Chapter 7: Strangers in the Dark*

The group's breath came in ragged gasps as they ran through the twisting forest path, the sound of the villagers' pursuit fading but still unnervingly close. Mr. Sato led them deeper into the woods, but it was clear that exhaustion was setting in. The forest seemed to stretch on endlessly, and the moonlight barely penetrated the thick canopy of trees.

"We can't keep this pace forever," Aiko panted, stumbling over a root. Hikaru caught her arm, steadying her.

"We don't have a choice," Yumi said sharply, her eyes scanning the dark forest. "If they catch us…"

Before she could finish, a sudden sound—a sharp crack—rang out through the trees. The group froze, holding their breath. Was it the villagers? Or something else?

They crouched low, hiding behind a large tree as the sound of footsteps approached. Hikaru tensed, gripping a nearby branch like a makeshift weapon, but as the figure emerged from the shadows, he realized it wasn't one of the villagers.

It was **Yuto Takeda**.

The class troublemaker, known for his reckless attitude, was limping, his clothes torn and his face pale. He looked disoriented and panicked, as though he had been running for hours.

"Yuto!" Aiko whispered. "What are you doing out here?"

Yuto's eyes widened as he recognized them. "You… you guys… you're alive?" His voice was shaky, as though he had expected to find them dead.

"We could ask you the same thing," Yumi said, stepping forward. "What happened to you?"

Yuto leaned heavily against a tree, catching his breath. "I got separated when the villagers attacked the inn. I tried to run, but… I got lost. They were chasing me, and I thought I was done for." His voice wavered, and for the first time, Hikaru saw the fear in his eyes.

"Did you see anyone else?" Hikaru asked urgently. "Any other students?"

Yuto shook his head, his expression grim. "No. Just me. But… I heard screams. I think they caught some of the others."

A heavy silence fell over the group as they processed his words. The thought of their classmates being captured by the villagers made the situation even more desperate.

"We need to keep moving," Mr. Sato said, breaking the silence. "If we stay here, they'll find us. There's a safe clearing not far from here where we can rest, but we need to be quiet."

Reluctantly, the group nodded and followed Mr. Sato once more, Yuto limping along beside them. As they walked, Hikaru couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The forest was too quiet. There were no animal sounds, no rustling of leaves—just the eerie silence, as though the forest itself was holding its breath.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the clearing. The space was small and surrounded by dense trees, but it offered some semblance of safety. The group collapsed onto the ground, too tired to speak for a moment.

"We'll rest here for a bit," Mr. Sato said softly, his voice strained. "But we can't stay long. The villagers will be looking for us, and we're not far enough yet."

Yuto sat down heavily, wincing as he inspected his injured leg. Aiko knelt beside him, frowning. "You're hurt. We should try to bandage it."

"It's nothing," Yuto muttered, but his face told a different story. The fear and pain were clear in his eyes.

As Aiko and Yuto spoke in hushed tones, Yumi pulled Hikaru aside. "Something's wrong," she whispered. "This place… it doesn't feel right."

Hikaru nodded, his mind racing. "I've been feeling it too. Ever since we entered the forest, it's like… we're being watched."

Yumi's expression darkened. "We need to find the others. If Yuto got separated, the rest of the class could be anywhere. We can't just leave them behind."

Hikaru hesitated. "But we can't go back to the village. Not after what we've seen."

"I know," Yumi said softly. "But we can't abandon them either. We need to find a way to help them."

Before Hikaru could respond, a rustling sound came from the far edge of the clearing. The group tensed, their eyes locked on the darkness beyond the trees.

From the shadows emerged **Mei Hoshino**, one of the quietest students in the class. Her face was pale, and her clothes were torn, but she looked relatively unharmed.

"Mei!" Aiko gasped, rushing over to her. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Mei didn't answer immediately. She glanced nervously at the group, her eyes wide with fear. "I… I saw something," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Something in the village. They're preparing another ceremony."

Yumi frowned. "What kind of ceremony?"

Mei hesitated, clearly shaken by whatever she had witnessed. "They're going to… offer someone. I think it's one of our classmates. I saw them being taken to the shrine in the center of the village."

The air in the clearing seemed to freeze. Hikaru felt a wave of dread wash over him. "Who was it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mei shook her head. "I don't know. I couldn't see. But… we have to stop them."

A heavy silence settled over the group as the weight of Mei's words sank in. The villagers weren't just planning another ritual—they were actively preparing to sacrifice one of their own classmates.

"We can't just sit here," Aiko said firmly, her eyes blazing with determination. "We have to do something."

Hikaru looked at Yumi, his mind racing. "Do we go back? Or do we try to find the hidden path?"

Yumi's face was set with resolve. "We can't leave them behind. We need to go back and save whoever's been taken."

Mr. Sato, standing at the edge of the clearing, nodded slowly. "It's dangerous, but I agree. If they're preparing a ceremony, they'll be distracted. It might be our only chance to rescue them."

Hikaru took a deep breath, feeling the gravity of the decision before them. The forest was treacherous, the villagers even more so. But they couldn't leave their classmates to face the horrors of the village alone.

"We'll go back," he said, his voice steady. "We'll save them."

------