The rays of the sun slid into the peripherals of the room.
Klaus let out a dissatisfied grunt. His hand rubbed his groggy eyes before he forced himself to his feet.
Across the room, Xavier stirred at the sound of his brother's movements. .
A few minutes later, both brothers were adorned in a new set of clothes.
"Wheew!" Klaus exhaled sharply. "Time to kick some asses. Wait, No… Time to kick an ass."
Klaus mutters, his face plagued with confusion, before slowly nodding.
"..." Xavier simply stared blankly at his brother, not knowing how to reply to his brother's weird antics.
Outside the Azure Hotel, the brothers got into the car. The engine roared to life and then sped down the snow-covered roads.
Xavier's eyes followed the passing scenery- Majestic pines, snowy paths and bundled citizens hurrying to work.
Yet beneath the peaceful exterior, a cold unease crept in.
Minutes later, they arrived at their destination.
"North Lake Dahoan," Xavier muttered.
"Yeah." Klaus nodded in affirmation.
"Now get your ass out of the car.
"We have got some investigation to do."
After the brothers got their hands on another set of hidden badges.
They picked up guns loaded with silver bullets before hiding the guns, at the best blind spots they could find.
With the years of experience they had, this was too easy and was no different from the feeling of breathing.
After hiding the guns away from plain sight, they alighted from the car.
Right before them stood a white house with some parts of it covered in condensed snow.
Isolated and beautiful.
It was nothing short of stunning despite it being rustic and nestled among tall pine trees.
The feeling it gave off felt akin to that of nature itself with a sprinkle of a piercing coldness.
Truly remarkable for a modern-day cabin structure. Xavier thought smilingly.
Both brothers walked towards the door. The frosty snow sends cold currents into their legs.
The rugs were all covered in snow, light faint footprints easily discernible.
Klaus's hand hovered over the door, hesitating for a brief moment before knocking.
A few seconds later, a young woman with long brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders with a dark, stunning pair of eyes appeared before them.
"What can I do for you?" She asked warily.
Klaus brought out his badge, "I am Detective Winston and this here is my partner, Detective Xander."
With a suspicious look, her hands moved to collect the badge from Klaus's suspended hand.
Which, of course, he happily gave to her.
What could a brat who was wet behind her ears probably know He thought with a smug expression.
Her expression shifted, skepticism lingering as she examined the badge.
Yet come to think about it, no one in his or her right frame of mind would dare to impersonate a detective.
Right? With a slightly raised brow, she returned Klaus's badge to him.
Which he collected before keeping it in his back pocket.
Tension thickened, the eerie silence becoming one with the howling, chilly wind.
"Alright. What can I do for you detectives?"
Xavier, who had expected such a question immediately replied.
"Nothing really much. We just need to hear your thoughts on your brother's disappearance."
Her face paled slightly, tension pulling at her features. She stepped aside, allowing them in.
Both brothers walked into the room before sitting down on the brown chairs situated around the dining table.
Inside, a bit, no older than fifteen sat at the dining table silently observing them.
He raised his head to take a clear view of the strangers.
He had heard his sister's words with them and knew that the guys were detectives and wanted to know more about his elder brother's disappearance.
Hence, he was quite thrilled.
His elder sister had reported the case to the cops. But according to them, his elder brother is most likely… He shook his head, not wanting to complete that strain of thought.
Perhaps these detectives will be able to help find Alex.
Although he still kept a poker expression, inwardly he was happily rejoicing.
"So ma-," Xavier attempted to speak but was cut short by the young lady.
"You can just call me Selina."
The young lady then proceeded to hand over a cup of warm water to both brothers.
The brothers collected the water with Klaus drowning the water immediately.
Xavier simply kept his on the table. He smiled before nodding at her.
"Okay, Selina. These questions might come off as a little bit offensive, so please bear with us.
"It's okay.
As long as my brother can be found." She forced a smile before taking her seat on one of the brown chairs.
Xavier nods, "Alright."
"So… How do you know your brother is missing or more appropriate... Still alive?"
"Well, according to the cop's investigation. He and his friends were probably attacked by a wild animal.
Biting onto her lower lips whilst forcing back the teardrops that threatened to fall from her eyes, she added.
"Though according to the cops. Alex is probably... dead.
"But I went there, later on and managed to get my hands on Alex's camera. Which clearly proves that he is still alive. Though…"
"Though what?" Questioned Klaus.
The tension hung in the air, thick and cloying.
Selina glanced at Klaus whilst sighing lightly.
"We couldn't really see anything in the video apart from the videos he does send to me every camping night.
"But he suddenly ceased sending it which made me realize that something was off and I reported to the cops who failed awfully in doing their duties."
She explained with a bitter expression.
"But after that. Everything just seemed s-o weird.
She paused, her brows slightly narrowed before she added.
"All we could hear was screams and Alex talking about a yellow pair of eyes or some-."
She rubbed her temples as she found it difficult to explain the ordeal of events with great clarity.
A pair of yellow eyes. Both brothers immediately glanced at each other.
Never had they heard of a wendigo with a yellow pair of eyes.
With a slightly raised brow, "Alright Selina. Can you do us a favor? The video recorded by your brother.
"Can we see it?"
"Yeah." Selina subtly nods her head.
She stood up before heading into a room.
A few seconds of absolute silence easily passed by.
"Hey Kiddo. What's your name?" Klaus questioned the kid in front of him smilingly.
"Aven." The boy replied before he quickly returned to eating his food.
"So Aven. What do you think about your brother's sudden disappearance?"
Aven was quiet for a few seconds before exhaling.
"Alex and his friends decided to go out on a camping trip.
"Despite the local lore that talks about a monster inhabiting the desolate wilderness.
"Alex and his friends wanted to prove the community and the elders wrong…"
"So they decided to go camping?"
Klaus completed the sentence, receiving a nod from Aven.
Well, that's quite a good way to court death.
A light sigh escaped his lips.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Selina finally came back with the camera.
She handed the camera over to Xavier who nodded before collecting it.
Both brothers had furrowed brows as they watched the footage over and over.
A light sense of unease gnawing on their hearts to the very depths of their soul.
While they tried to gain a deeper and clearer understanding of the bizarre scenes rapidly flashing past their eyes.
A few minutes later, Klaus glanced at Xavier and spoke in a hushed tone.
"The stalking of prey, the terrifying speed, the mimicry. All this proves we're dealing with a Wendigo.
"But what's with the yellow pair of eyes?"
"Baffles me"
The only thing that should be able to result in such a change would be if this wendigo isn't just an ordinary wendigo.
But is actually a hybrid.
But… how the hell is that even possible. Supernatural creatures shouldn't be able to crossbreed. This has been proven true without any exception!
Xavier's thought ran into a frantic, spiraling descent, his mind on the verge of breaking apart. Various thoughts and possibilities tried to overwhelm him completely.
He exhaled sharply, trying his best to pacify his rapidly beating heart.
Alright, let's assume it somehow managed to become a possibility. A question still remains.
If one of its parents is a Wendigo, what, then could be its other parent?
He pondered hard on it yet wasn't able to come up with a logical explanation.
Sighing in exasperation, he shifted his gaze toward her.
"Alright. Thanks for your time, Selina."
After both brothers got onto their feet.
Selina whispered in a barely audible tone.
"Please, do help us find my brother."
She sniffed lightly in an attempt to force back the tears.
If she cried, then what was Aven supposed to do?
Klaus sighed inwardly before nodding.
"If your brother is still alive. We will do our best to bring him back in one piece."
Aven got onto his feet before bowing lightly. "Thanks."
He muttered then proceeded to take his plate to the kitchen.
Selina had a worried expression, obviously hesitating to say something.
"Is there anything you wanna tell us?" Klaus questioned.
"No-no I mean yes." She stuttered whilst biting onto her lower lips.
"Feel free to speak. If we can help out, then we surely will." Xavier reassured.
"Well… I kinda hired a hunter to help find my brother.
"I was wondering if you detectives can also help out."
"Oh… a hunter," Klaus muttered, eliciting a nod from Selina.
"Fool, it's probably just a normal hunter," Xavier replied in a hushed tone.
"I see."
Yeah. Xavier thought with a roll of his eyes.
"Anyway, Selina. We are glad to be of help.
"So… When do we drop by?" Questioned Xavier.
"Around five in the evening."
Xavier nodded before both brothers headed for the car.
The car immediately sped into the distance, whilst Selina waved her hands towards the car eliciting a light smile from Xavier.
"Sis, do you think that.. Alex is still alive?" Alex walked over to his sister, a solemn expression plaguing his face.
"Don't say that Aven. Alex is alive… He's definitely alive."
She comforted Aven who rested on her bosom, teardrops dripping down the corner of his eyes.
She caressed his hair as she tried to comfort him.
Ever since their father and mother died in the car accident. She had single-handedly taken care of her two younger brothers with everything she had got. She had done...so many...bad... perhaps too bad things just for them. Yet she never regretted it and if she was given the chance to start all over again. She would still go on with her choices.
For...they meant the world to her.
Hence, she couldn't bear to accept the cruel fact that Alex was dead.
She didn't want to…
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Meanwhile, as the car sped down the road.
Xavier finally spoke up after a few seconds of constantly rubbing his temples.
"I think we are dealing with a hybrid."
Klaus's brows immediately narrowed to point ends.
Hybrid… He had never heard of such shit…such shit only exists in fairy tales.
After all, it's a known fact among hunters that supernatural creatures can't crossbreed.
It's nothing short of a daunting… impossible task.
"What do you mean by a hybrid?"
Klaus replied, a solemn expression gripping his face.
"Think about it, Klaus. Everything we have gotten so far proves that we're dealing with a wendigo, but those yellow pair of eyes.
"No… That's no Wendigo." He paused for a second before adding grimly. "That's another creature entirely… One that's even more fearsome and deadly."
Klaus didn't like the ominous feeling plaguing his heart one bit!
The car abruptly screeched to a halt.
"And what's this creature?" Klaus asked hurriedly, tension brewing softly, thick and cloying.
Xavier gave a deep sigh.
The tension brewed continuously, the terrifying sense of foreboding, heightening.
"It's probably a…
A what… speak up you...! Klaus roared inwardly, his mind on the verge of crumbling.
Whatever was holding onto his heart right now...he didn't really like it one bit.