Quickly, he darted out of the broken room and into the alleyway. The screams were getting louder, and Lith knew that he had to move fast if he wanted to avoid the guards that were surely on their way.
Lith had been living on the streets for years, and he knew every nook and cranny of this village like the back of his hand. He knew which alleys were dead ends, which houses had loose floorboards, and which streets were the least traveled. He used this knowledge to his advantage as he made his way through the winding streets, dodging guards and keeping to the shadows.
As he ran, his mind raced. He had to get to the center of the village, where the old stone chapel was located. Its attic would make the perfect hiding spot. This building was made of stone so it should hopefully provide at least some protection against that creature. Plus, its location and nearby priests house should guarantee at least few guards protecting it. But getting there was going to be tricky.
He could already hear the sound of the guards' footsteps as they ran through the streets, their shouts echoing off the walls. Lith knew that they were searching for anyone who might be involved in the attack, and he had to make sure that he wasn't caught. Lith knew that they were searching for anyone suspicious, and as a young orphaned boy alone in the middle of the night running away from the source of commotion, he fit the bill perfectly
He ducked into an alleyway and pressed himself against the wall, waiting for the guards to pass. His heart pounded in his chest as he heard them get closer and closer, but he remained still and silent, waiting for the right moment to move.
When the guards had passed, Lith darted out of the alleyway and continued on his way. He knew that he couldn't afford to stop, not even for a moment. Every second counted, and he had to keep moving.
Finally, he reached the center of the village, and he could see the old stone chapel looming in front of him. As he approached the chapel, he noticed that there was a light on in the priest's house next to it. Lith cursed under his breath, realizing that he would have to be extra careful not to alert the old priest.
He darted behind a nearby bush as two guards ran past him, their torches casting flickering shadows on the ground. Lith waited until they were out of sight before making a break for the chapel.
He crept up to the door, trying not to make a sound. The old wooden door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, and he winced, afraid that he someone heard that. But there was no sound from the house, and Lith let out a sigh of relief. He tiptoed up the stairs to the attic, his heart racing as he heard the guards running outside.
The attic was dusty and cobwebbed, but it was the perfect hiding spot for now. Lith curled up in a corner, trying to make himself as small as possible as he listened to the guards' footsteps growing quieter and quieter.
As the minutes passed, with no evident change, he finally collapsed onto the dusty floor, panting for breath.
For a moment, he just lay there, catching his breath and trying to calm his racing heart. He knew that he wasn't safe yet, but at least he was out of the immediate danger.
Lith knew that he couldn't stay in the chapel forever. Eventually, he would have to venture out and face the guards and the inquisition. But for now, he was content to rest and try to come up with a plan.
As he lay there, his mind wandered back to the creature that he had seen in the broken room. He couldn't stop thinking about the creature he had seen. What was it? Where had it come from? And most importantly, how many more were there?
He knew one thing for certain – the surroundings of Ravensworth village were no longer safe. Not even inside the village did he feel secure. The creature he had encountered was a real monster, and it was clear that there was a real threat looming in the forest surrounding the village. Lith couldn't shake off the image of the creature from his mind. Its glowing red eyes, razor-sharp claws, and bony frame were etched into his memory. He had never encountered anything like it before, and the thought of there being more of them out there sent shivers down his spine.
Lith knew that he had to leave the town, but the thought of doing so alone filled him with despair. If those creatures were out there, who knew what other dangers he might face on his journey? But he also knew that he couldn't stay in Ravensworth any longer. He needed to find a way to protect himself and find safety before it was too late.