~North Forest- Hackett Town, Tekisu District~
Caleb runs through the forest, his heart pounding as if it might burst from his chest. His breath comes in short, ragged gasps, but he doesn't dare stop. The dense underbrush snags at his legs, branches whip against his face, but he presses on, driven by a singular thought: survival. He doesn't want to leave without Noah, but he hasn't found any trace of him. For all he knows, Noah might not even be in the woods anymore, and staying here could mean risking his own life for nothing. As much as it pains him, Caleb decides it would be wiser to return with reinforcements. Still, he prays with every step that Noah is okay.
"Humph!" Caleb suddenly collides with something solid and tumbles backward, landing hard on his backside. "What the heck?"
"That should be my line! Why are you running like a madman? Is there danger?" The familiar voice of Rodney Stinson reaches Caleb's ears as the sheriff brushes off his uniform and stands, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. "I'm glad I found at least one of you, but what's going on, Caleb?"
"Mr. Stinson! Believe it or not, I'm so glad to see you!" Relief floods Caleb's voice as he scrambles to his feet. "There's definitely danger in there. I was looking for Noah and came across—would you believe it—a Junsui Demon!" Rodney's eyes widen in shock, but before he can respond, Caleb continues, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Yeah, that's right, a Junsui Demon. It sounds insane, but it's true! What's even crazier is that when it was about to kill me, another Junsui Demon came to my rescue! Isn't that wild? I mean, I was grateful, but it's so unusual. Why would a Junsui stop another Junsui from eating a human? Unless he wanted me for himself… but he didn't seem very threatening, so it was weird still."
Rodney's expression turns serious as he grabs Caleb by the shoulders, looking him directly in the eyes. "Are you sure about this? You weren't dreaming, were you? Or hopped up on drugs?"
"Dude, are you serious? As if I'd make something like this up. I saw them, the Junsui!" Caleb insists, his frustration mingling with fear.
Rodney hushes him, casting a quick glance around as if worried they might be overheard. "Okay, okay, I believe you, but keep your voice down. The town doesn't know about this yet, and I'd like it to stay that way for now. We need to avoid a panic. Tell me more about these demons, but let's find Noah first."
"R-right!" Caleb's resolve hardens. The fear gnawing at him is still there, but he knows he can't back down now, not with Noah's life potentially at stake. As they start walking deeper into the woods, Caleb hesitates for a moment before asking, "So, you knew about them already?"
Rodney sighs, his face lined with concern. "Not for long. We only began to suspect yesterday when we found that girl's body. However, upon finding the body of a second girl early this morning, we were able to confirm it. We saw the demon with our own eyes. He was fleeing through the trees fast."
"Was he wearing camouflage by chance?" Caleb asks, his voice mixed with fear and curiosity.
Rodney nods, his expression grim. "Yes. So, he was the one you saw?"
"Yeah, he was the one who tried to attack me. It seems like he has the power to control nature, so it's no surprise he could navigate the forest so quickly and escape," Caleb explains, his mind racing as he tries to piece together the terrifying events.
"Well, at least we can confirm we're not all going mad. That'll be a relief to the boys at the station. But it's still alarming that there are indeed two demons running wild out here. I'll have to ask for aid from The Capital as soon as we return to the station," Rodney says, his tone heavy with the weight of responsibility.
"Will they believe us, though?" Caleb asks, doubt creeping into his voice. "They'll probably think we're insane. I mean, the Junsui have been extinct for centuries, haven't they? We'd probably need proof or something."
Rodney's eyes darken as he replies, "I think two dead bodies with their insides devoured would be sufficient enough."
Caleb shudders at the thought, the gruesome image hanging in the air between them. After a moment of tense silence, he tries to lighten the mood, though his voice is tinged with a nervous edge. "This kind of feels like Junior Enforcer work right now. I'd be shadowing enforcers like you in these kinds of risky situations all the time if I'd been allowed to attend the Enforcer High School. Unfortunately, Mom didn't want me to go yet, so I have to wait until I'm 18."
Rodney glances at him, his expression softening slightly. "Your mom made a great decision, so don't resent her for it. They do accept students into the Junior Division, but those students are all orphans, troublemakers, or generally those who have no guidance and nowhere to go. Essentially, they're the lost boys and girls who have no other options. Between you and me, those students tend to be used for more nefarious purposes. I won't explain further, so don't ask me. The point is, it's much better to start at the Secondary Enforcer division instead, where you'll be doing quality work, like me."
Caleb raises an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Well, with all due respect, Mr. Stinson, I wouldn't call being sheriff of this sleepy town quality work. No offense, but this is more like a place you go to retire but still keep busy."
Rodney frowns clearly, not amused. "I'm not sure what part of that wasn't offensive, but I meant generally. More goes on behind the scenes than you observe. Not knowing is proof of that fact."
"Right, of course," Caleb mutters, letting the conversation drop. The last thing he wants is to make things more awkward than they already are. They continue walking in silence, both of them praying they'll find Noah soon.
As they move deeper into the forest, Caleb starts watching Rodney more closely, his mind racing to distract himself from the fear gnawing at his gut. Then, something catches his eye. He observes the familiar glint on Rodney's wrist from his watch once again and he narrows his eyes. "Hey, are you sure that isn't my dad's watch? He was wearing it in the last picture Mom has of him. It looks uncannily familiar. Mom said it was one of a kind, so it's strange you have it too." Caleb stops short, his heart skipping a beat as he waits for Rodney's response. "Mr. Stinson?"
Rodney hesitates, his body tensing visibly. He trembles slightly, and when he finally speaks, his voice is low and filled with a menacing edge. "You Gremory men never do know how to stay out of other people's business. I'll have to teach you too." In one swift motion, he pulls out his gun and aims it at Caleb, his intent clear. Caleb's breath catches in his throat, his mind racing as he stares down the barrel of a gun. Fear claws at him, but a flicker of anger and betrayal burns too.
"What—what are you doing?"
Rodney's expression is cold, devoid of the warmth Caleb had once trusted. "Shut up and stand still. You should've stayed out of this. Now I'm going to have to break Maggie's heart again."
Caleb's heart pounds in his chest, the reality of the situation crashing down on him. He's not just facing a demon in the forest; the man he thought he could trust has turned on him. Desperation surges through him as he tries to think of a way out, his thoughts a chaotic jumble of fear and anger. In this moment, Caleb realizes the danger isn't just out in the woods—it's standing right in front of him, holding a gun with deadly intent.