Story 59/1001

• chop
• read
• slime

Valerie swung her axe and hit the monster’s arm. Lucy yelled as she ran towards it with a metal bat in her arms. The monster turned to Valerie, showing its sharp teeth. She swung her axe again, but this time, the monster dodged her attack. It jumped at her, knocking her on the ground.

Lucy jumped on the monster’s back and choked it with her bat. The monster pushed her off and moved away from Valerie. It started running away. Valerie and Lucy looked at each other, and ran after it, but before they could catch it, it’s head came clean off. Behind the monster was Lana, holding her katana.

“Really?” Lucy scoffed. “You had to brag with that thing?”

“I didn’t practice kendo since I was a kid for nothing, Lucy. At least my father left me this.” Lana answered, looking at her katana. “And I just happened to save your asses.”

“We had everything under control.” Lucy said, crossing her arms.

Valerie went to the monster, trying to move it. “Did you really have to chop it up? Now there’s goo all over it.” She muttered.

“Yay, monster slime.” Lucy said, walking towards Valerie.

Lana sighed. “There is no pleasing you guys. If you want it this way, I won’t help next time. ” Lana put the katana back in its scabbard.

“Don’t be a drama queen. Just continue with showing off.” Lucy said.

“Will you help me put this in the trunk on are we showing other people what lives among them?” Valerie asked, struggling with the monster’s body. Lucy and Lana joined her.

“What is that thing, anyway?” Lana asked.

“You chopped its head off and you don’t even know what it is?” Lucy asked.

They managed to put the body in the trunk, and Lana went to grab the head.

“Wait. You don’t even know what it is.” Lucy said, walking towards her.

“I only need the money for it, not its name.” Lana answered.

“No.” Lucy said. “We get the money.”

“I killed it, as you said many times. The head is mine.” Lana said, lifting the head from the ground. Lucy kicked the head from her hands and it flew a few feet away.

“That wasn’t as far as I thought it would be.” Lucy mumbled. “Anyway, you can’t have all the money. We lured the monster, we tracked it for days, we set up all this. You were just here by accident.”

“Or was she?” Valerie asked. “Did you follow us, Lana? Are you lonely in your I-can-do-it-myself gig?”

Lana looked away, muttering.

“Really?” Valerie asked. “Lana, the independent one, wants to join a team? Am I reading this situation right?”

“Just give me the head and I’ll go.” Lana said.

“Being stubborn won’t lead you far. Did I read it right?”

“You’re not getting the head either way.” Lucy added. “But, this way, we can split it three ways.”

“The head?” Valerie asked.

“No, the money.”

“How did you two survive this long in this business?” Lana asked.

They shrugged and looked back at her. Lana muttered something again, but after a minute, she extended her hand. Lucy smiled and pushed her hand away to hug her.

“We totally need a badass ninja on our team!”

“Let’s go find out what this monster is.” Valerie said, getting in the car.

“Wait, you don’t know either?” Lana asked and got in the back seat.