Chapter 10: Shadows in the Night
Led by Inoshita Rino, the group quickly entered the eerily quiet village.
Something's wrong, Kael thought, his expression darkening as he moved in a low crouch. This is the time when people should be eating dinner or relaxing outside. We saw smoke from the chimneys on our way in, but why can't we see a single person? Don't tell me...
The petite Rei followed closely behind him, her lips pressed tightly together, her large, round eyes filled with nervousness.
The group soon reached the first house at the village entrance. It was a mud-brick dwelling with a greasy, soot-blackened chimney on the roof, from which a thin wisp of smoke still curled. This was the smoke Inoshita had spotted from a distance, but now it brought him no comfort at all.
The silence was deafening. There were no signs of life, not a single sound. Even the common crowing of roosters and barking of dogs were absent. It was as if every living thing in the village had been wiped out.
As evening fell, the light began to fade, casting long shadows that only deepened Inoshita's anxiety. As a seasoned veteran shinobi, he knew something was terribly wrong. A place that should have been bustling with life was now steeped in a deathly stillness.
He scanned the area, his ears perked, but he wasn't a sensory-type ninja and couldn't detect anything specific. Gritting his teeth, he turned to the students and whispered, "Everyone, stick with me. Keep a close watch on your surroundings and do not, under any circumstances, get separated!"
"Y-yes..." the students stammered, their faces pale with fear. A few of the more timid girls had tears welling in their eyes.
Kael, who was right behind him, quickened his pace.
They hadn't gone more than a few steps when a boy at the back of the group let out a sudden cry, which was abruptly cut off.
The other students whipped their heads around in terror, but they saw nothing in the encroaching darkness. A cold breeze brushed past their faces.
"Who was that?" one of the students asked, their voice trembling.
In the next instant, Inoshita's figure blurred and reappeared at the rear of the group. "L-listen... the voice... I-I think it was Kawashita-kun," a boy stammered in panic.
"Kawashita! What are you shouting about? What did you see?" Inoshita demanded, his sharp gaze sweeping over the students' faces. But the mischievous boy he remembered was nowhere to be found.
His frown deepened. Suddenly, his pupils dilated, and his body tensed like a cornered animal.
"We're missing someone! Where's Kawashita? Did anyone see him?"
A dead silence fell over the group. No one dared to speak. Their faces were masks of terror, their chests heaving with heavy, suppressed breaths.
A dark cloud settled over Kael's heart. Rei, trembling and pale, instinctively pressed herself against his side, her hands gripping his arm tightly. He sighed and patted her head comfortingly. "Don't be afraid. Stay close to me," he said softly.
The girl gritted her teeth, trying to suppress her fear. She was too scared to speak and could only manage a shaky nod. A palpable sense of panic gripped the entire group. Besides Inoshita, no one dared to move a muscle.
After what felt like an eternity, but was probably only a few seconds, the faint sound of footsteps broke the silence of the dark village. The sound was like the first light of dawn, yet also like a demon's hand reaching from the abyss—terrifying, yet offering a sliver of hope.
The Earthen Beetle on Kael's head began to stir restlessly, signaling that something dangerous was approaching.
"Why have you stopped? If you don't cooperate, this game won't be any fun," a chilling, disembodied voice echoed from all around them. It was flat and emotionless, like a machine. "And once I'm no longer having fun, your deaths will come very, very soon..."
Gulp...
A series of nervous swallows sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet night. The students had never experienced anything so terrifying. They felt as if their hearts were about to stop.
"Stop hiding in the shadows! Show yourself!" Inoshita roared, his eyes darting around wildly.
But this time, there was no reply.
"Everyone, with me!" Inoshita gritted his teeth. "It's too open out here. We'll be safer in one of the houses!"
Kael opened his mouth to object but held his tongue. He felt that while a house might seem safer, a simple mud-brick structure wouldn't stand up to a shinobi's attack. A single jutsu could bring it down, trapping them in the rubble.
Rino-sensei must have his reasons... Kael could only tell himself.
The group followed Inoshita and crowded into a nearby house. The corners of the room were dusty, and wooden farming tools, some still caked with fresh mud, were propped against the walls. Seeing the looks of relief on his classmates' faces, Kael understood. Inoshita hadn't brought them inside for safety, but to prevent them from being paralyzed by fear of the unknown enemy lurking outside.
But were they truly safe in here? Kael looked out the window into the darkness, a feeling of unease settling in his stomach.
Rei let out a shaky breath and clutched her chest. The student's scream, his sudden disappearance, and the threat of a mysterious killer had terrified her. But now, in the enclosed space, surrounded by her classmates and teacher, her fear began to subside.
"Don't worry. Whatever is out there is still human. It's not going to eat you," Kael said gently, seeing that she was still on edge.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just a coward..." Rei apologized, her face flushing with embarrassment. But seeing Kael's calm expression, she gradually began to feel calmer herself.
The house was not small, but it was cramped with so many people. Inoshita ignored the students' quiet chatter. He stood with his kunai at the ready, his eyes fixed on the two windows. He was in a low stance, his body tense, maintaining a high level of alertness as he stared into the darkness outside. The other students, seeing his grim demeanor, also drew their kunai and stood guard.
Suddenly, a girl screamed, drawing everyone's attention.
Kael spun around instantly. He saw the girl with her hand clapped over her mouth, her face a mask of pure terror. Her other hand was pointing a trembling finger toward one of the windows.