “Spread out, clean up, extract the cores, and let’s move on”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Once the supermarket came into view, I had Noah and 2 others break off, and circle around back.

As soon as we stepped foot inside, we encountered resistance. Our first goal was to secure the supermarket to make it safe for transportation of resources. Groups of the bastards kept flying out at us, all trying to get a taste of human flesh.

The further into the store we delved, the more intense the fighting got.

The super market has large shelves dividing the isles. And in between the isles you can see a 9 man team, sweeping the store clean of pests.

I could hear gunshots ring out on the other side of the store.

(Will) “So Noah….. finally decided to make an entrance huh?”

“Chris, Cole, Sam, link up with the other team.”

(Chris, Cole, Samantha) “Roger!!”

(Will) “The rest of you on m…….”

*Booooooooooom!!!*

(???) “WRAAARWOOOOOOOOOO”

Suddenly a black shadow crashed through the domed roof, landing right in front of our group.

The beast let back its head, and while staring at the moonlight now cascading through the new gap in the ceiling, let out an unearthly howl.

i take out a lighter and put a cigerrete in my mouthe

*suuuuuuuu* (*inhales*) *fuuuuuu* (*exhales*)

(Will) “Well…… fuck.”