With his niece infected, Michael Lane had no choice but to call for help from his major competitor in the market Huebort. They have contacted their top expert and hunter from the east, Oliver Rosendale, a fifty-two-year-old legend in his field. Oliver stood in Michael's office as if he owned it, his knowing smirk was already grating on his nerves, and Michael did not like having to bow down one bit.
"What you mean to tell me is that your company has had a detail of this monster this entire time, has been made aware of its presence here, and didn't share the information to Code-Runner," Michael asked incredulously. His commanding voice boomed around the office, startling Trudy who was dozing in one of the visitor's seats.
Shrugging, Oliver spread his arms and made a 360 turn, "Didn't think a company such as yours would need help from a little entity such as ours," he said, his voice drawing out each word sarcastically. He stood in a dusty pair of hunter gear, his face was weather-beaten and his hands were visibly scarred.
"Nonsense," Michael said from his seat, refusing to jump to the bait of playing which company was bigger. "Huebort has agreed to the terms like all other companies to share information of new species through Code-Runner and you guys violated the agreement!"
"Well, the information is in there now," he said with a dismissive wave, "any other problems, you've got to take up with the boss."
Oliver finally took a seat across from Michael and next to Riley, who has been quiet the entire time. "You may have 'experienced' hunters here, but what you need is a killer to take this beast down, once and for all."
"We didn't bring you here to kill the beast," said Michael quickly, thinking about loss-profits. Studying the creature, now known as the Himuti, the last of its species, would be a major win for his company and he could count the government funding rolling in.
"No," Trudy spoke up from her seat," we called you here to cure my daughter who has been infected with whatever that beast put on her."
"The cure is in the killing lady," said Oliver, not glancing at her.
"What do you mean the cure is in the killing," asked Riley, sitting up in his seat, with a frown on his face. As a hunter, he was trained to capture not kill, his darts were meant to subdue, not maim or bring the beast to their demise. The thought of coldly killing a creature was not something he ever considered.
"I know you guys do things different here," said Oliver "but I was sent here because I was the head-killer of the Himuti sweep."
"You mean genocide," muttered Riley, feeling his gut turn.
"I meant sweep," said Oliver, "those creatures are nowhere near human, and was an eyesore to society."
"From what you said, you just found them, rounded them up for the killing," Riley said angrily," they were living peacefully and didn't cause the trouble we are having with our beast."
"We predicted trouble," said Oliver," and we were right...apparently, look at the problems you are having"
"Please stay on point," said Trudy, her voice shaking with rage "what about my daughter, what of the cure?"
"The only way to cure her is to kill the beast," said Oliver, cracking his knuckles, "it's holding on her and whomever it's touched will fade and all will be back to okay in hanky-panky land, lady."
"There has got to be something you are hiding," said Michael, not wanting to give the okay to kill the beast.
"Look you called me here to solve a problem," said Oliver, standing back up, "let me solve the problem. It is your call ultimately. It's been a long flight, I'll be in my hotel when you made up your minds." He walked out of the office, leaving the three parties to sit in silence.
Michael Lane turned toward Riley, his voice filled with anger, "This is your problem Stewart," he said.
"No," said Trudy," This is your problem Michael, I want that beast dead, and I wanted it yesterday!"
"You don't understand," Michael said turning his attention away from Riley, who had slumped in his chair in relief. "You heard the man, that beast is the last of its kind, with what it can do, it needs to be researched, you would know that if you have taken an interest in the company."
"All I know," said Trudy shakily, standing from her seat, "is that my baby girl, who you both swore to protect, is out of her freaking mind right now and I need you to fix what is going on with her and I don't care how you do it!"
Gigi, Michael's assistant rushed into the office without knocking, "Sir, you have an urgent phone call that you need to take."
Sighing Michael ran a hand through his hair, "Don't you see that I am busy," he said, irritation evident in his voice.
"This can't wait, sir, it's about 'government funding," she pressed, shooting a long glance at Riley.
"You two," Michael said pointing to Riley and Trudy, "clear the office."
"I am not done talking_." started Trudy.
"Not right now, damn it, Trudy, this is important," said Michael.
Walking toward the door Trudy threw one last glare at Michael before exiting. Riley stood up and left the room as well and Michael shot a grateful smile at his assistant.
"Thanks for that," he said, "send in Cynthia, I am going to need some relief after that."
Gigi bobbed her head, "Of course, sir."
________
After taking a long shower and getting over the initial shock of the changes in my body, I decided to take a nap in my bed.
It's been such a long time since I slept in someplace comfortable.
It's only been one week since the creature abducted me but it feels like an eternity. I laid down on my queen-sized bed, wrapped in a terry cloth robe. I starred up at my white ceiling and the whole ordeal came crashing in on me at once. From setting out to capture the beast to being undeniably drawn to it and the obvious changes in my body, all of it was just a bit too much to take in. Not to mention I felt as if I miss the beast, even though it's been less than a day since I have last seen it.
I wonder what it will do now that I am missing,
I thought.
There was no doubt in my mind that the creature cared for me deeply and that was why it held me captive. I wasn't sure what I did to deserve such attention, but I knew that I was in trouble because I no longer wanted to hunt it.
Could I be in love with him,