The Part Where Things Get Suspiciously Quiet
The village was too quiet.
Not the “peaceful countryside” kind of quiet.
The “horror movie before something jumps out” kind of quiet.
Sienna felt it first. “I don’t like this.”
Lucienne nodded. “It’s too empty.”
Jax, being Jax, had the worst take possible. “OR! Hear me out… Maybe they all went on vacation?”
Elara blinked. “In the middle of nowhere?”
Jax shrugged. “Rural Airbnb?”
Lucienne groaned. “I’m going to throw you into a well.”
Sienna ignored them and focused on the surroundings. The houses were intact, doors shut, windows unbroken. It didn’t look abandoned, but it was deserted.
Lucienne tightened her grip on her sword. “Something happened here.”
Jax leaned toward Elara. “Ghosts?”
Elara pretended to consider it. “Maybe cursed corn?”
Lucienne twitched. “I swear—”
Sienna snapped her fingers. “Shut up. We need to focus.”
Elara sighed. “Fine.”
Jax nodded. “Okay, okay. But if something scary jumps out, I’m throwing Elara at it first.”
Lucienne kicked him.
Jax fell dramatically.
Elara nodded approvingly. “That’s fair.”
---
The ‘We Should’ve Known This Was a Trap’ Moment
The wind picked up.
A low, distant hum vibrated through the air. It wasn’t natural—it was something else.
Sienna froze. “Do you hear that?”
Lucienne nodded. “Yeah.”
Elara tilted her head. “Is that… chanting?”
Jax blinked. “Oh. So the village wasn’t abandoned.”
Lucienne glared. “You think?”
Sienna motioned for them to move. “We need to hide. Now.”
They ducked into an alley between two stone houses, pressing against the walls as shadows flickered between the buildings.
People.
Or… something like people.
Elara peered around the corner. They wore deep, hooded cloaks. Their faces were hidden, and in their hands were long, jagged weapons.
Lucienne cursed under her breath. “Cultists.”
Jax squinted. “Cultists? Or, like… really committed LARPers?”
Lucienne pinched the bridge of her nose.
Sienna ignored him. “They’re looking for something.”
Elara exhaled. “Let’s hope it’s not us.”
---
The Hope Was Useless
It was them.
Of course, it was them.
One of the hooded figures stopped. Turned. Sniffed the air.
Sienna’s heart dropped.
Lucienne’s grip on her sword tightened.
Elara whispered, “Okay, what do we do?”
Jax whispered back, “Run?”
Sienna whispered, “Stay hidden.”
Lucienne whispered, “Prepare to fight.”
Elara whispered, “Panic?”
Jax nodded. “Panic sounds good.”
The hooded figure moved closer.
Lucienne mouthed a curse.
Sienna motioned for everyone to stay still.
For a second, it seemed to work.
Then—
A CRATE FELL OVER.
Loudly.
Right behind them.
Everyone froze.
The hooded figures turned.
Jax whispered, “Who just did that?”
Elara whispered, “No one moved.”
Lucienne whispered, “Then who—”
A single apple rolled out from the fallen crate.
It stopped at Jax’s foot.
The cultists charged.
---
The ‘We Have to Run Now’ Scene
“GO—GO—GO!” Sienna shouted.
They bolted.
The cultists weren’t just fast. They were inhumanly fast.
Jax screamed. “WHY ARE THEY SO FAST?”
Elara dodged a thrown dagger. “WHY DO THEY HAVE GOOD AIM?”
Lucienne blocked an incoming strike. “WHY DO WE NEVER HAVE A NORMAL DAY?”
Sienna shoved Jax forward. “Less talking! More running!”
The streets twisted and turned, but no matter how fast they ran, the cultists kept up.
Lucienne gritted her teeth. “We need to lose them!”
Jax, gasping for breath, pointed ahead. “BIG BUILDING. HIDE THERE.”
Elara squinted. “That’s literally a church.”
Jax nodded. “YEAH.”
Lucienne groaned. “Fine. Just move!”
---
The Church That Was Absolutely Also A Trap
The second they slammed the doors shut, the air shifted.
Lucienne froze. “Oh. No.”
Sienna’s eyes widened. “It’s—”
The doors slammed shut.
Candles flickered to life. Shadows stretched across the walls.
A deep voice echoed.
“You shouldn’t have come here.”
Jax collapsed onto a pew. “Cool. Love that. So normal.”
Elara exhaled. “I hate side quests.”
Lucienne gripped her sword. “This was never a side quest.”
Silence.
Sienna sighed. “We are so screwed.”
---
Why it is must 800 words ?!!! ugh