The room is tense, even though Luna knows the letter said the test takers want to kill her and Jamal. She looks around nervously, but no one seems to pay her any attention.
Emmerich smiles and announces, "Congratulations! You've all passed your final test. You'll each speak with me in private to reveal why you want to become a Hunter." He then steps into a room and shuts the door behind him.
Whispers and murmurs spread throughout the group. Everyone had been under the impression they'd have to fight someone. The tension thickens as the unknown looms.
Suddenly, a loud, ear-piercing tone blares from a speaker. A voice booms, "Richards, enter now!"
A large man in a suit, looking visibly nervous, steps forward and enters the room. After what feels like an eternity, the speaker crackles again. "Next! Alana, enter!"
A striking woman with bright orange hair and a confident stride enters the room, her vibrant blue dress swaying as she moves. Time stretches on once more, with no one returning from the room.
Once again, the ear-piercing sound cuts through the air, followed by a booming, "Next! Luna, enter!"
Luna freezes in place, dread washing over her. Before she can react, something shoves her forward, and she stumbles into the room.
Inside, she sees Emmerich sitting at a table. The room is sparsely furnished, with two metal chairs and a wooden folding table, creating an eerie atmosphere. Behind him are two doors, their purpose unclear.
On the table lies a Mauser C96 pistol, along with several 9mm rounds neatly arranged. The sight of the weapon sends a chill down Luna's spine as she cautiously steps forward.
"Sit," Emmerich commands in a cold, sharp tone.
Luna freezes for a moment before reluctantly walking over and sitting in the chair. She fidgets nervously, poking her fingers together as she avoids his gaze.
Emmerich watches her patiently. "Comfortable?" he asks, his voice calm yet disconcerting.
"U-uh, y-yes, s-sir!" Luna stammers, stiffening up like a board.
Emmerich exhales a long, drawn-out sigh. "Ms. Luna, I'm supposed to ask why you want to be a Hunter, but frankly, I don't care. Let me ask you this instead: Why are you here?"
Luna blinks in confusion. "To be a—"
"If you say 'to be a Hunter,' I'll kill you," he interrupts, his voice sharp and icy. "Let me rephrase the question: Why are you here in Colorado? And if you ask me why I'm in Colorado, I'll shoot you." He glares at her, his expression unyielding.
"I-I, uh… I ran away from h-home and… I ended up here!" Luna blurts out, her voice trembling with fear.
Emmerich raises an eyebrow. "You ran away? Why?"
Luna's expression falters, a hint of sadness crossing her face. "W-well, I got into an argument with my mother… and then I told her to never speak to me again. So, I ran away!"
Emmerich arches his eyebrow even higher, his face unreadable. "I see."
There's a long pause between the two of them before Emmerich breaks the silence. "Luna, one more question: do you plan to ever return to your family?"
Luna's face twists into a slight scowl. "No."
Bizarrely, Emmerich smiles. "I see. You passed. Enter the left door."
Luna's face contorts in shock. "W-what?"
Still smiling, Emmerich says, "You passed! Though, a word to the wise—watch your back. That letter I left for you and Jamal? It was true."
Luna stares at him in terror, unsure if he's lying or telling the truth. She can't read him at all. Hesitantly, she stands up and heads for the left door.
"Oh, and one more thing, Luna," Emmerich says, his face turning serious once more.
Luna forces a smile. "Yes, sir?"
"Your family is looking for you. I'll do you a favor and tell them you made your way to California instead of Colorado. Keep your head down, and I'd recommend getting that Jamal fellow to join your team with Sunny. He has just as much talent as you do."
Luna's eyes widen in surprise. "T-thank you!" she stammers, then quickly walks through the left door.
As she walks down the hallway, she notices someone sitting at a desk to her right, next to a photo booth.
"Hello, Ms. Luna! Please enter the photo booth," the man says with an unnervingly cheerful smile.
"Y-yes!" Luna responds nervously, stepping into the photo booth and sitting down. After a few moments, her photo is taken.
Ten minutes later, her ID is ready.
"Here you go, Ms. Luna," the man says, handing her the ID. "And by the way, copies are never made of this ID. If you need a replacement, it must be done through a Sanctum organization. Oh, and take this note—it's for if you ever need a replacement. Don't lose it!"
Luna smiles and nods, taking both the ID and the note. Clutching them tightly, she leaves the building as quickly as possible.
Outside, the sky is dark, and snow falls gently. Luna sighs in relief, her breath visible in the cold night air. Spotting a bench nearby, she gingerly walks over and sits down. She lets out another deep sigh, looking up at the sky as snowflakes land softly on her face. Emmerich's words echo in her mind: People want you dead.
After a few quiet moments, Sunny suddenly appears next to her.
"Oh, fuck!" Luna shouts, startled.
Sunny grins mischievously. "Oh, h-hey, Sunny!" Luna says, trying to catch her breath. "Sooooo, how'd the test go?" Sunny nudges her shoulder playfully.
Luna smiles proudly. "I passed!" She pulls out her ID and shows it to Sunny.
Sunny raises an eyebrow. "Huh, one and a half stars—not bad for starting out!"
Luna looks at the ID more closely, her excitement growing. "Holy—I didn't even check my rating!"
She lets out a squeal. "Eeeeee!" she shouts excitedly. "Oh, and I—oh, I—uh!" Without thinking, she throws her arms around Sunny in a tight hug, too thrilled to find the right words.
Sunny gives Luna a head pat before standing up. "Alright! Well, want to head back to the hotel?"
Luna quickly stands, but her attention is drawn to Jamal exiting the building. Sunny's face lights up with a wide grin as he approaches.
"Okay, Sunny, you win," Jamal mutters, stopping in front of them. "I'll join your little team."
Luna glances at Sunny, who wears the smuggest look she's ever seen. "Heh," Sunny chuckles, thoroughly amused, much to Jamal's dismay.
Jamal lets out a long, exasperated sigh. "Whatever. Just keep in mind, I still have a few things I need to take care of here, but I should be done by tomorrow."
Sunny leaps into the air, her energy infectious. "Alrighty! We'll meet back here tomorrow around the afternoon. How's that sound?"
Jamal nods, his expression neutral. "That should be enough time."
Sunny and Luna start their walk back to the hotel, leaving Jamal behind. He sits on the bench, letting his head fall back as a mixture of confusion and sadness washes over his face.
"The moment I walked in there, Emmerich offered to help me find the one who killed my brother if I joined Sunny's little team. How the hell did he know about my brother? How the hell did he even know I had a brother?" Jamal clenches his fists, staring at the snow-covered ground.
"The first thing that man offers me is the one thing I've wanted for years. And it's here—right in front of me. But why her team? Did Sunny have something to do with this? Probably. Probably not. Who knows?"
Jamal lets out a frustrated huff. "I join her team, help her with whatever stupid shit she's got going on, and in return, I get to find the piece of shit who put my brother on ice."
These thoughts swirl in his head like a storm, but he stands abruptly, his expression hardening. There are people he needs to see before the night ends, and he's not about to waste any more time sitting on a bench.
With purpose in his stride, Jamal disappears into the snowy streets.
After a few hours, Emmerich sat in a lavish hotel room, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling window. The room was a masterpiece of opulence—everything from the finest silk sheets draping the king-sized bed to the richly polished mahogany furniture exuded luxury. A crystal chandelier hung overhead, casting a warm golden glow across the room, while a handwoven Persian carpet, easily worth over a hundred grand, stretched across the floor. A fireplace crackled gently in the corner, its mantle adorned with intricately carved statuettes, and the faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.
As Emmerich stared out at the snow-dusted skyline, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," he said in a calm, composed voice.
The door opened, and Father Fredrick stepped inside, his warm smile immediately brightening the room. "Ah, hello, my friend. I assume the test went well?"
Emmerich nodded, his expression steady. "Yes, they did. I must say, the six test takers who made it through are quite impressive—what you Americans like to call 'the cream of the crop.'"
Father Fredrick chuckled lightly as he approached. "That's good to hear. Though I must admit, I've had my hands full. I dealt with the third demon portal this month. They're increasing in numbers."
Emmerich reached for a crystal glass of scotch sitting on the side table. He swirled the amber liquid slowly, his gaze thoughtful. "I see. And Jamal agreed to my deal. He's a remarkable psychic, full of potential. If nurtured properly, he'll be a valuable asset."
There was a brief pause as Emmerich's expression grew contemplative. "And then there's that girl, Luna. What is she doing here? She's a member of the Gold family, yet she's out here on her own. It makes no sense." He took a measured sip of his drink, his eyes narrowing. "What's even more perplexing is that she ran away—and that they let her run away. Still, I can see her potential. She could be instrumental in helping me achieve my goal, my friend."
Father Fredrick's smile faded as he folded his arms. "It's risky, you know that, right?"
Emmerich's lips curled into a wide grin. "My friend, my entire life has been built on taking risks," he said, letting out a thunderous laugh that echoed through the room. "This will be... interesting!"
Meanwhile, at the modest hotel where Luna and Sunny were staying, the morning sunlight filtered through the curtains. Luna was fast asleep, buried under a heap of blankets. Sunny, already dressed and full of energy, decided to let her rest a bit longer. "She earned it," Sunny muttered with a small smile.
Sitting at the small desk in their room, Sunny scrolled through her phone. Suddenly, she answered an incoming call, her tone bright. "Hello, Sunny speaking!"
There was some chatter on the other end of the line, prompting Sunny to grin. "Oh, really? A threat up north? Sounds great. Alright, sign me and my team up!" She put extra emphasis on the word team, smirking as she did.
Behind her, Luna began to stir, rubbing her eyes groggily as she sat up in bed. Sunny turned to her with a wide smile and gave her a thumbs-up. "Good news, partner! We've got our first official job as a team!"