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As Ethan settled into the shadows of the tavern, unease gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the memory of the tall figure who had initially warned him about the dangers of the forest. The stranger had seemed genuine, albeit cautious. But where was he now?
Ethan's thoughts raced back to their brief interaction. "You're not the first to find your way here," the figure had said. Those words echoed in his mind, and he wondered if perhaps the stranger had come to a bad end, just like the many others who had ventured into the village seeking refuge.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the bar. Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he turned to see two villagers grappling with another man, the very figure who had invited him in earlier. The man struggled against their grip, his eyes wide with fear.
"You thought we'd let you go that easily?" one of the assailants taunted, a cruel smile stretching across his face. "We know what you've been telling the newcomer."
Ethan's stomach twisted at the realization. The figure hadn't just disappeared; he had been caught and was now being dragged away, his protests drowned out by the raucous laughter of the other patrons. "Let me go! I was only trying to help!" he pleaded, but his voice was swallowed by the tavern's oppressive atmosphere.
Ethan felt a surge of panic. This was no ordinary village. The figure's fate illustrated the darker truth about the community—the very warning he had received was likely a desperate attempt to keep him from a grim fate. They weren't merely robbers; they were cannibals, driven by hunger and desperation, resorting to monstrous acts to survive in a world that seemed determined to devour them whole.
He had to act quickly. The villagers were too caught up in their cruel sport to notice him, but he knew that staying put could be just as dangerous as drawing attention to himself. Ethan's mind raced as he considered his options. He could either try to help the figure, risking his own safety, or he could quietly slip out and find a way to escape this nightmare.
With his heart pounding, he glanced at the door, calculating the distance and the potential risks involved in making a run for it. The tavern felt like a trap, and he was the bait.
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