The Hooded Samurai

Chapter 2: Inforestation [Part 4]

"Well, Peterson? Speak!"

I crossed my arms after I had sheathed my sword and I stared at him intently.

"I-I'm only here to help you! I promise..." He was shaking on the ground while looking at me with fear in his eyes.

I sighed and gestured for him to stand up. Damn, can't believe he's actually scared. Well, duh, I have a katana, but I'm not good at combat... Can't let him know that.

He stood up and we both faced each other in awkward silence. Then he spoke once again, "Well, my house is just around the corner...or, rather, the next couple of trees."

"Huh? For real?" I turned to my right and noticed the path was unblocked

"Since when...Ok, I can't even be surprised at this point." I motioned for him to lead the way, and he complied.

Like he said, we arrived at a small hut after passing a few trees. We entered it, and to my surprise, it had two floors.

"Gosh...what a nice place you got. Did you build it yourself or something?"

"Yeah...What else am I gonna do? Conjure up the undead and make them my slaves?"

I shook my head and kneeled on the floor in front of the fireplace.

"How long have I been in this forest...?"

"It depends. When did you arrive? It's the fifth day of the week, by the way."

He handed me a cup of hot cocoa and I cautiously took it. I slowly nodded and examined the cup.

"How the heck do you know that? I might've been here for days now. I can't remember." I then set aside my suspicions and drank the hot cocoa.

"Hm...So it seems. That must mean that you have no more food left?"

I nodded.

"Ok then. How would you like some bacon and eggs?"

——————————————————

"Hey there Wafflez~!" Kat smiled as she waved at me.

I gasped and waved back, "Kat! Hey!"

I ran towards her, but she ran behind a wall. I approached it and peeked around the corner, where everything suddenly got dark. I then saw a dark beam shoot up from the ground, and it let out a purple mist that covered the entire village that surrounded me.

Horrifying creatures began to climb over the wall, some even breaking through. I panicked and reached for my katana, but I didn't have it. My heart dropped.

I watched in fear and dread as everyone in the village was being attacked, and I stood still as one of them ran towards me.

——————————————————

I jolted up and tried catching my breath. I was sweating profusely and I couldn't stop shaking. I looked around and sighed in relief as I realized that I was back at Peterson's hut.

"What...was that...?" I muttered to myself as I held my head to comprehend the nightmare that I just had.

"I-it was just...just a nightmare...no biggie..." I chuckled and laid back down to fall back asleep.

——————————————————

I walked out of the hut to meet Peterson.

"Woah! Someone looks...exotic..."

I groaned like a zombie and lazily waved my hand.

"Couldn't sleep."

It's still dark and foggy. Damn this forest. I yawned and stretched to wake up a bit, but I was still tired.

"So, do you know anything about 'gifts' and 'knowledge'?"

He seemed to be surprised, since he suddenly stopped working on his small garden.

"That...I figured that's how you ended up on this path. I really need to take down those signs."

"Huh? You mean they're expired?"

"No, not at all. It's just...People end up getting themselves killed or stuck in this forest, since they think that simply leaving is a 'coward' thing to do."

Dammit...I should've taken the coward's way out.

"I try warning them, but no one ever listens. You're the only one who was willing to even stay at my hut. Thanks for that, by the way. I rarely get visitors." He smiled.

Not to be rude or anything...but I could kinda see why people wouldn't wanna stay with a humanoid rabbit that has a creepy smile... I just stayed silent and nodded with a smile.

He stood up and asked me to follow him after he grabbed a backpack with a knife.

"There are some dangerous things out here. Take it from me, I've seen em' at a distance. You do not wanna get up close an personal with them."

I took him at his word and just followed him.

——————————————————

Emily was standing next to a tree, facing away from me. I stared at her, puzzled, but happy to see her. I cautiously walked up to her, trying to make sure that there weren't any monsters nearby. I looked behind me for a quick second, but when I turned back, she was gone.

"Uh...Em...?"

Just then, I heard a growl behind me. Oh, not this crap again. I turned around and didn't notice anything.

"Alright, look, this won't fool me. I'm supposed to be scared of a goofy growl, then I look, and nothing is there. Then a cute and innocent creature pops up and tries to bite my face off. This is getting old."

I shrugged and turned back around to walk behind the tree. The grass around me got darker and my shadow seemed to dissapear. I looked up and saw dark gray clouds covering the entire sky.

"What the...?"

Lightning then struck a few feet away from me. Something that kept sparking with fire and electricity stared at me, and I stared back.

"Ok, cool entrance and all, but when's the part where you try to kill me?"

I unsheathe my sword and aim at the creature. The katana snapped in half.

"WAIT NO, THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!"

[Lesson: Never be proud]

It teleported nearer to me with flashes of lightning, and it stopped. Then even more horrific creatures started to jump from behind the mountain. It seemed like an entire army heading out for battle, and they trampled or burned anything in their way.

——————————————————

I jolted up and unsheathed my katana in a state of panic as I heard the same sound of an army marching through this forest that I was trapped in.

"Peterson? Where are you?! Dammit, don't tell me..."
——————————————————

I don't think this one was that good. Felt a bit slower today (basically tonight) my bad 😣