The Demon

By, Milo Shawn

The soft steps of fur boots on partly melted snow can be heard as a stranger of average height and build treads towards a small run-down-looking village. Beside him is two large wolf-like creatures, both of which are covered in thick fur designed to protect them from the cold. The man himself is dressed in a very thick layer of brown animal furs, all of which seem to be of high quality and well-made. On his back is a strange black cloth wrapped around a nearly five foot long pole like item, the exact appearance of it being obscured.

The trek itself has been long and cold, but finally, he has almost arrived at his destination. The thought of a warm fireplace and cozy bed brings a soft smile to his unshaven, rough-looking face. Then, he can see if the rumors are true, and if they are, he can begin the hunt.

The thought of hunting such a beast as in the rumors sent chills down his spine from excitement. One of the two dogs on his sides wags its tail a bit while making a soft grunting sound in excitement as the group approaches the village. Upon drawing nearer to the village, one could see the haggard and terrified appearance of the villagers. The town itself seems almost to be almost abandoned, as many of the buildings remain lifeless, with only around half having any signs of occupation.

'So it's already killed so many? It truly is a demon.' The man can't help but think to himself. A pang of sadness at the death of so many innocents crosses his mind for a moment. Brushing this aside, he glances around for a moment before spotting a larger, livelier-looking building. Approaching the building, many of the townsfolk begin murmuring, a glint of hope entering their hollow, empty, soulless eyes. Without wasting any more time, the man approaches the building and knocks on the large wooden door.

After a few moments, the door creaks open revealing the pale, half-dead-looking face of a scrawny man. The man's face seems to be almost sunken in, and his black eyes slowly raise themselves to look at the fur-covered man, the dark circles under them a clear sign of his exhaustion.

"Are you the hunter I requested?" The raspiness of the man's voice echoed out into the silent village, drawing the attention of the townsfolk.

"That's right. I heard you were having problems with a man-eating bear. I'm here to take care of it for you."

Hearing this, the disheveled-looking man bursts out laughing, "Thank god! Finally, someone who can kill this demon! Good good! Please come inside."

Following the man inside, the hunter chuckles, the look of relief on the elder man's face bringing warmth to his heart. The inside of the disheveled man's home is that of a rich man's manor. The furniture is all made of an expensive dark oak, and handcrafted at that. The floors are covered in lavish carpets and the wall is covered with the heads of many animals, stuffed and preserved as trophies.

Looking over all of the animal heads, some of them even belong to some fearsome-looking bears and other such creatures. Creatures that only experienced hunters would go after. With this in mind, the hunter turns to the man, "Surely the man who hunted these creatures here should have been capable of killing the beast. Why has it not already been delt with?"

"The one who hunted these creatures was my son." The soft course voice grows even more feeble upon this topic.

"He originally set out to kill the beast after it murdered some of our villagers… However, he never returned, and the beast continues to appear."

"Your son was killed by this bear?"

"No! No! It was no bear! That thing is a demon! It hunts us every night. It comes directly into the town. It destroys doors and slaughters people without discrimination. Those it kills usually are not even eaten!" The man screams out in anger and fear, grasping his long greyish hair, eyes bulging out of their sockets as he sits on his chair pulling his legs to his chest.

Seeing this, the two dog companions of the hunter walk over and gently begin licking the man's hands, as if attempting to calm him down. Successful in their attempt, the man takes a deep breath, partially composing himself. "If you kill this demon, I'll pay you whatever you ask. Just please kill it. Before it takes anything more from us."

The hunter looks down and nods his head, "Don't worry. By morning its head will be mine, and your people will be safe."

"Thank you." The man whispers, his long veiny hands reaching out and gently beginning to stroke the heads of the two dogs.

After a brief pause in the conversation, the hunter takes the clothed item from his back, and unwraps it, revealing a musket, with a long steel bayonet attached to the end of it. "You said it comes at night?"

"That's right. It comes every evening, right after the sun sets. It approaches from the western forest."

"Then I will get ready. It will only be an hour or so until sunset."

Without hesitation, the hunter turns on his heel and swiftly walks out the door, whistling for his two companions to follow him.

The time before sunset quickly passes, and the people begin barricading themselves indoors, and the hunter, climbs up onto the roof of an abandoned home, leveling his rifle towards the edge of the forest. As he lies on the rooftop, the snow that falls from the sky begins to slowly build up on him, blending him into the snow-covered rooftop making him nearly invisible to the naked eye. If it wasn't for the thick furs he wore, he surely would be dying from the cold.

The freezing cold was something that he has long since grown used to. However, being used to something didn't mean that he enjoyed it. Despite the discomforts, he continued to bear it waiting for the demon. He did not have to wait long. Soon, the sun sank behind the sea of trees, banishing almost all light from the area beside a few lanterns that the hunter had scattered on nearby rooftops. Coming out of the edge of the forest was a massive bear, the size of which was unparalleled by anything the hunter had seen before.

A thick shaggy coat of fur, powerful muscles that rippled with every step, a blood-soaked maw that foamed at the scent of human flesh, and red eyes that literally glowed in the darkness. 'The coot wasn't lying. It is a demon!' The hunter cannot help but think to himself, shaking in his own boots. Despite his body screaming at him to run as far away as he can, he held his ground.

Leveling his musket, he kept the barrel trained on the demon as it leisurely makes its way toward the village, its disgusting tongue hanging out of the left side of its maw. The hunter barely managed to keep his hands from shaking. He had been arrogant. Not only had he not set any traps, but he had also positioned himself separately from his dogs as to deal with the demon himself.

With each step, the demon grew closer, and all the hunter can do, is sit, and watch. Despite the overwhelming fear, there was also another emotion mixed in. Excitement. Is this not why he came here? To hunt a creature worthy of being his 'legend'?

'Slayer of the Demon Bear.' "Yes, that has a nice ring to it." He whispers.

The moment he does so, he pulls the iron trigger, firing his musket at the demon as it grows closer. The loud gunshot rings through the village, and the scream of the demonic creature that had been struck echoed even louder. Standing from his position, the hunter begins reloading as swiftly as possible. The bear, who had been struck by the iron bullet, rears backward, blood pouring from its chest wailing in agony. However, this only lasted a moment. Its eyes swiftly locked on to the hunter who had caused it this pain, and its eyes filled with murderous intentions.

Reloading as quickly as he could, the hunter desperately tries to prepare his next round as the demonic creature sprints towards him, rapidly closing in. As the bear reached the base of the building, it reaches upwards and begins attempting to climb up. Dread fills the soul of the hunter…. 'No! I still need a few more seconds!'

As if hearing his thoughts, the sound of vicious barking rings out as his two companions dart around the corner, fangs flashing as they leap onto the back of the demon, jaws locking onto it through its thick fur.

As the hunter reloads, the sounds of growling and screaming ring out as the three beasts fight below him.

"No!" He screams as he runs to the edge of the roof, pointing his now reloaded musket downwards towards the bear's head. As soon as he goes to pull the trigger, the bear slams backward into the building, causing it to shake, and the hunter to lose his balance. Falling off the roof, he groans as his back slams into the snow beneath him his rifle still in hand.

After a moment, the bear throws the two dogs off its back, managing to land two powerful slashes with its blood-stained claws mortally wounding the dogs… Recovering from the fall, the hunter looks up at the bear, directly above him. 'Crap!'

Without the dogs to distract the demon, it now has its eyes locked solely on the hunter laying at its feet… Mouth wide it lunges down towards his neck, going for the kill. Quickly raising the musket, he fires. The bullet, launched from the barrel, flies directly into the mouth of the beast, blowing its brains out as blood platters onto the wooden wall behind the demon bear. The demon slams on top of the hunter, dead as can be.

Relief momentarily fills the hunter's brain, but it only lasts a moment… His neck feels warm, and a strange liquid begins filling his lungs. 'Oh.' was the only thought that filled his mind. The razor-sharp teeth of his enemy had found their mark. In its death, it managed to successfully maul his neck. Drowning in his own blood, he turns, reaching his hands out to gently touch the fur of his two companions, both of which drag their dying bodies over to him.

As his eyes fall shut, never to open again, he gargles through the blood, "I love you two, we die as heroes."