Lu first checked Old John's house. Old John, who was still home, told Lu he didn't bring Margie to the city but that he had seen her head in that direction anyway. Following the lead, Lu followed the main road and jogged along it.
Maybe he had missed something when he was just listening to the birds sing.
Lu scanned his surroundings, occasionally asking if anyone had seen Margie whenever he encountered another of the townspeople. He didn't see any traces of Margie, and all who had seen her said she was leaving for the city.
So, Lu left the town and followed the road, combing it and the greenery on both sides with razor-sharp eyes.
He didn't see anything and considered turning back to check with Klum if Margie had returned. But he noticed a few scuff marks on the dirt road. It wasn't anything that stood out, and it could have just been a wild beast scampering over the road or the wind piling the dirt in a strange manner.
However, Lu's gut told him it was something. Since he didn't have anything to lose, he followed the possible tracks and headed into the forest closest to where the marks were.
It was a good thing he decided to trust his gut. The scuff marks weren't nothing. They led to a string of tracks of something bumbling through the forest. Lu noticed it all too clearly, thanks to his keen eyes and accompanying the village hunters now and then.
But the tracks were too obvious for if Margie had just decided to take a detour. They also weren't the tracks a beast made, especially when attacking a person.
'No way…'
Lu's bad feeling worsened, and he stopped analyzing the tracks. Instead, he sprinted at full speed.
Lu's heart pounded like a drum, and his vision blurred, only focusing on what was right in front of him. He felt sick. An unmistakable, faint smell of tangy iron entered his nose.
'NO!'
Lu refused to believe it, hoping his premonition and bad feelings were wrong.
However, he was forced to accept reality when he saw Margie lying in a pool of her own blood, propped up against a tree. Her face was deathly pale, and the hand putting pressure on the wound in her side was slack.
Lu slid onto his knees and pressed his finger against Margie's neck. He sighed in relief.
She still had a pulse. It was faint. But it was there. She could be saved.
Lu first ripped off his shirt and wrapped it around Margie's waist to stem the blood flow. Then, he gently swept her up into his arms. He was tired, but he couldn't risk carrying her on his back. It would be too bumpy and might worsen her injuries. His arms would be steadier.
After picking Margie up, Lu didn't waste any time and immediately returned to the road with hurried but even steps to ensure Margie didn't bounce around. It took a toll on his arms, but he couldn't care less.
"Help!"
When he got closer to the town, Lu started shouting. It took a while, but people finally heard and realized something was going on, Klum being the first. He rushed to the road leading to the city like a mad bull.
Without saying anything, only barely hearing Lu telling him she was alive, Klum took Margie and rushed to the town's only healer.
Lu panted like a wolf after a failed hunt, but he only rested for a short moment before rushing to catch up. He had a hunch on who had done it but refused to accept it, at least until Margie survived. That had to happen first before Lu could think of anything else.
When Lu arrived at Magnola's center, Klum had already pushed past the elderly with aching joints and kids with scraped knees and gotten Magnola to care for Margie. Lu had to wait outside. But he could comfort Margie's mother when she arrived, and there was nothing he could do right now, so he didn't mind.
"Hey. I heard Margie was injured. What happened?"
Lu looked up from his hug with Viola with raging eyes.
"You! The fucking gall to come here! Get the fuck out!"
"Woah, woah, woah. What's the matter? It's like you think I'm a monster or something."
"What's going on, Lu?"
Viola noticed Lu's rage and stopped him from charging at Hector with the ferocity of a small dog.
"This fucking bastard is the one who did that to Margie!"
Hector held up his hands and stepped back as even Viola gave him a gaze sharp enough to cut steel.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding here."
"Like hell there is! Margie was forced off the road, dragged into the forest, and stabbed with a sharp blade. The only tracks away from the scene led right back to town. And here you are! WITH BLOOD ON YOUR SHIRT!!"
Lu screeched as he pointed at the drops of blood on Hector's white shirt.
Cold sweat beaded on Hector's back and forehead as he noticed them.
"Oh, these. I…I cut myself earlier while practicing. That's why I came to see Magnola."
As he spoke, Hector pulled up the sleeve of his shirt to show a bandaged section of his arm.
"So you got blood on the new shirt you changed into after cutting yourself?! Don't fucking lie to me!"
Lu was one thin thread of rationality away from attacking Hector. It was only the bright awareness of the fact that he didn't stand a chance in a fight that he held himself back.
Hector shrugged, unbothered by Lu seeing right through his lie.
"It happens. Unless you can prove anything, I suggest you stop slandering me."
Hector stepped closer and gave Lu his own dose of sharp glares.
Lu clenched his fist until blood dripped down his fingers. But he didn't say anything.
"Well, I guess since Magnola's busy, I will take my leave."
Lu watched Hector leave.
He couldn't do anything.
During the day.