𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 - 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘱𝘯

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘟𝘝𝘐

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐂

𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍
___________

You all huddled around the fire, the comforting smell of soup wafting from the large pot hovering above it. As the others eagerly waited for the soup to finish, your gaze wandering over each of them, lost in thought.

Without a doubt, she was harmless. Mujika, the demon girl. She had led you all into a hideout of an underground cave. Tended to Emma's open wound, her gentle, soothing voice cutting through the tense silence like a warm, comforting mother.

Meanwhile, her partner, Sonju, saved Ray from the clutches of our pursuers searching for you all.

Your silence broke by Mujika's soft voice. Her and Sonju had been observing you closely. "You seem worried." she noted, her voice gentle yet filled with concern.

Her words drew your attention to her. Mujika had set her bowl aside, her eyes meeting yours with a questioning look. "Do you still not trust us?" she asked.

You shook your head gently. "No, it's not that." you reassured her. "I saw how you helped Emma and Ray. I'm grateful." you confessed, your words relief.

"Speaking of which, I should see how they're doing." Mujika says, rising to her feet and venturing into the cavern's dark expanse with a lamp in hand.

Emma and Ray have been out cold for nearly a day now. Everyone's been on edge about their condition.

Sonju rises, taking hold of his spear and casually slinging it over his shoulder. He strides into the shadowy depths of the tunnel , following in Mujika's footsteps.

Gilda's touch is gentle against your shoulder, a soft nudge that breaks through your worried thoughts. "Don't worry." she says, her voice a soothing. "If they had any intention of harming us, they would've done so by now. They've had plenty of opportunities, yet here we are, safe and sound."

Her words hang in the air. You want to believe her, to let go of the fear and uncertainty that has been constantly on your mind. But a nagging doubt remains.

"They're demons." your voice barely above a whisper as if speaking the words louder would make them more real. "They may have said they don't eat humans, but can we really trust them? Can we really put our lives in the hands of creatures we fear?"

Your words echo in the silence of the cave. You're in the company of demons. Yet, they've shown nothing but kindness. It's leaving you feeling lost and confused, unsure of what to believe.

Gilda's gaze drops to the floor, your words echoing in her thoughts. "They rescued Emma and Ray, and they've been providing us with food. I don't believe they're a threat to us."

"I'd like to stay cautious." you say, your fingers absentmindedly playing with the mug you're holding.

The echo of hurried steps resonates through the cave. Our eyes dart towards the dark recesses from where the sound originates. There, against the shadows, stands Emma, wide-eyed and alert.

Without a moment's hesitation, the children sprint towards her, latching onto her with a sense of profound relief.

"Emma," you rise to your feet, her name escaping from your lips. "You're awake." you utter, a wave of relief washing over you.