Chapter 93: Into the Depths

Chapter 93: Into the Depths

The jungle became more ominous with every single additional step that was taken. Greenery and chirping of unknown wildlife were replaced with oppressive stillness; even a twing sound turned to an alarm. Natasha and Alison walked slowly and carefully after the meeting in the abandoned village.

"The Shadow Order suddenly looks important." "I want to know more about this organization." Natasha said it was the first time someone spoke.

Alison nodded. And if they have been observing us, then they would be expecting them to happen. We can't keep walking blind."

The shift of movement attracted the attention of Natasha. She raised her hand to make a signal to Alison to stop filling the container. They both stood still and both started looking at the bushes. A group of individuals came into view from the darkness.

For a moment one might think they were actually people, but they took every step like liquid, with the grace of living shadows. They had sticks—rough and vicious-looking—strapped to their belts, and their eyes were wolf-red.

"More of them," Alison grumbled, clenching the shaft of a small but deadly-looking axe.

Natasha touched the artifact in her pack with her fingers. Its warmth rose faint in response, like it was aware of the danger.

One of the figures got up, a woman with long hair that reached down to her back and blended well with the surrounding darkness. She held a walking stick whose top was made out of obsidian while she looked fiercely into people's eyes.

"You have what belongs to us," the woman said rather coldly and threateningly. "Give it up, and you will die with minimal delay."

Natasha moved slightly ahead of all her group members, raising her sword. That thing you got there doesn't belong to you. It is therefore due to the jungle and to its people."

The woman laughed a sound that was chilling to Natasha's spine. 'The jungle is ours now.' Is quite common after seeing this movie. And soon, so will its power."

The woman lifted her staff, and the darkness near her shifted and contorted. Figures behind her emerged, and they moved with abnormal speed.

Natasha and Alison stood for the hit. Among the four shadowed figures, two of them backed off when Alison swung his axe in a wide arc. Natasha continued to be a precise dancer, her sword cutting another one down. Despite reaching out, the figure turned out to be a mist of some sort upon touching it.

"They're not invincible!" She shouted, then swiftly jerked aside to avoid a blow from another.

A woman stood and watched the fight, her staff surrounded by a black aura on its surface. She raised it once more, and strings of fog swooped and grabbed Natasha by an ankle each—bringing her down to the ground.

"Natasha!" Alison yelled; she quickly stood up and went to her side.

Just before he could get to her, the woman moved in front of him, and he saw that her staff was charged. In one blow, she swung her arm in a circular motion, and a blast of energy hit Alison, causing her to be pushed back onto a tree.

Natasha turned and fought against the shadows, which were restraining her. The artifact in her pack was getting hot, and the reddish light was transpiring through the material. Swallowing hard and panting like a sick animal, she stretched out her hand towards it, the material being almost too hot to even touch.

The moment she touched it with her fingers, the spotlight and everyone went off as if a bomb had exploded. The shadows that clung to her evaporated, and the woman recoiled, cupping her face.

Natasha was standing with what can only be said to be an illuminated artifact or what have you in her possession. It felt alive. Yes, the energy that it possessed did envelop her. This she held towards the woman who looked very angry at her.

"This isn't over," the woman hissed before turning to her backup with the two unidentified men by her side. "You cannot escape us."

The jungle fell still again when they went away.

Alison moaned and got up on his feet. "You okay?"

To her dismay, Natasha slowly nodded, her hands shaking while she returned the artifact to her pack. "We need answers. Now."

Alison dusted himself off. Then in that case, we look for someone who can give it to us."The Shadow Order isn't just some group of raiders. They are not something else and sure as hell aren't something modern."

Natasha looked around at the jungle, its power slowly coming back to life. There we have to go to the center of the right woods. If there is anyone who would be privy to the true facts of this object and the Shadow Order, it will be the elders of that place."

Alison hesitated. I don't like that proposition at all, Nat; that's way too risky; that's something that takes you right into the unknown. There was never a time that people from the neighboring villages also went there saying, "Even the villagers don't go there."

"We don't have a choice," Natasha said firmly, for it was her that spoke the truth. Eventually, if we remain here, they will continue to come."The Heart is the only place where we might stand a chance of knowing our enemy."

Alison nodded reluctantly. "Then we'd better move fast. Which means that the longer the society waits, the more powerful they become.

Inebriated with the newfound purpose, they forged further into the jungle. The path to follow was dangerous; the bushes were very dense. However, the heaps of pressure did not affect Natasha, who remained very determined.

As they strolled, she pondered the words the woman said to her.

"You cannot escape us."

They were to be hunted down by the Shadow Order. However, let me not let Natasha sit back and let the day pass without getting into an argument with her aunt. She was ready to stand for the artifact and the people of the jungle and the jungle itself.