It was six am, a Sunday, still early, so why was it so noisy? I glanced out the window to see two tanks, sitting right outside of my window. A few armed men with guns had some weird pink substance all over their clothes. As stepped out of the tanks, I watched them fire their gun, and the same pink goo that was on them shot out. What the heck was going on?
A few neighbors also noticed this scene. Some were standing on their porches, whispering among themselves. Through my window, I could see some of them glancing in my direction. I knew that they couldn't see me watching at this angle, so there could only be one possibility. They thought those armed men were here for me.
A few moments later, Mrs. Home awoken. "Souji? Your awake already? You never are awake this early," She paused then asked, "Did something happen?" She glanced at me worriedly. "Who are they?" I asked pointing out the window. Mrs. Home stepped toward the window where I was, and looked where I was pointing.
I stared as her eyes widened and she quickly grabbed her coat. "Oh dear, I hope they mean no harm.." I heard her mutter. "Souji , I'll be right back ok? Stay here with her." She never specified who, but I knew she was talking about her mother, or to me, the kind widow.
When Mrs. Home got back, I could tell that she seemed relieved. "Well? Why are they here?" I asked unable to hold back any longer. "Luckily those rumors that everyone knows about aren't servere, so their not here for you or anything." I sighed with relief.
Wait, then what are they here for? I tried to think of all the possibilities, but I could even think of one. My mind was too blurry to think properly. Then, I heard a chuckle. "Your overthinking it again aren't you?" I slumped now into a nearby chair. "Yes, I suppose I am doing it again." Mrs. Home laughed. She hasn't done that in a while. I'm glad she's laughing again. Ever since the nice widow lady had fallen ill, Mrs. Home wasn't at her best.
Suddenly, a question that had never bothered me before flooded my thoughts. "Mrs. Homes, what is the nice widow lady's name?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I've just been calling her 'nice widow lady' my whole life. I'm starting to doubt if I should be calling her that."
Mrs. Home laughed, louder, this time. "Oh honey, she actually loves it when you call her that. She says that your the only young man around who has the actual guts to call her something not so formal. She may seem peculiar, but now that I think about it, she always had loved the unusual ones."
Hearing this made me smile. Maybe it wasn't so bad to be different after all. I then quickly remembered that I was starting to get off topic, so I swiftly asked, "What were those armed men doing, and why are they here?" I paused, feeling like I was forgetting to ask something, "Oh yeah, and who are they?"
Mrs. Home smiled and said, "They were hunters." Hunters? I was confused. "We already have a few hunters here in the village, why do we need more?" Mrs. Home shook her head, "No, no! These hunters aren't the animal hunting hunters. They're more like bounty hunters. They are here to help eliminate whatever lies in the forest."
I was shocked. was that really possible? Would we be able to finally roam the forest however we pleased? As if Mrs. Home had read my mind, she replied. "Yes Souji, once the hunters have finished their job, you may go into the forest whenever you please as long as you let us know, and we give you permission.
Well, it was better than nothing. Currently, I can't even step a foot in that forest without getting yelled at and lectured, possibly also killed if those creatures are near. Oh how great it would be to wander the forest however I pleased! A smirk formed on my face. Things were going to change, finally.
Only one thing went through my mind that night. I will, get that forest. The thought screamed repeatedly in my mind until I dozed off, and everything went quiet.