Void (The Youngest, Book 3.B.)

Chapter 二十二

Down below the surface of the old camp, Lydia was stuck looking into Stiles' face as Void finally broke eye contact and looked up. He felt the presence of Noshiko close by. She was here, and most likely had all her Oni with her. As he gazed up, Lydia's breathing started to settle a bit as she noticed his distracted demeanor.

Kylie stood off to the side, her small hands still clutched around her teddy bear, her eyes darting back and forth between Void and Lydia, uncertainty reflected in her gaze. She sensed something was changing in the air, a tension building, and she felt a pull—Void's influence urging her to stay put, while a flicker of something else, something more innocent, made her hesitate.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" Lydia said, her voice cutting through the thick silence. She kept her eyes firmly on Void, seeing how his attention drifted upward, how his posture seemed to tense. "You know they're coming." It was nightfall. The Oni would be active, hunting for him now. Lydia took a step forward, sensing an opportunity. "You know they're going to kill you," she said mockingly, her voice holding a hint of challenge.

Kylie's eyes widened at Lydia's words, and she instinctively moved closer to Void, almost as if to shield him, her tiny form trembling slightly. She glanced at Lydia, her expression conflicted.

Void's head snapped back down, his eyes narrowing at Lydia, and he moved his hand quickly, trapping Lydia right in front of him against the wall of the tunnel. He leaned in closer, his gaze boring into hers, his voice a low, confident growl. "That's exactly why I'm keeping you so close."

Kylie moved closer, her eyes shifting from Void to Lydia, her small hands still wrapped around her bear. Her posture was protective, almost mirroring Void's, as if she was determined to keep Lydia from harming him. Lydia swallowed, her eyes darting briefly to Kylie, seeing the torn expression on the child's face. Lydia's heart ached seeing her—the innocence mixed with an unnatural loyalty to the darkness that controlled her.

"Kylie, sweetheart," Lydia said softly, trying to reach the real child hidden beneath. "You don't have to do this. You can come to me. It's not too late."

Kylie's expression wavered, her eyes flickering with something—doubt, maybe a recognition of the warmth in Lydia's voice. She took a small, hesitant step forward, her eyes locking onto Lydia's.

But Void shifted, his presence looming over Kylie, his voice dropping into a whisper, as if coaxing her back to his side. "Stay with me, Kylie. We're not done here, are we?" he said, his voice dripping with charm and menace. Kylie stopped, her little feet shuffling back a step, her eyes downcast.

Lydia could see it—the pull of Void's influence, the struggle in the child. And it made her even more determined. She wouldn't give up, not on Kylie, not on Stiles, and not against the Nogitsune.

Void smiled, seeing the hope flicker in Lydia's eyes as if it was something fragile he could shatter at will. He reached his hand out, running his fingers along Kylie's hair gently. "We have so much more to do, don't we, Kylie?" he said, his tone almost sweet, yet it sent chills down Lydia's spine.

Kylie looked up at him, her small eyes locking onto Void's with that same adoration and obedience that Lydia had seen before. Void's gaze was unwavering, and for a moment, Lydia feared they might be too late.

It was a few minutes later that the pack reached the gates of Oak Creek, finding Allison and Kira already there, waiting. Scott, Isaac, and Stiles climbed out of the Jeep and joined them at the front gate. Everyone's faces bore the same tension—nervous, scared, yet resolute. They knew they had to do this to save their friends.

"We've done this before, guys," Scott said, trying to keep his voice steady, though a mix of fear and hope coursed through him. "A couple of weeks ago, we were standing around just like this, and we saved Malia, remember? She was a total stranger. This is Lydia and Kylie."