Luther Grim positions himself near the hearth in his secluded cabin. The fireplace’s wavering illumination paints extended, fluctuating silhouettes that strangely echo his harsh countenance.
“I have come to realize that there isn’t much to set apart the life of a hunter from that of a journalist. We are both searchers, on the trail of elusive targets, be it a wild animal or a tale full of scandalous intrigue. We are both tenacious, aiming to corner and capture our objective, to claim it as our own. But what sets me apart from that journalist? It all depends on what we are each in pursuit of.”
“As a hunter, I hold my quarry in high regard. In the stillness of the wild, I have come to understand that to capture an animal, its essence must be fully understood. This includes recognizing its habits, abilities, and fears. It demands respect, acknowledging its role in the broader ecological hierarchy. It is fundamental to honor the long-standing equilibrium of nature, which is as timeless and rhythmic as the very existence of life.”
Luther’s focus wanders to a deer skull affixed on the wall. Except for the sporadic popping of the fire, the room is quiet, mirroring the tranquility he values in nature.
“On the contrast, a man like Colt Ramsey? He lacks any semblance of respect. His actions are steeped in boldness, fueled by relentless greed. He is always on the lookout for the next big news, the most scandalous story, eager to sink his teeth into the raw flesh of human frailty. He is prepared to demean himself, to descend to the most degrading depths to reach his aim. There is no limit for him – no boundary he wouldn’t cross to achieve success.”
“Because you see, Colt Ramsey, like many journalists, is propelled by three things. It is the greed for perfection – the endless desire for the perfect story, the most sensational, the most influential. It is the greed for knowledge – the audacious conviction that every secret in Arcadia is his to expose, that he has a right to know everything, no matter the price. And it is the greed for recognition – the incessant craving to be noticed, to be lauded, to be considered as the ultimate authority.”
Luther’s eyes are fixed on a newspaper article tacked on the wall, detailing Colt’s latest scandalous story. The room seems chillier, the fire dimmer, reflecting his escalating disdain.
“Yet in his haste, Colt Ramsey has become the very beast he seeks to unmask. He has morphed into the very spectacle he has persistently pursued – a narrative both tragic and electrifying, a man who has consistently succeeded only in making a mockery of himself. And as for me? I’m the one who’s going to seize him. Because you see, my prey is not merely a man, but a creature blinded by his own greed. And I will not hesitate to lay that snare. Because a beast, when desperate and cornered, becomes its most dangerous. Yet, it also becomes its most vulnerable. And that, Colt Ramsey, is when Luther Grim strikes.”
“It’s hunting season.”