The small shapes emerged from shadows—children of various ages, but wrong. Their skin bore feeding patterns like tattoos, their eyes hungry with ancient knowledge. Some still had teddy bears clutched in hands that ended in shadowy claws.
"Are those..." Kai couldn't finish.
"The guards' children," Marcus realized. "The ones they thought were safely hidden away at home."
"All those cups of blood," Samantha understood now. "He was sharing them with the children, turning them slowly..."
"While their parents guarded him," Maya's voice held horror.
"Thinking they were protecting everyone else," Lucas finished.
A small girl stepped forward, maybe six years old, her pigtails moving like living shadows. "Want to play?" Her voice echoed with hunger.
"Sorry kiddo," Kai managed his usual light tone despite the situation, "I'm more of a tag person than a 'consume your soul' person."
