PHANTOM GUNS
Chapter 1 – The Letter That Changed Everything
Rain poured over the small town of Ashvale as Caleb Collins (19) lay on the roof of his house, drinking his favorite grape soda.
"Another boring day..." he sighed.
Inside the house...
"CALEB!!"
His older sister, Sadako, threw open the window.
"Get down here before dinner gets cold!"
Caleb laughed.
"I'm coming!"
---
During dinner, the siblings joked with each other.
"You'll never stop drinking soda, will you?" Sadako asked.
"Nope."
"You'll rot your teeth."
"Worth it."
Sadako rolled her eyes but smiled.
Their peaceful evening was interrupted by loud knocking.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Caleb opened the door.
No one was there.
Only a single black envelope rested on the porch.
Written on the front were the words:
To Caleb and Sadako Collins.
Caleb looked confused.
"I don't recognize this handwriting..."
Sadako carefully opened the envelope.
Inside was a faded letter.
> "If you're reading this, I'm still alive."
Both siblings froze.
"...Brother?"
The letter continued.
> "The truth about Mom and Dad wasn't what you were told. There are people hunting our family because of the Phantom Guns. Come find me before they do. Don't trust anyone wearing the Crimson Eye symbol."
No name.
No location.
Only a rough map pointing east.
Silence filled the room.
Caleb slowly clenched the paper.
"So...he really is alive."
Sadako nodded.
"We're leaving tomorrow."
---
That night...
Caleb couldn't sleep.
He walked outside beneath the moonlight.
He looked at the scars across the backs of his hands.
"...Dad..."
He remembered the night everything changed.
Flashes of monsters.
His parents shouting.
A strange black energy surrounding him.
A ghostly pistol appearing in his hand.
He snapped back to reality.
"I'm stronger now."
"I'll find you."
---
The next morning...
The siblings packed light.
A few clothes.
Food.
A map.
Several cans of soda for Caleb.
Sadako sighed.
"You packed more soda than food."
"I have priorities."
She smacked the back of his head.
"Ow!"
---
Just as they stepped outside the town gate...
A loud explosion echoed through the forest.
BOOM!!
People screamed.
A giant wolf-like Phantom burst from the trees, its glowing red eyes fixed on the town.
Everyone ran.
Caleb stepped forward.
Sadako stood beside him.
She smiled slightly.
"Looks like our journey starts now."
Caleb cracked his knuckles.
Black spiritual energy gathered around his arm.
A ghostly pistol slowly formed in his hand.
PHANTOM GUNS.
The monster roared.
Caleb pointed the pistol forward.
"Let's do this."
END OF CHAPTER 1
Next Chapter: "The First Hunt"