A month later, Hunter found himself sitting in the Kennedy's residence. The burial for Catherine was held about 3 weeks ago. Of course, Hunter attended and said a few words, maybe even cried a little.
As he sat down, Catherine's younger brother, Bruce, sat beside him. Bruce was 12 years old and had the exact same features as Catherine, which was proof that their genes were strong.
Bruce offered Hunter another cookie, which Hunter graciously accepted with a gentle smile on his face. Bruce wasn't a very talkative person, but he enjoyed being in the presence of Hunter, who gave him a reason to speak.
"Big brother, what do you think of this?" Bruce inquired in a low, whispering voice as he pulled out his tablet and showed Hunter a drawing.
"That's incredible," replied Hunter. "You're getting better and better with this, aren't you?"
"I've been practising..."
"That's good. Keep it up and you'll be able to draw me," Hunter added as he smiled gently.
Bruce raised his head and looked at Hunter in curiosity. "You've changed a bit, big brother."
"Mh?" Hunter raised an eyebrow. "I have?"
Bruce nodded. "You're slightly taller, your eyes are a different colour and you don't have those freckles anymore."
"The freckles and eyes were artificial. They weren't really a part of my true appearance. My height... is a different story..."
"Can I ask you a question?" asked Bruce.
"Go ahead," replied Hunter as he picked up another cookie and took a bite.
"... A lady from the investigation force came here to ask my parents some questions involving my sister's death. They said they suspect you of doing it..."
Hunter kept quiet and listened to Bruce closely.
"I want to know from you... Did you kill my big sister?" Bruce inquired as his eyes became bigger and glassey, making Hunter feel slightly bad.
"Bruce, I loved your sister more than anyone in the world. I wouldn't do anything to hurt her... But, she lost her life trying to protect me from Ian and his goons... I made them pay but it was pointless because she's gone..."
Bruce looked at Hunter and said, "I knew it...! Leonard lied to me...!"
"Leonard? Leonard Brown?"
Bruce nodded.
"Ah. See, Leonard doesn't like me very much."
"I figured. But, you should probably stray away from him. He used to get Catherine and Ian in trouble when they were younger. I wouldn't want the same thing happening to you."
Hunter smiled gently and brushed Bruce's hair. "Don't worry. Guys like him are no threat to me. But, if he bothers you, don't be afraid to talk to me!"
Hunter pulled out his cellphone and showed it to Bruce, who's eyes widened in awe. "You got a new phone?! What happened to that crappy brick from the 80s you were using?!"
"It wasn't a brick..."
After a few minutes, Hunter stood up and said his goodbyes to the Kennedy's, promising to come and visit them once again when he found the time. As he opened the door, Hunter's eyes straightened out.
"Hunter Quinn," a familiar face said to him as he stared at Hunter with his brows furrowed.
"Leonard," said Hunter as he closed the door behind him and walked past Leonard, putting his hands inside his pockets afterwards.
Leonard stared at Hunter as he walked away and clicked his tongue in disgust. Not only was what Hunter did disrespectful, but he seemed unbothered by Leonard's presence, unlike when they first met.
"Hunter Quinn," Leonard called out to him, prompting Hunter to cease from walking and to look at Leonard.
Leonard approached him and stood a relative distance. He tilted his head and scoffed, making Hunter raise a single eyebrow in curiosity. He turned his whole body and faced Leonard while furrowing his brows.
"What is it? Here to accuse me of killing my girlfriend again?" inquired Hunter in a distasteful tone.
"Not at all. I'm just surprised that a tier 17 hunter such as yourself was able to kill my brother, a tier 5 hunter," Leonard retorted.
"I didn't simply 'kill' your brother. I defended myself after he stabbed Cathy."
"Oh, of course. How could I miss that one important detail?" Leonard said as he pointed his index finger towards his head. "I may share the same blood as Ian, but I am not as foolish as he was... Your strength has already increased only after 2 months since the incident."
Leonard turned around and walked back to the Kennedy's saying, "You'd better hope that strength of yours will come in handy when you and I meet in a dungeon."
As he spoke, he emitted a menacing and murky aura, one slightly similar to Hunter's. In response to that, Hunter simply smirked and emitted an aura that's just as, if not more, menacing than Leonard's.
He turned to walk away and responded with, "I'll be waiting. I'll send you to purgatory, where you and your little brother can be as evil as you want."
[That was quite a bold claim. Are you certain you have the strength to back it up?]
"Even if I don't, I'll work my way towards gaining it. I have a system, don't I?" responded Hunter, a confident smirk emerging from him.
[Mh...]
"What's with that tone?!" asked Hunter as he stared at the floating blue orb beside him.
[Nothing. Nothing at all... Cringe...]
"Seriously, what is your problem with me?!" complained Hunter.
[Meanwhile...]
Eve walked down the street with her hands inside her white hoodie pocket while listening to music. As her eyes continued facing forward, she saw the man who kept harassing her.
She sighed. "To what do I owe this pleasure, Ezra?" Eve inquired in an exasperated tone as she removed one earphone from one ear in order to hear the man out.
"You know why I'm here," Ezra, the man from before, answered. "Why don't we go somewhere a little more quiet to chat? I'll buy."
Eve was sceptical but she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Ezra was her brother afterall. After agreeing to talk, Ezra led the way to a nearby coffee shop.
Despite his mean aura, Ezra was an attractive male. Much like Eve, who was his younger sister, Ezra had beautiful snow like white hair. His eyes were as deep and mysterious as the forest itself. But, unlike Eve, his pupils weren't as sharp as a cat's.
He donned a black suit, like he did everyday and wore it with pride. The suit was made by the family's company, afterall. Or rather, one of its many branches within the corporation itself.
He was also a tier 6 hunter, who was one of the strongest hunters in his family. Taking after their father, both Eve and Ezra awakened and walked down a path that led them to becoming powerful quicker.
As Eve thought carefully about what she would use as an excuse to her brother, they had finally arrived at the cafe and took their seats. Ezra sat across the table and looked at his little sister as she looked out the window.
"How's being a hunter going?" he inquired.
"You don't exactly care so why are you asking?" Eve retorted. "I bet you're just itching for me to kick the bucket aren't you?"
Ezra chuckled. "I'm not a monster. You're still my little sister and I care about-"
"Don't lie to me," interrupted Eve. She looked at Ezra with her brows furrowed and said, "No matter what comes out of your mouth is for your own benefit. You only care about yourself and how much money you can make. Even if it's at the cost of someone else's life."
Ezra ceased from smiling and lightly tapped the table. Then, he released a long sigh and stared at Eve.
"This is why you'll never become a proper grown up. You still have the mentality of a child; one who refuses to make some sacrifices. Tell me, why do you act this way, Eve?"
"Because I decide what's best for me, Ezra. You may have succeeded in controlling Aaron and Elizabeth, but that crap won't work on me. I see through that facade."
"It's no facade, it's my true nature. Unlike you, I have nothing to hide; not even my hatred for you."
"Hehe, I thought you cared about me?" Even rhetorically asked.
"I do, but that doesn't mean that I have to like you."
"Fair point. But, what makes you think I'll be willing to do what you want simply because you're older than me and because I'm a 'child'?" asked Eve as she stared at Ezra like a predator staring at its prey.
"Because you can't beat me, even if you tried," replied Ezra as he matched her level of menace evenly if not greatly.
"Then I guess I'll have to dig through that thick skull of yours just to convince you to leave me alone," said Eve as she pushed her chair back and stood up. "Tell Jane and Frank that they won't be hearing from me anytime soon. See ya."
"I told you not to call our parents by their first names."
"Screw you," Eve retorted as she walked out of the cafe, making Ezra grit his teeth and smash the table, breaking it into two equal pieces.
This shocked everyone in the cafe, forcing all eyes to be on Ezra. 'Eve...!' he said to himself in a frustrated tone of voice.