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Adam wiped the hilt of his knife, he preferred knives and daggers over guns, just like Lincoln. It was Lincoln and Adam's turn to patrol and search for the Hunter, it being nighttime made Lincoln shiver, he didn't want to do it, but it was his duty, to Lyra. Lincoln chewed on his lip as he wondered how she was, he knew she couldn't sleep at night, the dark blotches under her eyes confirming his suspicions.

"Lincoln," Adam called.

Lincoln rubbed his eye. "Hmm."

"Have you ever..." Adam considered what to say next. "Had the feeling you were the Hunter?"

Lincoln accidentally bit his cheek. The hammering of his heart made him feel dizzy, he felt blood leak from his fingertips as they tingled. He did feel like the Hunter, he felt like the Hunter when he mindlessly killed Isaac and let the Hunter take the blame. He knew there was a monster in him, it came out when his loved ones were threatened. An action committed for the sake of the loss of loved ones, could it be considered as monstrous? Or as revenge? Were they the same?

Lincoln forced his eyes to look at Adam, to see if Adam felt like Lincoln was the Hunter. Adam seemed to be in a different world, his question seemed genuine, just a thought.

"Yes." Lincoln heard a quiver in his voice but Adam didn't notice. "You?"

Adam sat on the carpeted floor. "Yes, sometimes I feel like I am the Hunter. The way my hatred travels through my blood and makes me want to do things I don't speak off. But then, when I see what havoc and blood it has left behind, the dead and gone, I know it's not me, yet there was uncertainty."

His words let a shiver slither down Lincoln's back, goosebumps erecting like infectious hairs. He understood; every echo of every syllable.

"I'll go to the upper floors and check, you can stay here." Adam slid his hands in his pockets, he forgot about the knives in there and accidentally cut himself, he let the pain help him focus as he kept his hands in his pocket, not wanting to worry Lincoln. He walked away, leaving Lincoln to ponder, alone.

♟

I heaved myself through the maze of corridors, my heart beating in exhilaration, the scent of fresh blood and flesh flaring my nostrils. Licking my lips, I clambered up the stairs. I scratched my claws against the steel railings, the friction between creating a screech of metal.

They were as smart as they think they are, trapping themselves in four walls so I wouldn't be able to attack. Who do they think I am? A fool? A mere creation of their minds? I was real, every spore in my skin was real. I would show them, their silent plans haven't skipped my ears. I heard all, saw all, I was a mastermind, the thinker in my games. They must abide by my rules, they must let me serve my purpose, my purpose to hunt.

My vision blurred in excitement, I felt my feet nearing my prey. The anticipation building up in my heart, the oozing blood washed over my colourless eyes. My prey was fingertips away, the itching at my fingers sending tingles to my excited head. I paused, the dripping blood from his hands luring me in. Control. I couldn't lose control, I let the fact sink before I did anything. He walked, I was back in his heels again. I watched him turn to a corner before I pounced on him.

I dug I claw deep into his heart, puncturing it. His howls echoed in the night air, the sound muffled the moan that escaped my lips. I hadn't hunted in long, these screams were worth it. I dug deeper till my claw touched the cold marbled floor. I twisted my claw and watched the crimson blood oozed from his lips, tinting them scarlet.

I felt the sharp needle dig into the flesh of my neck. Before I could turn to see the imposter, my heart failed me.

♟

Lincoln has finally decided on finding Adam. He'd rather search together than on his own. The void reminding him of the endless lonely holes in his heart.

He pushed himself on as sleep gnawed at his mind. He was tired and dizzy, his head spun in delirium, the lack of sleep was taking its toll. He heard a sudden scratch on metal, the screech alerting his senses. He let his pace quicken as he heard small steps. They must be Adam's, he thought, more so hoped, to the core of his heart.

A scream ripped through the silent veil of night. Lincoln covered his years, the agony of the scream was too much to bear. His hands dropped to the side as the adrenaline kicked in and urged him to run towards the scream.

He first saw the spout of blood on the marbled floor, then the girl over the limp body of Adam. Lincoln closed his eyes and pushed the needle of the sedative in her neck. He watched her collapse on the cool floor. Her hair cascading over her face. She had a weapon in her hands, they held the stature of claws. The Hunter. He gasped, the Hunter wasn't an 'it', it was a she; she had been living amidst them.

Lincoln rushed over to Adam, he searched for a pulse, hoping he had saved someone, for once. He found nothing. Just his lifeless eyes that seemed to be paused in the midst of shock. Lincoln felt his lip quiver, he stared at the mangled limbs of the girl. Hatred guzzled in him. He crawled towards her.

He shoved the hairs away from her face and watched the blankness of her colourless eyes. He felt like someone had snatched his heart out of his chest and squeezed it till it was empty. He knew her. He never could have even imagined.

He dragged her body towards the nearest room, no one could find her. They wouldn't believe him, especially Lyra, she would never believe him. But now that he knew, he placed a solemn oath on himself to protect everyone from her. To protect her from them, after all, they all had monsters hidden within, wasn't it better to protect the monsters? To make them see the good in companionship? Or was it just giving yourself as a sacrifice to the beast?

Lincoln pushed her under the heaps of blankets. He would protect everyone from her.

I promise.

—

That was the most intense chapter ever, right?

I had my heart beating and racing, my head hurts from the journey through this chapter.

What did you feel?

The first time we saw the hunter, it appeared in the midst of a chapter, it did so again, is this the last time we will see her? Or is it the beginning?

Thoughts?