The Midnight: Dark Horizon

Chapter 3: Departure to Willbury Woods

    Sebastian fell to the ground, along with the chair with a loud 'crash', separating the wooden seat into numerous parts, "What?! Are you sure?"

     "I'm dead sure. I was hesitant to tell as it could have changed your mind about going into the woods. Also, are you okay?" Nia asked as the echoes of plates came from her side.

     "Yeah-" He groaned, standing up with a minor soreness on his side, "- I'm fine." The pieces had separated into its individual sections, realizing that the rope that held it together snapped. "Still, this doesn't change my mind about going and I don't assume Camila will reconsider either."

     "Thank you, Sebastian, it means a lot. Have you mentioned to your mom we are leaving today?"

     "I will in a moment, thanks for the reminder." Sebastian kicked one of the legs on the floor.

     He returned to the table after his call to finish up his breakfast, not forgetting to inform her mom about the arrangement. She wasn't particularly elated because of news from before, but she understood the situation. Subsequently, Sebastian contacted Camila to recite what Nia told him. She learned that a merchant was assassinated since her dad received the report earlier, but shocked her to find out it was that same person. As Sebastian expected, she too wasn't backpedaling from the plan as she mentioned the guards had it under control.

     After collecting the items he acquired a day prior along with his bokken, Sebastian continued to the living room to bid farewell to his mom and sister. He spotted his mother sitting on their small couch, staring at her transmitter as if she were awaiting a call. Sebastian placed his leather pack down on the floor near the front door.

     "Are you okay, mom?" He asked apprehensively, sitting next to her.

     Jennifer snapped out of her daze as she heard his voice, "Yeah, it's just your father hasn't called for a while, I'm starting to get worried."

     He hugged her mom, "It's going to be alright. Maybe he's just busy and hasn't the time to call, or -" Sebastian considered for a second, feeling a slight tightness in his chest as he imagined other scenarios. Realizing it'd be best not to share them, he thought of something else to give her hope, "- or he drank too much the night before! You know he loves his tequila!" He laughed nervously, disguising his fear as best he could.

     "Yeah, you're right." Jennifer wiped a tear on her cheek. "I'm going to have a word with him when he gets back for making me this worried, como se atreve?!"

     It was better this way. If his mom were to freak out about the possibilities, it wouldn't be beneficial for her health. With that, he departed for the village center where the three of them agreed to meet. Passing through the streets now during the day, he remembered the night before when he saw the shadowy figures. Could they just be here to wipe out the seller because of what he knew? Do they know that the Aquino family knows of the herb and are they in jeopardy as well? These questions persisted in Sebastian's head until he reached the center.

     Neither of the two hadn't arrived yet, so he took a moment to rest on the fountain's edge. As normal, the crowds here remained doing their everyday routines, but he felt a dread in his heart. Was everyone safe here in the village? Murder here was certainly unusual because households didn't have any grievances or hated each other. Instead, everyone acted like family. Maybe the culprits weren't from the village and...

     "Yo, hello to Sebastian!" Nia smacked the side of his head, causing her undone hair to swing.

     "W-What?!" As he held his head from the impact, he glanced up to acknowledge both Nia and Camila standing in front of him with their bags next to them. "When did you two get here?"