Ian woke up on his bed. He turned his head to look at the alarm clock, it was 10 am but sleepiness still covered him. Tired after performing the three hunts yesterday; he was no mood for working today. But he forced himself to get up and do a few stretches, he then sat on his bed cross-legged and did a breathing exercise of refreshing himself. He felt his energy return to him, he got up and headed towards the bathroom.
Shirtless; he looked at the mirror. His curly black hair, brown eyes and the runic marks across his torso. One on the lower side of his neck, the rune on his chest, runs on his back, the rune on the left side of his chest and lastly the rune on the right side of his lower hip, rune of invisibility in his lower back.
"Happy birthday, Ian." He said to himself.
*******************
Ian freshened up and changed into a black shirt and straight jeans. Leaving his room he took an elevator to the ground floor. On his way towards the lobby, he nodded at the staff workers in white as they recognised the signal. One of the staff hand over a file to him and Ian went on him towards the office wing, passing the cafeteria. The building was always the same, low lights, white walls and the hospital like aura and smell.
It was a standard office building with a large laboratory attached to it. The cabins of researchers were on the right side of the, away from the standard workplace for other junior workers. Ian entered one of such cabins with a nameplate on the door labelled 'Dr Lazlo.' Inside there was no human present. Ian went deeper and placed the file on the doctor's desk beside the computer. A small lyrebird revealed himself to be sitting on the chair.
"This is the report of this weeks hunt, last night's dark spirit was stronger than others. You might want to take a look into it," said Ian. The bird nodded and the filed opened itself with no one touching it. Ian turned around to leave as the computer started itself, leaving Dr.Lazlo to his work. Now, it was time for him to get his rest.
Outside, Ian stumbled into a woman in her early twenties with long blonde hair and hazel eyes. She wore a white lab coat with a large bundle of files in her hand.
Ian: "Dr Buck." He said hiding his annoyed look.
"Ian, submitting this week's report I suppose," Buck remarked.
"Yes, and what about you?" Ian asked wanting to just go to the cafeteria.
Dr Buck: "Same..." She stopped and then realized something. "Oh, I completely forgot. Happy birthday Ian."
Ian: "Thanks." he hid his frown.
"How are you planning to celebrate your sixteenth birthday?" Dr Buck asked.
Ian: "By having a full ten hours sleep that I was waiting for months."
Dr Buck: "Come on, even other young hunters of your age aren't so anti-social."
Ian: "I like the way I am."
Dr Buck opened her mouth but stopped as a static sound filled the place. The speaker at the corner made a buzzing found and an announcement was made.
"..... Ian Wicker, the site director wants your presence. Please report to the director's office as soon as possible..."
Ian sighed and said, "Looks like I am not getting my ten hours sleep."
Dr Buck chuckled and entered the cabin after wishing Ian good luck. Ian went on his way to the director's office with a little frustration in his mind. All he wanted was ten hours of sleep.
Director's office was the third floor with only elite HTF members working there. It was larger than any other on site-14. Director Morris sat behind a large on his comfy chair. Ian went near him.
"Why did you call me here, director?" Ian asked hiding his emotions.
Director: "Ah... Wicker. Dr Lazlo just informed me about your last night hunt." Ian understood what he meant and where this conversation is going.
Director continued, "You were not expecting last night event. You thought it would be a week dark spirit with that you could have easily handled with one enchanted nail, but it wasn't."
Ian interrupted, "With all respect, director. I had it easily handled, I don't need a partner."
Director: "The point is that this was something that you haven't expected. You were lucky this time, but there will time it wouldn't be so easy...."
Ian: "I don't need to be in a team. I said it again and again."
Director interjected. "In a time like that, you would hope to have someone who has you back."
Ian remained silent for a moment and then said, "Then assign me to a partner or team when the time comes."
The director smiled and handed a mobile phone to Ian saying, "Unfortunately for you, the time has come."
Ian brought the phone close to his ear slightly angry. "Ian, it's me." The voice called from the other side. Ian's ears perked hearing the voice of his mentor after months.
Ian: "Mark..."
The voice on the other side responded, "I know its difficult for you to work with others. But we both knew that this change has to be."
Ian gave up and asked, "Okay, who is it?"
Mark replied, "Damien Hunt, my son."
***********************
Inside a similar building somewhere in South America. The large room consisted of several fighting circles, stains of blood present on every one of them. The crowd gathered leaving no space, slight smell of sweat and blood filled the area. They shouting, bidding on the outcome of the fight that was going to take place. They all wore similar sports clothes, slight sweat in their bodies giving signs that they just finished their workout session.
Damien looked at his opponent at the other end he circle, with a scrunched up nose and inset eyes. Damien could see the runes in his body, it was more than him but according to the rules; runes weren't allowed while sparing. The boy's friend was by his side, whispering in his ear. Damien took a deep breath. The chaos of the crowd disappeared for him; like he was enveloped by a soundproof bubble. He let the oxygen in through his nose, letting it set in every inch of his body, running up his spine, relaxing in his shoulder and tingling in his fingertips.
Damien heartbeat settled and the world around him slowed; nothing remained but two boys, two opponent facing each other. He remained still as the boy closed up upon him, swinging a clubbing fist onto Damien's head. Damien easily slipped the attack. He could see the fear in his opponent's eyes. The boy threw another punch. This time Damien caught the arm at the elbow and moved in on the boy with a quick step, wrapping his arms around him and hugging him tightly, he circled his legs behind the boy's knee and took him to the floor.
Damien was on the top of the boy, rearing up to punch him. Damien stooped, instead of raining down punching on the boy's head, he slapped; cupping him in both sides of the ear. The boy panicked, Damien loosed his hips tightly letting the boy beneath him turn. The boy was on his stomach, he wanted a quick end without humiliation. Damien thrust his hips, jamming the boy. He snaked one his arm under the boy's chin, grasping around his neck. The Lion Killer submission. This boy was hardly a lion but Damien kept the grip tight until the boy stopped struggling. The boy went limp. Victorious, Damien got up with the crowd cheering.
'Happy Birthday Damien.' He thought to himself.