"Three will come from the right: two humans and one that may be a nightmare creature."
Cassie, yet again, told Sunny what she was seeing. In the vast, dark abyss, two sparks of white were getting closer and closer. Those were the soul cores she could see in the wooden carvings of the humans, and, due to her 3-second ability to glimpse the future, she could also see the nightmare creature that was following them.
Sunny tightened his hold on Cassie's neck after she delivered the message. He could hear his heartbeat quicken, doubling with each passing second as he ran harder. His breath came in forced bursts, holding and releasing in a repeated cycle.
"Ngh!"
Cassie closed her eyes, bracing herself for another of Sunny's erratic acrobatic movements.
'One jump... use the wall for support and rotate.'
In her mind, Cassie was calculating Sunny's future movements to adjust herself accordingly, so she wouldn't hinder him.
"It shouldn't be long... we'll be there soon. You're doing great."
"Aga... I... I should... mgh! Be the one to say that."
Cassie grew worried. Sunny's breathing was labored. She could feel a slight delay in the gravitational pull on her body, which only grew stronger, warning her that Sunny's legs might give out soon.
Cassie opened her eyes, gazing ahead in the direction the wind was brushing against her face.
'8... 14... 19...'
The hall was getting closer. The soul cores of the guests inside the ballroom were approaching, but she frowned.
'That one is too close.'
One of Cassie's flaws in this dark, lightless world was her inability to distinguish friend from foe. With Sunny's shadows enveloping them, he could only see what was directly in front of him, so it was her responsibility to warn him.
She furrowed her brow, watching the movement of the soul cores.
'The wooden ones are either calm or fast... no mistake in their pace unless a second party is involved.'
"Sunny, this one may be human, but their movements are too frantic."
Cassie adjusted her position, wrapping her right arm around Sunny's neck and using his shoulder for support. She raised her left hand and summoned her wind staff, aiming it forward.
"Keep up the pace. If I'm wrong, Quiet Dancer will stab their head, but if I'm right—"
She aimed just behind the soul core, where a nightmare creature was likely hunting them.
Cassie held her breath, gripping Sunny's shoulder tightly as she prepared to shoot.
"HELP MEEEE!"
A man's voice echoed, and that was all they needed to know.
"It's human!"
"Yeah... aha... I heard it. Go ahead, aim. Don't worry, I won't... ngh... drop you."
Despite Sunny's heavy breathing, Cassie aimed. Using her 3-second ability, she confirmed the man's presence—a middle-aged man with a dog mask, followed by a nightmare creature.
PVHWISH
A small ball of wind shot from her staff. In the next moment, the speed they were moving at slowed.
Crash!
Cassie coughed as she heard the man scream.
"Help!"
"Sunny?"
"Don't worry... you aimed well. Give me a moment."
Cassie felt herself lowered to the ground. She tapped it with her staff and let out a shaky breath.
"Phew... that was close."
Cassie had been worried about accidentally killing a mundane human. She didn't know what that felt like... but she'd seen it. She saw how it affected him after he killed Harper.
"Don't! Don't kill me!"
"Shut up—we won't kill you."
"Please... please!"
"Ugh..."
Cassie looked toward the direction of the old man's voice, then forward. The 19 soul cores were in front of them, probably just behind the door. They had reached the end of the hall.
"What happened?"
Cassie asked as she let go of Sunny's shoulder, extending her hand toward the voice coming from beneath her... but—
"Don't."
Sunny's hand grasped her wrist with a firm shake.
"Don't touch him."
Sunny's words sounded like an order. Cassie was confused.
"But he needs help. Why wouldn't I—"
"He won't last long..."
Sunny's voice came in heavy breaths.
"His arm got cut off, and I'm watching as his blood is being sucked out."
Cassie's face paled.
"No..."
'We were too late.'
RUMBLE
The ground shook again, and Cassie yelped as Sunny's arm enveloped her shoulders.
"Come on... they're following us!"
Cassie's eyes widened as she looked behind her.
"9... 16... 24..."
Soul cores were following them, speeding toward them.
"Alright."
She agreed as they began to run, but—
"Agh... fuck..."
Cassie looked toward Sunny, where his voice had come from.
'His leg...'
"Are your shadows still on you?"
Cassie felt Sunny's grip tighten at her question.
"How do you... never mind, yes, they are."
'So he's reached his limit.'
Cassie frowned, taking Sunny's hand that grabbed her wrist and wrapping her's around his waist.
"Lean on me."
She forced Sunny to lean on her, feeling his breath grow heavier with each step.
'It's just an ankle... was it twisted that badly?'
Thump thump thump thump Pat pat pat pat pat
Their steps quickened as Sunny opened the door to the hall... and cursed.
".... Damnation—"
Cassie frowned at his words.
"What?"
"You were right..."
Sunny scoffed. Cassie could feel his hand on her waist as he pulled her closer. She heard the sound of his midnight shard being summoned and looked ahead at the soul cores inside the hall.
She bit her lip.
"Don't tell me..."
"It's too late... they've been eaten... and annihilated... agh!"
Cassie felt Sunny's body falter, and she supported him, letting him rest on one knee.
"We're... agh... surrounded..."
With heavy breaths, Sunny spoke. Cassie's vision—the one she saw herself alone, surrounded by wooden nightmares—no, wooden humans—had come true.
"In front of us... they're wooden, right?"
"Yeah..."
Sunny confirmed, as clapping could be heard.
"Wow, wow, little slut!"
Cassie's eyes narrowed at the words. The voice belonged to an old man... rough and mocking.
'Count Vichman!'
"What did he just call you?!"
Sunny's voice rumbled with anger. Cassie could feel his body trying to rise, but it was no use.
"Hahaha... don't worry. I bet your blood is being sucked dry as we speak. You won't last long."
"What?!"
Cassie looked toward where Sunny was supposed to be.
"Your ankle..."
"...Bloodweave is working on it..."
"Tsk."
Cassie clicked her tongue, glaring at the Count's direction. She helped Sunny take a few steps, but to no avail. A shiver ran down her spine.
"Ah... I see you've met my children from the northern quarter. To be honest, they're failures. They didn't deserve a place in my garden... but I guess they served a purpose."
Cassie looked left and right. Soul cores surrounded them... and Sunny couldn't fight with the blood being sucked from him.
"Cassie..."
Her mind, in turmoil, was shattered by Sunny's voice.
"Run... run and leave. I'll make an opening..."
"No... no..."
"Cassie..."
"Shut up!"
Cassie bumped her head against Sunny's as she glared at the Count's chuckle.
"What a hero... that's what you get for taking my toy."
"Motherfucker... she's mine to torture, not yours..."
"What—"
Sunny's insane words made the Count check if he was mistaken.
"She's mine... only I can make her suffer, not you. Don't—agh!—fuck... don't even dare... to touch... no... even look at what's—"
Cassie bumped Sunny's head again, her face flushed red.
'This fool...'
Yes, Sunny was right. She was his. He had every right to torment her, decide whether she lived or died, and take her freedom... but he didn't need to announce it to everyone!
"Agh..."
"Shut up and focus on your breathing! How much longer will Bloodweave need?"
After some labored breaths, Sunny responded.
"Three... five minutes."
"Good... I'll buy time."
"What?!"
"Hoo? You? Buy time? What can a blind slut even do—?"
Cassie frowned at the Count's words but let it slide. She had to.
She took a few steps, spinning her wooden staff skillfully in her hand.
"Quiet Dancer..."
She whispered, summoning her echo as sparks flared beside her.
Sunny and the men were amazed by the way she moved, but—
"Tsk."
Cassie clicked her tongue and tore the edge of her dress, revealing her smooth, white leg.
"Sunny... next time, if there's another ball... you're choosing pants, not a dress."
She growled as she tapped the ground with her staff.
'Five minutes...'