A Key To Another World

Chapter twelve

Hm, strange. The whole village seems to be empty. Not even a single soul is outside. Maybe everyone is asleep, it is the middle of the night after all.

Michael roamed through the silent village looking for the one person he cared about, the white-furred vixen named Zoe.

I wonder what she was up to.

As he walked through the empty paths, Michael had an uncomfortable feeling, a feeling of being watched. He stopped in the middle of the path and turned in all directions to find whoever was spying on him, but couldn't spot anyone.

Hm...

An idea formed in his mind and he took out a red glowing transparent pearl from his pocket, the eye of Kaltraff that the king had given him in the bar two hours ago.

The eye of Kaltraff, eh?

He looked through the pearl and was surprised. Not only was the whole sight completely red and upside down, but this strange object also functioned as a small night vision device. Michael could see what was lurking in every dark corner of the village.

Now, where are you, you spying cunt!?

He held the pearl in front of his right eye and closed the left to get an even better look. He whirled around, looking for whoever was responsible for this uneasy feeling, like a pirate with his binoculars looking for an incoming enemy ship or island. But Michael still could not make out anyone.

Nothing suspicious...

He put the pearl back in his pocket and wandered on to find Zoe. The sound of his boots hitting the gravel was the only thing he could hear. There was no howling wind, no rustling, and no chirping crickets. Michael was confused because the village was in the middle of an endless forest, and yet it was quiet, too quiet.

The feeling of being watched and followed was much stronger now, as if something was behind him. Michael stopped, but the sounds of footsteps did not stop. Someone was definitely behind him. He felt a warm breath on his neck and the frightened boy got goosebumps all over his body.

Michael: "Oooouuuuuuhhhhh HYAA!!!"

Michael spun on his left foot while the other swept high through the air, ready to hit the pursuer behind him in the head, but his right foot hit no target. There was nothing but the cold night air.

FUCK!!!

Michael lost his balance and his back was about to hit the sharp gravel below him. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth to ward off the oncoming pain. But instead of pain, he felt two warm, fluffy arms wrap around him and hold him in place to prevent him from hitting the deadly ground. The next thing he felt was his body pressed against someone else's. It felt fluffy, soft and warm like the summer weather.

Michael: "What the..."

Zoe: "Shh, it's just me."

Michael opened his eyes and saw only her emerald green eyes. They sparkled and Michael could see his shocked face in her reflection. He sighed in relief and hugged her back.

Michael: "Man, you scared the shit out of me, Zoe!"

When Zoe heard that, she couldn't help but giggle. Her little prank had worked pricelessly!

Michael: "For a moment I thought a bounty hunter was after me! I felt like I was being watched and followed, but-"

Zoe: "Shh!"

The snow-white vixen held her paw over his mouth to silence his ramblings.

Zoe: "There's a big festival going on over there and everyone's here. I've been looking all over the village for you so we can go over there.... And, you know, maybe do a little dancing together and get something to eat."