THE SEVEN

pt.5

Xena stood up, after being released from the demon Envy's hold. The demon had left the area for the moment, after the demon Greed came and spoke to him. Whit no immediate threats around, Xena and Gabrielle needed to figure out how they were going to stop these powerful demons.

GABRIELLE
What are we going to do now?

XENA
Don't know yet. But we need to go and start looking for those demons.

GABRIELLE
What do you plan on doing when we find them? Clearly just straight up fighting them isn't going to work.

XENA
I'm working on it. Either way staying here won't accomplish anything. Come on we need to stop them before people get hurt.

With that Xena and Gabrielle left the spa in search of the Sin Demons. They made their way to a nearby village. As they were passing through, Xena and Gabrielle couldn't help but notice that the people there seemed to be acting strangely. Everyone was either sitting around or lazily walking around not really doing anything. They all seemed almost zombie like in their moments.

GABRIELLE
What's wrong with them?

XENA
I have an idea. Pretty sure there's an unwanted visitor around here.

GABRIELLE
One of those sin demons.

XENA
Exactly. And from the looks of these people I'd say we're dealing with Sloth.

GABRIELLE
Well that doesn't seem too bad. I mean if it's a lazy demon, how much trouble can it be. We should be able to take this one out easily.

XENA
Maybe. But who knows what tricks it might have up its sleeve. You saw what Envy did. And look at these people. We still have to be careful. Don't let your guard down.

GABRIELLE
Right.

Xena and Gabrielle began searching for the Sloth demon. They asked the locals if they had seen anything odd recently. They knew just out right asking about demons wasn't a good idea. That would either make them sound crazy or cause a panic amung the villagers. Neither option was a very good one. So they needed to be more discrete with their mission. Even if it made finding the demons more difficult.

XENA
It'll be quicker if we split up and look around. Call me if you find anything. If not meet me back here in about an hour. This village isn't that big so that should be more than enough time for us to search it.

GABRIELLE
Got it.

Xena and Gabrielle split up and searched the village for the demon. Xena walked around for a while, but couldn't see any sign of Sloth.

XENA
(Thinking to herself)) Maybe it moved on already. It's possible that the affects of the demons influence linger even after they leave. Maybe Gabrielle found something.

Xena headed back to the center of the village. She waited for a bit for Gabrielle to return.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) It's been over an hour. Gabrielle should be back by now.

Xena looked around her for Gabrielle, but didn't see any sign of her.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) Something's not right.

Concerned, Xena walked off in the direction that Gabrielle had gone in search of the demon. Xena called out for her, but got no response.

XENA
Where is she?

Xena kept looking. Becoming increasingly worried the longer she couldn't find Gabrielle. Finally she just began yelling for her.

XENA
Gabrielle! Where are you?! If you can hear me say something!