Under the eerily quiet night sky, none of them uttered a single word. All the focus they still had was used up for maintaining a level-headed thinking process. After a brief moment of allowing their bodies to rest, they stood up and decided to take the initiative. Henry saw the creature earlier heading to the direction of Philip's house. Which meant it or preferrably... her inside the house. And then there could be any other monstrosity like that lounging in suddenly.
The place once viewed as the shelter for those going through a long day had become the gate to the afterlife, in a bad way. They had no choice. If they didn't deal with such fright, no one would or even be able to get away alive. Despite taking the initiative, they felt no less than being the hunted. The different between three humans and a lurking monster was too much. The world was once again harsh to its inhabitants.
Creaking through the front door, the three look around the walls and doors, cautious for even a slightest moment caught by their eyes. Good thing there was no curtain nearby, or else they wouldn't be able to differ between something tangible and something wasn't. Philip saw no sign of... his ex so far, he was still a bit down about it but he always got Henry to get him back on track even if it took a beating. As his friend, Henry would not let the past haunt his friend. Or so how people say it. 'bros before hoes'.
Then, they ascended to the second floor. Bryce's mind only came up with two possibilities for this particular situation. One would be that the monster wasn't present. The other was that it waited for its kin in order to overwhelm them with number.
If it was indeed the latter case, then they would need more ammunition. Never had Bryce expected his day to escalate from murdering someone into monster hunting. Life sure knew how to rush things without waiting for anyone.
'Well, I don't see anything around here yet but I might have a heart attack were I to be longued up close. Fuck my life.'
Bryce took his sweet time with internal commentary about the situation at hand. Meanwhile, the two buddies were walking around literally guarding each other's back. Philip thought to himself that the hunt might end up unsatisfying until... two creature emerged from their hiding spot, each of them lounged at a prey. But messing with the duo having spent time playing Contra together. They took the creatures down with their shotguns.
Bryce also happened to shot a creature in the eye and shot a few more on its torso for a sure-kill. Expectly to him, the hunted rats would come out of their hiding whether they wanted to or not.
"Watch carefully not to step on the flytraps I prepared." Bryce said to the two guys.
"Since when did you-" Henry asked.
"When the two of you were busy with your bravado, of course. I even hide broken glass below every each of them to easily caught wind of any surrounding monstrosity."
"You're even more freaky than those things." Phillip hesitantly admitted.
As if on cue, a sound was heard from the bedroom. The two guys went there and took a nice 'shot' at the struggling creature. And then they took down more creatures by navigating the sounds. Yet the hollow ex-date didn't show up. The process had actually become a walk in the park now.
After clearing the second floor, the visited the backyard. Upon a quick look, one could see that this place would be perfect for outdoor party with plans and flowers decorated on all four corners like that. The quiet atmosphere would compliment the night sky well if it weren't for the god damned creatures crawling on all fours.
'Perhaps Miss Lily would love stargazing with me, once she gets better that is.'
Prompted by the visibly tempting future moments consisting of quality times, Bryce walked around and searched for anything odd due to not having anymore flytraps to set earlier.
Seizing the moment, Henry and Philip started talking to each other casually even in the middle of a hunt. They mostly bantered about past experiences and promisingly fun activities to plan for the following day. The moment allowed them to temporarily ignore the ongoing danger and do things normal humans always did.
"Henry, don't you think all this hunting is somehow fun?" He chuckled softly.
"Gosh, you think the chance of our heads being detached from our necks are ignorable?" The muscular guy responded awkwardly.
"Like they say. Just live, laugh and love."
"Heh, you and your internet quotes." His muscular arms were folded.
"From now on... I promise not to hide any of my struggle from my pal again."
"Really now? Will you finally man up for your bro's sake?" He chuckled to himself.
"Yes." Philip nodded.
"I too, promise to always be there for you whenever you feel down."
"I saw that you did live up to it." He let out a laugh.
And with that, the conversation between them changed into and endless exchange of laughter back and forth. Bryce felt left out for being the only serious one at the moment but it was not like they were his friend anyway. He would rather... not getting to know anyone at the moment.
"Once again, looking forward to work with you. Officer Henry."
"You too officer-"
"Look out!"
Unexpectedly, Philip noticed the creepy figure that used to be his ex dashing forward and leaping towards Henry. He himself couldn't react in time to attack. Thus, Philip...
Sacrificed himself...
Before Henry could realize, his best friend had pushed him away. He saw Philip being tackled to the ground, the creature dug its nails on his body. Philip began screaming in agony despite his body clearly wasn't bleeding.
"S-samantha... I've always... Agh!... wished that we... had a better end..." His voice slowly became faint, feeling weakened.
"Nooooo!" Henry screamed in disbelief.
The blonde Bryce loaded his gun once more and shot the creature on its back, causing it to momentarily leap away from Philip. He swore that he could see the creature extracting something white out of Philip's body which would somehow explain his weakened state. Despite being free from the creature, Philip felt like he barely has any strength to sit up. He thought that it would be his end.
"Philip! Please, don't go away! What about the promises we just exchanged? What about all of your family members wishing for your best? If you go, how will I ever face them?" He hugged his buddy tightly, desperate to cling into the faint sight of life he had.
"They... won't blame you... This is perhaps my consequence... for not being able to help Samantha..." Philip gathered all his strength to speak.
"That damned woman? Why? After all she had done to you?" Confusion lingered in his desperate voice.
"Moving on... from her doesn't... equate... hating on her..." He continued speaking. "I'm so sorry... that I couldn't man up for once... so you could... stop being worried."
"It's okay, I will always project you regardless."
"Heh... You no longer need to... Not anymore... Farewell, Henry... It has been nice being your friend..." Philip closed his eyes one last time.
"No-"
Philip had truly passed alway as he lied in Henry's arms, the man himself burried his face on his friend's body as if he was struggling to stop the tears of a man from overflowing after so long. All Bryce could here was a muffed cry, he did not know what to say as someone happened to be stuck with them. Once again, fate showed its cruelty. The clouds didn't even shred a tear for the death of a kind man, not that Bryce himself was any better. He was just too dry with anyone except Miss Lily. He walked away, leaving the man be to mourn over the forced depature that destroyed their friendship permanently.
Bryce searched for the moturnstrosity that ran off earlier. After witnessing something like that, he felt compelled to end it quickly so he could proceed with looking for the boss. For years, Bryce himself had self-learned to not habor any spontaneous sympathy for those undeserving. Yet after that, he couldn't help but urged himself to end it as soon as possible. Only when he showed no weakness shall he stood proud as he dealt with this enemies.
After a while, Henry stood up. He carred Philip's dry corpse to the couch and promised to properly burry him. Then he turned to the blonde lad and called out to him.
"Bryce... you don't have to force yourself into this anymore. I permit you to get out of here. As for the creature, I'll deal with it myself. Therefore, hand me the remote."
"..."
"What's wrong? Don't you have somewhere else to go to after escaping from prison? Why... the silent treatment?" Henry tried to hold himself, not wanting to lose his cool.
"I just wanted you to remember that you don't need to force yourself either." He looked up to the man's eyes.
"This is my choice. I will not cower and... I will make him smile even after death. So... kindly hand me the remote." He spoke honestly, no holding back his thoughts.
Bryce nodded and took out from his pocket a small remote made to activate the bombs available at the basement as user willed them. He turned around and walked outside of the house but not before saying a few more words.
"We might have only met today but... promise me that you won't regret your choice."
"An officer never backs away from his words." He put his right hand next to his forehead, doing the military greeting and also farewell.
Having already taken the car key, Bryce hopped inside the seat and began driving as he looked back through the mirror. He saw a man yelling furiously and the gray-skined creature had decide to grace him with its accursed presence. The blonde focused on the road and drove away, leaving two fierce entities behind having their last battle.
Both of them were fighting each other restlessly, melee style. Henry dragged the creature into the basement with him as they clashed their best weapon. He decided to end it by pushing the button on the remote while locking the creature's movement like a pro wrestler. Then a loud explosion could be heard and the entire house collapsed into a huge pile of ruin. Before the bomb exploded, Henry uttered his last words.
"Be seeing you soon, fellow coworker."