Escape

A small group of people began to gather together who had the same goal of wishing to escape the village.

Most of them were those within the Pro Bombyx faction, others were family members of the anti Bombyx faction who had been scared by their families actions or the threat of death if they betrayed the Bombyx family.

Although they would be held guilty by association they believed that if they put some distance between them then the Bombyx family may be lenient with them if they survive and regain order within the village.

A woman stood in the crowd within her families barn and asked. "Now that everyone has gathered… tell me your families position within this conflict and the reasons why you are looking to join us to escape the village."

A young lady raised her hand. "My family had sided with the village head but ever since he killed his family, my father has begun to sit reading a book within our home but the more he read the stranger his eyes became. The way he looked towards me and my mother had changed which really scared us, he looked at us as if we are no longer human beings but something else. We became terrified at his change of attitude and sensing his dark intentions towards us we decided to come here to gain a place of shelter or escape."

Another more mature woman lifted her hand. "I'm a young widower. I remained neutral and was sticking to myself but lately there are a few men who used to bring up the idea of me getting married once more. They only raised the topic a couple of times before giving up but lately the men involved in the village heads faction have changed and become more forceful with their approach. I am worried what they might do once they gain more confidence… plus some of them have been acting strangely lately. Some of the families have had some of their family members not show up within the village and I am becoming worried that they have begun to do the same as the village head did. I just want to be safe from all of this chaos."

A young boy around 10 years old raised his hand with tears and anger in his eyes. "I saw someone dumping a body in one of their wooden sheds not too long ago. I told my father but he told me to keep it to myself but when I went to investigate I found out that the body belonged to my neighbours daughter. We were originally close and our families had talks about us getting married when we grow up, when I told my father he just hid in his house and told me not to go outside. I am scared but I want to be safe, my dad cannot protect me against those people."

Every person had similar stories about the increase of violence among the villagers and the increase of missing people.

Most of their goals were to escape or form a group in order to better defend themselves.

The woman who spoke up first listened to their stories and then stood in front of them to get their attention. "The best option we have right now is to escape the village while we can. There may be a risk of those with the village head being mixed in with us but we don't really have any choice but to watch each other and not allow anyone to go off alone. We will hide here for now until dark and escape during the night so it is easier to get away."

The group of people began to look at each other with some vigilance but sat within the barn quietly until the night came.

During the night within the village, the moonlight lightly shone on the wooden barn as the door was pushed open.

The group of people snuck out of the barn and headed towards one of the gates to exit the village.

The gate was quickly unlocked and the gate opened, they all walked out of the village one at a time cautiously keeping a lookout for anyone on lookout within the village or from outside.

Once they grew closer the trees and entered the outer parts of the forest a snap was heard as one of the group stepped on a branch.

The woman who took the lead turned and signalled everyone to be more careful but suddenly a man within the group began to run away from the group yelling. "They are here! They are escaping."

Chaos suddenly spread among the group upon finding out that there was a traitor among them.

The woman quickly tried to regain control of everyone. "Quiet everyone. If we do not panic then we can still escape so follow quickly. You can also go to another place on your own or even go back to the village but do not drag the group down."

Some hesitated to follow so a few of them did not follow and went off on their own while the rest had followed the woman.

They all continued along the way and soon followed screams of those who were left behind within the forest.

The screams died down and then the sounds of footsteps began to grow closer and more hurried.

The group was quickly cut off by a group of 15 men and women dressed in dark red robes. "Don't move another step."

The group began to close in on the escaping villagers with their weapons pointed at them, they circled around them and cut off their path to escape.

The woman who lead the villagers revealed a look unlike the others who were filled with fear.

She smiled and took out a wooden flute from her clothes and blew it, a light and soft tune began to play among the forest.

The group of men and women from the blood sect revealed confusion on their faces upon witnessing her actions and then suddenly a whistling in the wind was heard among the music.

An arrow flew through the air and hit one of the men in the chest.