𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒' 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐆 | 𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘵𝘥 𝘹 𝘔.𝘺/𝘯 |

(57) Only When It Comes To You.

"........,"

"(Y/N)...?"

The name lingered in the silence, echoing off the brick walls of the now-empty alley.

My mind whirled with the creature's ominous words, and despite my doubts, a gnawing sense of urgency gripped me.

There was no time to waste.

I had to return to the Guild immediately.

I clutched the bouquet tighter, feeling the delicate petals crumple slightly under my grip.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, the familiar sensation of teleportation washing over me as the world around me shifted.

In an instant, I was back at the Guild.

The comforting, familiar surroundings should have calmed me, but an unsettling silence hung in the air.

Not the kind of silence that always lingers around these parts.

Not the comforting silence I got used to.

No.

I hesitated, taking a moment to steady myself before calling out, "Honey...? I'm home!"

No response.

A knot of anxiety tightened in my chest.

I walked through the hallways, my footsteps echoing off the walls.

"Where is everyone?" I muttered to myself, worry etching into my mind.

My heart pounded louder with each step.

"(Y/N)?" I called again, louder this time, but the only answer was the eerie silence and the distant sound of frantic voices.

Approaching the kitchen, the source of these sounds, the commotion became louder.

Pushing open the door, I was greeted by a chaotic scene.

The children were distressed, their faces pale with fear and confusion.

The room was in disarray, dishes shattered on the floor, and the air was thick with panic.

Alissa was crying, clutching a bloody ragged piece of cloth to her chest.

Laon was trying to maintain some semblance of order, his voice shaky as he gave instructions.

Bun-Bun hopped nervously around them, his usual confidence replaced with anxious energy.

"Children, what happened?" I demanded, my voice cutting through the chaos.

They all turned to me, a mix of relief and desperation in their eyes.

"Master! It's (Y/N)," Laon cried out, his voice trembling. "He's... he's not well. We don't know what to do!"

My heart sank as I pushed past the children, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of (Y/N).

The sight that met me was worse than I could have imagined.

(Y/N) was nowhere to be seen, just a pool of blood and stains along the floor.

Just as if something, or rather someone, was dragged along these tiles.

A dark, slimy substance coated almost everything around, too, adding to the horror.

My eyes followed the gruesome trail that led toward the master bedroom, my heart pounding in my chest.

"What the hell happened here?" I whispered, my voice trembling with dread.