Hina remained on her knees, unmoving, as the flames of the burning church consumed everything within. Her tear-streaked face shining against the fiery fire, her lips trembling with the weight of unsaid words. Her hands gripped the dirt beneath her, shaking with frustration and despair. The crackling of the fire echoed in the air, with the faint, heartbroken sobs of the children behind us.
I turned my face behind to see the five surviving kids clung to each other, their faces pale. They were too young to comprehend the full weight of what had happened, yet the grief of losing their friends was visible on them.
I stood silently beside her, my arms free beside as I kept staring at the flames. Words felt meaningless in the moment, but the silence felt heavier with every passing second. My eyes showed no emotion but...it made me angry.
From behind us, the sound of sirens cut through the night air, growing louder with each second. Red and blue lights painted the darkened street as several cars approached.
"The knights," I muttered to myself. "They must've noticed the blast Priest caused."
Their arrival was inevitable. Everyone in the town must've seen the explosion Priest had unleashed on the church's roof. It had lit up the sky like a signal fire. As the knights rushed out of their vehicles, their armor clinking and their weapons at the ready, I turned to the children.
"Stay with them," I said to Hina softly, though I doubted she heard me.
The next day arrived like a distant memory, the events of the previous night stayed in mind like a bad dream.
Every news channel was buzzing with the same story. A renowned priest had been uncovered as a criminal, performing dark rituals in the name of a deity called Malokos. The abduction of seven children had exposed his horrendous acts, which included soul offerings and alleged organ smuggling.
The anchor's voice droned on as images of the burnt church and files on missing children filled the screen.
"In a shocking revelation, it was discovered that Priest Gideon had been orchestrating these rituals under the guise of piety. Many children had been reported by death caused by accidents in recent months, and evidence points to horrific rituals involving soul offering. Last night's brave efforts by two individuals, Hina and her companion Esther, uncovered the priest's heinous activities."
The voice faded into the background as I turned to look across the room. Hina sat in the corner, her body curled up, her head resting on her knees. She hadn't moved since we got back. Her eyes were lifeless, void of any spark.
The image of those children reaching out for her help, their terrified cries when they said please to her, was etched in her mind. No doubt, she blamed herself for their deaths.
"Hina…" I called out softly. No response.
I sighed, leaning back against the wall, holding a cup of instant noodles. The steam rose in spirals, and I glanced at her again.
"Would you like to eat?" I asked, raising the cup slightly.
Still nothing. She didn't even glance my way.
I exhaled deeply and rubbed my forehead. "Don't overthink it," I said, breaking the silence. "There was nothing we could do. Even I didn't expect him to come back like that. If I'd known, I would've stopped him."
The sound of the noodles slurping in my mouth was the only thing that followed. Hina didn't move. She sat there, a hollow shell, lost in the storm of her thoughts.
It was 8 p.m. when I stepped outside, leaving the suffocating silence of the room behind me. The streetlights filled the quiet roads in a pale yellow glow. Cars moved slowly down the streets, and the occasional chatter of pedestrians filled the air.
I walked with steady steps, my hands tucked into my pockets. My gaze was fixed ahead, though my mind wandered elsewhere.
A cool breeze brushed past me, ruffling my hair slightly as I came to a halt. The faint scent of damp earth and pine filled my nose as I looked to my right. A dense forest stretched before me, its towering trees casting long shadows under the moonlight.
Without hesitation, I stepped into the woods. The sound of dry leaves crunching beneath my boots accompanied me as I walked deeper into the forest. The world grew quieter with each step, save for the occasional rustle of animals in the bush and the distant hoot of an owl.
The air felt heavier as I ascended a small slope, the moonlight breaking through the canopy above. My breathing remained steady, my expression unreadable as I kept walking forward.
I emerged from behind a tree at the crest of the hill and stopped in my tracks. The forest opened into a small clearing bathed in silver moonlight.
Ahead of me, sitting in the middle of a perfectly drawn white circle, was a creature that resembled human but it wasn't a human for sure.
Long, flowing white hair cascaded down its back, with its dark skin. Its limbs were unnaturally long, and its fingers ended in sharp, claw-like tips. Its eyes had no irises—only deep, black pupils that seemed to pierce through the darkness as they turned to meet my gaze.
"Who's there?" the creature growled, its voice guttural and rough, sending vibrations through the air.
I tilted my head upward slightly, my eyes narrowing as I took a step closer to him.
The creature straightened, rising to its full height, towering above me even from a distance. He opened his mouth, revealing sharp, jagged teeth.
"It's been a while.." I said, my voice calm but filled with authority. "Malokos."
The creature's mouth faltered for a brief moment, replaced by a look of curiosity. It tilted its head, its glowing pupils narrowing as it studied me.
I remained still, my gaze unwavering as the full moon cast its light over me.
"Or should I say...Apostle of Gluttony."