The Sleeping Hunter

My family isn't like your typical, ordinary family-we're different. And my parents made sure I knew that from a very young age.

We've always tried our best to blend in with the rest of the community, keeping our true nature hidden-for our safety and for the safety of the people in the city.

My city is crawling with supernatural beings from every corner of the world, all hiding their existence from the unaware human population. But I fear for the lives of those who remain ignorant.

There are blood-sucking monsters and creatures of the night known as vampires. They are vicious, reckless, and extremely dangerous.

Then there are the lycanthropes, also known as werewolves. They're just as deadly as the vampires-maybe even worse. Unlike vampires, they are ruthless. Their victims are usually found torn to pieces.

Balkan City was once a peaceful place. That changed when they arrived. Ever since, things have been turned upside down, and the death toll keeps rising by the day.

Humans are no longer safe. They stand no chance against these creatures. Most people don't even know they exist, and those who find out often don't live to tell anyone.

Those who are aware keep the truth to themselves, pretending not to notice when something strange happens. A few of us who know the truth pray for them to leave-but it's clear now, they're here to stay.

There's another kind of supernatural being in the city: witches. They're nearly extinct and very few remain.

The good thing about witches is that they don't harm humans, and they have no reason to. Humans are safe around them.

Every supernatural creature has made Balkan City their home, and their numbers continue to grow.

There's an ongoing war between the vampires and the werewolves. It's been raging for over three centuries.

If the conflict had remained between them, it wouldn't be so bad-but it's us humans who suffer the consequences.

It's been months since my parents told me about a mysterious hunter-one who has been asleep for a century.

According to them, this hunter was created specifically to destroy supernatural creatures. That's his sole purpose.

Vampires don't stand a chance against him. Even the werewolves wouldn't dare fight him. He's powerful, lethal, and virtually unkillable.

My parents say he's infused with immense power, making him superior to any supernatural being.

Our family descends from a long line of hunters, but we're not strong enough to take on these creatures alone.

All we can do is defend ourselves-something my parents have trained me to do since I was a child.

I've learned everything there is to know about these creatures, including how to kill them. I've done it more than a few times.

But no matter how many we take down, they keep multiplying. And while we fight them, we also have to be careful not to expose ourselves.

When my parents first told me about this hunter, I was completely against the idea of waking him-even if it might work to our advantage.

What scares me is that he doesn't just kill monsters-he kills anyone who stands in the way of his mission.

He's been asleep for a hundred years. The world he knew is long gone. Everything has changed.

And we don't even know if he can stop these creatures. They evolve every year.

This is the 21st century. Things are not like they used to be. I'm not convinced he can protect us-he can't possibly take them all on.

Ever since I found out about him, I've been arguing with my parents almost daily.

I've tried to change their minds-especially now that the time to wake him is near and they're preparing for the journey.

---

"Mom, do you really have to do this?" I asked again this morning as she packed for the trip.

In three days, they will be heading to the location where the hunter sleeps, to wake him.

"Honey, why are you being like this?"

"Your mother and I have explained this so many times. Why don't you understand?" my father asked, clearly frustrated.

"Dad, try to understand me too. Have you thought this through? What if what you're about to do brings more evil than good?" I said, turning to my mom.

"Mom, you told me this guy is dangerous. He was built to do one thing: kill."

"How can you be so sure he won't kill everyone he sees? What if he kills you the moment you wake him?" I pleaded, hoping they'd see reason.

"The vampires and werewolves don't know about us yet-that's a good thing. But if you do this, they'll all come for us," I added.

"That's exactly why we have to do it. Only he can stop them. I'm not doing this just for us, but for everyone," my mom said.

"This is my job-my destiny. My parents explained this to me."

"It's a duty passed down through generations. And now, it's my turn."

The hunter was created by my mother's bloodline. Only someone from her lineage can awaken him.

"You don't even know him. He's been asleep for a century. Even Grandpa and Grandma never met him."

"He could kill you both. I just have a really bad feeling about this," I said, trying to reason with them.

"Enough! One day, you'll understand why we have to do this," she said firmly, then returned to her room.

"This is a huge mistake, Dad," I said, turning to him.

"Listen, sweetheart. I believe in your mother. And I think you should too. This isn't a fairy tale. It's real," Dad replied.

"But Dad, if they find out what we're about to do, they'll hunt us down and kill us," I said.

"And if we don't, the hunter will hunt us down-and wipe out our entire bloodline," he said.

I stepped back in fear. "How do you know that? Are you just saying that to get me to agree?"

"No, it actually happened," he said grimly.

"Centuries ago, a family failed to wake him after his hundred-year slumber. A decade later, he woke up and hunted them all down."

"He killed every member of the family-except one," he added.

"What?! That's not a hunter. That's a monster!"

"I thought he was supposed to protect us," I said.

"Yes-but if he's denied his chance to awaken, he sees that as a betrayal," Dad explained.

"That's why we have to do this-for your protection and your brother's. We can't risk being caught in the war between vampires and werewolves. The hunter is our only hope."

"He alone has the strength to stand against them. Do you understand now?"

I nodded slowly. "I'm just scared, that's all."

"There's nothing to be scared of. We'll be fine," he said, hugging me.

"This is no longer our choice. The time has come-we have to wake him."