Red in the Night Sky (Splatoon fanfiction)

Chapter 7

The Shadowling approached the girls slowly. She examined each of them, like a predator examining her prey. "What are you three doing out here at these hours," she said and smiled. "It's dangerous for three little innocent girls like you to be out here, especially at these times."

She stared at them like she wanted them to reply. "You have such a pretty smile," she said and pointed her sword at Atte. The blade was thin, long, and extremely sharp. Its veins of red ink flowed down it. "So bright, so innocent," she continued. "It would be a shame if something so pretty would be ruined."

She looked down. "What a pretty necklace," she said and moved the blade down to Atte's chest. "Two fishes made of flint, dancing around each other. What a beautiful jewel. Where did you get it?"

She looked up at Atte, who whimpered and tried to back away. "I asked you, where did you get it," the Shadowling said and put the tip of her blade to Atte's chest, pressing it against her. Tears started to flow down Atte's chin and she looked down at the blade. "I would hate to ruin that smile, but I won't ask again. Where did you get it?"

She pressed the sword harder and Atte started to cry. "M- m- my mom got it for my bi- bi- birthday," Atte sobbed. The Shadowling smirked and removed the blade from Atte's chest. "A pretty necklace for a pretty girl," she said. Then she looked around and met Ferra's gaze. "You, however," she continued and turned to her, pointing the sword at her face. "You doubt my existence. You think I'm just a silly folktale and laugh when people mention me."

The Shadowling opened her mouth and said in Ferra's voice: "And if I have to be honest, I don't think it exists. Just a folktale that people came up with because they're too stupid to find a logical explanation for all the things that are happening. Like, if you think about it, the fact that there is a killer out there, who's not an Inkling or an Octoling is ridiculous."

The Shadowling closed her mouth, looked at Ferra with hungry eyes, and slowly moved closer. Ferra whimpered and closed her eyes. "Do you believe in me now," the Shadowling whispered and pressed the tip of her sword to Ferra's chin. "Do you want to feel how real I am?"

She slowly started to move her blade across Ferra's skin, forming a tiny cut on her chin. When the tip was only inches away from Ferra's mouth, she stopped. The girls held their breaths, dreading the moment she would slice. 

But nothing happened. They looked up and saw that the Shadowling looked like she was listening for something. Her eyes stared at the floor and she flexed her ears, hearing something they did not. Then she looked up at them and smiled. "You're lucky," she said and removed the blade from Ferra's face. "It appears we have guests. I'm going to greet them since it's rude to keep your guests waiting."

She stood up and looked at them. "You three are going to sit here and pretend you don't exist. You won't make a sound and you won't attempt to escape. If you do those things, I'll be really angry when I get back. And the angrier I am, the more painful your deaths will be. Understood?"

She looked at them, waiting for an answer. The girls didn't move and stayed silent, staring at the floor. The Shadowling smiled. "Such sweet girls. Always so polite."

She turned and walked to the door. The girls looked up just in time for her to slam the door behind her and turn the lock. There were no windows in the room and the door was big and sturdy. They were trapped.