STRANGULATE | Markicest

44 | CONFRONTATION

While Mark poorly recovered in the laboratory the next day, Konray and Ethan headed towards the Tear Stealer's mansion.

    The two of them sat in a sleek, black vehicle, watching as the Evolved City flitted by.

    It had been a while since Konray had stepped foot outside the city, so she watched the buildings pass like an excited child. Her eyes sparkled when they reached Vella, the village, driving past the old, 19th-century-like huts and houses.

    Ethan, on the other hand, wrung his hands together. He was both nervous and infuriated; his friend Mark was involved, after all, and the mere possibility of the Tear Stealer being behind it had his blood boiling.

    Konray looked over at Ethan as the car passed over a rugged bump. Their heads nearly hit the ceiling.

    "Hey," she said softly. "Just let me do all the talking, alright? You just relax and be my bodyguard."

    She softly laughed at that, and Ethan managed a smile, rolling his eyes. He appreciated her trying to cheer him up, but he still couldn't shake the fact that Mark was in danger. Who knows what was happening to him now...

    Maybe he was dead. The thought didn't seem so unsure this time.

    "Alright..." Ethan muttered, gazing out the window.

    The car was slowing now, pulling over next to the thick, dense border of Fanged Elder trees.

    Ethan's brows furrowed. He knew the Tear Stealer's address, but he didn't expect it to be in the middle of nowhere. He glanced over at the driver, raising a brow.

    "You sure this is the place?" he asked.

    "Foot path only," said the driver. He jabbed a thumb towards the forest, and Ethan squinted. "Makes it harder for T.S. to traverse."

Now that he looked closer, he could see a small, worn path. His insides twisted.

    "Oh," he mumbled.

    "Thanks," said Konray, placing a few coins on the elbow rest. She nodded at Ethan and exited the car, and he followed suit. Once they were outside, the car left, leaving in a cloud of dust.

    Ethan gazed down the path, finding only darkness. A wave of dread passed through him.

    "You know," said Konray, pulling him out of his trance, "these trees protect us from human forces, but I've only ever seen them in person once or twice."

    She smiled, looking up at the Fanged Elders. They loomed high above, grey and thick and menacing. There was a beauty to the horror.

    "You ready?" she asked, glancing at Ethan.

    He wrung his hands together, wearily nodding. "Yeah..." he muttered. "You're sure there aren't any... weird creatures in there?"

    Konray smiled, leaning over to ruffle his hair.

    "Positive," she said, walking forward. She pushed back a large clump of leaves, gazing back at Ethan. "Come on."

    Ethan swallowed, then followed after her, shuddering when the thick, sandpaper-like leaves brushed against him. It felt like they were transported into another world once they fully entered the forest. The canopy was thick, and the masses of trees loomed over them menacingly. It was dark for this time of day—too dark. The shadows so thick their eyes took a while to adjust.

    Konray led the way, the items in her bulging pockets clinking loudly. Ethan tried focusing on the sound as a means to distract himself, eyes constantly flitting from the canopy to the black underbrush. The limbs of the trees reached out at them, sharp and glistening with morning dew.