[ WP ] In a world were Demons , Vampires , Ghosts , Mutants , Beasts and the Undead prey on unsuspecting humans , one man fights and battles for justice alone .

`` You have two options, either give up the girl or I deal my justice. ``, the voice said evenly. 
 
 `` I see another option, you die enforcer! ``, replied the creature, its skin oozing wit pustules and sores. They had been men once before the plague. Now these humanoids killed for the slightest provocation. It raised its crude blade. toward the young girls throat. 
 
 It was over as quickly as it had begun. The creature howled as a bolt hit its hand. 
 
 Enraged it threw the girl to the ground and lunged at him. The man released the second bolt. 
 
 `` You chose poorly. ``, he said. He looked at the girl. She was shaken, but did n't appear harmed. He walked over and got down on one knee,'' You're going to be alright.'' She did n't believe him. He led her back to the local precinct. 
 
 `` You'll be safe here. ``, he stated as he left her with an officer. 
 
 `` Busting skulls, are we Her Gottfried? I hope that you are not to tired from your commute. ``, the Chief Inspector inquired. His bright red face seemed to bulge from his uniform. Today would be long. 
 
 `` The Emperors open policy has made this city an open sore. It's festering with filth and its only getting worse.'' Gottfried replied. He reached for an old cigar and a match. The tobacco had soured. His lungs filled the foulness. 
 
 `` We enforce the law. We do not make it, Gottfried. I have an assignment for you. ``, he handed him a dossier. A break and entry? 
 
 `` A case like this would normally go to one of our patrolmen, but this case is delicate. ``, The chief continued. 
 
 `` What was stolen? ``, he looked up to the chief. 
 
 `` According to the owner, a box. ``, the chief said. There was no hint of joking. 
 
 `` What was special about a box? ``, Gottfried's jaw hardened. 
 
 `` The owner wo n't say. But it has this. ``, the inspector handed him the letter. A broken imperial seal. This was a priority. 
 
 `` I will need to speak to the owner. ``, Gottfried closed the dosier. The chief straightened up. 
 
 `` There is one more thing, you are not going alone. ``, He looked serious. This would be a long day. 
 
 
 
 
 
 She was the top of class at the University of Vienna. She was fluent is English and French and as well as her native tongue. For a woman, she could have many options as allowed by her rank and gender. She choose to join public service under the enforcement division. Her mother was displeased as many a gentleman had professed their undying devotion to her. Fools. A man is lover once and a master for life. She chose this life. 
 
 Emma Kant watched her new partner quickly as they walked the streets of the city. He did n't react to her as so many other men had. Disdain, mockery or even vulgarity is what she had experienced through school and the academy. He gave off no emotion. His demeanor was almost indifferent. Hostility she understood but this was uneasily calming. 
 
 `` We could have taken a carriage, Herr Gottfried. ``, she stated, as though it was less a fact and more a challenge. 
 
 `` Keeps us dull, Fraulein. We need to be close to the prey we are hunting. ``, his response clipped and felt as though not the main subject of his thoughts. 
 
 They moved through the crowd. Humanoids interacted with humans. A pair of vampires sampled freshly culled pigs blood as a group of ghosts wailed a sad song for onlookers. His mind had gone out into the world, listening to the sounds of the street. They turned down a street where mongers of mutated creatures sold their wears to hybrid man animals and human alike. He did not approve. 
 
 `` please call me Emma, inspector'', she said,'' It less formal and I would prefer if I was not restrained by formality with everyone in this department.'' 
 
 They had come to the apartment where the break in had occurred. Gottfried knocked on the door. A young man appeared. His demeanor screamed academic. 
 
 `` Ah, you must be the inspectors. Please come in. ``, he motioned. 
 
 The apartment was cramped even by city standards. Books lined the walls and filled chairs and surfaces. At his desk there were papers strewn with figures and numbers. This was the lair of a physicist. 
 
 `` Can you show me the room where it was stolen? ``, asked Gottfried. The scientist led them to small room. It smelled of iron, charr, bromide and something else organic. 
 
 `` Whoever did this, knew what they were doing. They came while I was at the University. I was preparing to show my invention, it was going to revolutionize the way we look at the world. I have spent the last year working on its construction, and was explaining it to trusted colleague when I came back to this.'' He stated sadly. 
 
 `` What exactly did your invention do. ``, Emma asked. She had read the dossier, and was familiar with the field of physics and had heard of this professor. 
 
 `` It destroys causality and thus reality as we know it. ``, he said sternly. `` This invention was originally a thought experiment designed to test our interpretation of the study of quanta. It was my hope to use it to describe a way of viewing the world as we know it, but the more I think on it, the more worried I become. I created a box.'' 
 
 `` Professor Schrodinger, please enlighten us'', Gottfried intoned. 
 
 `` Please understand, what I did, I did in the name of advancement of knowledge. ``, his face became sad. `` I was seeking to prove that quantum states could change by a matter of perception. I needed a subject to be in the box while I set up a radioactive material in the box with a geiger counter and vial of poison. I had hoped to prove a fallacy known today as the Copenhagen Method. An observer must be watching and while the box is sealed can not say whether the subject is either alive or dead. Thus it shows that causality must be affected by observation. ``, The professor lectured. 
 
 `` So professor, where is your cat? ``, Gottfried questioned. 
 
 `` How did you know? ``, he asked astonished. 
 
 `` I'm an observer myself. Plus the smell of a cat is distinct. ``, Gottfried smiled. 
 
 `` Gentleman, I hate to disturb this lecture, but it appears you have company. ``, Emma intoned. There was a moan at the door. Then pounding. 
 
 `` I assume you did n't have company? ``, Gottfried asked. 
 
 `` N-no, I am here by myself. ``, stuttered the professor. 
 
 Emma and Gottfried shared a moment of silence. Each knew the situation was dire and their silence spoke a thousand words. They reached for their pneumatic crossbows. The window shattered. 
 
 Bolts flew quickly as the undead began to pour in. There were too many. 
 They fired and slowly fell back as the small lumbered closer. An individual undead was easily dealt with, but numbers and space made them especially dangerous. 
 
 `` grab the professor! ``, Gottfried yelled as pulled a small dark object from his coat. He had seconds and fumbled for his match. 
 
 `` Stay behind me! ``, Emma shouted as dropped her empty crossbow and drew her stun baton. It was attache to a pack on her belt that pulsed electrical energy as she switched it on. The first ghoul approached with outstretched arms, grey rotting flesh. She deftly smashed it and then the second. They were goners. 
 
 The explosion rattled the front of the house. Body parts rained down in macabre shower as fleeing a few fleeing residents ran away. When the city sewer opened up with the undead, most residents got off the streets. The unlucky few were pulled down into the sewers. 
 
 Three figures emerged from the carnage. two men and a woman. One was visibly shaken, the other quiet as statue. The woman broke the silence. 
 
 `` That was not random. Ghouls do not mob one location, they do n't have the capacity to coordinate attacks. ``, she said. 
 
 `` Herr Professor, we will need to take you into custody. ``, he said as a small thing caught his eye. He leaned over and picked it up. `` Professor please could you call us a carriage. ``, he almost commanded. 
 
 `` Certainly. I will be right back. ``, he said as he beat a hasty retreat. 
 
 `` Emma look at this. ``, Gottfried handed her a small medallion. It had been attached to a ghoul. It was dull and worn, but the insignia was clearly recognizable. 
 
 `` The cult of Beelzebub? I thought that was a myth. A demon meant to frighten children not a real thing. ``, Emma said, rationality returning. 
 
 `` Did you not hear the professor? Reality is in flux these days. We have work to do.'' he said turning. A carriage was approaching. 
 
 `` Albrecht. ``, he said,'' my name is Albrecht.'' 
 
 She stood in a stupor for a moment. She knew his name. She read it before in the papers. He was not just an inspector. He was demon hunter. One that was accused of heresy of Atheism against God and the only one pardoned by the emperor himself from the fire. 
 
 As she stepped in the carriage, she felt for the first time a sense of dread. This was not an ordinary man. He was wraith. An unclean blasphemer. The sort that killed and felt no remorse. What had she gotten herself into? 
 

