17

Hunter, Don't Shoot My Friend

Chapter 17: A Dream, A Promise

"We are not alone; they are lying to us; they are already here."

"Today, people not only believe in zombies but also in alien visitors. People have seen strange things that no one can explain. We've asked so many questions that government authorities take note and remain silent. Humans have accepted the fact that we are not alone in the universe; that's normal, and now everyone wants to discover the truth."

"There is a certain group of people in the world dedicated to gathering information. Their theory is that there are secrets, conspiracies, and cover-ups that keep the public ignorant and under absolute global control."

"Yes, as you heard, they manipulate us with the news, television, and religions, while the danger is more than evident. Very few intelligent people believe in this fact."

"Now, with technology, people can search for answers more quickly and efficiently if they know where to look. The famous phrase is The search for truth."

It's complicated to omit these kinds of programs, especially those traveling from one place to another on the internet. If intervened, it often creates a conspiracy, leading specialized departments in dark entities to a crossroads between freedom of expression and confidentiality.

Today, there are two types of people: those who remain in the dark, investigating something incomprehensible, and those who live in the light, ignorant of what's happening in the world, slowly affecting their reality.

Reality became increasingly difficult to understand. As technology and science advanced, strange phenomena and unknown creatures that defied logic and reason were discovered. Initially, these dark entities were easy to hide, and world governments worked together to keep them secret, creating a protective bubble for civilians.

But as the dark entities became more common and dangerous, it became harder for the government to conceal the world's facts. People began to suspect something was wrong—that something strange was happening behind the scenes.

The Shadow Guard Coalition is an entity directly linked with the military, but it's essentially a group tasked with eliminating physical dark entities in urban areas. However, knowing less about these things than the Light Association, the S.G.C. works directly under them, ensuring a planned movement rather than biting their nails in every operation.

The main families of hunters formed the S.G.C., trained selected soldiers, and became the foundation of a force trained to kill.

Meanwhile, reality itself seemed to play with the senses. People saw things they couldn't explain and experienced inexplicable sensations, and the line between real and imaginary became increasingly blurred.

Considering these things, all governments were prepared to prevent a catastrophe if these things came to light. They accepted that revealing the truth about dark entities to the world was inevitable.

But this is more complicated than it seems, and hundreds of thousands of collateral damages must be considered due to these decisions that everyone understood would someday happen.

…

Ethan was deeply asleep, but his eyes, which should have been calm, were tightly shut as if something terrible was happening in his mind.

Nightmares had accompanied Ethan since he led an important branch of the S.G.C. He had learned to cope with them through his nights of sleep, but this time, it was something he really couldn't control.

The sweat on his body made Ethan feel cold, and the contraction of his muscles was due to his senses being tense, deceived by the dream he was having.

"Hoo... Hoo..." Ethan soon discovered he was in another place, so his sight naturally analyzed the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Do you want to end his life?" A young woman sitting in a wheelchair in a hospital corridor asked Ethan, who was holding a blood-stained silver rosary. On the news, reports of massive anomaly attacks were being announced worldwide.

Ethan, who was reliving this scene, now slightly strange, murmured, "The theory that humans are not alone on this small planet is becoming more real. The way it happens suggests that nations can't keep hiding such events."

"That's not what I asked you," said the young woman, waiting for a response.

Ethan suddenly felt dizzy; his vision blurred, and he dropped the phone.

"Young man, what's happening?" People in the room asked.

"Nothing... I just need some air." Ethan staggered to a chair further away from the young woman talking to him.

"Where am I?"

"What's happening to me?"

"I don't know; I'm just asking you a simple question."

When Ethan looked up to see the young woman's appearance, he found the bloodied face of his childhood girlfriend.

That scene he could never erase from his mind reappeared, and he responded, "I just want to forget..."

"Do you want to kill me?"

"No, I don't want that."

"If you forget me, I will die. You are the only one who still remembers me, and you know better than anyone that someone only dies when they are forgotten."

"Yes, you're right..."

"Then wake up," said the young woman, covering Ethan's eyes, who didn't want to see her in that state.

Crack!

Ethan opened his eyes and found himself in his room. His heart was beating too fast for him to want to get out of bed, and all he did was regain control of his breathing.

"I made you a promise," murmured Ethan, clutching his chest tightly.