Heart of the Huntress: The Blooming Second ChanceChapter 1

Today was yet another awful and dreary anniversary. Many would have thought that since it was such a special day, lovers would be having a hell of a good time celebrating. Well, apparently, love wasn’t all roses and champagne, and it certainly wasn’t chocolates and milkshakes either. Because if it were, I wouldn’t be sitting here alone, waiting for him in our nearly empty thirty-foot-square apartment for freaking five hours since sundown, while staring at the “Happy 5th Anniversary!” cake I made.

“He’s late.”

I’ve never heard my voice sound that cold my whole life.

Calvin made me a promise, and we were supposed to go on a trip to celebrate this year, but with our job as monster hunters, our schedules hardly matched. Over the years, we’ve been seeing each other less, and this year was even more scarce.

I planned this surprise for us to catch up, but now it turned out to be a waste of effort.

Hunters get called out anytime. Our duty to cull the monsters and save lives always came first. Still, he should have told me if something came up and he couldn’t make it!

I angrily called his number on my Codewatch, bent on giving him a piece of my mind. However, the second the call connected, the emergency siren wailed.

Then, before I could react, a humongous creature bulldozed through my window, tackling me like a mad bull. I was instantly sent flying and smashed against the wall.

My head felt wonky, and I was throwing up blood. I also broke a few bones and hardly got any strength to lift my head. I had been hit by a lot of monsters in the past, but this was by far the worst.

At times like this, I wished Calvin was here to back me up like I always did with him. I had hoped he was only running late and was now rushing to my rescue. But that sliver of hope was shattered by the most disgusting giggle I’ve ever heard.

I thought my call got cut off when I was attacked, but it was ongoing the whole time.

I didn't have to guess who it was. I knew from her fake high-pitched voice, that it was Cathy, Calvin's ex.

“Sounds like you’re having fun, Ava. Don't worry about Calvin, I’ll keep him busy for you.”

Then, from the background, I could hear Calvin grunting. “Ugh! Who the hell is calling me this late?”

Anger and helplessness choked me from the inside. I'm dying out here and he was messing around with his ex?