Special thanks to Erin_Phillips_7003 for the Golden Ticket.
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Somewhere In Valeria
The sun was beginning to set as two farmers, Kellen and Lyle, made their way back from the market. Their arms swinging with bags of supplies and a few goods. The day had been a good one for both, filled with laughter, gossip, and a fair share of bargaining. They chuckled as they walked, recalling the haggling they had seen and the exaggerated stories some traders told to sell their goods.
"Did you see old Garret trying to sell that scraggly chicken? Poor thing looked like it was on its last life!" Kellen laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the quiet path.
Lyle joined in, shaking his head. "Aye, that was quite a sight! And when he claimed it laid eggs as big as a ball, I nearly lost my breath trying not to laugh."
The road was empty except for the two of them, as lanterns began to glow in the distant town. Trees lined the path, their branches stretching over tall grasses that swayed in the soft evening breeze. Shadows were growing longer, but Kellen and Lyle hardly noticed, paying no mind as they were engrossed in the conversation.
Suddenly, a strange rustling noise came from the bushes just off the path, louder than the usual stirrings of animals. The men stopped, exchanging wary glances, their laughter fading as they strained their ears to listen carefully.
"Did… did you hear that?" Lyle whispered, clutching his bag tighter.
Kellen forced a grin, though his eyes flickered with unease. "Probably just a stray dog… or a fox." He said, though his voice was unsteady.
Before they could continue, the rustling sound intensified, followed by a low, guttural groan that sent chills down their spines. A strange, unnatural feeling settled over them.
"I am beginning to grow goosebumps, perhaps we should move faster." Lyle suggested, clearly frightened by the sudden rustling from the bush.
But Kellen, driven by curiosity, moved closer to the bushes with a grin across his face. "Hold on, let me see what it is. It could be someone or something needing help?" He said, stretching to see what was in the bush.
"I do not think that is a good idea, Kellen. We should leave now!" Lyle's voice trembled as he stepped away from the bushes.
"Do not be such a a woman, Lyle, there is no harm in checking to see whatever it is." Kellen teased, taking a step into the now quiet bushes.
Lyle hesitated but followed a few steps behind. Together, they walked into the darkened bush, trying to make sense of the strange sounds.
The eerie quiet was shattered when without warning, a creature lunged out of the bushes with horrifying speed, its movement was unnatural. It looked like a man was, but his appearance was monstrous. His head lolled to one side, his neck twisted at a sickening angle. Black, bulging veins snaked across his face and arms, pulsing as though filled with something other than blood. His eyes were completely black, empty, and hollow.
The creature let out an unearthly scream, and before either of them could react, it charged.
Kellen, who had been in front barely had time to raise his arms in defense before the monster collided with him, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Its twisted mouth opened as it struck, tearing into Kellen's skin with so much ferocity that left Lyle frozen in terror.
Blood spattered across the path as Kellen's screams filled the air, but the creature showed no mercy, attacking with a relentless savagery. Lyle on the other hand was to stunned to move, he felt his stomach lurch, his entire body trembling as he watched his friend's life extinguished in an instant.
The horror jolted him into action. Dropping his bags, he turned and ran, his heart pounding as he stumbled down the path, his legs moving as if they had a mind of their own. "Someone help us!" He screamed as panic clouded his senses, and he barely managed to stay upright as he sprinted, stumbling over rocks in his desperate attempt to escape.
"Help! Help me!" He screamed, his voice hoarse and ragged, not caring who heard him or what they thought. All he knew was the monster he needed to get away from.
As he neared the end of town, a few villagers turned at the sound of his cries, their faces laced with concern as they hurried over. Lyle collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, his clothes soaked with sweat and his face pale.
"There… there is a creature! It—it killed Kellen!" He managed to choke out, clutching his chest as if trying to steady his racing heart.
One of the passersby, an elderly man, knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, man. Tell us what exactly happened?" He said, his voice gentle.
But Lyle could barely form the words. "It was like a man… but not a man. Twisted, monstrous… its veins, and its eyes… all black...it was horrible, like out of a nightmare… Kellen is dead!" His voice broke, tears filling his eyes as he buried his face in his hands.
The villagers exchanged worried glances, some muttering among themselves, wondering if he had seen some sort of spirit or if it was the work of dark magic. A few of them tried to reassure him, speaking in hushed tones, but the fear in Lyle's eyes was undeniable.
One of the villagers, a young man, turned to the others. "We need to check it out. If something dangerous is lurking near the village, we can not ignore it."
"Are you out of your sense? Did you not here what the young man just mentioned?" Another of the villager, a mid aged woman asked.
"I did, that is why we must check out to see what is it that the man saw." The young man replied, his eyes narrowed at the other villagers who looked visibly scared and wary.
"Indeed, I believe that is the smart thing to do if we plan to sleep well this night." Another man agreed, as well as three other men, making it five of them. The moved toward the path where the attack had taken place, Lyle was left with a few villagers who stayed behind to comfort him.