The sun set gently behind the trees and the full moon shone in its place. One by one the stars appeared, glittering like torch lights. The city lights burned brightly, lighting up the streets and darkening the forest. Nocturnal creatures wandered the shadows, calling their packs, hunting for prey.
Young men and women stumbling through the streets laughing and hanging on each other. Some fell to the ground, bursting into laughter; some were slumped in chairs or corners passed out; and a few were being carried home by friends. They were careful to stay in well lit streets even in their drunken state. Rumors had circulated recently about a group of murderers and thieves that lurked in the shadows like beasts stalking their prey. Very few had seen them face-to-face and lived to tell the tale. Yet despite the rumors no one wanted to live in fear. Every night since the rumors had begun men and women would go out to bars and parties, enjoying themselves, laughing at those who didn't. Friends went their separate ways to get home and the streets were once again quiet except for the occasional howling deep in the woods.
When the lamps burned out, immersing the city in shadows, they came. Hooded silhouettes ran silently through the streets heading towards the center market. As they neared the market they slowed to a stop and looked around. One signaled to spread out and search each shop. They separated and made their way stealthily inside shops one-by-one until they came to the last one. One picked the lock and the other stood guard, watching the shadows daring someone to show up. He felt a tug on his shirt as his partner pushed open the door and stepped in.
The dark entryway lead to a small lobby with shelves lined with various sweets, a few tables were up against barren walls, and chairs stacked beside them. A bar counter stood roughly ten feet away from the men running wall to wall with a small opening on the far left. In the left wall were two curtained windows. Moonlight leaked through the curtains giving a soft white glow to the room. The men cautiously walked to the bar, searching for traps or anything that could give away their presence. They walked around the counter, one stayed at the counter while the other searched the other rooms. Five minutes passed and he hadn't returned.
'Where is he?'
A loud thumping came towards him from the hallway. He pulled a dagger from his belt and crouched against the wall. The steps came closer, becoming more frantic the closer they got. He saw their shoe and tackled them to the ground, dagger at their throat.
"You know D if you wanted to kill me now is not the time to follow through," he said with a crooked smile.
"Where were you?" D pressed his blade into his partner's throat, blood rolling down their neck.
"If you'll get off me, I'll show you," He pushed the dagger away, "Something's not right," D got off him and pulled him up. He gestured for the other to lead the way. They walked down the hallway and up a set of stairs. At the top was a dying lamp next to a door. It was slightly open revealing a destroyed room. D pushed the door open and saw the wreckage. What must have been a desk was broken and strewn across the room along with papers, clothes, books, and their intended target. His arms and legs were scattered amongst the debris, blood spattered across the immediate surroundings. Fingers and toes seemed to be missing from each. His torso laid in the middle of the room in a pool of blood, his insides spilling out of his stomach, and his head barely attached. The stench filled D's nose and he repressed a gag.
"What the hell?"