September 30, 2028374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvd1tuN1J6
@8:17 A.Mcopyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAkgrbWezf
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqhb5wTBJZ
Oh shi-.. I’ve slept in.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVCxHsrHCz
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUpLDOxmBc
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k5hyGxnaN
September 30, 2011374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR06TXKcY3a
@9:13 A.Mcopyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcar67MyV3
“Please, don’t!” Someone begged. “Don’t take her!”copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡXv2JmJP4zt
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpZVc07nGX
He was pushed to the ground as I was pulled roughly.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwtETKCBvL
I cried, “Please don’t take me!” I begged.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2geb9dx8U
“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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ9pqLYbG6
And I could hear my older brother’s screams and shout; begging them to release me.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBXckQzTej
Then, I heard a gunshot.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N2ud2gYBL
copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJkf4RIrg1
September 30, 2028374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtnAzogZ6q
@9:20 A.Mcopyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡX60fXdnY4A
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOn6QU9fh8
I picked my phone up and dialed the only number I knew; Sky’s. He picked up on the third ring.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkD7w8nGgz
“Hello?” He grumbled.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXXxDiJjMk
“Hey, just woke up?” I asked.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2dBukn9GC
“Nah, I was asleep. . ‘til you called. Up all night hunting.”copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8lZPWEKB5
Oopss. “Oh, okay then. Go back to sleep.”copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡmchobDaQNE
“Thanks, ‘night, beautiful.” He answered sleepily.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDQ4qEs6cS
Blush creeping up my cheeks, I answered. “It’s morning already, Sky.”copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡesipM29skU
“Then, good morning.” He corrected before hanging up.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgRYqtq8SZ
copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡhistDcNfCt
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡan0dhqThwC
Wanted: Dead374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kOUkikqFm
Bounty: 500 silver374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF80emZffn0
Species: Shrimpolim374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1vn8jF9h3
Warning: Fast. Poisonous374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCc0Jhh0Z8
Location: Dead Water374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiND9c0a3LT
copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7obsev36FI
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfq6S3iakJ
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNQnGuO9MM
September 30, 2028374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftatGUDAW7
@1:37 P.Mcopyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhdeIRsk8Q
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0tBhiNbud
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡY92hB5kvR6
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1aSNCh6q6
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5xxJWsLbg
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNwWtZdfXX
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1oKn7aEfF
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aFqZ7Xs3G
“Gretel!” He beamed. Showing his white teeth.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu6FFWv9pS
“Hey, Jack,” I greeted back. “Here’s your Shrimpolim.” I gestured towards the mutant shrimp I just put on his table.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwC9B4qkPg
“Yeah, I can see it.” His eyes grew as he took in the monster before him. “You caught this? Alone?”copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTBkeMRzQ7
“What? Are you doubting my abilities?” I faked a gasp. “Who do you think I am?”copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCErvFZjRV
“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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdiA1E5dfN
“Huh,” I scoffed. “Not for those who knows where to look.”copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5tvZHd6b9
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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVBmodcDoX
“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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqYiS3BdZ8
He laughed again as he started to record my catch.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm2QjHU0KL
“I don’t know what you hq-ers tell these newbies about me but I don’t like attention. So, hurry up!”copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY6HIKcTSX
“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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk6H2ECxYU
“Just hurry up!” I urged him with a roll of my eyes.copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAbTEe0epF“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.374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWc0BFf39a
