Chapter 245 The Company of A Fellow Man
"No! I'm not gonna tell you anything unless you tell me what the fuck just happened in that forest!"
"You know what happened. We've been attacked. That's it."
Howard and Gunnar were now inside a hotel, since the Bush House Museum had been opened for tour during the weekdays. Apparently, a bunch of middle schoolers will be having their field trip there, and so they had to settle in somewhere else.
It was still raining, but it was less oppressive than before.
"Attacked by what!? You know that thing! And it knows you…. You have history. And what does it mean by you being a dark knight?" Gunnar exclaimed.
Howard sighed. "It's not really important. The point is that I am looking for a way to stop the vampires, just like you. Just like everyone. I'm on your side. And if it weren't for me, we would have never escaped. If it weren't for—"
He stopped himself as his tone started to rise in desperation.
"Look. You are young. You don't have children of your own, so you may not understand the state that I'm in." He went to the windows and looked. "Every second counts. I can't waste time, or my family would be in danger. My eldest is…. I can tell there's something wrong with him."
Gunnar's expression started to soften.
He then made a grunt, crossing his arms. "It's damn presumptuous of you to think I don't understand. Just 'coz I've been going solo doesn't mean I don't understand what it's like to worry 'bout those relying on you."
He then took out what seemed to be a necklace full of intricate designs and bits and bobs. There were colorful strings, feathers, rocks, and some animal teeth.
"I don't just fight for revenge. I fight so that my siblings would not have to experience what I did, so that every child in the world wouldn't. You are a father and I'm not, I get that. But I can understand."
Howard turned to him, his eyes full of exhaustion yet at the same time that determined focus.
"Then please help me."
Gunnar sat down at the edge of the bed. "Fine. The Von Halsinge that I know of... She's not that far from where you came from. She does move from place to place, so I can't really tell you where she 'lives'. But you can't miss her."
Gunnar went on to describe this Von Halsinge huntress, and Howard listened intently, remembering every detail.
"Try to look in the places I mentioned. You can also ask around fellow hunters, you'd be able to find them if you look hard enough. Once you find one, it's easier to get connected to the rest."
"I see." Howard nodded. "Thank you, Gunnar."
Gunnar scoffed. "You're not gonna tell me a little bit 'bout yerself, then? That ain't fair, dontcha think?"
Howard sighed again, sitting on the bed with the big gruff guy who was actually more sensitive and tender than he thought. He didn't really expect him to be convinced into sharing the information by just talking about his family.
Maybe he should have just opened up at the start.
Still, no one could really blame Howard since he had a bad streak when it comes to opening up and trusting people.
"What do you want to know?"
Gunnar shrugged. "Anything, really. I mean, the rain's still pourin' and we've got nothin' to do until we doze off. You'll probably be out by morning to look for that Von Halsinge girl. I'd have to take care of explainin' to the locals why one of them suddenly went crazy after askin' for my help."
He then asked softly. "You don't think... There's any other way to save him?"
Howard shook his head, remembering how Clay molded that bearded man with all its colors.
"No. He's.... gone. His body is alive, but he's dead inside it. All that remains is the confusion as he became something he doesn't understand, something that doesn't exist outside of his own head."
The Sami hunter also heaved a heavy sigh. "Thought so. That Clay thing mentioned that the only way you and I survived was because we are marked. I don't know what that means but..."
Howard shook his head. "No, I don't know what it means either. Not… fully. But I can somewhat feel it. Somewhat understand it. We…. We're not….."
He couldn't continue the thought since he knew that it might bring major changes to himself and Gunnar.
But it was the truth.
They were no longer human.
Both the monsters and the monster hunters. They were not part of the rest of the world that was normal and right.
"I know."
He was surprised when the big guy said this, almost like a whisper to himself.
"That's not my issue, I guess. I don't mind it. What I'm askin' is…. Why? And what now? Are our options only to die fighting monsters or….. eventually become fully like them?"
Howard shrugged, but it does seem that way.
He would rather die fighting than the latter option, though. But he still had to live long enough to save those who mattered to him.
Gunnar suddenly laid with a plop! on the bed. It creaked a little from his weight, but Howard didn't really mind.
"I remember when I was young. The thing I was scared of the most was actually something silly. It's not vampires, or crazy fairy lands in your dreams, or anything like that. No... I was actually scared of my grandfather."
Howard didn't seem to find it silly. He just laid on the bed next to him, and asked. "Why?"
Gunnar shrugged. "I don't know. The old geezer is just scary and tough, I guess. He's not really a bad guy…. He even cut firewood for us and delivered water from miles away even at his age. Still…. He was quiet, and kept to himself. I was a very weak and clumsy child."
"I would actually fail in every task that little boys like me are expected to do. Whenever I would try to help to cut wood, or go bird-hunting…. I just fell behind. And though my grandfather won't say anything, I can see that look of disappointment in his eyes. Like he was expecting that I would be a failure in everything I do."
Howard nodded in understanding. "My father is almost like that too. Until he gets drunk and starts yelling what he truly thinks about me."
Gunnar chuckled. "Maybe I should have tried getting grandpa drunk too. That way I can finally confirm that he really hated me, instead of just plain guessin' and thinkin' if it was just in my head."
Howard smiled. It had been a long time since he had a conversation like this with someone.
He wouldn't consider Gunnar a friend, but sharing things like this….. There's just something so cathartic for both parties that you suddenly feel a sense of kinship that you hadn't before. Reminding you that in the end, we all have struggles and some may experience similar ones to us.
He remembered how much he felt that way around that man. That sense of brotherhood, camaraderie.... Whatever you may call it.
And that man used that to take advantage of him. Taking advantage of both his pity....
And his desire for the company of his fellow man.
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