September 30, 2028159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZczIr8zWt
@8:17 A.Mcopyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0qdFbFb0W
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74AufyTQ8V
Oh shi-.. I’ve slept in.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡngJ9D5g38k
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCkZQ0bvbb
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡsig2NvBGmJ
September 30, 2011159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGdHGUynzm
@9:13 A.Mcopyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ0kSDp9Hy
“Please, don’t!” Someone begged. “Don’t take her!”copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡugbPf1Prw0
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYjS16oCNL
He was pushed to the ground as I was pulled roughly.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpumJnZ9wG
I cried, “Please don’t take me!” I begged.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0WTPcUFDr
“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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfpZ8q6x2T
And I could hear my older brother’s screams and shout; begging them to release me.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡioiNK2aKcG
Then, I heard a gunshot.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk9YJm9IGp
copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUHnOxzJcd
September 30, 2028159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSoDr64AG1
@9:20 A.Mcopyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡaStzSC0Y92
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsrbfcdpWq
I picked my phone up and dialed the only number I knew; Sky’s. He picked up on the third ring.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nlOL9llSy
“Hello?” He grumbled.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2r1CjDCiN
“Hey, just woke up?” I asked.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaf6luizUf
“Nah, I was asleep. . ‘til you called. Up all night hunting.”copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1DkPotbJm
Oopss. “Oh, okay then. Go back to sleep.”copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhpbi1vWEN
“Thanks, ‘night, beautiful.” He answered sleepily.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjXYpitIRn
Blush creeping up my cheeks, I answered. “It’s morning already, Sky.”copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRpBbeZEpI
“Then, good morning.” He corrected before hanging up.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48HhPncnKL
copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a0qljsQf6
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYpBXPUqyM
Wanted: Dead159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK26T1QgayW
Bounty: 500 silver159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0OYDg5IQL
Species: Shrimpolim159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVTqcJOp7z
Warning: Fast. Poisonous159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRBhLC81NH
Location: Dead Water159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnHMll2r3T
copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwDd8Os7tS
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu2QVnanep
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSoUtlKnMi
September 30, 2028159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNO6e1Q3qX
@1:37 P.Mcopyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAPNOXBg55
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VAbMvyWTN
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnFKi962xS
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHtauh76yd
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH9LSVhrSa
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡefyUZQ35SA
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdhrnMIvSh
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4YRPQN6iG
“Gretel!” He beamed. Showing his white teeth.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwVPqVGt0z
“Hey, Jack,” I greeted back. “Here’s your Shrimpolim.” I gestured towards the mutant shrimp I just put on his table.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YMmpa88F1
“Yeah, I can see it.” His eyes grew as he took in the monster before him. “You caught this? Alone?”copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo6ogWf42x
“What? Are you doubting my abilities?” I faked a gasp. “Who do you think I am?”copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk3FauAQYB
“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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2AboZmx82
“Huh,” I scoffed. “Not for those who knows where to look.”copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxqFVHBbLE
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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvZMb9gMZe
“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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡnogYAFXXd5
He laughed again as he started to record my catch.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNDptz64KS
“I don’t know what you hq-ers tell these newbies about me but I don’t like attention. So, hurry up!”copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsnIezRvlR
“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 protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJg0HQGFNU
“Just hurry up!” I urged him with a roll of my eyes.copyright protection155ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNHocaYjfJ“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.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBPeTAR2CE
