September 30, 2028164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrCrAmiigG
@8:17 A.Mcopyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHbuNSib1i
This is the first time I woke up without any nightmare showing its ugly head. And I was very thankful for it. I turned to stare at my window and saw bright daylight.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXGqTzq5ip
Oh shi-.. I’ve slept in.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Y2ePAHNZ
Yawning, I stood up from the bed and followed daily routine like eating, showering, and other stuff people do in the morning. 50 curl-ups, 50 sit-ups, 50 push-ups. I tend to do it so that it’ll keep my body in good condition.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtHMYvEgGG
I went to my living room and sat in my beat-up couch, which squeaked in protest. Then, I reached for my ledger and scanned the bounty page. No acceptable prize. And everything in the bounty page were species I already caught. But this can’t be all the monster out there. After all, I still haven’t found the perfect match.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡzADf1xOrD7
September 30, 2011164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvumdUM1t70
@9:13 A.Mcopyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF9QIoGi6t
“Please, don’t!” Someone begged. “Don’t take her!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHX0tWv8cb
I was clutching the back of the shirt of the man who spoke. I hid behind him, looking for protection. But somehow, I knew it was useless.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMMs1O0QgD
He was pushed to the ground as I was pulled roughly.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7j7Y1wEkC
I cried, “Please don’t take me!” I begged.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Cj5CN28We
“Shut up!” Someone slapped me and I fell to the ground. Though I was quickly pulled up and thrown in someone’s shoulder. I kicked and I thrashed.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡkL06e2UeSa
And I could hear my older brother’s screams and shout; begging them to release me.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQibYgcuVw
Then, I heard a gunshot.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiFY3UIh7x
copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ739r9MebUa
September 30, 2028164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jZDLAZ4Tg
@9:20 A.Mcopyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeWrlatgpm
I jumped up from the couch and stared wildly at my surroundings and my hands poised for attack. But my house was empty. So, I shook my head and sat back down. So much for a nightmare-free day.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhdJtc0FHV
I picked my phone up and dialed the only number I knew; Sky’s. He picked up on the third ring.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOZmf88uk3
“Hello?” He grumbled.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLiBcDMGTc
“Hey, just woke up?” I asked.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kug4Xt4Ca
“Nah, I was asleep. . ‘til you called. Up all night hunting.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PYZbe8kIt
Oopss. “Oh, okay then. Go back to sleep.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡoneGYrkL8e
“Thanks, ‘night, beautiful.” He answered sleepily.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbyrsDoVI1
Blush creeping up my cheeks, I answered. “It’s morning already, Sky.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IR4I3iQo1
“Then, good morning.” He corrected before hanging up.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoK7CFUD82
copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMoytn0N88
Now, what am I going to do? Bored out of my mind, I picked my ledger up and randomly picked a hunt to occupy my day. Anything beats staring at my ceiling all day. So, my stylus landed on:copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16kAyMdXIV
Wanted: Dead164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCkjBndkFl
Bounty: 500 silver164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGFRjqsjvl
Species: Shrimpolim164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgKlom0iZ9
Warning: Fast. Poisonous164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDMFWn2aHI
Location: Dead Water164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzobrHBT17
copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOEQSmTbdh
Shrimpolims are an easy catch. Though, hunters rarely sign up for it since it lives under the water and they couldn’t be bothered to swim. Besides, most people can’t breathe long enough in the water to find its hive let alone catch it. And if you were smart enough, you won’t wear air tanks. It will only slow you down. But I was not most people. So, I signed my name. And it was the only name on it.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx4A6xY7k6
I armed myself. Putting a dagger on my belt, on each side of my waist. Then another two at my back, forming an x. I took a rope and hanged it on my left side. Two more daggers were hidden on each boots I was wearing. Lastly, I took my jacket and wore it before stepping out.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmdAWMnaJ5
September 30, 2028164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBnYWMkX4k
@1:37 P.Mcopyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ITLyL7sWl
I dived in the water holding my daggers. Better safe than sorry. I swam and swam for hours, which is no fret since I can breathe under water. I looked for any possible dwelling of a Shrimpolim. I turned a hundred stone upside down. Still, no luck.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9TNJZlH7F
I felt water rushed behind me. I quickly turned and saw a Shrimpolim swimming away. I kicked and followed after it. It was fast though I didn’t had trouble getting up to its pace. And in no time, I was directly behind it.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm12XYOk9x
Shrimpolim looked like shrimp (duh?). But a thousand times more bigger. And I’m not exaggerating. It was 7 feet long, bend and all. Its pleopod and pereopod as sharp as knife. Its shell as hard as a turtle’s. The only way to kill it is to stab it in its mouth, which is definitely crazy dangerous since it only open its mouth when it’s ready to release its poison or to pull it towards land, which is almost impossible for most humans because of its rapid swimming. But like I said, I’m not most humans. I tied the rope in one of my dagger and stabbed it in its tail. It shrieked and tried to swim away but I swam towards the shore and pulled it behind me.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡpggi1P49h1
Upon reaching the shore, I gave one more hard pull at the rope and the Shrimpolim jumped out of the water. It landed on the ground, struggling but after a minute or two it stopped moving. Now, all I got to do is bring it to the headquarters.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1anPUnaCv
I started walking and eventually I reached the headquarters before it even got dark. People were looking at me strangely. ‘Cuz who wouldn’t when you got a giant shrimp on your back? I’d stare at me.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqRRsPQh90
I nodded at the guard and he greeted me with a salute. I wasn’t comfortable with it but no matter what I say he still does it. I, honestly, don’t know why. He pushed open the door for me and I entered the headquarters.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyg5RiUWrc
The inside was a replica of a hospitable. White. Clean. And it smell strongly of antiseptic. I moved towards the counter and placed my catch in front of a man. 27 in age. Just a couple of inches taller than me. His blonde hair gelled and fixed. His blue eyes laughing. He looked up from his paperscopyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWd8k33IdF
“Gretel!” He beamed. Showing his white teeth.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡd364VzTLQ3
“Hey, Jack,” I greeted back. “Here’s your Shrimpolim.” I gestured towards the mutant shrimp I just put on his table.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFB2LtkGpM
“Yeah, I can see it.” His eyes grew as he took in the monster before him. “You caught this? Alone?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoI6w29AKn
“What? Are you doubting my abilities?” I faked a gasp. “Who do you think I am?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXql2lUW7L
“Gretel, of course. The best hunter there is.” He replied. Then, with a laugh he added. “Didn’t you just signed up for this today? I heard Shrimpolim are hard to find.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTrBWc4hSu
“Huh,” I scoffed. “Not for those who knows where to look.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LSLSpO10y
He laughed loudly and a bunch of people turned to stare at us. Some hunters and others like Jack, who work at this headquarter. I turned and gave them my beat-it-or-else look. The workers quickly rushed away but the hunters gawked at me with recognition.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡogwPBybwvi
“Jack,” I called when I turned to look at him. “Hurry up with the pay with yah? You didn’t told me there’s a bunch of newbies here.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡiucJ69WbqO
He laughed again as he started to record my catch.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuAzgsY4uZ
“I don’t know what you hq-ers tell these newbies about me but I don’t like attention. So, hurry up!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTf9JRHUnc
“For the record there is no word ‘hq-ers’.” I rolled my eyes at him, he obviously enjoyed my discomfort. “And we don’t tell them any lies. Just the truth. You sign for a hunt and delivers it on the same day. They idolize you, because really? Gretel no one can do that but you.” He explained.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGHqpNzlZ0
“Just hurry up!” I urged him with a roll of my eyes.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFuLeKedOJ“Here,” He handed me a ledger to sign and I did. Then, he gave me a pouch. I quickly took it and exited out of the building as fast as I could without looking like I’m running from something.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pXS4Ug74X
