After finishing Caged Tales, I turned my attention to the month’s second tale, a drama. When I pulled the results of the poll, horror missed the top three, and I considered blending the drama with Solomon, my horror series protagonist. I stared at the screen until I remembered the events of Treatments and Hunted Hunter. In that singular moment, I realized he would set the stage for the perfect bridge to a quieter, more dramatic tale.
In this follow-up, I’m dropping in on Solomon to examine the aftermath of those tales. With those events, the line between a man and monsters isn’t just blurred, they’re derived from a chemical cocktail. From his first introduction, Solomon has excelled as a monster hunter. He’s capable, unrelenting, and entirely too human. However, moments exist when survival demands more than grit. In those instances, it demands sacrifice. What follows is a tightly wound moment of reckoning where scars aren’t the only things that heal, and not all healing is welcome.
This piece isn’t built around the action or spectacle of a monster hunt. Instead, it confronts the consequences of his choices. He’s forced to face a different monster. You won’t find an extensive exposition or backstory. Instead, what follows is a simple conversation wrapped around fear and identity. It’s about knowing who you are and grappling with the fact that he may no longer be the same. Despite continuing the previous tales, this installment stands on its own, though those who enjoy my writing may find a few quiet echoes along the way.
Hunker down and settle in to join me as Solomon’s latest journey unfolds.
After his encounter with the ancient creature who’d nearly killed him previously, the other hunters detained Solomon due to his abilities…
As the metal door opened, Jacob entered the chamber, rubbing his eyes. Before it could shut, a lithe arm shot through the gap, letting Sandra slip in behind the doctor. The bright surgical lights flared while Solomon brandished his unshackled arms. “Hopefully, my being here buys me some goodwill.”
“It’s not that simple—”
“Jacob!” The hunter hopped to his feet and crossed the distance in the blink of an eye. He grasped his friend’s shoulders as his lips drew into a line. “I’m not used to being this defenseless. A small battalion of hunters doesn’t make me feel safer, especially knowing their orders might soon target me.”
Jacob slipped out of his friend’s grasp, then he guided Solomon to the solitary chair. “You know why you’re here. That hasn’t changed.”
Solomon rubbed his chin, glancing between Jacob and Sandra. “I surrendered myself to this lunacy to ease everyone’s overreaction to my last hunt.”
“Darren said your movements mirrored the monster you were hunting.” Jacob wrapped his arms around his clipboard as he released a heavy sigh. “And in case you’ve already forgotten, that means you’re far too fast for a human.”
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