Cryptic Asunder [Ver. 3 outdated]

21: A New Friend

Chapter Twenty-one: A new Friend

"There's a holin outside."

My eyes widen to the realization of danger.

Haru slips her hand away from my mouth and sneaks her way to the window so she can peek through to see what lies within the clear night.

I thought those things only hung around Zemfen? This is really bad, I hope there's only one. I've never seen a holin before, but I've heard rumors of them. People from Zemfen have come to Kai village before and told us about the terror that they can bring. From what I know concerning those monsters, it sounds like their sole purpose is to destroy humans. They move like shadows in the night and have a deafening screech. Red glowing eyes that dig deep into one's soul and razor-sharp teeth that can easily rip a limb off. I can only imagine what they look like in person. I peer around the room for the others as my vision slowly adjusts to the darkness. A familiar cackling echoes from outside and I carefully move my way to the opened window with Haru. My heart stops at the sight of a misty shadow that sluggishly walks past us not too far off. It looks exactly like those things that I encountered at Erekin during the fire! Wait, is that what a holin looks like? Did I actually fight a band of those monsters!?

The crackling moan coming from the creature almost sounds human. The mist of blackness trails behind its human-like body as it slowly puts one foot in front of the other.

My heart beats erratically and my palms feel slick from my own sweat.

I actually fought a holin.

The thing advances down the path within the village as we stare at its backside. So, I guess we just wait until it's gone then.

Haru pulls back from the window and lets her back rest on the wall near it.

I take this chance to do the same and query what's on my mind at the moment, "Haru, where are the others, and why isn't Mueimma making a scene out of this?"

She glances at me and replies, "They're supposed to be patrolling around the hotel and trying to hunt down the holins by surprise. Not sure what's up with Mueimma, though."

"You mean there's more of them?" I'm trying to not be too loud.

"They usually travel in groups. I'm here to keep you safe."

I'm not that helpless, I can still handle myself. I wonder if this is the same group from before and they've come back for vengeance or something. The fog doesn't lessen the creepy ambiance any, though, but I think I can at least ward off one holin if it decides to come after me. This better be a test from Vensen, I feel like he's watching us, and that's how it usually turns out now. Suddenly, the sound of someone crying fills my ears. Is that coming from within the building? My posterior gets up from the wooden floor and I crawl my way over to the noise on my hands and knees.

Haru calls out to me in a whisper, "What are you doing?"

"Don't you hear that? Someone is crying," I reply quietly while staring back at her. "The holins can hear it." I stand up and before I make it to the door she reaches over my shoulder to hand me my dagger.

"You'll need this then."

"Thanks." I grab the new leathered sheath firmly.

"And me as well," she puts in bluntly.

"Good idea." It sucks how we have to whisper everything since it's difficult to see in the dark for body language. Haru follows behind me as we go on towards the noise. Strange, it's almost like I can actually see. I mean, I can see, or sense the outline of the objects as I slowly walk down the hall towards the sniveling sound at least. I'm surprised at the fact that none of the holins outside are showing any interest by trying to get in so far... Maybe it's a trap-no, I don't think I've heard of a holin setting one up like this before. They like to hunt, not lure. The sobbing is getting louder, which means we're getting closer. I turn the corner and hear it coming from one of the rooms. Is everyone staying hidden; I sure hope so. I look back to Haru for her approval, then we both creep closer. I peek around the open door-frame and see a little girl covering her face with her hands as she keeps tearing up. My feet advance towards her quietly.