The silence in the cabin was suffocating, broken only by the occasional creak of the rotting wood and the soft hum of the wind outside. Aonmi's dark presence loomed just beyond the threshold, the air thick with the weight of his cryptic promises. Addison's pulse quickened as the door creaked open wider, revealing the silhouette of his lean form standing just outside.
"You know," Aonmi said softly, his voice unnervingly calm. "This game doesn't need to end in violence. You don't have to be afraid of me."
But Addison could feel it-the violence was already in the air. Aonmi's words were a veil, but underneath, something darker simmered, twisting the atmosphere in a way she couldn't quite explain. She glanced at Amanda and Laura, the urgency in their eyes mirroring the pounding of her own heart. They had to do something. They had no time for games, no time for the cryptic riddles that came from Aonmi's mouth.
Before Addison could respond, the sharp sound of something-someone-slamming against the cabin's walls startled them. The ground shook beneath their feet. Something out there was moving, something far larger and much more dangerous than any human could ever be.
Aonmi's gaze flicked to the door as the thud of a heavy, clawed footfall echoed outside. His violet eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment, Addison saw something different in his expression-a flash of something almost... protective? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He turned back to them, his smile now a smirk, like this was all part of some larger plan.
"You're not the only ones who can handle a fight," he said darkly, his words steeped in the promise of violence.
Addison's breath hitched. She turned to Amanda, who was already in a defensive stance, her eyes alert. Laura, however, had stiffened, her expression pained. They all knew what that sound outside meant-they were no longer alone in the woods. And they weren't just dealing with Aonmi anymore.
Suddenly, the cabin door crashed open completely, splintering into pieces as a monstrous shape rushed inside. It was a creature-huge, towering over them, with sharp claws and glowing red eyes. Its body was covered in dark, matted fur, and its massive form barely fit in the cramped space. The predator's snarl filled the room as it lunged at them.
"Move!" Amanda shouted, shoving Addison back toward the far wall.
Addison barely had time to process the danger before the predator's claws swiped past her, narrowly missing her arm. The force of the blow caused the cabin to shake, and Addison stumbled back, her heart racing. She grabbed a nearby rusted metal rod, trying to steady herself, eyes wide in terror.
But Aonmi wasn't standing idly by. He acted quickly, his movements fluid and precise. Without a word, he rushed forward, summoning a dark energy that twisted around his hands like smoke. A shadowy aura expanded, cloaking his body in darkness as he met the creature's charge head-on. The two collided with a deafening roar, a clash of brute strength and shadowy power.
Addison felt a surge of gratitude mixed with confusion as she watched Aonmi battle the creature with ease. His shadow manipulation was incredible, dark tendrils wrapping around the beast's limbs and pulling it back as it lunged for him. But the creature wasn't done. It snapped and clawed with renewed fury, determined to reach the trio.
"Stay back!" Aonmi warned as he flung the beast across the room with a violent force. The creature crashed into the far wall, its claws scraping against the rotting wood. But it wasn't enough to defeat it. Not yet.
The predator's eyes locked onto Addison, its bloodshot gaze filled with hunger. It let out a ferocious growl, stepping forward toward her, the ground beneath its feet cracking as it moved.
"No!" Amanda screamed, throwing herself in front of Addison. She raised her arms, ready to defend her sister with everything she had.
But it was too late.
The creature's claws swiped across Amanda's side with terrifying precision, cutting deep into her flesh. Amanda collapsed with a strangled cry, her body crumpling to the floor as a stream of blood spilled from the wound. Addison froze, her stomach churning as she watched her sister fall.
"Amanda!" Addison gasped, her voice hoarse with panic. She tried to rush to her sister's side, but the moment she moved, the creature turned toward her, its eyes narrowing in hunger.
In that moment of distraction, Aonmi made his move. He appeared between Addison and the creature, his face cold and determined as he thrust his hand out. The shadows exploded from him, slamming into the predator with a force that knocked it back. The creature screeched, thrashing against the invisible grip that held it.
"Get her out of here," Aonmi ordered, his voice harsh.
Addison didn't have time to question him. She rushed to Amanda's side, her heart aching as she saw the deep gashes along her sister's body. Blood stained the floor beneath her, and her breathing was shallow, labored. "Amanda! You have to stay with me," Addison pleaded, gripping her sister's hand tightly.
"I'll be fine," Amanda muttered, her voice weak but determined. "Just... get out of here. He'll protect us."
Addison shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "No, Amanda! You're hurt. We need to leave. We can't fight him and this creature. Not both."
But Amanda squeezed her hand, her eyes filled with a fierce light. "I'll be okay. I swear. Just trust him-he'll protect us. Just... go!"
Addison hesitated, but in that moment, she realized there was no time for hesitation. They couldn't fight both the creature and the mystery that Aonmi represented. He had to be the one to end this.
With a final glance at Amanda, who gave her a slight nod, Addison stood and rushed toward the doorway. She felt the weight of her sister's trust like a burden she couldn't bear, but she had no choice. The fight was far from over, and there was something inside her that knew-this battle wasn't one they could win alone.
As she sprinted out into the night, her heart in her throat, she heard the screech of the creature being flung away by Aonmi's dark power. She could only hope that he could hold it off long enough for them to regroup, long enough for Amanda to recover.
Addison felt a cold chill wash over her as she ran into the night, away from the cabin, away from the battle. But deep down, a part of her knew this wasn't the end. It was only the beginning.
_______________
Addison's feet hit the ground in frantic strides, her heart pounding in her chest as she ran deeper into the woods. The night air was cold, biting at her skin, but she barely noticed. All she could think about was Amanda. She had to get back to her sister, had to make sure she was okay.
The sounds of the battle behind her-shouts, the screeching of the creature, the sickening thud of a massive form crashing into trees-pounded in her ears. Aonmi's voice echoed through her mind, his command to run still ringing in her thoughts. Get out of here.
But how could she? How could she leave her sister behind?
Still, her legs carried her forward, pushing her faster and faster, the weight of her guilt threatening to crush her with every step. She needed to regroup, find help, and get back to the cabin. Amanda was strong, but she was injured. No one, not even Amanda, could survive a wound like that on their own.
And there was another problem-Aonmi. The more Addison thought about him, the more she felt like something was wrong. Why had he been so quick to intervene, to protect them from the creature? Was it truly for their sake, or was there something darker at play? He had a way of controlling the shadows, a power that terrified her... yet, strangely, fascinated her. It wasn't just his abilities-it was him. The way he watched them, like he knew more than he let on.
The distant sounds of the struggle were fading as she ran farther, and the forest around her grew eerily quiet. The moonlight barely filtered through the canopy above, casting long, twisted shadows on the ground. For the first time since the attack, Addison slowed her pace, breathing heavily and wiping the sweat from her brow.
She needed to think, needed to figure out what to do.
Taking a deep breath, she scanned the area, looking for any sign of shelter or safety. But there was nothing-just endless trees and the darkened landscape stretching around her. Her thoughts turned back to Amanda. She should have stayed, should have fought.
"You're not alone," she whispered to herself. "I'm not leaving you alone."
Just as she made up her mind to turn back toward the cabin, something caught her eye. A faint glow, like the dim flicker of candlelight, shimmered through the trees. It was coming from the direction she had just fled from.
Her body tensed, instincts screaming at her to keep moving forward, but her curiosity-her fear-pulled her toward the light. She wasn't sure what it was, but something about it felt... wrong. She took one cautious step, then another, until she was walking toward it, the shadows shifting around her as if the very forest was alive, watching her every move.
The glow intensified the closer she got, until it filled the clearing she had unknowingly stepped into. There, standing in the center, was a figure cloaked in darkness.
Aonmi.
His silhouette stood eerily still in the middle of the glow, his violet eyes piercing the shadows as he stared straight at her, his expression unreadable. Addison froze, heart skipping a beat.
"Addison," Aonmi's voice was low and smooth, but there was an undercurrent of something unsettling in it. "You shouldn't be out here alone. It's dangerous."
She didn't move, keeping her distance. The way he looked at her-calm, almost too calm-made her skin crawl. "What are you doing here?" Addison's voice was hoarse, thick with the tension between them. "Why didn't you follow me back to the cabin?"
Aonmi smiled faintly, though there was a darkness to it that Addison couldn't shake. "I'm waiting. For you."
Her heart fluttered uneasily, and she took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to run.
"Where's Amanda?" she demanded, her voice shaking with concern.
"She's fine," Aonmi answered cryptically, his voice lilting with something almost like amusement. "For now. But it seems the predator had more in store for us than we thought."
"That creature-" Addison's words trailed off as a deep, primal growl rumbled from somewhere in the forest. She turned toward it, her body tensing. The predator was still out there. But now, the growl was different. Louder. Closer.
Aonmi's eyes flicked toward the sound, his expression hardening. "It's not finished. Not by a long shot."
Addison's breath hitched as she realized just how much danger they were in. The creature had retreated temporarily, but it wasn't done hunting. They weren't safe.
"You're the only one who can stop it," Addison murmured, almost as if to herself. The realization hit her like a
_____________
Addison's legs burned as she sprinted toward the cabin, the wind rushing past her face like a torrent, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Every step felt heavier than the last, but the thought of Amanda's safety urged her on. She had to reach her sister. Had to make sure she was okay, even though the weight of the situation pressed down on her like a suffocating cloud.
The glow of the cabin appeared in the distance, flickering against the backdrop of the trees. The fire from earlier had mostly died down, leaving only the faint smell of smoke in the air. Addison's heart leapt in her chest when she saw the structure-her safe haven, their safe haven.
But as she reached the clearing, something stopped her dead in her tracks.
The door of the cabin was hanging open.
And there was no sign of Amanda.
Addison's stomach twisted in fear. "No... no, no, no!" She pushed herself harder, her legs pumping furiously as she closed the gap between herself and the cabin. What had happened? Why was Amanda not there?
When she reached the cabin, she stumbled inside, her hands gripping the doorframe for support. Her eyes scanned frantically, landing on the shadowed corner where Amanda had been resting just hours before.
There, on the floor, lying in a pool of blood, was Amanda.
"No!" Addison cried, her breath catching in her throat as she rushed to her side. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw the damage.
Amanda's clothes were torn and stained, blood seeping from deep gashes on her side. Her breathing was shallow, her face pale and contorted with pain. Her once-bright eyes were half-lidded, struggling to stay open as if every ounce of energy had been drained from her.
Addison knelt beside her sister, panic flooding her body. "Amanda! Amanda, stay with me!" she shouted, her hands shaking as she reached for her sister's face, brushing away the blood that marred her features.
Amanda's lips parted, her voice weak. "Addison... I'm... sorry..."
"Don't talk, just hold on!" Addison's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She placed her hands on Amanda's wounds, trying desperately to summon the healing power that she knew she had-but it was different now. It was harder to focus, harder to feel the energy she needed to fix her sister.
Her sister's life was slipping away, and no matter how much Addison willed it, the healing powers didn't come to her.
Addison's panic reached a boiling point, her throat tightening with fear. She could feel the pressure building in her head as her hands trembled over the blood, fighting to push the healing power through, but it was like a wall had formed around her. The dark, overwhelming energy of fear and doubt clouded her mind.
"Please..." she whispered, choking on her own tears. "Please, don't leave me, Amanda."
Amanda's hand, limp at her side, twitched weakly, and Addison held it tightly, trying to find the words, anything to keep her conscious. "I'm not going to let you die, you hear me? I'm not leaving you. We're in this together. Always."
But Amanda could barely speak, her voice reduced to a raspy whisper. "I... can't... I'm... sorry, Addison... I tried..."
Addison's heart cracked. Her voice trembled as she spoke, the desperation in her tone unmistakable. "No... you didn't fail. You didn't-"
Before she could finish, a figure appeared in the doorway.
Aonmi.
Addison felt a mix of relief and dread wash over her all at once. She glanced up at him, the faintest trace of suspicion still lingering in her thoughts, but in that moment, there was only one thing she cared about.
"Aonmi!" she shouted. "Please, help me! She's... she's dying!"
Aonmi's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his usual calm replaced with something deeper. His gaze flicked between the bleeding Amanda and Addison, his face hardening. Without saying a word, he knelt down beside them.
Addison backed away slightly, giving him space. She couldn't quite figure out what was going on with him, but right now, she didn't care. She couldn't afford to care. Her sister's life was hanging by a thread.
Aonmi didn't waste any time. His hand hovered over Amanda's wounds, the air around them thickening as shadowy tendrils began to twist and coil. For a brief moment, Addison saw something else flicker in his eyes-a glimmer of something darker, something almost too powerful to understand.
Aonmi muttered something under his breath, and the shadows responded, swirling and expanding, wrapping around the wounds. The shadows were like dark tendrils of magic, slipping inside the gashes with unnatural precision.
Addison's breath hitched as she watched, the power in Aonmi's touch undeniable. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen before-cold, controlled, dangerous-but effective. Within seconds, the bleeding slowed, the deep wounds beginning to close, though not fully. Amanda's breathing steadied, her eyes fluttering open.
"Aonmi, what are you-" Addison began, but she was cut off by a cold smile from him.
"Just making sure she doesn't die," he said, his voice clipped, his eyes flicking to her as if he already knew she was watching him too closely. Briefly glancing over at Addison, he spoke softly "you owe me.."
Addison's heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to question him further, wanted to demand answers for the strange, almost unnatural magic he wielded, but she couldn't. Not now. Not when Amanda was still so fragile.
Amanda's breathing evened out, her hand squeezing Addison's weakly. "Addison... I... I'm okay," she whispered hoarsely. "I... thought I was... gone."
Addison's eyes burned with tears as she squeezed her sister's hand. "You're not... You're not going anywhere, Amanda. I won't let you."
The room was still, only the faint sounds of Amanda's labored breathing breaking the silence. The healing wasn't complete, but Aonmi had done something-something that kept Amanda from slipping away.
Addison looked at him, her thoughts racing, the questions pressing on her, but she didn't have the energy to voice them. Not yet.
The only thing that mattered now was getting through this.
"Thank you," Addison whispered, her voice breaking.
Aonmi didn't respond. Instead, he stood, turning his back to her and moving toward the door. "You'll need to keep her safe. The worst isn't over."
Addison stared after him, still feeling the lingering chill of his presence. "What do you mean? What's coming?" she asked, but he was already gone, his silhouette vanishing into the night.
Addison slowly turned back to Amanda, her sister's face pale but calm now. "We'll be okay," Addison whispered, though the words felt hollow.
The night was far from over. The worst was still to come.