New Midian - 2

Authors note - Here is the second part. The rest will be released with these chapters closer to the end of January on Royal Road. They will be released quickly as I plan to publish fast the first book. Paterons will see the other chapters in the first and second tiers before that. As always thoughts and feedback is welcome.

Chapter 3

The men were now close enough for me to get a good look at them and hear their conversation. Both men were dressed for the outdoors and were covered in dust, indicating they had been travelling hard and far.

“What is this place, Albert?” The first said.

“I do not know Samuel. It was not here when I passed through these woods three years ago.”

Albert and Samuel, their horses tethered to a nearby tree, stood at the gates of my Dungeon. Their rifles, a clear sign of their preparedness, were held firmly in their hands. On their hips were Colt pistols, fully loaded, I would wager. Both men looked like they had used both types of weapons often.

“Are you sure he came this way and has not gone another?” Samuel asked.

“Yes, the trail was clear even after we found the horse wandering. The trail we followed to get here is freshly cut with the tracks matching his footprints from the Johnson farm.”

Johnson! I knew it; they were tracking Rigger!

“It's getting dark. Do we go in? He might be waiting for us, lurking in the shadows, ready to ambush.” Samuel was now standing at the gates, peering in, his voice barely a whisper, but Albert heard him.

“In decency's name, we need to. We cannot let him get away and avoid us again, especially now he has those poor women.” Alberts's tone was firm, and his face set. “Can you look at another aftermath of his vile deeds?”

Samuel paled and looked like he was going to throw up. “No, God forgive me, but I cannot see another.”

“Then we must enter and seek a reckoning.”

The gates were opened, and both men entered with their weapons raised. I reached out and connected to my Hunter.

“Rigger! We have company two men tracking you from the Johnson farm. Heavily armed, it looks like they know how to use them.” I sensed his panic and rushed to get prepared. I had stopped calling him John both out of frustration and as a means to separate myself from him if he died.

“What do you make of this, Albert?”

They had reached the plinth with the inscription. Both read it and looked confused.

“I know not, Samuel. Let us not linger as there is something not natural or Godly about this place. Let us find him and be done with him and this place.”

They chose not to follow the path but continued to walk straight in.

[Alert! Intruders are not recognised as Challengers.]

This means I can help John defend the Dungeon. Firearms are a big no-no. Not discarding them before entering lists you as an intruder, not a Challenger, and the gloves come off. My Hunters could use firearms, but they and I did not receive a kill for it.

“Look, a chapel in the distance; he will most likely be there.” Albert points to my Core resting place. They begin heading that way.

“Rigger, they are heading to the church. Use guns as a last resort.”

I sensed he was now out of his lair and finding an ambush point. The growing darkness would help him with this. The sun setting behind the mountains and walls spread darkness across the graveyard even faster.

Samuel and Albert were moving together, side by side. Each pointed their weapons in different directions. Their rifles were braced against their shoulders, fingers on the triggers ready to fire.

“We will be there soon. Be ready. He might know we are here. For all of his vileness, he is cunning.” Albert was older and had the experience. Samuel was younger but was listening to his words.

“I need to separate these two if Rigger has a chance of winning without shooting them.”

They had now come close to the church and his hiding spot. They had not seen him in the growing darkness as he had hidden himself well. If I could distract them, he might have a chance.

“I am going to try to distract them. Use it if it works. The older one is the more dangerous.”

I looked around for an option, but he made no reply.

There, a stone! Inspiration struck.

Concentrating, I lifted a stone and threw it.

The clatter caused both to turn and face north. I felt extreme mental exhaustion, and my vision blurred momentarily. That was all I could do.

They walked several steps in the direction I threw the stone, getting separated by gravestones. Rigger took the opening. He got up from the ground where he was lying and moved up behind them with his bowie knife drawn. He moves with surprising silence.

He is behind Albert. Something warns the man of the danger behind him, and he turns; Rigger gets into range. The blade slices into his side and goes deep, ignoring the layers he is wearing. It is angled into his chest and slices at least one lung, and may have even reached his heart. Albert coughs up blood instead of whatever he is about to say. This still alerts Samuel.

Samuel turns to see his companion standing with Rigger just behind him. The look of horror on his face tells me all I need to know as he sees the other man dying. Lifting the rifle, he is shaking too badly to aim properly but fires anyway.

Rigger twists the body on his knife to act as a shield, but not fast enough. The bullet clips Alberts's body and grazes Rigger’s left arm. He grunts with pain from the wound.

Not wasting time, Riger pulls the blade free and lets the body drop.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

He charges the short distance, throwing off any chance to reload the rifle and closing with Samuel. I am impressed he got one off. He jumped and brought down the younger man. The fast and numerous strikes with the blade brought about his end. He tried to scream but coughed up blood instead.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

“Well, that ended faster than I expected.”

Rigger rose from the second messier kill, breathing hard. He was covered in blood and took a few more rapid breaths before inspecting his arm. The bullet had ripped through the clothing, and a nasty scar had been carved through his flesh, but I did not see bone.

“You will not die from that and will be healed soon.”

“Reckon ya right.” He was still looking at the injury.

“Recognise these two?”

He looked down at them both. He walked back over to Alberts's body, leaned over, and ripped open his jacket. On his chest was a silver star with the word Marshall imprinted on it. He began searching his pockets.

“Well, that is not welcome.”

Dead lawmen were never a thing you wanted when you were just starting out as a murder/death Dungeon. Rigger stood up, holding a piece of paper. Opening the single sheet, the word reward was printed in bold letters. There was an artist's impression of Rigger, his name and a long list of crimes.

“Three hundred dollars reward. Is that a bit low for what this claims you have done?”

“They don’t know most of me fun.” He was smiling, remembering his past misdeeds.

“Let us move on. Collect the gear from the horses and let them go. Bring it all and their personal possessions to the church. You can bury the bodies tomorrow.”

Rigger nods and gets to work. I return to the church and await him. This gives me time to think about the first four kills in my Dungeon. The violent deaths should have affected me, and I could make out the disgust and horror at them, but it was so far away and distant that I was more like an observer on the far side of a ravine trying to listen to them calling over in high winds. I knew they were there but could not understand what they were saying.

I knew I had been changed or restricted in many ways. This was just another sign of it. I suspect that it was to make sure that I could perform the role of a Dungeon Keeper without having a complete mental breakdown.

I was still mulling this over when Rigger brought all the loot to the chapel and placed it in front of the altar.

“Needed a horse to bring it all.”

“That’s fine. Go release it, and I will look over everything.”

He left and returned about thirty minutes later. This gave me a good idea of what was here.

“Place the money, watches and jewellery in the urn to the right. The badges go to the left. Guns and ammunition will go into the tomb to the north. Take what you desire and place what’s left with the guns.”

It did not take long, and the loot was separated. Rigger took no food but alcohol and tobacco, along with a few shirts. He placed the identified items in each urn and moved the rest.

By the time he had finished, night had indeed fallen. The night sky was brilliant, and I enjoyed looking at it without the light pollution I was used to when I was alive—well, alive as a human, that is.

Shifting position to the bubble's top, I looked across the land around me. In the distance, I could see the soft glow of the community there. Rigger was placing the last of the loot away.

“Rigger, what is the name of the community over the rise to the northeast?”

“That will be Crossway.”

“Crossway? What sort of a name is that for a town?”

“It's where the trails and river crossing meet. So, named it Crossway.”

“What a lousy name.”

He made no reply, but I sensed him closing the door to the loot pile and heading back to his lair. I asked him no more questions. He opened the door and left my senses as I disconnected from him.

[Hunter: John Rigger will be healed in 06:00:00.]

“Well, that's good to know.”

I looked around, and when I looked at his lair, a countdown ticked away above it. That was a handy feature.

I floated about there for the rest of the night and watched the world wake up again with the dawn. Nightlife slipped away, replaced by those who moved in the light of the sun.

Over the night, I wondered if living in America now makes me American. It was a long night, and not much else happened.

The countdown had long vanished, and Rigger was up and about. He buried the bodies as instructed. He spent a few hours on the path leading to the main road, but I allowed him to retire early. I checked and found the dead men's names listed on the gravestones above their graves.

“Interesting feature that.”

At least I now had a way to keep track of time if I lost track of it.

The next few days went as follows: Rigger worked on the trail and then retired. There were primarily sunny days but a few rainy ones. Today, we had a nasty storm blowing through the area. Thunder, lightning, and heavy rain, which had been no stop for most of the day. It had come down from the mountains. I had given Rigger the day off, but he had not emerged from his lair.

He had cleared enough foliage to allow me a partial view of the road or, should I say, track, which was all mud now. It was a mile from my gates to the road. The path had a kink in it that blocked a direct view up the path to the Dungeon. This was due to a much larger tree holding that patch of ground.

“Hello, what is that.”

I perked up at seeing a team of horses pulling a canvas-covered wagon through the mud. The wagon was one of the classic ones used by settlers going west in all the films and series. It turned and began heading up the trail to my Dungeon. Behind it came a second. Each was heavily loaded and had two figures bundled up on the driver seat and riding shotgun.

“Not what I was expecting? Are they lost?”

The wagons were patched and had additional containers strapped to the sides. They looked worn and heavily used.

They rode up to the gates. I had Rigger clear space to the left of the gates, and the wagons parked up. Due to the storm, I could not hear what was being said, but their body language indicated that they were lost. Two figures of men walked up to the gates and looked inside. I noticed the faces of women and children glancing out of the backs of the wagons.

“Pioneers from out east probably.”

They did not expect me to be here; they hoped I would be in a cabin or a small collection of houses, maybe even Crossway.

“If I were them, I would wait out the storm, go back to the main track, and keep on going.”

Looking around the sky, I could see the storm breaking soon, maybe an hour or two. The night would be close behind. They would never reach the town over the rise. For the wagons, it was nearly a day away in the muddy conditions.

As predicted, the rain continued for nearly two hours and then suddenly disappeared. The setting sun cut through the clouds, and the two families set up a basic camp as far from the gates as the clearing allowed.

I could not blame them.

There are two adult men and women, four teenagers, three males and one female, and four more children, three females and one male. The youngest boy was about eight, while the youngest girl was about four.

“Please don't come in. Just camp out tonight and leave in the morning.”

The kills would put me over the threshold for my next level, but the idea was revolting enough to get me through to even my logical side. My rational side had already calculated that they could overwhelm Rigger with numbers anyway. The men and teenagers had all now produced rifles and were eyeing my gates. I was happy to leave them be as long as they stayed outside.

The night rolled in, and they retired to the wagons to sleep.

Just past midnight, I spotted movement. The oldest teenage male emerged from the closet wagon and walked around, stretching his legs. Shortly after the eldest teenage female emerged, she smiled at the young man waiting for her.

“Lover’s tryst? Just do not come in.”

I watched them meet up a reasonable distance from the wagons. They had leaned in close and were whispering. The male was glancing at the gates.

The cloud mainly had blown through, and the half-moon was high in the sky. It provided a respectable amount of silvery light to illuminate the area. I did not need it, as I still could see everything clearly in the Dungeon, but outside, the dark restricted me as a normal person. The problem was that I could see with terrible clarity what was going to happen.

“Don’t, boy, keep her safe and stay out!”

After a few minutes, he convinced her and they walked through the partially open gates.

“Shit!”

They stopped at the plinth, and the girl read the words aloud.

“What do you think this strange verse means, Henry?” Her confusion is apparent in her features and tone.

“I do not know, Susan. Let us walk a little further before we need to go back. I have things we need to speak on.”

“I do not think we should. Something is queer about this place, and it unsettles me.” She pulls her shawl tighter around her as she looks across the graveyard.

“Frett, not Susan, I wish to speak of tomorrow.”

He took her hand, and she allowed herself to be led. They took the southern path as they continued talking.

[Two Challengers have entered your Dungeon.]

“Well, we are committed now.” I could sense Rigger becoming aware of the two interlopers. I turned my attention back to the couple. Passing the plinth and stepping onto one of the paths was the last thing needed to trigger the Dungeon.

“It is true I plan to ask your father for the privilege of courting you tomorrow.”

“Oh, Henry, that is splendid news. I think our parents will approve of such a match.”

No, you will not, I thought to myself. As recognised Challengers, my options had become very limited, and I was now regulated to observe. This was not going to go well; Henry was not armed but had a small knife in his belt. Against Rigger, he would not last long. I did not even count the girl, as she had no visible weapons. She might surprise me, but I doubted it.

Rigger was moving and would find them soon. They strolled along the southern pathway, following the curve of the wall. They chatted about the future and were blissfully unaware of death stalking them. Rigger was now closing in on them, having just spotted the figures walking. They were consciously or unconsciously following the path to the church.

He was letting them get deeper into the Dungeon before striking. It would be as soon as he was slowly closing in with them. They were too wrapped up in each other to notice. He positioned himself behind a tree.

He became still blending with the darkness.

They walked past him.

He waited for them to go a little further and then moved.

He quickly covered the distance between them, making some sound. This altered Henry, who turned to see what was coming. Rigger's knife sliced across his throat in an upward cut. He grabbed for his neck, choking on his blood. Susan was stunned at first but then realised what had happened and tried to scream. Rigger’s hand clamped on her opening mouth, smothering the scream. His blade slid into her chest and dreams as her life ended there.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

It was done.

[New Midian, Level up! Hunter: John Rigger, Level up!]

There was a golden + symbol at the bottom right of my vision. We had to accept them, but it was not the time. There was work to do.

“Do not level up yet! Hide the boy in the church. Do you want the girl?”

“Ya, never have enuff wives.”

“As soon as you have, head back to your lair and then level up. I will be as well. Expect trouble as soon as they understand they are missing. There could be up to five males with guns.”

He made no reply but got to work. He was close to the church and moved the body quickly. He returned, collected the girl, and returned as fast as possible to his lair. After he closed his door, I cleared my mind.

More rain was coming in again as the sky clouded over. The first drops were starting to fall.

“Let 's do this.”

Chapter 4

A blue box appeared in my vision.

I strangely missed them, but they still nagged at me that I was missing something. I got to reading.

Congratulations!

You have reached level 2!

Your kill count to reach level three has increased to 10. You have gained a new Hunter slot. Your Dungeon has increased to two miles. A new perk slot is available to select.

You are doing better than we expected. Keep up the good work!

“Who the hell is the “we” part!”

No answer. No surprise.

I looked at the list of perks and read it down. Most were the same as the first time and I was going to take crypts until I spotted something more needed and newly added to the list.

Hide the Crime! (Uncommon)

Your Hunters make such a mess. This perk allows you every 24 hours to hide evidence of these crimes. As it is levelled, this perk will hide more evidence and physical signs of combat.

This skill scales with your Dungeon level!

“Damn it! I need this more than crypts right now.”

I selected this perk and suddenly, everything went dark.

…..

With a flash, my sight returned and I was in the church again, but it was different.

The walls were better constructed, not as simple, and used better-quality materials. The wooden benches were smoother and more polished. The altar was more ornate and I spotted two doors parallel to it on either side of the church. I wanted to investigate them, but I had more pressing concerns, like not ignoring the body at the altar's base for the moment.

I moved outside and up to the top of the bubble. The Dungeon had doubled in size, along with everything in it. The pathways were longer and more elaborate, with more mausoleums, gravestones, and trees. The rain was stopping and the cloud cover was breaking, showing me that dawn had just arrived. The wagons were still outside, meaning things were about to get hectic and several hours had passed.

I pulled up Rigger’s sheet.

Hunter Name John Rigger

Level 2

Kills 0/8

Loyalty Good

Skills

Horse Riding II

Blades. IV

Handguns. II

Rifles. III

Tracking. IV

Trap Making. II

Corpse Harvesting. II

Stealth. I

Dark Traits

Necrophiliac

Two things were different. The first was the stealth skill, which was coloured gold in the skills section, but the second was his picture. It had changed, and not for the better. His weather-beaten skin was now an unhealthy pale greyish colour.

I wondered wh…

Sounds of name-calling and dismay could be heard from the wagons as the adults now knew the teenagers were missing.

“Shit!”

I moved down to the gates and watched the group. The men quickly found the trail of the two teenagers entering the gates from the muddy footprints that had not been washed away in the rain. It had not been that hard. Their conversations told me they feared the worst.

The two men and the two older boys armed themselves. They walked to the gates and opened them and the four of them walked in. This left the women and girls, who were being guarded by the youngest boy, who was around eight. The women were also armed now. Fear and concern were on all the faces of the ones left behind.

“How many bloody guns do they have?”

The four entered and ignored the plinth. The father of the boys sent one with the other man. Two went north and two went south. I knew what was about to happen.

[Alert! Intruders are not recognised as Challengers.]

“Here we go.” I reached out and connected to Rigger. “Two males heading north and two south. Armed with shotguns, no pistols or knives that I can see.”

I sensed he was out of his lair and moving. The day was still young and the walls kept most of the Dungeon in darkness. He would need to move quickly before the sun got too high, and he would lose that advantage.

I looked closer at their weapons and noted that they were all double-barrel shotguns, not repeating or single-shot rifles. This was a mixed blessing, as I did not know the ammunition type, but they were slower on the reload. If they were buckshot, then Rigger would have a bigger problem than if they were solid rounds.

Hold on, if he were hit with any of it, there would be problems.

Rigger had angled south, aiming to take out the pair there first. I watched him move with ease through the expanded Dungeon terrain. He was using it to his advantage to obscure his advance on them. His blade was out and he had his gun belt on with his Colt holstered.

I did not speak and let him do his work. Distractions right now could be the death of him.

The pair was ahead of him now and he slowed down, moving much more quietly. The two ahead were calling out the names of the missing teenagers. His angle told me he was going to take the man first as he was the more dangerous in his eyes. I had to agree with this strategy.

They were too focused on looking ahead and calling out that they did not sense the danger until it was too late. Rigger grabbed the man from behind, covering his mouth and pulling back to expose his throat. His knife opened it up with a jet of blood.

The boy screamed in terror, discharging his gun into the air and pissing himself as he watched his father die before him. Rigger went at him, causing the teenager to trip and fall backwards, trying to escape the monster in front of him. He can’t be any older than thirteen. Rigger grabbed his hair and thrust his blade into his neck upwards into his brain.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

The father was forced to watch the death of his son as he tried to hold his throat together. An animalist cry came from him, but his wound was too deep and he was losing too much blood.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

Looking north, I picked out the other pair. The sound of the shotgun going off had alerted the other two, who were moving southward and calling out to the first two.

“The other two are coming south, fast. They are cutting through the graves. They will be at the church soon.”

Rigger did not answer with words but actions. He turned and began moving in the gloom, using the terrain again to hide his movements. He was heading more westward to avoid running straight into them.

Shit! Henry's body is being stored in the church!

I shift to the church. I noticed the two side annexes that it now had. That must be where the doors lead.

Focus!

The pair was soon to arrive, and Rigger was making good progress toward them. Would they investigate the church or move on? If they did, it would give Rigger time to find a good ambush spot. How could I influence this?

I opened one of the doors, which gave a good view of the room and the body in front of the altar. The sun would soon be high enough to shine past the wall and illuminate the room better.

They reached the church. They were moving fast and breathing harder because of it. They were trying to figure out where the shot had come from. They stopped at the church and the last son, a teenager of about fifteen, was looking around. The man, who was Susan's father, looked into the church.

The room was still mostly dark, but light shone through the windows. It was enough to see the body but not make much more out. He called out and advanced into the room, followed by the teenager. The youth rushed forward past him to check on his brother, whom he had recognised.

This took both into the room, giving Rigger the opportunity I hoped for. He was aware of where they were and was getting into position. He had crouched down and was hugging the wall of the church as he moved to the doors. This prevented the two inside from seeing him or his shadow through the glass. Inside, the boy was breaking down over his brother's death and Susan's father was beginning to panic, calling out for his daughter.

The teenager was trying to lift the body and the man was heading back to the door. He told him he could not help him as he needed to find his daughter. What he found was Rigger waiting next to the door. His knife was buried into his gut as he walked out, as Rigger hit him with a reverse grip side strike. He cried in pain and fell forward, with Rigger expecting it, guiding the body to the ground while pulling the knife free.

The teenager was panicking and dropped his brother's body. Rigger moved to finish him as the boy scrambled back for his shotgun that he had left behind. Rigger crossed the distance fast, but to my surprise, the boy was faster.

He twisted and fired the gun off. The shot was wild, but he struck my Hunter. Rigger was caught on his left side just below his ribs. It was not a full-body strike but a nasty wound regardless. He howled in pain and was spun by the impact, blood spraying from the impact point. He hit the ground hard, dropping his knife, which scattered away.

The boy’s face was covered in tears and shock from what was happening. He was very pale and shaking from his emotions and adrenaline. The wound he inflicted was dangerous for any man, but as Rigger was my Hunter and at Level 2, he was a bit tougher than a normal man now I discovered.

His anger and pain brought him back to his feet and he leapt onto the boy. His hand wrapped around the boy’s neck and squeezed. The boy was panicking and hit out at Rigger with all he had but to no avail.

I watched dispassionately as he choked the life from the youth.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

Rigger stood and, with great pain, recovered his blade and went to the door to finish the last one. I noted he was losing a lot of blood and was less steady on his feet. This was bad.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

He finished off the last man and began heading to his lair. He was now staggering more with every step. He was not going to make it. The distance was just too great. I had to do something. But what?

I almost kicked myself and triggered my avatar form.

I caught him, took his weight and helped him towards his lair.

“Thank ya.” He muttered.

“All part of the service.” I quipped. He just grunted in response.

The first few steps were easy, but each one after got worse. The stress of taking form and nearly carrying Rigger to his lair was taxing me like nothing I had done yet. By the fifteenth step, it was becoming pure agony.

I was losing focus.

I focused on holding my form and walking.

I got five more before my form vanished, causing Rigger to fall forward on the steps of his lair. In his rush, he had left a door open and he pulled himself inside with great effort. I am thankful I cannot see inside and see whatever he has been getting up to in there. He closed the door with his booted foot and…

[Hunter: John Rigger will be healed in 30:00:00.]

I was too exhausted to move.

According to the countdown, it took me ten minutes to slowly shift to the gates. It may take another ten before I get there.

The women were fearful and the other children were crying. They had heard the two shots and knew trouble was abroad. The fact that no one of the four had returned told them what they needed to know.

There was one thing that stood out to me when looking them over.

The last boy, about eight, was calm and focused, staring at the gates. He was not acting like I expected and I found him an interesting curiosity.

“What are you thinking, boy?”

I wondered aloud. I knew he could not hear me and it was for my own benefit. As I watched him, the mothers had come to a decision and gathered up the remaining children. They attached the horses to the wagon and began manoeuvring them back out of the clearing to the track that would lead them to Crossway.

The boy protested but ultimately submitted to them. As they left, I saw him glaring from the back of the second wagon.

I felt this needed something to make it a more memorable ending. I smiled to myself, knowing what I needed to do. I had enough strength to do it.

The boy's glare turned to shock and fear as I closed the gates with not a soul present.

I laughed at his reaction even as it exhausted me again.

I was in no condition to do anything for some time, and neither was Rigger. At a snail's pace, I moved to the top of the bubble and looked out across the local area. I could make out the wagons travelling towards Crossway. I spent the rest of the day watching them. The muddy conditions slowed them and fording the waterway swollen with rainwater slowed them more, but in the end, they crossed the rise and left my sight.

The sun was almost gone and night was soon upon the world.

I settled in and waited.

Light rain began soon after and I watched the flash of lightning in the distance.

[Alert! Infamy (Local) changed from Unknown > Whispers.]

“I should have expected that.”

The fact that the last survivors of the two families had reached civilisation meant that they would start telling the local population of my existence. But would they be believed?

I looked down at Rigger's countdown.

“Nothing to be done right now.”

The night passed, and the day dragged on. I saw some traffic along the track and noted a group of horsemen come over the rise from Crossway. Rigger’s countdown hit zero, and he emerged shortly after. He was not wearing his jacket, his shirt was missing a section, and he was drenched in blood. He was carrying his shovel.

I watched him get to work burying the bodies of the four he killed. I had this opportunity to look into the new two-side buildings attached to the Church. They were just empty rooms, and I was a bit disappointed. I did get Rigger to move all the guns and ammunition into one and what wealth I had gathered into the other. The mausoleum to the north still stored everything else.

“Activate [Hide the Crime!]”

I watched as the blood stains around the church faded away, not completely, but they were significantly reduced.

“Another few activations of the perk, and they will be gone.”

The night was soon to be here again and Rigger was finishing his tasks. He had taken a shirt from one of the dead and was heading back to his lair. I looked over the graves. They all sported names and dates now. I knew which name I was interested in learning.

“Rochester.” That was the name of Susan and her father. It was also the surname of the boy who glared at my gates until I scared the living shit out of him. Something about that boy stuck with me for an unknown reason.

I moved back to the top of the bubble.

“I wonder what it was?” It was something I could not name and I had plenty of time to ponder it.

I looked out across the world and… what’s that?

The group of horse riders was coming up the track towards the Dungeon. There were six in total, all men, and all appeared armed.

“Shit! They must have been believed.” This was getting ridiculous. Another group so quickly! I connected to Rigger.

“Six men are approaching on horseback, and all are armed.”

I felt weary and frustrated, and I could not blame him. I did not expect things to move this quickly. I looked them over as they approached, and I saw them better.

“Right, six armed men. Three outdoors types, two rugged types and… one who looks like an office clerk?”

The last was not one I expected, but the others were. He was dressed in several layers like the others, but he was wearing a hat similar to a bowler's and had glasses on. His clothes were tweed and not leather or hide like the others.

The men rode up the track and reached the gates, but they stopped and were clearly confused. They did not expect the gates or what they could see beyond it.

“Let’s see what they are going to do.”

Chapter 5

“This was not here last year, " the lead man said. He dismounted his horse and opened his jacket slightly; on it was a silver star that read “Sheriff.” The man just behind him had another that read “Deputy.” The three outdoor types were hanging back, and the office clerk was scribbling on a notepad with a short pencil.

“Does anyone remember ever seeing this place when hunting in this area?” He turned to the outdoor types. Two shook their heads that they had not. The third did not move.

“It is like the two wives said from their story of what happened,” The Sheriff mused, his gaze fixed on the gates. The wives' story was crucial to the investigation he was mounting.

“Do you think John Rigger is hiding here?” the clerk asked. I thought he might be a reporter, and after a closer look at him and the question, it appeared that he might be. “The Marshals came through looking for him, as he was found to be in the area.”

“Maybe.” He paused for a few moments. “Fred, take Smith and Rodriguez. Hebert and Grant with me, we will search in two groups. Make sure your guns are ready if you are attacked. Fire with the intent to kill.”

The men are getting organised. They tie up their horses and pull out the rifles from their holsters on the saddles. They also have pistols and blades. Apart from the reporter, they all look like they know how to use them.

“Take any lanterns you have. We might be in there for a few hours. It's getting dark, but we cannot wait for the day if he is.” They walked in by opening both gates. I noted the hesitance of the first to enter. The existence of my Dungeon unsettled them. The apparent age of the place was at odds with what they knew of the area they were in.

“Sheriff Gray, where do you think this place came from?” The reporter, Herbert, asked.

“I do not know the answer to that.” He was looking around for threats. “From here on, there will be no questions until we are sure it is safe.” Herbert looked unhappy but complied.

They were now all in the courtyard with the plinth. Herbert read it but did not comment as instructed, but he noted it from his expression.

[Potential Hunter entering the Dungeon!]

“Whoa, I did not expect that!”

This changed things, as Rigger might not be as outnumbered as I had thought. But who?

Looking over them again, I found myself drawn to Rodriguez. I was initially unsure, but the more I watched, the more I got a feel for him. The others were always standing slightly apart from him. I could be wrong, as they were all white and he seemed Mexican. This changed as I realised they subconsciously saw him as a danger.

He was about five feet eight inches tall, with long, greasy hair sporting no beard but two large sideburns running straight down his jaw. His face was pox-marked and his skin was weather-beaten. He was dressed for outdoor living and heavily armed. The weapon that stood out to me was the tomahawk in his belt.

“Look, a chapel. Maybe we should have a look.” He said, and he pointed to the building in the distance. His accent confirmed his heritage, but he spoke English rather well.

“Fred, take a look. Then, if it is empty, head south and search the buildings you find.” Gray addressed the deputy. Here, they split, with Gray going north and his deputy cutting across the graves towards the church.

[Alert! Intruders are not recognised as Challengers.]

“And so, it begins.” I said to myself. I reached out and connected to Rigger. “They have split into two groups of three. One is heading north. The other is cutting straight through to the church; shadow that group, but wait, something might be happening that will help you.”

“Understood.” He replied.

I watched the group, led by Deputy Fred, walk to the church with the group. They had a good hour of light, but the shadows were lengthening across the area. They were moving at a steady pace, keeping alert to their surroundings. Rodriguez was playing his part, but his focus was on the church.

Once he reached it, he turned north to the doors. Fred and Smith followed his lead. The doors were opened, and he walked in. Behind him, the others followed. With his back to them, they did not see the look of joy that passed his features at the sight of the altar.

“Yeah, I know you were the one.”

The men crossed the room.

“Dear God, look at the blood stains,” Fred saw them for the first time. This attracted Smith's attention from the altar, and he paled at the sight. Rodriguez’s eyes never left the statue or altar, but he heard what the deputy said.

“Amigo, you might need the Sheriff to see this.”

“Good idea. Smith, head out, find the Sheriff and bring him back here.” Smith seemed unhappy but turned and left. Fred was focused on the stains and did not see that Rodriguez had turned slightly to watch Smith leave.

“From this blood, how many died here?” Fred asked. He had removed his hat and was wiping his brow. He did not see as his back was turned, in the hand reaching out and touching the altar.

[Potential Hunter:  Hector Rodriguez. Has asked to become a Hunter in your Dungeon and offers one sacrifice to you.]

[Do you accept:  Yes or No.]

“Yes.”

My view of the world warped, and he shimmered. Fred was still too engrossed to notice any of this. Rodriguez pulled the tomahawk from his belt, turning, he rammed it into the back of Fred's skull. The man was too shocked to do anything but collapse to his knees. The tomahawk was pulled out, and several more strikes collapsed the skull and scattered brain matter and blood around the church and altar.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

Outside, Smith was moving north but had been intercepted by Rigger. Ambushed from behind, he was unable to do anything as he was stabbed multiple times, bringing his life to an end.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

“Good work, Rigger, hide the body the best you can.”

I turned my attention to my newest Hunter. I opened his status sheet.

Hunter Name Hector Rodriguez

Level 1

Kills 1/5

Loyalty Neutral

Skills

Stealth. II

Horse Riding. III

Camouflage. I

Blades. III

Handguns. IV

Rifles. III

Tracking. II

Dark Traits

Sadistic Rapist

“Sadistic Rapist? Why can’t I just get a plain and simple mass murder!”

I focused and then connected to him.

“Welcome, Hunter Rodriguez. We have much to discuss, but first, we must deal with the Sheriff and two with him.”

“Thank you, amigo.”

“There is another Hunter outside. Even with him, you are outnumbered, so surprise is your best option here.”

“Good to know. I will bring them this way.”

I watched him leave the church. He was covered in the brain matter of Deputy Fred. The direct approach was out. He pointed his rifle into the sky and fired it off. He quickly walked inside and lay down on the floor to the other side of his kill and played dead.

I told Rigger to be ready as the others were on their way to the building. The shot will have attracted their attention. I looked north and picked them out as they were heading south.

“Right, let’s see what they are going to do.”

I was worried about the lack of coordination between the two. They had no interactions, and they were not in the sink. I told Rigger what I thought Rodriguez was planning and what he needed to prepare for.

The group arrived at the church several minutes later. Rigger was hiding, and Rodriguez was ready for his ambush. Rigger had moved closer to the door, prepared to join in with the killing.

Sheriff Gray entered the church first with his rifle braced against his shoulder, looking for a target. Herbert and Grant were close on his heels, guns ready. He spotted the two bodies in the church and moved further in.

Rigger moved up behind them while they were distracted. Gray moved over to the body of his deputy. Kneeling, he looked over the dead man. Herbert saw the remains turned and threw up. Grant was focused on what was happening within the room. Rigger was closing in.

Gray stood and went over to Herbert, who was still retching. Grant was standing in the doorway with his back to the outside. Rigger took the opportunity that was presented. He got up close and grabbed Grant by wrapping him around the neck, pulling him back out of the building. He stabbed into his flank as he did.

This pulled Gray’s attention to the doorway as Rodriguez rose from the floor. Gray moved to the doorway but was attacked from behind by Rodriguez. The tomahawk swung up between his legs, catching him in his genitals.

I never knew that a man could scream like that as the blade went deep and was violently pulled back. Gray collapsed from the injury and pain. Herbert was looking around at the fighting like a deer in headlights. His face was pale, and his eyes were large. He pissed himself, letting his emotions control him. He turned tail and ran. Fear was driving him, as flight was the controlling factor in his mind at that moment. He ran past the pair fighting outside and headed for the gates.

The fighting, no, the ambush was going very well.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

Grant was the first to go. Rigger got up and went up after the runner. Gray took longer as Rodriguez toyed with him. He lived up to the sadistic part of his dark trait. I could step in and have it end, but I chose not to. He lasted several more minutes before blood loss did him in.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

I shifted my view to the runner. Rigger was chasing, but Herbert was far faster, as fear drove him. He got to the gates and ran through them to his horse. He untied it, jumped into the saddle, and rode for his life.

“You lost him, Rigger; he was too fast. Collect the saddles and packs, and then release the horses. Apart from that horse, second from the left. Bring it in to carry the load.” I pointed out Rodriguez’s horse.

He walked out and got to work. Returning to the church, I needed to speak with Rodriguez.

“Rodriguez, I have several rules that you need to know….”

By the time Rigger arrived with the loot, I had explained my rules and assigned the closet building to the south. I took my due and let the others split the rest. Everything left was put into the northern storeroom, the guns and valuables were put into the other rooms. I separated the Dungeon into two zones and assigned a Hunter to each.

Rodriguez started burying the kills he made. Rigger did his next. This took them into the night. When they had finished, they retired. I went to the top of the bubble and looked over the dark land.

The day came, and my Hunters did not emerge from their lairs until later in the day. I could see them from above but did not interact with them. I noted that they avoided each other.

The day wore on, and the weather was…

[Alert! Infamy (Local) changed from Whispers > Stories.]

“Well, Herbert made it back to town. What will this mean for me.”

Rodriguez had released his horse into the wild. I settled into waiting for the next visitor. The days and nights passed; things were quiet. I watched the limited traffic along the road. Wagons and riders were moving both ways, but no one was turning up my track.

“Rodriguez, go for a walk and have a look around. Tell me if you find anything.”

He went willingly, as he was a bit bored. He had set up his lair and dug through the storeroom for additional items. He was gone for a few hours and returned a few hours later.

“Keeper, I found signs warning people not to go up the trail. I have taken them down.”

“Thanks for that. I will need you to check on that once a week.”

Days turned to weeks. The weather turned to get wetter, and then the snow started. More signs appeared and were removed. The snows got heavier, and my Hunters stopped emerging from their lairs. They were effectively hibernating.

The winter was soon in full force; snowstorms rolled off the mountains across the forest and plains. Traffic stopped along the road, and my days had become of staring out at a white sea; the nights had the light reflecting the snow lighting the area.

The winter eventually passed, and spring arrived. The snow slowly receded, and the green returned to the land. People started travelling the road again.

Spring continued, and the traffic got heavier. More wagons were traversing the track, heading to Crossway. Few people were heading in the other direction, but much fewer in number. Rodriguez went back to checking the road for signs.

One day, I spotted a figure moving up the trail to the gates of the Dungeon.

“Finally, who are you?”

The rider came into view of the gates and continued to ride forward. Dressed in rugged clothing, he was dust-covered and appeared to have been travelling for some time.

He got off the horse and tied it up. He was a man in his mid-twenties and clean-shaven. He walked to the gates and walked in. He read the plinth and turned and left. He set up a camp and settled in.

He waited until most of the day passed. Closer to dusk, he put out the fire he was sitting next to. He returned to the gates. He paused, took a breath and gathered himself. He had no guns but a cavalry sword.

“A cavalry sword?”

He stepped into the Dungeon through the gates. He turned to the south and began walking the path.

[A Challenger has entered your Dungeon.]

Right, I get to sit back and watch this. My Hunters knew the Challenger, who was in Rodriguez’s zone. He was up and moving, stalking the intruder. The Challenger drew his sword and followed the path seeking the church at the Dungeon's centre. He was walking with a lit lantern held in his other hand. It was getting darker, and the lantern light was getting stronger.

The light drew Rodriguez to the Challenger. He was on the right path and was making good progress. Rodriguez was watching him, studying him for an opening or weakness. I could not interfere with this, so I just relaxed and watched.

The Challenger walked on, aware of his surroundings, looking for danger. Rodriguez was good at stalking, using the terrain to his advantage. He was moving closer minute by minute. He had his tomahawk out and ready for use.

The church was in sight; the Challenger had crossed into Rigger's territory, but as Rodriguez was hunting him. If he fails, then Rigger will get his chance.

He moved. He was coming in fast, trying to rush him. The Challenger was more aware than I thought. He spun around and raised his sword in a blocking motion; he caught the tomahawk as it swung down.

Sidestepping, he took Rodriguez off balance. He was soon on the defensive as the Challenger began striking out at him. The sword gave him the length advantage in the fight. Rodriguez was in trouble but was still in the fight.

The tomahawk was not designed to be used in a fight like he was. The sword got through his defences, cutting his upper arm. It was shallow, but it was the first hit that was scored.

Rigger was watching from the side.

Rodriguez snarled and attacked the challenger with renewed ferocity. His strikes were fast and brutal. The challenger was now on the defensive. The sword was being held sideways to block the strikes—the sounds of metal striking etched around the area.

The fight would turn again if Rodriguez did not do something to take dominance.

He made to strike again but stepped in, closing the distance between them. It was risky with the sword blade between them, but he appeared to take the Challenger by surprise. His leg kicked out and up, catching his opponent in the groin. The whoosh of air from his lungs was audible as he doubled over.

The tomahawk ended the fight by connecting with the back of the Challenger's head. Repeatedly.

[A Hunter has made a Kill]

“He has a definite thing about men's groins.”

I connected to him.

“Well done. There is a horse outside.”

Rodriguez collected the horse's packs and moved the saddle. He sent it on its way with a slap to its hindquarters. He walked back and drooped everything off in the church. He picked up the shovel from the building as I had Rigger leave it in the room with all the guns. He picked out a grave and started digging. When he finished the grave, he dragged the body over and looted it before dumping it in. Then, he refilled the hole, taking him several hours into the night.

Everything was laid out and accounted for in the church. I looked over it all. The weapons and valuables went into their corresponding rooms. Rodriguez claimed the food, bottle of alcohol and tobacco. The rest went into storage.

“Congratulations on your kill one more, and you move to the next level.” I was in a talkative mood.

“Kind words, Keeper.” He was not very talkative often. Well, so was Rigger, come to think of it.

“I will be seeking a new storeroom soon as the first is filling. Mainly with saddles and travel packs.”

“Burning them or not gathering them would deal with the problem.”

“Yes, both options could work. For the moment, we continue.”

“Why collect them at all?” He asked.

“It is harder to identify a horse that is running free that it was once owned if it has no saddle.”

He nodded in understanding of my logic.

“Pardon me, I seek to rest. It is late.”

“Sleep well.”

I disconnected from him and went back to my spot. I watched him walk back to his layer with his booty and close the door behind him. Rigger had gone back to him as soon as the fight ended.

I check my own sheet.

“One more kill for me as well.”