Purple Moon(CM5)

 Purple Moon

Crescent Moon 5

    They arrive at the northern town just before sunset. The first thing that Kat notices is that no one is in the streets. All the doors and windows are locked and barred — not a single hint of movement.

    "They said this place was populated, didn't they?" Cade asks his voice barely above a whisper and only half-joking.

    Kat gets off the bike, her left-hand reaching for one of the swords on her back. Cade, knowing that this is serious, looks for any movement.

    "The Alteration is only supposed to be a level A. It shouldn't be able to clear the town this fast." Kat murmurs

    Cade catches a glimpse of a fleeting shadow in a window. "There," He says and starts walking for the house.

    Kat follows behind him, trusting his sharp eyes. Cade walks right up to the door and knocks.

    No one answers.

    Kat looks up at the now orange sky and pulls out her swords "Leave it, Cade. Even if there are people in the house they won't answer, not this close to nightfall."

    Cade backs away from the door and also looks at the sky "So it hunts at night. I'll go up to the roofs anything else I should know."

    "It hates fire," Kat replies and walks to the middle of the road.

    Cade scales the building. He pulls out his crossbow and stares into the wilderness as the sun slowly sets over the horizon. Then something moves in the dark shadows.

    "East," Cade whispers.

    Kat understands and positions herself to the East. Kat is sure that the Alteration can see her and is waiting for the perfect moment to strike just like she is waiting for it to reveal itself.

    Time ticks by slowly in the silence. Kat never lets her guard down, and neither does Cade. Just as he is about to shot into the dark to bring the creature out it slowly slinks out the darkness and into the light of the torches.

    It is obvious that it was once human and that it once walked on two legs, but now it walks on its knuckles and toes. Its back is hunched, and the bones are easily visible. Its eyes look like they belong to a snake but are red. Razor-sharp teeth peak out of its mouth, and dried blood cover its lips and chin standing out against the deathly pale skin. It studies Kat for a minute then, with surprising speed, it jumps for her throat.

    She waits until it is in mid-air then swings her sword cutting it across the ribs and throwing it away from her. It growls at her and the flesh seals back together.

    "I'm guessing its an A2 or 3," She says as it slowly walks towards her.

    "Do we have any orders to take it back?" Cade replies.

    "No. Feel free to light it."

    Four rapid shots ring through the air. Three arrows hit the Alteration. One in the forehead, one in the heart and one in the stomach. The force of the arrows hitting it cause it to stumble backward and it looks down at the arrows with shock. Then before it can regain its composer, a torch slides off of the house and sets the Alteration on fire. It screams a high pitched sound of agony as its body goes up in flames.

    Kat turns away and looks at Cade, who is walking toward her, "We'll wait until it stops burning before we leave."

    "Wanting to make sure none of the houses catch on fire are we," Cade teases back to his joking self.

    "No, just wanting to make sure you remember how to do your job after not doing it for so long."

 

 

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