~Memories from the Beginning~

🎯Chapter 20🎯

"This way." A hooded figure spoke with a calm voice.

"Huh?"

"Come this way."

-----

"Emma..." One of the younger kids whimpered.

"Emma!" Gilda worriedly stared down at the unconscious girl whose head rested on her lap.

"Urgh..."

'Still no sign of Ray or Y/n...If the demons from the farm are really here already...How can we protect them? How can we escape? What to do? What could we possibly do...?!'

Suddenly, soft footsteps were heard on the grass and someone approached in their line of sight, causing all the children to stare at the figure, all on guard. They couldn't help but feel uneasy that the figure was fully hidden by a cloak, not allowing them to deduce who they really were.

There was one question in their minds.

'Should they be relieved, or...?'

"Ah!" One of the kids flinched as the figure raised their hand and pointed in a direction.

"This way. Here...come this way." The hooded figure spoke in a soothing voice.

"A normal person...?" Alicia questioned, noting that there was no hostility in the stranger's body language.

"She's a girl...?" Rossi blinked, finding the voice to be fitting for one.

'There are humans outside too.' Don thought, remembering what Sister Krone had said.

'Is she on our side...?Are we saved?...'

"Follow me." The hooded figure repeated.

The kids all glanced at each other, sharing a sort of trust in the stranger. However, before they could take a step forward, Gilda gave them a look, indirectly telling them to wait in their place.

"Wait." Gilda spoke, staring at the stranger.

She sent a quick glance to Emma who laid in her arms, and held her tighter.

'No...It can't be...Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but...isn't it a bit too convenient? A woman alone in this terrible forest, coming just for us...and if it's the farm pursuers who found Ray and Y/n, then...she arrived at the same time...' Gilda thought.

"Who are you? What do you want? What are you doing in a place like this?" Gilda interrogated, speaking in a firm voice as her eyes narrowed.

'I have a...a bad feeling about her.'

"Show your face." Gilda commanded, clearly unwilling to trust in the stranger if her demands weren't met.

"Gilda...?" One of the kids looked at her curiously.

Now, they all stood in silence, the kids and Ustinez staring at the hooded figure who hadn't moved an inch for the last few seconds.

But, much to their surprise, the hooded figure gave them a smile, and it sort of made a few shivers run down their spines.

-----

Y/n furrowed his brows as he ran beside Ray, both of them cautiously making their way through the terrain as the pursuers continued to chase after them.

'More of them are coming in. To the right, left, and behind. We're completely surrounded! These are not the same as the ones from before...They waste no movements and show signs of planning. Also, their skills were polished by practice, yet they're not attacking us just because we're 'premium quality', for sure...They want to salvage tonight's shipment and for that, they've no choice but to capture us alive and intact, without even a scratched knee...These bastards are just trying to get us tired. As soon as we stop, we lose. We'll be snatched at that very instant. Premium quality, huh...' Ray mused.