The vile beast dragged its snout against the ground, making a vile smile as it began to pick up on the scent of its prey. It's stomach grumbled. The boy came out from behind a tree, holding a giant stick. "Alright, your turn to feel sick you demonic sack of gore!" The boy yelled, slamming the stick into its face. Shocked, it growled, It's eyes flickering yellow. The boy staggered, holding a hand over his mouth. The wolf lunged at him, sending the boy to the ground. The wolf opened its mouth, revealing two sets of sharp teeth. "You look a little dehydrated, bud. Here!" The boy shoved a bottle into the wolf's mouth. It bit down, howling in pain as it's flesh burned. "Ha! How's that holy water?" He leaned to the right to puke. The wolf growled, but before he could attack, he was blasted back by a barrage of flaming balls. "I'm gonna kill you, demeaning prick." "Hey, buddy." The boy greeted his friend. The wolf's eyes flashed, sending the girl to the ground. The boy got back up, charging the dog, stick in hand. Before it could cast its spell, the wolf was launched in the air by a powerful hit. Slamming into a tree, the wolf whimpered, looking at its split open side. The wolf howled in agony as the boy emptied multiple bottles of holy water onto it. The wolf swiped at him again, flashing it's eyes. It crawled atop the boy, biting into his shoulder. He screamed, until the wolf let go, engulfed in flame. "Sorry, Marley." The thing turned black and fell to the ground, dead.

…

"Stay still!" Monika demanded, shakily stitching the deep scratches on David's back. Mindy watched with amusement, jamming a burger down her throat. "Idiot, I told you not to do this." Monika chastised, cutting the string. "I'm sorry, really." David apologized. Monika mumbled, "I can't lose two friends in one day," before going silent. He put his shirt back on. "On the bright side, I've gone up 2 levels." He said, smiling. "Yeah, I guess that is good news." She gave him a smile back. "Yeah, you should've seen him back there. Bashing that thing into a tree? Didn't see that coming." Monika turned to give Mindy a dead stare. "As for you." Mindy gulped down her second burger. "Should I find out that you've brought him on another dangerous mission, despite my warning not to, I'll have a strike placed on your hero license. Clear?" Mindy gripped her wallet tight. "Yes ma'am." Monika went back to a smile. "Now then, you two need your reward. Follow." The three exited the medical office, heading to the front desk. "That's weird." Mindy said. "What is?" David asked. "I haven't seen Charlie at all. Is she off today?" Monika went pale. "Oh, yes. Unfortunately, you're being transferred to me for progress tracking." Mindy looked confused. "She quit?" "She died." The two were stunned. "What? Monika, I'm so sorry." David put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, David." She tapped his hand, and he removed it.

"How?" Mindy asked. "She was found dead outside her home. She'd been stabbed." "In the stomach?" Monika seemed surprised. "Did you already know?" Mindy shook her head. "Just a lucky guess." She turned around. "Wait, your reward." Monika called after her. Mindy ignored her, running out the door. "What was that all about?" David thought out loud. "I have no clue. Regardless, I'll hold onto this for her. Here, David, your reward." She handed him 30 dollars and bid him farewell. Once outside, he pulled out his flashlight, and began making his way through the dark city. Nobody else was out at the moment, giving him time to think. 'Tomorrow's Thursday, leaving me with another eight days to finish this paper. Should be long enough, unless I end up changing my subject again. Well, knowing me, that's not an impossibility.'

He'd barely managed to avoid getting run over. "Ah! Pay attention, you idiot." He slapped himself, refusing to zone out like he had before. This clearing of the mind allowed him to pick up on the sound of crying. He pointed his flashlight to the source. Mindy was sitting on the staircase of her apartment building, head buried in her knees. "Mindy?" She looked up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Get out of her before I kill you." He let out an uncomfortable chuckle at her threat. "Do you mind if I sit with you?" She looked at him with confusion. "Why?" "Cause I'd feel bad leaving you alone." "Loser." "If you wanna call me that, sure." He walked over to her, sitting down. "I never said you could do that." "Well, you didn't say I couldn't." She looked away from him.

They sat together in silence until she returned to her room. The clock struck 12, and a new day began.