After witnessing the macabre scene, Asher and Liam cautiously stayed out of the stranger's line of sight, frantically searching for any trace of their missing comrades. Neither the boneless bodies heaped on the ground nor the surrounding vicinity offered any clues of their whereabouts. Unexpectedly, the enigmatic figure pivoted and began advancing towards what appeared to be a doorway. Curiosity piqued, Asher and Liam held their breath, their eyes unwaveringly focused on the sealed entrance.
Creak
The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room where several frightened children and a teenage girl huddled, their eyes wide with fear. Asher and Liam's emotions swirled, a mix of relief at finding the kidnapped children's and overwhelming dread about what might transpire next.
The enigmatic man's gaze, cold and unyielding, surveyed the petrified children. Slowly, menacingly, he reached out to seize one of the younger ones. But just as his fingers were about to close around the child, Sarah, the teenage girl, sprang forward, positioning herself as a barrier between the man and the child. Her eyes blazed with defiance as she challenged him.
"What do you want with him? Stay away!" Sarah's voice quivered with a blend of bravery and apprehension.
The man's response was a chilling silence, his eyes unblinkingly and void of emotion fixed on Sarah.
In a fluid, ruthless motion, he grasped Sarah's hair, yanking her towards him. Her agonized scream pierced the room. Relentlessly, he dragged her away, making his way to the ominous heart of the construction site.
"Where are you taking me?! L-Let go of me!" Sarah struggled, desperately attempting to free herself from his grip, but her efforts were in vain. The man's strength was overwhelming. The echoing sobs of the children heightened the chilling atmosphere.
A surge of both horror and anger flashed in Asher and Liam's eyes. Time was of the essence, and they knew they had to intervene before it was too late.
Liam's instincts took over. Without a second thought, he pulled out his gun and aimed directly at the man's head, hoping to end the threat swiftly.
"Bang!" The silence of the room was shattered by the deafening echo of a gunshot.
But just as the bullet was about to find its mark, the taller skeleton servant, which had been ominously lurking beside the man, sprang into action. With great speed, it unfurled a handkerchief, intercepting the bullet in mid-air. The impact caused a brief flash, and the bullet crumpled, harmlessly dropping to the ground.
"W-What?!!" Liam's eyes widened in disbelief as his bullet disintegrated upon contact with what seemed like a mere handkerchief. In that instant, he realized the gravity of the situation: the man and his skeletal companion were entities not to be underestimated.
The entire room seemed to hold its breath, stunned by the unforeseen intervention. The man paused momentarily, his cold gaze shifting to Liam, acknowledging the attempt on his life. Sarah seized this momentary distraction to try and free herself, but the man's grip was unrelenting.
Asher, seeing Liam's attempt thwarted, realized that they were dealing with a force beyond their comprehension. The skeletal servant, having just deflected a bullet with nothing more than a piece of cloth, stood still, its hollow gaze fixed to the ground standing beside the man as if it was waiting for his order.
"Guardian, Shield Throw!" Unable to just stand by and let their friend fall prey to this mysterious adversary, Asher ordered his guardian to attack.
Asher's guardian responded instantly to the command. With swift precision, the guardian hurled its spiked shield towards the sinister man. The room's tension escalated, every eye watching the shield's trajectory.
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Yet, as before, the taller skeleton moved with astonishing speed, positioning its handkerchief to intercept the incoming projectile. As the shield collided with the handkerchief, there was a brief moment where it seemed the shield would be effortlessly deflected like Liam's bullet. But this was not just any shield; it was imbued with a skill.
Suddenly, the shield ricocheted at an unexpected angle, redirecting its course towards the smaller skeleton adorned with a pink ribbon. The scene unfolded in what felt like slow motion. The mysterious man, sensing the danger his smaller companion was about to face, immediately released Sarah, lunging towards the smaller skeleton. In a desperate bid, he used his own body as a shield, wrapping his arms protectively around the smaller entity, trying to absorb the brunt of the impact. The metallic clang resonated throughout the space as the shield struck the man's back with great force, making him stagger but successfully protecting the smaller skeleton.
Sarah, free from the man's grasp, scrambled to her feet, rushing towards the children's. Asher and Liam, seizing the moment of chaos, also moved closer to the children, ready to defend them at all costs.
The atmosphere grew even more tense with the man momentarily motionless.
The mysterious man turned his gaze towards the smaller skeleton. Despite its skeletal form, its eyes conveyed an inexplicably endearing innocence, almost as if it was assuring the man of its well-being. In response, the faintest hint of a smirk briefly touched the man's lips—a fleeting moment of emotion that seemed entirely out of character. But just as quickly as it had appeared, the smirk vanished, replaced once again by his customary, emotionless facade.
Without wasting another second, he gently cradled the smaller skeleton in his arms, holding it close to his chest. The bond between them was palpable, suggesting a depth of connection that went beyond mere servitude.
With the smaller skeleton safely in his embrace, the man began to retreat, all the while maintaining his watchful gaze on Asher and Liam, ensuring no further attempts to harm his skeletal companion.
Suddenly, out of thin air, a door materialized behind the man, its structure eerily composed entirely of interwoven bones. The tall and dutiful skeletal servant stepped forward to open the door for its master. As the door creaked open, Asher caught a glimpse of what lay beyond: an army of skeletons, standing in formation, their hollow eyes glowing in the dim light. Without a backward glance, the man, carrying the smaller skeleton, walked through the door, followed by the servant. As the last of them crossed the threshold, the door dissolved into the ground, leaving no trace of its existence.
"..."
"..."
Silence enveloped the construction site. Asher and Liam stood still, their minds racing to process the surreal events that had just transpired. They had braced themselves for an intense showdown, but instead, the man and his skeletal entourage had chosen to retreat. The sudden departure, without confrontation or words, left them more perplexed than ever.
"Why... why did he leave?" Liam voiced out, his eyes darting around, half expecting the mysterious trio to reappear.
Asher shook his head, equally baffled. "I don't know, but it seemed that little skeleton was of great importance to him. Whatever connection they have, he seemed unwilling to risk it further."
Asher was not just curious but deeply intrigued by this enigmatic figure. It was clear that he was a necromancer, possessing the power to summon skeletons.And beyond the door, it appeared there was an entire horde awaiting his command.
"Guys!" A desperate shout rang out from behind. Whirling around, Asher and Liam were met with the sight of Sarah sprinting toward them. Without hesitation, she enveloped both of them in a heartfelt embrace, her eyes gleaming with gratitude for their aid. The children from the other room mirrored Sarah's sentiment, racing towards the pair and clutching them tightly, tears of fear and relief streaming down their face.
Asher and Liam exchanged a glance, both their faces understanding the weight of the ordeal the children had just faced. The gravity of the situation and the emotional aftermath was palpable in their expression and actions. With a silent nod to each other, they allowed themselves to simply be present for them.
The construction site, once eerie with malevolent intent, was now filled with the soft sobs of relief and the warmth of human connection. Every sniffle, every tear, was a testament to the emotional challenges that had gripped those poor children.
Gradually, the tears began to recede. The initial shock and panic were replaced with sighs of relief and tentative smiles. The group started to disentangle from their tight huddle. Sarah, rubbing a young boy's back, reassured him, "It's over now. You're safe."
Liam looked around, taking in the faces of those they had saved. "We should head back to the subway, I'm sure the group must be worried sick."
Asher nodded in agreement. "Yes, better get back and rest for the day. I'm sure everyone's tired from all that had happened today."
The group began their journey back to the subway station, leaving behind the construction site and its haunting memories. But the mystery of the man and his skeletal companions lingered in Asher's mind.