It was dark and quiet. Riley was completely standing still. She opened her eyes and looked in front of her. A high school student was there with his back facing her. Before she could react, a green light began to show and blinded Riley. “Wait!” She shouted as the student stepped forward into the slight while some black bits started to block her from following. “Don’t go!”
…
“HA!... Huh?” Riley was suddenly back in the forest as her hearing adjusted to the campfire’s crackling noises. It was daytime, though the sky was still as dark as ever, it felt as if hours had passed.
“Oh… you’re alive,” Hunter said as Riley turned, seeing him sit while slouching with both of his arms resting at his ankles.
She then remembered what happened last night. “I- I’m ALIVE?! How could this be? I was grabbed by that zombie! I shouldn’t even be able to control my body!” She panicked as she threw her hands around herself.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking,” Hunter responded as he scratched his head.
…
“Did you know anything about this?” She stood up and pointed at him in sweat.
“If I knew, I would have said so,” Hunter closed his eyes as he returned to his original sitting posture.
She just dropped back to her seat in shock. She placed her hand on her forehead and sighed heavily.
I clearly remember getting covered by those things. Was it a dream? No, if it was a dream, he should’ve…
She gathered her thoughts to calm down. She lowered her hand and began asking, “What did you do after I passed out?”
…
Hunter recalled everything he did last night. He woke up with a hole in his shirt. He looked around and followed a trail of ash and fire. After a few minutes, he saw Riley under the fire zombie. He attacked the zombie and quickly lifted Riley with both of his hands before running back to the campfire.
He included that he didn’t know what to do with her as she was covered by the goo. However, once he put her back to where she slept, Riley was free of danger. He got confused as he hesitantly lowered her down.
“No, I don’t know how it happened. I don’t think I missed anything too,” Hunter clarified.
…
Riley doesn’t want to say it, but she doesn’t believe him. Ever since he said about his goddess not telling anything when he got transported here, she’s convinced that he’s hiding some secrets and acts dumb as to not expose anything.
She didn’t want to bring it up but, “Do you remember ripping through that zombie with your bare hands?”
Hunter looked down and said, “Yes.” He quickly raised his head and continued, “But I don’t know how to explain that either.”
Riley stood up and turned around as she placed her fingers at the bottom of her face. She only had a sense of confusion in her eyes. She knew that he saved her in a way he doesn’t know but also silently thought, what in the world is he?
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“Zombies aren’t that weak right?” Hunter gave a question as both of them don’t understand his abilities.
“No. Not to the average human being at least.”
…
“I’m sorry. I really don’t have anything else to say,” Hunter acting like he’s giving all he knows.
Riley only responded in uncertainty, “I don’t even know if I should trust you anymore.”
Hunter straightened up from his slouching pose and said, “Then you don’t have to, but I’ll keep on moving forward.”
Riley reacted as though she was reminded. She let out a breath and lowered her guard. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I’m not gonna leave you alone.”
…
You have a small smile as Riley confirms she wasn’t gonna leave you alone. You feel relieved.
As the mood lightened up, “By the way,” Riley says. “How long was I asleep?”
“A few hours,” you answer.
“I see. Well, better prepare yourself. We still haven’t reached our destination,” Riley excitedly smiles as she places both of her hands at her hips.
You stand up in response to her small instruction, “Shall we go then?”
…
You’ve been traversing through the forest for an hour now.
You and Riley still have their guard up in case of another encounter.
You still have a few questions but you were strictly focused on looking around. It’s obvious that Riley isn’t up for some more questions.
You have your secrets and thought it would be fair to just discover the world by yourself.
As you continue, a ray of light begins to materialize in front of you. It was like discovering that village once again… or are you back in the village once more?
…
“We’re here!” Riley says as both of you step out of the forest and get greeted by an empty space in the middle of the forest.
“What?” It seems that there won’t be a day without getting confused. What can be useful in an area of nothing?
Riley walks a little forward before coming to a halt. She inhales and slightly bent forward before shouting, “Hey kids, I’m back!”
…
All of a sudden, your vision begins to disorient, or is it? You look behind you as the dark woods didn’t seem to be under the same effect.
You return back to where you were facing and see a large figure slowly fading in.
It then became clearer that it isn’t an empty space but rather a house that is under a spell.
It is a large wooden 3-story house and it is in perfect shape. All of the visible windows are closed as though there are people living inside.
It isn’t the first time, but a feeling of dread that’s been following you didn’t disappear, yet Riley is simply smiling.
…
“Hey, are you sure this is the place?” You are worried.
“Yeah, of course, this is the one,” Riley didn’t seem to have the same feelings.
Then the front door of the wooden house loudly creaked as it opened.
It was dark inside, but you can barely hear multiple footsteps coming out of the house.
Then the first figure appeared and it’s a… kid?
…
“Riley!” Multiple kids start running to Riley and they don’t look like any of those villagers covered by the substance.
You only sigh in relief.
“Hey everyone!” She says as a bunch of kids surrounded her, “We need to get back, alright? We don’t want anything to happen to you alright?”
She stands by the door as the kids go in one by one.
“You too, Hunter. It’s safe here,” You follow before…
…
“Wait,” a female voice is heard from inside the door. A lady with white straight bangs, short hair, red skin, and wearing a maid-like dress walks out and blocks the door.
“Why would we let him in?” She asks Riley.
But before Riley can respond, another one speaks, “Excuse me.” The maid steps to the side and another girl comes out. She’s a blonde long-haired girl looking like she’s in her 20s and wearing a white buttoned shirt.
With a serious look on her face, she says, “Riley, what do you have here now?”