**Chapter 7: The Whisper of Fear**
The disappearance of Detectives Mark and Sarah had sent waves of panic through the country of Zombo. News of the two missing investigators quickly spread, and the VLp community was identified as the main culprits behind this new wave of horror. Reports of disappearances in the forest, which had been going on for 27 years, were revived, and the already terrified population began to feel the weight of fear on their shoulders.
TV channels and newspapers rushed to cover the story, highlighting the sinister nature of the VLp and the mysteries surrounding the Zerk forest. Images of missing children and families never seen again became part of the daily news, while citizens clamored for action. The atmosphere of tension grew by the hour, and the authorities prepared for a risky mission to invade the forest and, if possible, recover the bodies of the detectives.
The police chief, Captain Arthur Mendes, was nervous as he planned the operation. He crouched behind a car, surrounded by four officers, who were visibly tense. "We need to be careful, guys. We don't know what we're up against here. The VLP is cunning and dangerous," he said, his voice interrupted by the groans of pain from the wounded officers. As Mendes spoke, a series of arrows sliced through the air, striking several officers in the back. The sound of the arrows plunging into flesh was terrifying, and screams of pain echoed through the forest. Mendes saw one of his men fall, an arrow embedded in his chest, while another struggled to get up, trying to get away from the range of the shots. "Retreat! We need backup!" Mendes shouted, his voice thick with desperation. But the situation was getting more critical. Arrows continued to fly through the sky, as if the winds themselves were turning against them. Some had flaming tips, lighting up the night with an eerie glow as they struck the officers, eliciting screams of terror and confusion. Mendes hid behind the car, watching the chaos around him. The other officers were panicking, trying to protect themselves as they fired back at the invisible attackers. The darkness of the forest seemed alive, and the Captain felt a wave of helplessness as he realized they were being hunted like animals.
"We need cover! Someone call for reinforcements now!" Mendes ordered, but his voice seemed lost in the clamor of the battle. The arrows continued to fly, and he realized that the VLp was playing a deadly game, using tactics that seemed to have come out of a dark fairy tale from the Middle Ages.
As the situation became increasingly desperate, Mendes realized that the only way to survive was to retreat and reassess the situation. But the forest, with its shadows and secrets, seemed to have plans of its own. The fear that had once been a whisper now became a deafening scream, and the VLp showed that it was not just playing to win—it was determined to eliminate anyone who dared challenge it.
As the screams of his men echoed through the night, Mendes knew they were in a battle against a force far darker than they could have imagined. The forest was alive with the terror of the VLp, and the fight for survival was just beginning.