Into The Forest

Chapter 5 | Warning

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They walked silently in the forest. Deep, deeper yet deeper they went into it. Yume looked up at him while holding her bat and her other hand gripping Haruo's black coat. 'Why did he letting me hold his coat? Did something bad will happen?' she thought and stopped walking when Haruo stopped and looked at the path beyond them.

"Two paths. This is rare." Yume uttered and rubbed her chin. Haruo grabbed his cloth and release his breath shakily. "Urgh.. Not good. So cold." he whispered and looked at Yume. "T-take it!" She shoved his coat at him and looked away. Haruo held his coat tightly and patted his chest. "N-no no. This is different." his whole body froze when he saw something in front of them.

The creature moved towards them and stopped. It plastered an evil smile and said, "Well well~ Look what we have here~ A lovely couple walking in the forest~" it let out a short giggle and looked at Yume. Haruo stepped forward, to block its view from staring at Yume. Yume shivered at her spot when finally can figure out its form.

It looked like a woman with a long, black hair and almost her whole body was covered with thorny vines. Her eyes and lips were bloody red. The woman's skin was as white as sheet. "Is it another meal of yours~? Can I share with you tonight, Haruo~?" She asked gently and licked her upper lips.

"No, She's not." Haruo gripped his cloth and closed his eyes. "Feeling the chills, darling~? Eheeehh~ Don't you dare say that SHE is yours alone.. I want to eat too~" She pouted and crossed her arms. "H-Haruo.." Yume called out for him then grabbed the back of his cloth. Haruo looked over his shoulder and whispered, "Run."

"I S I T Y O U R D I N N E R T I M E?" She asked and stared at them. Her grin spread widely and approach towards them. "RUN!" Haruo pushed Yume back. Yume moved a bit backwards and saw a long, thorny vines pierced his body. Yume fell to the ground, trembling in fear. The blood came out of his body, dripping on the ground.

Haruo held the thorny vines and tried to pull it out, but another vines stroke his legs, causing him to kneel on the ground. "Argh!" He groaned in pain. He forced himself to take out the vines but in vain. His sight became blurry, as every ounce of his strength faded.

"Ufufu~ I have two meals tonight~" the woman covered her mouth and giggled. "H-ha--" Yume's eyes widen. She froze at her spot. 'Is he--' She paused when she could see a slight movement from him. "Run Now!" Haruo yelled, without looking at Yume. The woman grabbed his head and slammed it on the ground. "AREN'T YOU GONNA FOLLOW HIS ORDER~?" She asked playfully, while placing her left foot on his body.

The thorny vines wrapped around his body, causing a lot of blood came out. Yume looked at Haruo then at the woman. 'I'm sorry, Haruo.' Yume stood dashed to the left path. Her tears rolled down her cheeks. 'Is he dead? He would not die easily, right? I don't want to be alone.' she thought and ran as fast as lightning.

'This path. Why is it getting eerier than the other path that we took?' Her mind screamed, as she saw a lot of bones and dead trees. 'Is my eyes playing with me? Ha-haruo.' She stopped to take some air and held her knees. She looked in front and saw some floating flames which were she thought, the spirits.

Some creepy creatures that were folktale also there, in front of her eyes. "I-I have to run." she demanded and kept on running, passing through them.

"H-hey!"

"Watch where you running, missy!"

"Please don't step on mahh pet!"

Some creatures grunted and continued with their work. It was like a night market, filled with spirits and mystical creatures. "I don't care! I want to run away from here." At the end of the market, she tripped and suddenly fell to the ground. She held her foot and winched at the slight pain she felt.

"N-no no. Not now. She'll catch up to me if.." Yume paused when felt the slight cold behind her. "IF WHAT~?" The woman stared down at Yume and smiled evilly. "My.. that looks PAINFUL." She giggled and covered her mouth. "You shouldn't be afraid. You'll be reunited with him, soon~" she added and showed Haruo's black coat which was stained with blood.

Yume's eyes widened when saw the woman held Haruo's coat. The woman dropped it on the ground and stomped on it. She grinned evilly and looked at Yume. Yume trembled at her spot. She tried to stand, but she felt the slight pain on her leg.

The woman giggled evilly and said, "Say hello to Iesada Haruo for me, little human~" The long, thorny vines stretched out and flew towards Yume. She gasped and closed her eyes.