One shot deal

'Maybe I'll be seeing people riding a broomstick and whisking us with some odd power causing us to float or lead us to our death.'

Szeina didn't know what to expect anymore. The longer they were in the unknown place, the more determined she got to confront Granola and Queedor about this.

She wasn't mad, though. She just wanted answers. An explanation of sorts. A summary more like of what she really is, what creatures exist she needed to know and why all of a sudden, all of this happened.

Her life has already been enough of a roller coaster. Did she have to suffer a more odd phenomenon?

"I just want a peaceful, normal life. Ugh." Muttering her frustrations, Yvann couldn't help but overhear.

"Sorry," Szeina apologized, realizing that she voiced her thoughts out loud. The twins still didn't say anything .

Traumatized by the events that took place, Szeina didn't have to wonder. If she was in their shoes, she might as well do the same.

That or they just chose not to speak.

"It's alright. I want that too." Yvann spoke, his eyes going wide as he caught sight of another camp which they were approaching.

Unlike the trippers, this one has decent tents. There was no campfire, but a group of fireflies trapped inside miniature jars hung in succession around the camp. It provided enough light to overpower the dim darkness of the forest.

Enormous trees surrounded the camp. If it ever rains, the leaves would catch the drops first and the excess would be the only ones felt by the people present.

Drizzle.

Only drizzles can pass through the roof of leaves above.

"Do you think phones work around here?" Szeina wondered. She just thought of it as they neared the camp, hiding her uneasiness by distracting her mind about things that can seem ridiculous.

Yvann shrugged. Neither he nor Szeina had their phones with them. At least for him, he remembered leaving it in his car. For Szeina, she didn't seem to have one with her when they were talking.

"Given that we both do not know where here is, I have no answer. Sorry."

Szeina made a face. She knew it was useless to ask. But it's better to be a fool than to pretend to know.

When they entered the camp, more tribal people dressed like Amethyst and Feeliz gathered around them with the addition of their male version. 

Instead of the miniskirt, the male wore pants covered with intricate patterns. They were shirtless for the top, but who was to guess? Tattoos covered their bodies. It was impossible to tell if they were even wearing anything at all.

Tents stood with a small spaces keeping them apart. In the middle of the arching circle, a larger tent sat.

Feeliz turned to the four of them, her eyes fleeting on the large tent before fixing her gaze on Szeina. Amongst the four, she deemed her to be the most troublesome.

"Stay here. I will talk to Hunter first."

Szeina almost rolled her eyes but stopped herself at the last minute. She then caught sight of the man stepping out of the large tent, her attention caught by the intricate mask that covered half of his face.

The fancy pattern inked in gold glinted against the light. His eyes pierced Szeina in place. There was something odd about him which Szeina couldn't figure out.

His gaze fell on her as well, and Szeina felt an instant jolt from her chest. She had to blink, uncertain what just happened.

The man didn't take his gaze away from Szeina, but whether he had the same experience as her, she couldn't tell. The color of his eyes resembled that of the blazing sun, yellow and glowing.

His hair was neatly pulled by a band, a black feather protruding from one side. The outside of his eyes were lined with black charcoal, his skin singing with the color of the trees.

It was like he belonged to the forest.

Szeina watched the man walk towards them, the scene unfolding before her in slow motion.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Her heartbeat had a crazy rhythm. She had to clench her hands into fist having nothing to hold on to help her calm down.

She couldn't even figure out why her nerves were suddenly on edge.

With his yellowish eyes still fixated on Szeina, the man stopped in front of Feeliz.

"Let them go. Release them at once. Keeping them here would bring us trouble. They would never be safe here."

Thunder.

Szeina could compare his deep voice with the booming thunder from the skies. She wanted to ask who this man was. 

She wanted to understand why she was drawn to him.

She wanted answers.

"You're not going to detain them for questioning, Hunter?" Feeliz asked. Apparently, this wasn't the response she expected from Hunter.

"There's no need." Breaking the eye contact with Szeina, Hunter turned towards Feeliz. "Release them at once and have them cross over the veil. They are better off returning to the Academia. This is no place for them to be."

Cold.

Szeina's insides twisted. She was even more uneasy now after hearing the icy tone of the man named Hunter.

"You make it sound like we're nothing but puppets. We're standing right here, you know." Feeliz turned and hissed at Szeina, wanting to silence her.

However, Szeina only glared back towards her. Her oceanic eyes burning through that even Feeliz had to look away.

"I'm done pretending that we're okay with you people treating us like it's our fault that we're here. Believe me, if we had a choice, none of us would be here. We'd happily avoid ever stepping foot in your cursed forest."

Hunter returned his attention to Szeina. He was unfazed by her angst and her glare. On the contrary, it amuses him to learn that she was no damsel in distress, crying and begging them to take her back home.

'She's just like her.' he thought.

"I give you my word, no harm shall befall you and your comrades until we can assure that you are safely returned to where you came from." Hunter voiced out, his eyes still focused on the girl with the blonde hair. 

"And you're right. Avoid at all costs ever stepping into this cursed place. I hope our paths shall not cross again, Szeina."