The forest was alive with the sounds of the night—rustling leaves, distant animal calls, and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. The three men moved cautiously through the underbrush, their eyes fixed on the faint glow of the cave ahead. They had been watching the group for hours, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Now, with the fire reduced to embers and the cave silent, they were ready.
"Stay low," the tallest man, Garrett, whispered, his voice barely audible over the breeze. He was the leader of the trio, his sharp features and cold eyes betraying a lifetime of hard decisions. "We don't know how many traps they've set."
The second man, a weary figure named Finn, nodded nervously. His hands trembled slightly as he adjusted the sack slung over his shoulder. "I don't like this," he muttered. "What if they're not all asleep?"
"Shut it," Garrett snapped, his tone cutting through the night. "We've got no choice. We need that food."
The third man, a burly figure named Harlan, grunted in agreement. He carried a crude spear in one hand, his grip tight as he kept watch for traps. "Just keep your eyes open... and don't mess this up."
The trio crept closer to the cave, their movements slow and deliberate. Garrett took the lead, scanning their surroundings. He spotted the first trap—a makeshift tripwire strung between two rocks—and gestured for the others to step over it. Finn hesitated, his breath quickening, but Harlan shoved him forward with a muttered curse.
"Focus," Garrett hissed.
They reached the cave entrance, pausing just outside to listen. The only sounds were the soft breathing of the sleeping group and the occasional crackle of the dying fire. Garrett peered inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim light.
The group was scattered around the cave, their forms still and silent. A tall, muscular man lay near the entrance, his breathing deep and even. A younger woman with an athletic build was curled up nearby, her face peaceful in sleep. Further back, an older man rested against the wall, his hands folded in his lap. The others were harder to make out, their forms blending into the shadows.
"They're all asleep," Garrett whispered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "This is going to be easier than I thought."
Finn glanced nervously at the sleeping figures. "What about the traps inside?"
"We'll be careful," Garrett replied, his tone dismissive. "Just follow my lead."
The three men slipped into the cave, their movements slow and deliberate. Garrett spotted a small pile of rocks arranged in a suspicious pattern and gestured for the others to avoid it. Harlan followed close behind, his spear at the ready, whilst Finn brought up the rear, his sack clutched tightly in his hands.
They made their way toward the pile of food near the back of the cave, watching both the sleeping figures and the ground beneath their feet. Garrett's heart pounded in his chest, the thrill of the heist mixing with the fear of being caught. He could almost taste the food already—the berries, the roasted meat, the fresh herbs.
Finn reached the food first, his hands trembling as he began stuffing berries and dried meat into his sack. Harlan kept watch, his eyes scanning the sleepers for any signs of movement. Garrett grabbed a bundle of herbs, his mind already calculating how much they could trade for other supplies.
But as Finn turned to leave, his foot caught on a loose stone. The sound was soft, barely audible, but in the silence of the cave, it might as well have been a gunshot. The three men froze, their eyes turning to the sleeping figures. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the tall man near the entrance stirred, his breathing hitching slightly.
Garrett's heart skipped a beat. "Move," he whispered urgently. "Now."
They turned to leave, their movements quick but careful. But as they reached the cave entrance, something shifted in the shadows. Before they could react, a figure lunged forward, a blade glinting in the faint light. Harlan barely had time to raise his spear before the blade found its mark, slicing through his throat. He dropped to the ground, lifeless.
Finn screamed, the sound echoing through the cave. He turned to run, but a large figure tackled him to the ground, pinning him with ease. Ethan's face loomed above him. "Don't move," he growled.
Garrett spun around, his knife raised, but before he could strike, sharp pain exploded in his side. He stumbled, his vision blurring as he looked down to see a makeshift cane poking him in the ribs. Walter stood before him, his weathered face hard. "You picked the wrong cave."
Garrett tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. He collapsed to the ground, his vision fading as the cave erupted into chaos around him.
The three intruders lay motionless—Harlan dead, Garrett unconscious, and Finn pinned to the ground by Ethan. The air was thick with tension, the adrenaline of the fight still coursing through everyone's veins.
Victor was the first to move, stepping over Harlan's body without a glance. "We need to secure them. Tie them up before they wake up."
Maria's hands were already moving to the pile of supplies they had gathered earlier in the day. "We can use those vines," she said, pulling out a bundle of long, sturdy vines. "They should hold."
Ethan kept his grip on Finn, his mind racing. This is the first time I've ever had to do something like this, he thought, his stomach churning. I didn't think it would feel like this. He glanced down at Finn, who was trembling beneath him.
Lily sat frozen, eyes wide, shifting from the dead and unconscious bodies to Ethan pinning the third man down. "This is—I mean, they—we—" she muttered, fidgeting with the ends of her sleeves.
Maria didn't respond right away. She knelt beside the captives, taking the vines and methodically wrapping them around their wrists and ankles. "We don't know what they're capable of. Better safe than sorry."
Lily gave a shaky nod, still glancing around nervously. "Right. Yeah. Safe."
AJ watched from the shadows, his gelatinous form rippling. I'm not even able to help in this situation, all I could do is sit here as they steal the supplies. He shifted slightly, then glided over towards the two captives. I can't keep being useless. I have to help.
As they worked to tie up Garrett and Finn, AJ moved toward the intruders' weapons—a crude spear and a knife—that had been dropped during the fight. His form slowly stretched out, enveloping the weapons in a thin layer of slime.
If I consume these, they won't be able to use them against us, he thought, focusing on breaking down the materials. The process was slow, but he could feel the energy within the weapons being absorbed into his form. It's not much, but it's something.
Victor noticed AJ's actions and gave a slight nod of approval. "Good thinking," he said, his tone gruff but appreciative. "We don't need them armed if they break free."
Once the intruders were securely tied, they stepped back, looking at the unconscious man and the other one who was trembling. The cave was quiet again, the only sound the soft crackling of what remained of the fire and the occasional rustle of leaves outside.
"What do we do with them now?" Lily asked, her voice breaking the silence.
"We question them," Victor said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Find out who they are and if there are more of them."
Maria frowned, her arms crossed over her chest. "Then what? We can't just kill them in cold blood."
Victor's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned his attention to Garrett, who was beginning to stir. The man groaned, his eyes fluttering open as he took in his surroundings. His gaze landed on Victor, and he immediately tensed, testing the vines that bound him.
"Don't bother," Victor said coldly. "You're not going anywhere."
Garrett's expression hardened as he remained quiet, his jaw clenched in defiance.
Finn's breathing was quick and shallow. He looked around the cave with wide, frightened eyes. "Please," he spoke, voice trembling. "We didn't mean any harm. We were just... we were hungry."
Ethan crouched down beside Finn. "You could have asked. Instead, you tried to steal from us."
Finn flinched. "We didn't think you'd share," he muttered. "Who would?"
Victor stepped forward, his presence looming over the two intruders. "Enough," he said, his tone sharp. "We need answers. Who are you? Where did you come from?"
Garrett remained tight-lipped, his eyes locked on Victor with a defiant glare. Finn, however, seemed to crumble under the pressure. "We... we were part of a larger group," he stammered. "But we got separated. There was... something out there. A monster. It attacked us, and we ran."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. A monster? Ethan thought, his stomach tightening. We've seen what's out there.
His mind flashed back to the clearing, the screams, the blood, and the shadow stalker's burning orange eyes. He could still feel the weight of the burning branch in his hands, the heat of the flames as he swung it desperately at the beast. If that's what they're talking about, then they're right to be scared.
"What kind of monster?" Sam asked, his mind already working to piece together the information.
Finn shook his head. "I don't know. It was huge, with black fur and these glowing eyes. It came out of nowhere, tearing through our camp like we were nothing. We barely got away."
Ethan's jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. _We barely got away too,_ his mind replaying the chaos of that day.
If Victor hadn't been there... He glanced at Victor, who stood silently nearby. We were lucky. These guys... not so much.
Garrett finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "You think you're safe here? You have no idea what's out there."
Victor's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Maria stepped forward. "What about the others?" she asked, her tone gentle but firm. "Are there more survivors? Other groups?"
Finn shook his head, his voice trembling. "I don't know. When the creature attacked, everyone just... scattered. We ran. I don't even know if anyone else made it."
Walter leaned forward on his cane. "That's unfortunate. We're looking for people—our families, to be precise. Do you have any information on where we might find them?"
Finn hesitated, glancing at Garrett before answering. "There... there are rumours," he said slowly. "About a safe zone. A place without monsters. Somewhere you can live without fear."
A safe zone, Maria thought, her heart aching with hope. Could it be real? Could my children be there?
Victor crossed his arms. "And where is this 'safe zone'?"
Finn shook his head. "I don't know. We've only heard stories. But people say it's out there, somewhere to the north."
If it's real, it could change everything. Ethan's mind raced.
The cave fell quiet again, the fire casting flickering shadows on the walls as everyone processed this information.
Victor finally broke the silence. "We'll keep them tied up for the night," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "In the morning, we'll decide what to do with them."
The group nodded, their faces reflecting a mix of relief and unease. They restoked the fire, its warmth a small comfort in the cold, uncertain world outside. As they settled in for what remained of the night, each of them carried new questions about what lay ahead—and whether the rumoured safe haven might hold the answers they desperately sought.