(Cay)<br/><br/>The search continued, but with little to no success. Citizens of the town simply waved head at the wanted poster, recognizing the image but not the face among them. Anton was slowly beginning to feel frustrated. He knew that witch is in the town but for all he knew she could already has gotten new clothes and left him to stumble into crowds like a blind man. Witch... that thought made him smirk. Yes he knew about their existence and that only very few, even clergy had a number of 'blessed ones' as they called them, sanctioned by the church to perform 'miracles' and guide people toward the bosoms of the state... but he never hunted one. He hunted those church suspected to be witches and warlocks but it all turned out to be just another man or woman who church wanted to be killed and justified its murder as an 'act against heresy'. But this changed everything. Now he was hunting for a witch who proved to be a formidable foe... and a worthy challenge.<br/><br/>Frustration grew but then he got a favorable wind. A woman recognized the face, describing the girl who frantically ran through the crowd. She pointed Anton to a small apothecary and he immediately moved there. Bolt was already on the crossbow and the weapon itself was hidden underneath a long cloak that covered his left arm. Doors opened and he entered, closing them firmly behind him and turning the sign 'OPEN' to 'CLOSED'. This was more than enough for old lady to be alerted while he looked around the apothecary. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, remedies and unguents that she sold were those he was aware of and used frequently. But every house has it's skeletons.<br/><br/>"I am looking for this woman." Anton said in low, strict tone, placing a wanted poster on the table.<br/>"I have not seen her." Woman answered after inspecting the poster, a lot shorter than one would need to recognize the face. It was enough for Anton's suspicion to rise.<br/>"She was seen entering here..." He continued, walking around the apothecary. His hand moved few painting a bit to see if there is something hidden behind them and continued... he was looking for something, anything.<br/>"Well I would've known if I had seen her..." old lady replied "My memory is not as it used to be but it is still good to remember-"<br/>"Good." He interrupted her, voice became lower, dangerously aggressive as he stared into old lady's eyes "Then you won't mind telling me where she went."<br/><br/>Silence fell between two of them... Not even sounds from outside could be heard and Anton continued to stare at her. Every twitch she made, every breath she took, he registered it, measuring her up and down... he knows a liar when he sees one, after all... it takes one to find one. Woman recognized this, she recognized the ruthless killer in him that would not budge until he gets what he wants.<br/><br/>"Why do you hunt her?" She asked, not even bothering to lie that she hasn't seen her.<br/>"She is a witch." Anton answered, short and simple.<br/>"And why do you hunt witches? What have witches ever done to you?" Questions pressed on from her.<br/>"Nothing. She is wanted and I am a bounty hunter." Anton answered again with pure honesty. It both pleased and displeased woman.<br/>"So you are nothing but a ruthless dog? A weapon that does not ask a question but obeys?"<br/>"Does a soldier questions general?" Now it was his time to ask "No. Soldier obeys and kills when ordered... I am a soldier, one who deals with those that state does not want anymore among its people."<br/>"The people hate what they do not understand." She continued with this debate, now speaking with voice that was more angry than afraid... She is one of them, of that he was certain and judging what he just saw in forest, none are to be taken lightly. His heart started beating fast, adrenaline pumped through his veins as finger removed a safety from the crossbow... a single twitch is all it would take for bolt to fly.<br/>"They people hate what they fear... If witch was doing good for benefit of others, people would not need to fear them. Tell me... witch... do they have reason to fear you?"<br/><br/>Another silence fell between two of them. Air around became cold, dry. His skin started to crawl from the force he could not comprehend... but he could feel it, he could sense it and every instinct in his body was screaming at him, screaming of danger, screaming of impending calamity that originated from this old lady, whose powers were well hidden behind the mask of an old lady. Hand on crossbow tightened, leather screeched under the polished wood as he gripped it with all his might... He was waiting for her answer, he was waiting for her to continue and profess her innocence, he was waiting for her to say 'No'. It might give him reason to walk away from this place and search elsewhere.<br/><br/>"Yes..." was answer she has given.<br/>He growled and pulled the hidden arm from under the cloak. Arms of crossbow clicked and extended as he aimed at old lady who did not flinch at the sight of weapon pointed at her "You will tell me where she is, or I will be the last face you will see..."<br/><br/>Strange whispers reached his ears and he felt the chills climb up his spine. Eyes locked onto her lips and saw them move... an incantation. Without a moment of hesitation, he pulled the trigger and bolt lodged itself deep into woman's throat, causing her to choke on words and stumble back. He pulled the string once more and placed second bolt onto it. Left foot pressed against woman's shoulder as he walked around the counter, stabilizing her enough for him to shoot second time, this time piercing her heart. Twitching and flailing stopped as he whispered "So be it..."<br/><br/>Air warmed up again and the chills stopped, skin stopped crawling and it gave Anton a sense of relief. He looked around the apothecary store, searching for anything that would give him lead. A door to the back room opened and he looked inside... it wasn't what he was looking for but it cleared out any doubts about this place... An altar. For what higher power, he was not sure... but it is not one of God that is for certain. Room still had a strong scent... leaves and petals and odd fragrance he could not recognize... She was here, but what did she do? Maybe she vanished into thin air? No, if it was that easy, she would've done it in the forest or perhaps before the chase even began. It is possible she is still in town.<br/><br/>Leaving the doors open he walked outside of the apothecary toward the nearest stand. He climbed on top of it, much to displeasure and protests of the owner.<br/><br/>"People! Hear me!" Anton shouted, voice carried far and people started turning "There is a witch among you!" He continued and these words quickly caused a lot of mumbling among the people. Hand moved into his leather jacket and pulled out a wanted poster. "I am a bounty hunter, sanctioned by the church, seeking a woman who came into your town! If you still do not trust me, trust your eyes and look into that store!" He pointed toward the apothecary. Few people went inside to see the dead old lady with two bolts in her body... it didn't took long for them to find the altar and they came out shouting<i>Witch!</i><br/><br/>"If you have seen her, do not hide her! Do not let her magic be hidden underneath your eyes! Suffer not the witch to live!"<br/><br/>Commotion started, crowd was moving. It was as old lady said... they fear witches, they fear what they do not understand. He cannot search entire city on his own but he can move people to his advantage and spread his eyes across the town. Even if he doesn't see her, there is a chance others will and if they do... they just might lynch her. Anton jumped down from the stand and moved once again through the crowd, leaving people to their own accords as he continued his search... She will either try to run or she will come out and see what happened... and if she cares, she will stop by apothecary before it is burned down to the ground. Now is the time to wait.