Chapter 1 - Head Hunter [EN]

So, here's the english version for all of you peeps. Enjoy~

The ground was already soaked with the rain that had been going down in this part of the land for days. The streets were muddy, the footpath blotched with footprints. Only a few tracks of carriages were still visible on the streets.
And in midst of this path a lonely figure was walking, obviously not very excited by the current state of his surroundings. The person pulled up his collar to protect his neck from the wind. The smell of decaying bodies was blown into his face as he lifted his head a bit. Disgusted he wrinkled his nose and squinted, so he would be able to even see something against the flogging wind and the pattering rain.
“What a piece of shit of a weather”, the figure mumbled, holding his coat with one of his hands. With the other one he pulled the belt that was carrying the giant bag on his back in position.
“Couldn’t have thought of something better up there, huh?” He looked around again, seemingly discontented. If he couldn’t find something soon, it would take a bad end. Or at least a very cold and rainy one. For him. His sight fell onto one of the taverns that also was an inn. Fresh, muddy footprints were on the path before it. A little sign next to the door caught his attention. ‘Free rooms: 1’ was written on it.
“Perfect”, the man grumbled with a grin, stepping on to the slippery footpath.
Not even a second later, the door was pushed open. Heads turned towards the almost gigantic figure standing in the door, soaking wet. Lightning struck down from the sky behind him, hitting the earth not too far away from the little town. The appendant thunder followed, sounding almost like the roar of a ferocious beast. The cold air that entered let the blood of the guests run cold, at least that of the people that were still sober.
“Whiskey”, the grumpy voice echoed through the room. Only a second later, the door closed again, crashing into the frame due to the wind. With a crotchety grunt he let himself fall on one of the chairs at the closest table and leaned onto it. Ah, a warming whiskey on a bad day. What could be better to keep his spirits up in such a situation? He lay down the bag he was carrying next to him, ignoring all the people staring at him, his coat or his hair. His knee-long hair, which went from a slightly reddish brown on to a deeper red, then an orange and finally yellow tips. But at the moment it rather looked like muddy brown with beige streaks here and there. Grumbling to himself, he wringed out his hair firstly, then his clothes as well. The floor in here was already dirty enough, a bit of water wouldn’t be any damage to it.
Shortly after, he looked around in the room. Directly next to him some drunkards were laughing and steering at the waitress. A table onward someone was just counting the money he earned. And at another table in the corner... sat a person that apparently was just like him. A guy sitting around and silently enjoying his drink. But in contrary to him, that person still got his hood up. Plus he was wearing gloves. The long-haired raised one eyebrow and reached for his bag, his hand touching the zip on the jute fibre.
“One whiskey?”
He flinched for a second, noticing the waitress right next to his table.
“Oh yeah, thank you.” With that he grabbed his glass and leaned back. That guy could do whatever he wanted to, as long as he didn’t drag him along. He wasn’t here for work after all. With a sip he relished the drink called whiskey and lay his head back, staring at the ceiling. It really was an uncomfortable evening.

The young woman gulped for a second as he looked into the eyes of her new guest. The dazzling, almost luminous green was by no means natural. With a shiver running through her body she turned around again as the stranger looked away. He was dangerous, that much she was sure of, although she only knew about his existence for about one minute. The bag he had with him gave off a clanking noise as he let it fall. Could weapons be in there? She gulped again before she returned to the bar, pouring in another drink for one of the drunk guys on the other table. Oh how she hated those drunkards.
“Ey, babe, what’s wrong? C’mere, give us a bit of your company!”, one of the men called out, staring at her with lecherous eyes. She grinded her teeth without anybody noticing. Yes, she hated them out of the depths of her soul. Of course she couldn’t say anything, a job’s a job after all. She smiled again, turning her heads towards them.
“What can I do for you?” She walked up to the table, getting a small note pad out of her pocket to write down their orders. Unfortunately the bearded guy next to her just grabbed her and pulled her closer, groping her butt in the process.
“Oh, just stand here and look cute, y’know darlin’?” The man started laughing, but got interrupted by his buddies who told him to stop being so horny and continue with the game of cards they were playing at the moment. The man just grumbled and let go of her again, while the waitress had some problems with controlling her temper and keep up her forced smile. She took a step back, bumping into the chair next to the long-haired by accident.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be a bother to you”, she said with an excusing smile, putting the chair back in its correct place.

The stranger took a look to the side, his eyes almost drilling a hole into the back of the man next to him. Then he sighed silently and put down his glass again.
“Hey, you. Open the window.” He gazed at the waitress, examining her with his eyes for a second. He could see in her face how much she hated this job. Just serving drunk, gross guys everyday for a shit pay and getting groped without being allowed to say a word. What a shitty profession. He turned his head again, staring at the wall as he leaned back on his chair. The guys on the table next to him were a parade-example for the stupidity and arrogance of the human race. Annoyed grunting, he looked around in the artificially lighted room again. The guy with the hood seemed to be rather annoyed by the troop of gamblers too. The question was for how long it’d last.

She looked at the stranger with a questioning face, but then she walked up to the window without another word. The waitress opened it with one move, the cold air flowing in. Her meagre clothing didn’t help much against the cold, so she just stepped back and fixed the blinds. For a second the young woman rubbed her arms to warm them up again. With a silent sigh she then walked back up to the table with the gamblers.
“Ah, baby, you’re my lucky charm. Just stand here for me.” The bearded guy grabbed her hip, pulling her closer towards him so she’d have to stand right next to him. She had to control herself to not lose her smile. Why did all of this always have to happen? She could hear how the guy behind her moved on his chair, but that was of no concern to her. It wasn’t her job after all.