A hollow mid autumn night

Part 2

A gem in ruins

Audrey paused so abruptly, almost seized from heart attack, she turned around, but spotted no shape of any actual figure. Confused and panicked inside, she hesitantly speak: " I..s...is anyone...here? "

" No one should be around here, especially kids like you. "

Glancing at the deepest side of the dark, a face slowly revealed itself, the eyes glowed abnormally that's seemingly appear as a pair of pearls floating in the middle of the night, flying closer towards the small figure standing in stunned; suddenly, two gems were gone and uncovered the original form of an old woman. But the first impression tells Audrey that this woman is far from a normal one, like someone who possesses a magical superiority of immortal as truth. Feeling more light-weighted and relieved, but still full of suspense, she stared at the old lady for a while before she nervously speak up: " Who...who are you? "

As expected from the look on her face, the lady responded unpausedly:

" No one for the matter, and what are you doing here anyway kid, it's almost midnight, you're not supposed to hang around anywhere like this place, even by yourself, you could get lost and even kidnapped. " - The lady said, seemingly bothered and somewhat concerned.

" Oh, don't worry, I'm actually with my friends, but we're playing hide 'n seek and I have to go find them, I didn't think they rolled on the game that hard. Anyway, I gotta go find them now, and what about you, why are you still here, it's so dark in here, you're not afraid of what you just told me? "

The lady gave a brief and slight streak of smile and said:

" I am the master of danger, dear, I own this place for long ago, it's my duty to keep an eye on the unwanted visitors who would intendedly intrude the space. "

" But, don't you have like a house or anything? " - Audrey genuinely asked her

"This is where I live, it's my house." The lady said: "It's the only place I want to thrive and survive."

"I don't get it, what happened to- "

"Audrey, here you are, what took you so long to find us, we're all getting tired already."

Her question was cut off before she could even finish it, she turned around with a little jump in her stomach.

" Guys, how did you find me here, and where have you been hiding? "

" Well, about that " - Yui said - " Before hiding, we're been discussing which spot we're gonna dip in, for easier exchange so we could spy on you to see well you play, and we thought you gave up so, we managed to follow you the whole time and found you here. "

" Oh right, I appreciate your energy so much. " - Audrey playfully made a sarcastic remark in a "of course you did" voice.

Then Alexa said: "So, who's that Audrey? I just saw you talking to her", she made a curious look, the three girls are in sync with giving their attention to the old lady.

" Oh, just a stranger I met when I got to this alley, and..I assume you did follow here as well." - She grind, then she speak more quietly - " It's kinda strange but she just told me that she's the master of the danger which she said is imprinted in this place. "

"Woah, that's bizarre."

" I know right, I was going to ask her what happen, then you guys appeared. "

" Should we go talk to her, now I'm curious too. " - Yui said, and Alexa nodded

" Yeah, same with me." - Kayla said