To Hunt the Hunters

Jane took a deep, steadying breath as she looked at the grime covered manhole that would take her down into the sewers and eventually to the lair of the monsters she was here to slay.

For nearly her entire life Jane had been trained to fight monsters, creatures that most humans believed were confined neatly to storybooks. The monastery had books on every type of monster that had been cataloged, and Jane had studied them all. She had sparred with the brothers and sisters at the temple. She had even fought and defeated a number of lesser creatures. She had trained in every way imaginable. But she had never faced a foe like the one she hunted this night. Tonight Jane stalked a tentacle monster. She was nervous. If she was honest with herself, she was terrified. Now, at the tender age of 18, Jane was about to head toward her first true encounter with the cunning, lustful monsters, and she was totally without backup or reinforcements.

Steeling herself once more, Jane descended and wandered through many dark tunnels until, finally, she began to see the first signs of the evil creatures. A trail of thick, gooey substance somewhat like mucus, was smeared across the floor, walls, and ceiling.

“Well,” whispered Jane to herself, “I guess this is it…”

Editor's Note:

Regardless of the prejudices of the main character, all creatures in this story are intended to be considered to have at least human-level sapience and the ability to give or refuse consent.