The moon cast an eerie glow on the deserted village, casting long shadows on the abandoned buildings. The silence was palpable. The only disturbance in the silent night was the panting and footsteps of Rowan, Casey, and Aricen as they frantically searched for Serenya. The group was filled with dread and anxiety, wondering what could have happened to her.
Rowan's heart raced as they turned a corner and saw nothing but empty streets stretching out before them. "Where could she be?" he muttered. His voice was strained with worry.
Aricen's breathing was heavy, his eyes darting around, searching for any signs of life. "We have to find her," he said, determination in his voice.
Casey's face was etched with concern, her eyes scanning the deserted village for any sign of movement. "I hope she's okay," she whispered.
As they continued to run, their minds raced with possibilities. Had Serenya been taken by whoever was responsible for the disappearances in the village? Or had she wandered off on her own?
The darkness seemed to be closing in around them, the silence becoming suffocating. But then, in the distance, they heard a faint sound. It was a soft rustling, like someone moving through the shadows.
Heartened by this, the group quickened their pace, their determination growing with each step. Finally, they rounded a corner and saw a figure standing in the middle of the road.
It was not Serenya.
---10 hours ago --
Casey's eyes widened with shock at Rowan's words, "So, maybe she is kidnapping the villagers." She looked at everyone else, "We need to go to that village."
Aricen nodded in agreement. "Yeah, who knows? We might be able to find her?"
Serenya's brow furrowed with concern. "Do you guys even know where that village is?"
Rowan stepped forward, determination etched on his face. "I heard people talking that it's not very far from here, "
The group quickly gathered their supplies and set off for the nearby village. They heard whispers and rumours about the Snow Witch and her dark experiments as they travelled. The villagers were terrified and warned the group of the danger they faced.
Casey felt a fierce conviction ignite within her, compelling her to find the Snow Witch at any cost. Her thoughts raced with urgency, consumed by the single-minded goal of saving her brother's life. She could feel the weight of the pendant against her chest as if it was urging her forward. Failure was not an option. With every step forward, she steeled herself against the dangers that lay ahead, driven by a deep-seated desire to succeed.
The sun was beating down on them as they made their way toward the village. They walked along a winding dirt road, surrounded by fields of green grass and wildflowers. In the distance, they could hear the faint sound of a river flowing, and birds chirping in the trees.
As they approached the village, they could see that it was a thriving community. The streets were lined with small shops and vendors selling all sorts of goods. The smell of fresh bread and cooked meat filled the air, making their mouths water.
They approached a small group of villagers who were gathered around a fruit vendor. They asked about the missing people, and the villagers looked at each other with concern.
One of the villagers, an elderly woman with a kind face, spoke up. "Yes, we have heard of these disappearances. It's a strange thing, for sure. People have been going missing in the night, without a trace."
Another villager, a young man with a scruffy beard, chimed in. "We have searched the woods and the surrounding areas, but there is no sign of them. It's like they just vanished into thin air."
All of them thanked the villagers for their information and continued to ask around. They spoke to several more people, all of whom confirmed the strange occurrences. Children were afraid to play outside at night, and some adults had taken to carrying weapons for protection.
As they walked through the streets, they couldn't help but notice the tension in the air. People were on edge, and the once bustling village now seemed to be shrouded in a cloud of fear.
They had asked several villagers about the missing people, but most of them seemed reluctant to share any information. It wasn't until they came across an old farmer, who had a weathered face and wore a straw hat, that they finally received some leads.
Aricen approached him, "Excuse us, sir, we are trying to investigate the recent disappearances in this village. Do you know anything that might help us?"
The farmer looked at the group warily, but then sighed and shook his head. "I don't know much, but I have heard about a clearing in the nearby woods where strange figures have been seen. People say that whoever goes there never comes back."
Rowan raised an eyebrow. "Strange figures? What do you mean?"
The farmer looked around nervously before lowering his voice. "Some say they have seen hooded figures lurking in the shadows, moving silently like ghosts. Others have heard eerie whispers coming from that place."
Casey frowned, "And nobody has ever investigated that clearing?"
The farmer shook his head again. "No, it's too dangerous." I have seen people disappear without a trace, and I don't want to be next. But if you are brave enough to go there, you might find some answers."
Serenya spoke up, "Thank you for your help, sir. We will be careful."
As all of them made their way toward the woods, they could feel their hearts pounding with anticipation and fear. The old farmer's words echoed in their minds, and they couldn't help but wonder what kind of danger awaited them in the clearing.
After walking for what seemed like an hour, they finally arrived at the edge of the woods. The trees were tall and dense, blocking out most of the sunlight, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and moss.
Aricen looked around cautiously, "This place gives me the creeps. We should be careful."
Rowan nodded in agreement. "Let's stick together and stay alert."
They walked deeper into the woods, their footsteps crunching on the dry leaves and twigs under their feet. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or snap of a twig.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they arrived at the clearing. It was a small patch of grassy land, surrounded by towering trees, and the only thing in the center was an old well.
As they approached the well, they heard a faint whispering sound. It was like the wind was whispering secrets, but they couldn't make out what it was saying.
Casey shivered, "Did you guys hear that?"
Rowan nodded, "Yeah, it's coming from the well."
Serenya approached the well and peered inside. "I can't see anything. It's too dark."
Suddenly, they heard a loud rustling sound from the trees behind them. They turned around and saw several hooded figures emerge from the shadows.
The figures were tall and thin, and their faces were obscured by dark hoods. They moved towards the group silently, their steps light and fluid.
Aricen drew his sword. "Stay back! Who are you?"
The figures didn't respond. They continued to move towards the group, their eyes fixed on them.
Suddenly, one of the figures lunged at Aricen, but he managed to dodge it and swing his sword at it. The figure let out a bloodcurdling scream and fell to the ground.
The rest of the figures attacked the group at once, and a fierce battle ensued. The group fought with all their might, dodging the hooded figures' attacks and striking back with their weapons.