Part 3

Startled, Crystal shot her gun sending a bullet in the air.

“Scared of a little pussy cat?” Jason walked up behind her laughing.

“Shut up. The stupid thing caught me off guard. Besides I hate cats.” Once again she felt embarrassed in front of Jason. She was supposed to be an experienced hunter, yet cats were frightening her.

“Well I managed to get the door open while you shot at an innocent cat.” He continued to laugh.

Crystal thought differently. ‘Cats are all but innocent’ she mumbled. She’d seen the small felines transform into creatures of your darkest nightmares more than once.

The inside of the house was much like the outside; cold and damp. Crystal felt dirty just from breathing in the thick stale air.

“Ugh, it smells like grandma in here” she held her nose.

Jason laughed, “Well maybe there’s a grandma here. You check upstairs and I’ll look down here.”

….

A thick film of dust covered the furniture in Sara’s bedroom.

“Crystal…” A voice whispered her name. She was used to demons playing these sorts of tricks, but this voice was familiar. A wave of nausea hit her when the voice said her name again, this time louder. It sounded like her deceased mother.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” She said angrily to the voice. It was relentless and would not stop calling her until she raised her gun in its general direction. “I said SHUT UP!!”

….

“I heard you yelling up there. Everything okay?”

Crystal walked into the living room where Jason was. “Uh, yeah everything is fine. I found Sara’s diary. This is definitely our girl.”

“Lay it down for me sistah.”

Crystal rolled her eyes at Jason’s comical attitude and opened the diary. “Well she goes on to talk about how much she hated her step father. He abused Sara and her mother verbally and physically often.” She skipped through a few more pages until she found what she was really looking for.

“Okay now check this." Crystal began to read Sara's diary.

‘Today I met this woman. I thought she was crazy at first because she kept telling me how she could fix my powers. She knew about Roderick being abusive! The woman told me that she could grant me special powers. I can’t lie…I’m VERY curious.’…. ‘Well I went to Madame Lilly’s. That’s the woman’s name. She was telling the truth! She really did give me powers! And you know what I did? Roderick was first. I lured him out to the backyard one night while mom was at work. I gave him the story that some hogs were in his garden. When he found out I lied he charged me. Madame Lilly told me I could be as creative as I wanted to be so I made him burn from the inside. Oh the look on his face! Now mom and I can live a better life.’

“So abused girl talks to some lady and is granted powers.” Jason stated rubbing his chin.

“And she’s using this power to possess others in the town? That makes no sense.” Crystal continued to flip through the girl’s diary looking for clues but found nothing. “I do not understand this; why involve others? What’s her MO?”

“You got me suga, but now that we have a name maybe we can get somewhere. Let’s head to Maria’s. She may know where this Lilly chick lives.”

….

Upon arriving at Maria’s, Crystal could feel something was wrong. Maria not answering her phone didn’t help. It was eerily quiet outside, so quiet you could hear a pin drop from a mile away. Jason knocked on the door a few times. “Dammit! She has to hear me knocking.”

“It’s late maybe she fell asleep.”

“Nah, that woman can hear for miles.”

“Do you think something is wrong, Jason?”

Rather than answering Crystal’s question, Jason took out his gun and proceeded to breaking down the front door. “Maria! Where are you?”

Silence was the only response and not too soon after entering the home they found out why. A trail of blood led around the corner.

Lying slumped against the living room wall was Maria. “What the hell happened? Maria!”

The two knelt down in front of her, but they already knew the outcome.

“She’s gone…I can’t believe it.”

“I’m so sorry Jason.” Death was something Crystal knew all too well. She decided that Jason deserved a moment alone and headed outside. The rain was finally starting to let up and the temperature seemed to drop nearly twenty degrees.

“You don’t belong here girl.” A raspy voice growled. She turned to face a middle ages man. His hollow eyes gave him a death like appearance.

“Is that so? And you’re going to make me leave?” Crystal challenged.

“No, WE are!” Out of nowhere a woman appeared and gave Crystal a devastating blow to the stomach knocking the wind out of her. She tried to call out to Jason, but had no air to talk.

The two possessed took turns slamming their fist and knees into her. Somehow she managed to deflect on blow and regained her footing. She swung with all her might and made contact with the possessed woman’s face. Her jaw slacked as the bone cracked and gave way to the hit.

“Jason!” Crystal finally called out right as a third demon showed up.

Once again he came to her rescue, though this time she wasn’t completely helpless.

It took longer than they hoped but they were able to take out each individual.

“You okay Crystal? Jason frowned at the blood trickling down her split lip.

“Yeah, I’m good thanks.” She huffed wiping up the blood. “What about you? I’m sorry about what happened to Maria.”

“Me too. C’mon let’s go. We need to get you patched up and come up with a plan.”

Crystal found it odd that they weren’t going to search the house for clues, but she also liked the idea of leaving. She was tired and wanted nothing but rest.

End

Part 2

*Warnings: dark pics, wordy*

“Is this how you normally meet women? Bursting in bathrooms while they’re butt naked and putting bullets in people’s head?” Crystal was embarrassed that they stranger saw her nude and that he killed the demon that attacked her.

“Well that’s a funny way to thank someone,” He responded with a thick southern accent that she found oddly attractive. “I guess I should have let it kill you then?” He continued.
“No, no…I appreciate it. I’m just not used to being saved or having random guys see me naked.”
“Ah, don’t worry about it. You got a nice body.” If looks could kill he would have died several times over from the angry scowl Crystal gave him. “Sorry, sorry. Name’s Jason. Might as well become properly acquainted right?” He extended his hand to shake hers.
“Crystal...” she hesitantly accepted the gesture and shook his. “How did you know that I was in trouble?”
“I had been following that demon for a few weeks now. It went on a rampage killing about thirty people. Somehow it was evading me up until recently and I was able to track it here.”
“Demon?” Crystal played dumb.
“Oh, don’t act like you didn’t know. You’re a hunter. That specific type of demon will only go after hunters. What you do that pissed it off?”
“Probably because I killed its friend a few days ago” she walked over to the dresser to find some clothes. “It’s been on my trail ever since and I guess I got sloppy. Now turn around so I can change clothes. I’ll know if you look too.”

….
“Staying here’s probably not a wise thing to do. You know more are soon to come.” Jason warned.

“Yeah, just as I was starting to get comfortable.”
“That reminds me.” Jason now had a worried look plastered on his face. “You down happen to own a red Jeep, do you?”

….
“You aren’t serious!!!” Crystal yelled as she viewed what used to be her vehicle. It was beyond repairs. “My baby! I wish I knew how to bring it back to life so I could kill it again!” she always took pride in her Jeep.

Jason remained silent while Crystal fussed about her vehicle. He didn’t mind it; hearing her complain almost reminded him of his brother.
“Hey Earth to Jason,” she snapped her fingers in his face breaking him out of his almost trance like state. “something on your mind, you haven’t said a word.”
“Oh, its nothing.” Crystal knew there was something he wasn’t telling, but they had only just met and she wasn’t about to pry.



She went back to examine the damage on her Jeep. “Yes indeed.” Jason smirked at her figure.
“Keep staring and I’m going to cut your eyes out.” Crystal barked without looking at him. She could feel his eyes traveling her body.
He had to laugh. It was soon, but he liked her. Something about her presence put him at ease. As he continued to admire her frame his phone rang. “Jason, where are you?” The sweet voice of his old friend, Maria brought a bigger smile to his face instantly.

“Right outside of Memphis. What’s up?”
“Oh perfect. There’s something strange going on up here in Flat Woods. A lot of mysterious murders are happening and people turning against each other. I think we have some serious demonic activity.”
“Sweet, I’ll check it out!” Jason loved going on hunts. It was something he excelled at. Not to mention the women that often wanted to show their gratitude for him saving their lives. “Hey sweet thang,” He spoke to Crystal “There’s some commotion going on about a hundred miles from here, care to join?”
Crystal didn’t see any other option at the moment. She no longer had a car and the people she usually worked with were hundreds of miles away. “Alright, but don’t try anything funny.”
….

She had no idea what she was doing. It wasn’t uncommon for demons to impersonate hunters so they could lure others in and kill them. One thing she learned since becoming a hunter was that no one is as they seem.
“So Jason, how long have you been a hunter?” She asked. She was tired of listening to Pearl Jam and felt getting to know him was important.
He turned the radio off and replied, “Oh bout ten years now. You can say its part of the family business.”
“Family…” She sullenly repeated the word.
Noticing her change in attitude, Jason spoke again. “You have any family?”
“I did. They’re all gone now. Mom, dad, little sister.” The memory of her family was a painful one. Before all of this, life seemed to be perfect. Good job, steady boyfriend, a loving family. In just one night everything had been stripped from her. Unable to live in San Antonio, Texas where she grew up, she packed the needed items and traveled around hunting the creatures that made her life the way it was now. “How about you, mr?”
Jason didn’t reply right away. Even though his story was nowhere near as sad as Crystals it was still painful. “My dad was a hunter up till her was almost mauled to death, and then my mom made him quit. They live out in Missouri but travel often. I also have a younger brother. He’s gone missing though. No one’s seen or heard from him in almost a year. So along with hunting I’m also looking for him. He was also a hunter so I know he has to be alive…”
Silence soon befell the two again. Crystal felt a slight hint of jealousy towards him for having a family. She longed to hear her sister’s playful giggle or her father’s thunderous laugh. Why did things have to change?
….
Crystal didn’t know she had fallen asleep until Jason gently tapped her on the shoulder.

“Rise and shine beautiful. We’re here.” ‘Here’ was a very small very American looking town. Tennessee was one of her favorite states to visit. The people were always so friendly. This time was obviously different.

As they got out the car a cold light rain started to fall. “C’mon, there’s someone we need to see” He grabbed her hand tugging her along.

“First day here and you’ve already nabbed a woman, huh Jason?” A heavy set middle aged woman loudly laughed.
Jason could feel Crystal growing tense and quickly spoke before she could. “This is Crystal, Maria. She’s also a hunter.”
“Is that so? You’re far too cute to be a hunter.”
Crystal gave Maria her best fake laugh and smile. ‘First she thinks I’m some groupie, and then she thinks I’m too cute for my job?’
“So Maria what do we know?”

“All of this started after a guy name Roderick Perry was found dead a few weeks ago. A real prick he was. Police found his body in the old graveyard up town. When they performed the autopsy they found out all his internal organs had been…melted. I’m shocked that he wasn’t leaking from every orifice.”
“Any idea who did it?” Crystal was intrigued. Never before had she been on such a case.
“Rumor has it that his step daughter had something to do with it. She and her mother have been missing for a week now though. The police are so caught up with the rest of the town they haven’t focused on her. I bet if she’s dealt with all this mess would be resolved. Here’s her address.” Maria slid a piece of paper with scribbling on it over to Jason. “Now you take care of my baby, Crystal.” She winked then disappeared behind a door.

“Her baby?” Crystal teased. Jason didn’t look the type to like bigger women.
“She’s just messing around and I know what you’re thinking. I only have one response: more cushion for the pushin’!”
The both of them burst out laughing. There was an unmistakable chemistry between them.
….

The Perry residence was located on the outskirts of town.
“Home sweet home.” Crystal frowned as they pulled into the dirt driveway. Every window had been boarded up; tall unkempt grass and garbage littered the front yard. It was the poster child for a haunted house.
An intense feeling of excitement overwhelmed Jason the closer he got to the house. Hunting gave his otherwise pointless life a meaning. It gave him purpose. Crystal on the other hand was very uneasy. Something was different about this case. It was going to be the one to test her.
“You keep an eye out for anything while I break down this door.” Jason said to Crystal. She didn’t like taking orders from some man she hardly knew, but work was work.

“You hear that Jason?”
“Hear what?” He grunted a response as he kicked the door.
“There it goes again.” From a distance she could hear the faint sound of footsteps in the grass. Instinct told her to pull out her specially made gun. She pointed it in the direction where the sounds where coming from at the same time something lunged at her.

The Beginning

The Unknown: Beginning

A quiet little town in Tennessee is under attack. Friends are turning into enemies, love turns into hate. One eventful night two strangers with similar occupations cross paths weaving them into some of their darkest nightmares and fears.

....

Crystal took a step back to look at her current work. The person lying in front of her that appeared to be human was actually a demon.

That demon happened to mess with the wrong woman. Crystal was tired of all the violence and bloodshed, but this was her job; she was a demon hunter.

After saying a quick prayer for the person that lost their soul to one of the devils spawn, she left the warehouse before the police showed up. Explaining to them that she killed a demon was not something they would believe. Coming from a religious family, Crystal knew it was possible for people to become possessed, but not to this extent. Over the past ten years they became bolder, killing almost constantly.

They were the reason why she had no family. With his dying breath, her father made her promise to protect the innocent from evil. It wasn’t easy but Crystal wasn’t one to give up.

The only thing next prayer that calmed her nerves was taking warm showers. She was pleased that the small town had clean hotels with clean showers. Residing in the same place for long was something of the past. Crystal had to learn the hard way that it was a bad idea and bore the scars to prove it.

Her muscles instantly relaxed as the hot beads of water rolled down her skin like hundreds of tiny fingers massaging her. She’d become too comfortable she never heard the door to her hotel room being opened.

Right as she reached to turn the water off, large male burst into the bathroom throwing her into the wall and nearly cracking it. The attack was too fast for her to react. Pain shot throughout her body leaving her momentarily stunned. Then just as fast as the attack started, it was over. Her assailant let out an unnatural shriek before toppling on the ground next to her. She looked at the body with a single shot through the head then towards the door where a ruggedly handsome man stood.

“You alright?”