It was a two story building. The walls were white while wooden beams held the building together. Its roof was like a mushroom. Except instead of being red. It was purple bricks set in a wavy pattern. It looked like it was trying to copy the forest of white willow trees surrounding it.
The two walked up to the door and knocked. Hearing no sound, Lucas slowly pushed open the door. Evie behind him as he scanned the place.
It's inside looked nothing like the outside. Dark wood was the main thing used, with bits of red wall paper inside. It all came together to make quite the cozy place if Lucas said so himself.
Well decorated too. Circular tables and chairs sat around the floor of the place. There was even a stage! Which had about nothing on it, but it's the thought that counts.
Comparing this place to Quinns was an insult to this place. Unfortunately he couldn't find a sign or anything that had the place's name.
Lucas decided 'the willow' was a good enough name. Anyways Lucas looked to the south wall and found quite the ominous message.
'Do not take more than you need'
'Do not stay the night'
'Do not destroy the merchandise'
There it was. It even looked exactly like the journal's. Although it looked like the journal neglected to mention something very important, at least to Lucas it was important.
The rules were painted in blood. And from the looks of it. Fresh blood, which certainly made the place even cozier then Lucas thought it could.
Thankfully Evie hadn't noticed. Speaking of, she was stuffing her face in the newly appearing pile of food and drinks. Although her chair was in very poor condition. Lucas was willing to bet if anyone other than a child sat on it, it would break.
Which ranged from whole turkeys, soups and veggies to some noodles in a bowl along with rice wrapped in something and meat stuffed in the middle. The array of food was very appealing. But Lucas had to be cautious.
His attempt was not helped by Evie who managed to stick three turkey legs in her mouth.
Fat little… whatever, it said take not eat so it should be fine. That chair should he broken though fat- Cutting off his thoughts Lucas started.
Walking by and taking a seat next to Evie. Lucas opted to try all the options available, taking small pieces from each tray of food before grabbing a cup of juice.
The food was delicious. Lucas especially liked the weird rolls of rice wrapped in green stuff. His other favorites were the meat wrapped in pastry. The juice was sweet and a yellow-orange kind of colour.
He took his time eating and savouring every piece. Lucas could honestly say this was one of the better days of the few weeks he'd been here.
Glancing over at Evie let him see that she mostly stuck to the meat dishes while ignoring the veggies and anything she considers healthy.
"Do you eat like that at home?" Asked Lucas.
"Nope! Papa always makes me eat veggies. But since he isn't here. I don't have to follow his rules" Stated Evie proudly.
"ok…" Lucas quickly side eyed the messy eater before continuing "...what did you pick?"
"meat! And some of those fried potato squares Cosa bragged about. They're salty!" Said Evie as she continued stuffing her face. It was cute, but for gods sake it was messy. Lucas decided to expertly shift a little further from Evie.
Lucas would've continued judging her, then he remembered she'd probably hadn't had something to eat in a while so he decided to lay off the judgement. For now.
Leaving his empty plate on the table. He got off his chair and went to see the second floor.
"Hey. Yell if someone comes in or just scream. Just in case you know?" Evie nodded before refilling her plate.
Lucas sighed before heading to the stairway, walking up the steps before stopping. Standing at the very end of the hallway stood a faceless man. He wasn't moving, just standing there facing the window.
Lucas had two ways to go about this. Either he sneaks off, or he ends the thing in front of him now. Lucas usually wouldn't like his chances, but from what he knew of the other faceless man, they were fragile. Which worked in his favor.
Lucas opted to quietly sneak up to and push it out of the window. He crouched. Trying as hard as he could to reach the man as quietly as he could. The distance slowly closed. And soon enough, Lucas was right behind him.
And in one quick motion, stood up and pushed it through the window and plummeting to its death. He heard the thud but just to be safe, poked his head out of the window to see the body twisted in ways a body shouldn't be able to.
But the face with a hole in it was mostly intact. Which Lucas didn't like at all but at least he was sure it wouldn't harm him or Evie.
Leaving the window and looking up at the signs that hang above the four doors. Each having a single word representing the Items they have.
'clothing'
'Armour'
'Tools'
'Weapons'
Lucas was thoroughly interested. But if he had to take his pick at which door he'd investigate first. Weapons looked extremely good.
Walking to the fourth door in the hallway. He pushed open the door and found it was bigger than he thought.
A whole armoury of weapons hang down a long hallway. Weapons ranging from swords to wackier contractions. Lucas could say he was expecting lots of things. This was not one of them. But honestly the range wasn't that wide. He expected a room not a hallway.
Going down the line. Lucas ignored the swords, axes, and bows that hung proudly. Most of them didn't seem special. And he was hoping for something that was special. Or at the very least clicked with him.
After a while Lucas finally stopped walking. Looking up at the writing above the weapon he'd chosen.
'Meteor hammer'
A long white streak of rope with one end of it tied to look like a knot you could fit your hand in whilst the other end was tied around a metal weight.
Picking it up and taking it off the rack.
Lucas saw that the rope was about twice his arms length. He'd test it out later. But right now it just felt good in his hands.
Next up on the agenda was either armour, clothing, or tools. Personally Lucas would've visited armour just to see something cool. But he was probably better off looking in tools to find something useful.
Heading down the long hallway. Lucas would occasionally look behind him just in case. He thought he was being paranoid but now he wasn't so sure.
Because for some odd reason. The hallway's end seemed to be getting closer and closer. After every step he took, Lucas swears he heard the sound of wood shifting.
He wasn't gonna risk it so he took one long, slow, step. And as soon as his foot touched the ground. The sound of wood shifting. Long and slowly.
Figuring he'd better run. Lucas shoved off the wooden floor as fast as he could. And halfway through his second step the wall gave up all delusions of being normal.
A mouth of teeth burst out of the walls mid section. About twenty teeth all together. It burst forward faster than Lucas thought he could go.
Running as fast as he could. Lucas passed the first few weapon racks with ease. Meteor hammer wrapped around his waist.
Then Lucas passed the first few weapon racks with ease. It took till the third pass by when Lucas realized the door was moving further each time he got closer.
The mouth wall meanwhile gets closer and closer with each passing. Lucas felt the tiniest hint of fear start to seep through the cracks when he found he was making next to no progress.
Damnitdammitdammit how the hell am I supposed to get out of this! Calm down.. nice thoughts.. oh for fucks sake this isn't working!
Lucas was supposed to be at least above the average person by a few since he got his tale. So he should be able to run on the wooden treadmill for a little while longer so he could figure out at least something of a plan.
He looked at the weapons he'd pass by for the sixth time and noted what each was. A throwing axe. A bow. And a Warhammer.
Odd selection to be next to each other but right now Lucas didn't think he could use any to save him. Actually …it might buy me some more time.
On the seventh passing he yanked the warhammer out and threw it backwards towards the teeth wall.
It flew and slammed into the protruding teeth meeting it with equal force. Cracking some and earning a monstrous roar from the wall. Buying him some more time. If Lucas had to guess he had about three minutes before he got tired and made a mistake.
Now that the hammer had helped somewhat. Lucas just had the other two. He couldn't really picture how a bow would help his current situation but that didn't really matter.
Maybe he could just repeat what he did with the hammer and throw the two behind him.
By now Lucas's running form had really deteriorated. His arms were just hanging by his side, barely swinging at all. His long strides had gone to much more manageable strides. He even started wheezing.
Two minutes left.
Thankfully his poor form reminded Lucas of something. That was the meteor hammer wrapped around his waist. His dangling arms brushed against the rope.
Maybe…welp. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Unwrapping the meteor hammer Lucas swung it around. It wrapped around him, letting it get more momentum for his master plan.
On his ninth pass by. Lucas quickly slipped the throwing axe out and threw it as hard as he could. Watching it fly towards the door.
Before it could hit. The door opened, letting the axe pass by. This was what exactly Lucas was hoping for.
Seizing his opportunity. Lucas swung his meteor hammer towards the door.
Aiming to wrap it around the handle.
One minute
Powered by nothing but his body's muscle memory. The weapon flew and wrapped around the handle.
Lucas used everything he had left. Running as fast as he could. Pulling as hard as he could. And jumped.
Instead of taking the hit. The door opened. Letting him pass through and slam into the 'tools' door. He quickly took the meteor hammer off the handle as he watched the teeth wall slowly come to a stop just outside of the door.
Luca smartly decided to leave the door with one last gift.
Lucas held up his hand and flipped off the wall.
It replied in kind by having a tongue shoot out and wrap around his leg. Thinking quickly, he grabbed the axe stuck in the wall and threw it towards the wall's tongue.
The axe cut the tongue clean off. Causing the wall to back off as the door shut itself. Leaving Lucas alone with the fact he'd nearly died.
Phew. Fuck that was horrible. Goddammit, I'm gonna stuff my face when I head back down.
Lucas laid there. Slowly breathing and looking to the moon. It shone strongly. Dominating the night sky
"Yeah…I deserve a break. So, I can probably lay down for ten minutes. Yeah. I deserve it"
And Lucas would've enjoyed his rest. If not for Evie screaming at the top of her lungs.