It was evening. But regardless of that, the village was visibly brimming with movement.
The adults and their children were finishing up with their final preparations.
Jaime and the other children were helping out. They were setting up chairs, straightening up the table cloths and placing empty dishes on the large rectangular tables.
They were all chatting and grumbling over how hungry they felt, they were practically drooling from how delicious the food smelled.
"Ooo! I can tell how delicious the food is from the smell already!!" Belle moaned in excitement.
"I know right!? I can't wait to tear apart my mom's heavenly pork chops!!" Zach gulped as his eyes shifted towards the kitchen. His eyes shining in anticipation.
"Stop wasting time, we have to finish fast so we can play!"
Jaime listened to their conversations as he quietly straightened the table cloth. He sometimes noticed that Mia would sneak peeks at him and then furrow her brows, she sometimes muttered as she did so.
"Mia, you okay?"
"Yes!!" Mia brazenly answered. Her voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
Jaime nodded before ignoring her completely.
Mia saw him ignore her after she answered him, she grumbled before she said.
"Hey, don't you have something to say to me?"
Jaime looked at her and asked. "Did I say that I would?"
"...No."
"Then I have nothing to say to you." Jaime simply said before he walked away.
Mia watched him leave as she sadly muttered.
"Don't you think I look pretty in my dress?"
***
Jaime looked at her from the corner of his eye. He saw that she was dispirited but chose to leave her alone.
Within the short amount of time that Jaime had lived here. He noticed that whenever he was with her, his chest would tighten, his heart rate would skyrocket and his dopamine release would overwhelm his mind.
A doctor wasn't needed to understand that he was attracted to her.
Except, Jaime knew his preferences, and something as disgusting as liking children wasn't one of them. So his only other explanation for it was that these feelings were not his, but the original Jaime's.
He wasn't able to understand how his feelings could still remain even after he took over his body. He also thought of when he had met first met his 'parents', how he felt the sentimental connection between them.
Jaime entertained the idea that both he and the original Jaime were in possession of the same body. Unfortunately, he's unable to verify this possibility.
So, to safeguard himself and Mia, he decided to adopt a cold attitude towards her. He felt bad, especially since she's such a sweet girl, but he knew he had to do this. Or else he would never forgive himself if he dared to act on these feelings.
Jaime sighed. He was starting to worry whether he'll be able to control himself when he reached adolescence. The emotions that he felt, especially towards Mia were already intense, he was positive that they would be strengthened even more once he's affected by his teenage hormones.
After they finished setting up the chairs and tables, the adults decided to have them play games. The children played a game similar to four squares except a few kids would stand in the middle while wearing blindfolds, they would have to blindly search and catch someone that didn't have one. The children would change games frequently.
"Huff, huff..."
They were now playing a game similar to red light, green light. The only difference being that you would get smacked in the head with a small sack of sand if you were caught moving.
Jamie was having fun, although tired as his small body didn't have much stamina. When Mia who was the 'stop light' yelled green light, Zach carefully approached and stood next to Jaime.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"When are you gonna do it?"
Jaime looked at Zach. He saw that he was focused on the game as he spoke to Jaime.
"Do what?"
"...You know what I'm talking about."
"Don't try to lie your way out of it." Zach spoke before Jaime could answer.
"You promised."
"Red Light!" Mia announced a second after Zach spoke.
Jaime glanced at Zach's serious expression. He sighed as he didn't want to be near Mia.
"Al-"
*PAKCH!!*
Jaime was immediately slammed into the floor. Jaime had moved a bit when he sighed, causing his downfall.
Jaime raised his head and looked into Mia's eyes, her eyes showed visible anger. He couldn't understand why she was angry. He saw Zach tremble a bit in the corner of his eye, he was trying his hardest to hold back his laughter.
Jaime wryly smiled as he dusted himself, he then walked back to the table chairs. The game continued for a few minutes. During which, his father sat next to him.
"Father, for what purpose could I have deserved to have been thrown into the floor."
"Who knows, my son. There are a multitude of possible reasons. So far, no man has ever been able to successfully understand women."
"But, I haven't even said anything to her."
"Hm..."
"Have you complemented her appearance?"
"No."
"I believe we have realized the answer."
"...Oh."
The game ended soon after. Belle was the only one who reached Mia's position. While everyone else was lightly smacked by Mia, Jaime was the only one who experienced Mia's full power.
Just as everyone was deciding which game to play next. The housewives, along with their helpers (Toddlers and henpecked husbands) approached the rows of tables, placing the large plates of food that everyone was going to enjoy.
The villagers invited the passing travelers who had temporarily stayed there to join them. They all sat down before the village head stood up.
He drank a cup of water, and just as he was about to speak.
"Fire!"
One of the houses near the border of the village had been set ablaze. The men quickly stood up and ran to put out the fire.
The village head stayed as he knew that they would be able to put it out without him. He was going to wait for them and was about to sit down when,
*SWISSHH!!*
He was slashed apart. His entire body was cut in half, starting from the head to the pelvis.
Loud screams and screeches were heard immediately after. The man's wife screamed in horror as she felt her husband's warm blood on her face.
The perpetrator laughed before slicking the blood on his sword. The former village head's blood was sprayed onto those who sat near him.
Everyone was in shock, and the weak willed ones screamed in horror. The women trembled, while the men who had stayed, quickly placed themselves in front of their families. Reginald as well, did the same.
Jaime's mother was horrified but instinctively held him.
Soon the seated men began to stand up. Unfortunately, they weren't doing so to protect them.
The travelers, the men and women they had invited, were companions of the murderer.
They all felt their heart ache. They had willingly invited these monsters into their homes.