Captured

Ahanlem could hear the crisp rustling of the leaves, somewhere, in the darkness of her mind.

She tried to open her eyes but it felt heavy.

She blinked them a few times until she was able to open them. But the sight before her pupils was still pitch black.

Confused, she rubbed her eyes with her hands a few times but it was still dark all around. Then, she realised it was night time.

She narrowed her beady brown eyes to see clearer and saw there were huge trees all around. These trees towered across the sky, dark and enormous. And the high wind caressed the hundreds and hundreds of leaves atop.

So, that's where the rustling sound came from.

Well, forgot about that, what was she doing here in the first place? And where is Tomba?

Her answer came in the form of the groan right beside her ear.

She whipped her head around instantly to find Tomba leaning on a tree. His expression frowning, as he drowsily squeezed open his eyes.

It wasn't just him though, around them were people groaning heavily, struggling to wake up.

Ahanlem immediately understood.

All of the travellers here were victims of deceit. They had been foolishly drugged while having the feast prepared by the villagers.

How wicked of them!

Ahanlem was not the only one to realise this fact. Some of the travellers cursed aloud,

"THOSE SONS OF BASTARDS! THEY DARE SPAT ON OUR GOODWILL AND TREAT US LIKE THIS!"

"THEY DARE DECEIVED US WITH FOOD AND WINE! HOW CUNNING?!"

"WRETCHED HEARTS! WORST THAN BEASTS!"

And curses filled the silence of the night.

But it wasn't for long because suddenly everyone heard a familiar creepy sound.

Creek creck. Creek creck.

All of them turned briskly to the direction at the same time.

There, right before them, approaching at a steady pace were groups of white bony figures.

They were clad in their dirty rags that barely covered their bony frames; their eye sockets, hollow and empty except for the glowing dots of lights inside. And along with rotting teeth chattering noisily in their skull heads,

the ghost skeletons finally made their appearance again in the dark of the night.

It was a scene straight out of a nightmare.

Immediately, the travellers stood up and they staggered to get away afar. But most of them were frozen by fear at the sight, their bodies shaking terribly so much that they lost their capability to make a run for it.

They could only scream in fright while the ghost skeletons closed in fast like a storm.

Still, many of them managed to scramble away as far away as possible.

Except for two people.

These two men were still sitting on the ground completely rigid and immobile from fright. They could only watch horrified as the creatures approached them.

Soon, a ghost skeleton stood beside the nearest man. It reached out its bony hand and grabbed the man by his hand and pulled him up.

This unlucky man had a thin frame and a bald head. He was shivering so terribly that one can even hear the chattering of his teeth aloud. He was scared speechless, unable to even faint and collapse.

Another ghost skeleton went on to clutch hold of the next man, this time it was the elderly man who spoke that morning. He was muttering prayers fervently, cold sweat dripping out his wrinkled face as he was also being pulled up along by white bony fingers.

Soon enough, all the ghost skeletons came swiftly and started seizing hold of the men, dragging them one after the other.

There seems to be no escape.

But Ahanlem, Tomba and a few who were able to run faster managed to escape by the skin of their teeth and hid behind some thick bushes.

They could only watch as the other screaming men were being hauled by the ghost skeletons to who knows where.

Soon, the panic cries and those unfortunate men disappeared into the shadows of the tall dark trees behind.

After that, the remaining men exchanged worried glances in silence.

What were they suppose to do? What can they do against such evil creatures? Were the thoughts running inside their heads.

After the noises were all gone and dead silence return in the night, Tomba spoke up, "What shall we do now?"

The burly man was also one of them who got away. He replied in an angry tone, "Of course, we are going back to the village to beat those assholes to death!"

Ahanlem sighed, although she understood his rage, how is that any help to the situation?

She cleared her throat and said, "Some of us will have to follow those captured people while the rest have to go to the village to ask for help."

The thin man crouching beside his burly friend interrupted,

"But who among us are willing to go after those sinister ghosts? And besides, I don't think the villagers will help us. After all, we are in this situation now because of them."

Ahanlem was impressed. This thin man cowering beside his brawny friend seems to be the most reasonable even though he looked timid and simple.

She said, "You are right. But we need some people to find out where they were taken too at least. We need to have some clue when we report it the capital."

The burly man said, "That's true. We are all fellow travellers, we have to do something about it. I'll take the lead to look where they are captured. You young men follow me." He added as he pointed to Tomba and four others.

Ahanlem was surprised. She didn't think this man would agree easily to her suggestion. He had a temper and was very impulsive but he also had a righteous character. Quite a dangerous combination, she mused.

Then, turning to his thin friend, the man added, "Ibomcha, take care of our wives."

His friend seemed to be reluctant at the idea at first but he finally nodded. After all, lives were at stake and so little time.

However, the wife came out of her hiding spot and started begging her husband not to go as she cried, "No! It's too dangerous already! Don't go! If anything happens, I can't go on living!"

"I'll come back for sure. I'm only going to find out where they are. I'll stay away from those things. I promise!" The husband assured her.

Although, this was a touching scene, Ahanlem had to intervene.

She cleared her throat again and said, "Ah, anyway then, for the villagers, I'll go convince them. If I fail, we will just bring some things that can be used to defend ourselves. Then, after finding out where they are captured, we will get out of this place as soon as possible. Is that alright?"

"Alright!" they answered in unison.

--

And so, Tomba left with the burly man and four others, towards the direction where the rest of the unlucky travellers disappeared to. While Ahanlem, the thin man, the wives and one other man headed for the village.

Ahanlem and her company struggled to walk through the dark stony path which was only illuminated by the light of the full moon coming through the trees.

As she walked silently, Ahanlem couldn't help musing over things.

Really, if you think about it, it's very strange.

A ferocious tiger appeared in the other road commonly used by the travellers, terrorizing it such that all the travellers had to take the hilly path by the village. But this only available path had to have a village haunted by these terrifying ghost skeletons. What are the odds, really?

Ahanlem had been stuck to this world for a while now without knowing any reason. But still, she didn't expect to come across so many creepy supernatural forces all the damn time!

Seriously, it was all too strange. Is it all just an unfortunate coincidence? Or is there something deliberately causing it? After all, her time travel and ending up in this ancient era wasn't any normal phenomenon to begin with.

She sighed. She dared not think about that. Because thinking about her real world reminds her of her family and friends and everything became depressing. The thought also terrified her.

She shook her head trying to forget about it. She had other thing to worry about.

Particularly, Tomba and the others, how are things faring on their end?

She wasn't trying to be brave or be heroic when she suggested them to do what they were all doing now. It was a spur of the moment thing.

And, um, for the sake of her own peaceful mind.

Well, how will she be feeling fine, while leaving behind those people in the hands of those unspeakable evils for who knows what and where in this godforsaken village.

She doesn't know about others but if she had chosen to turn a blind eye and ran away, she won't be able to sleep for months to come, forever plagued by fear and guilt. Her conscience would torment her.

She was already stressed coming to this place she doesn't need to add more stress on it. So she felt the least she could, everyone should do is to find out the lair of those things, report to the capital and be on their merry way.

Soon enough, they arrived and saw that all the villagers were out of their houses.

These villagers were gathered in a small area in front of the decrepit sangoi. They were armed with wooden sticks, axes and torches in their hands. They were crowded together in a tight circle, their backs turned. They all seemed to be listening intently to someone.

Sure enough, they were surrounded before the chieftain who had a serious face on. And he was speaking in a grave manner to his people.

Ahanlem and the others quickened their pace towards them. They were only a few steps away when one person standing on the last row saw them and screech in shock.

The rest of the crowd followed right after. The chieftain also noticed them finally.

He was wide eyed in panic as he watched the small group of the travellers they had deceived, step forward steadily towards them with displeased expression on their faces.