The world was dark. Dark ground, dead trees and smell of rotten corpses filled the environment. The only two being there; Ian and the dark smiling figure. The dark figure appeared stretched out from the ground, utter dread appeared around him. No light, no life, just endless night. It's steps made no sound his approached Ian.
"IAN..." It said. It's a voice like cracking of ice in a winter lake. Ian stepped back, a little bit of fear his eyes as he looked at the monster which could rip him apart, but he couldn't do a thing to it.
"IAN..." It called out again. Ian looked at the monster with mixed emotions. "What do you want from me?" Ian shouted at the monster.
"IAN!"
"IAN!"
"IAN!"
"IAN!"
"IAN!"
"IAN!"
"IAN!"
The monster didn't reply and kept repeating the same thing, again and again. Ian felt the air disappearing from his lungs. He couldn't breathe, he was suffocating. Was this his end?
*********************
Ian woke up on his bed, gasping for air. He felt the air return to his lungs, oxygen spreading across. Ian took deep breathes calming in and out, calming himself down. He got off his bed and headed towards the bathroom. He looked at his reflection on the shattered mirror. He felt weird and gag in his throat. He started coughing on the sink and blood came out. He looked at the mirror with watery eyes, his nose leaking blood. His sickness has been getting worse with the nightmares.
Ian freshened up and changed into a black shirt and straight jeans. Leaving his room he took an elevator to the ground floor. No missions for today, just some training and locked up his room rest of the day. The building were always the same, low lights, white walls and the hospital like smell. Ian's phone vibrated, he took it out to see a message from Dr Buck.
'Emergency meeting in 20 minutes.'
Ian was surprised by this, he normally gets files related to hunts in the lobby, which he then studies in his room; preparing for the hunt. A meeting like this hasn't been held in months. Ian decided not to think too much and see whatever going to happen is going to happen. Just another day to pass and hope for the better.
******************
In the conference room. Director Morris sat at the end of the conference table, joined by members of Team Ignition; the elite team of this site by each of side parallel to each other, one of the member stood near the blank screen of the wall with his tablet. Ian entered the room. Glancing at Ian; Director Morris looked at him and said, "Ah... Wicker, on time. Take a seat." He pointed at one of the two empty seats near him. Ian did as said; sat on of them and then asked, "What's this meeting about?"
"Take a look for yourself." replied the director.
The man near who wearing team Ignition crest on his shirt turned on the screen. The screen displayed a living room scene. It was all bloody massacre. A man's face ripped from the skull fallen on the floor, another man's throat ripped apart.
The screen changed into that of a bedroom. A man and a woman laid naked on the bed, with gaping holes their chest, blood shattered everywhere; like they exploded from inside. The scene was truly horrifying.
The man with the tablet looked at others at the table and explained, "The following scene you just saw is from Sterling hotel. The investigative team of the site near concluded that a rogue sorcerer is behind this. Two men went frenzy because of the effect, one of them ripped one's throat and then ripped off his face, finally dying of a heart attack. The couple in the bedroom? Their blood exploded out of their chest. One of them may be a skinwalker. He survived and got away. The cause of the blood explosion is turned out to be a strange drug."
Everyone excluding Director Morris shocked by this revelation. They have heard of ordis taking illegal mystical drugs before and getting sick and sometimes even cancer or heart attack. But a violent reaction like this? Even the man explaining this was trying his hardest to keep himself calm.
"Where the hell this guy come from?" The team leader; Graffin asked in surprise.
The man swiped the screen of his tablet changing the display on the screen. The display changed from the hotel room to a bearded man's picture. Judging by his picture alone one could determine that he was quite a large man.
"This man is Antonio Ventimiglia, a low-class sorcerer and mob boss. Dealing in drugs, kidnapping, extortion and prosecution. The analyst team tracked the source of the drugs to him." The man further explained. Ventimiglia controls his city, he flooded it with drugs and crime. He is above the law, with most politicians and police on his payroll. Starting as a normal thug, he started using his magic on ordis to influence their thoughts, that's one of the reasons he is where he is today." The man detailed.
Before anyone else could ask or say something; Director Morris continued, "And tonight it is going to be his last. He shouldn't have dabbled in magic too much but now that he did... Team Ignition with Hunter Wicker, this your mission. Capture Ventimiglia alive from his villa, before he receives this news."
"Yes, sir." The HTF said in unison. Ian just sighed.
"And Ian..." said the Director.
"Yes, Director." Ian knew what's this going to be about.
"I heard about your outrage at the training room. Are you sure that you are going to be okay for this mission?" Director Morris asked, tapping his fingers on the table.
"I just got too excited. This isn't going to affect my performance negatively in any way," replied Ian; hiding the truth.
"Okay, then. Go back to your rooms and get ready with your equipment. Report back at the gate in two hours."