Chapter 8: Into the Lion’s Den*

The decision had been made, but doubt hung heavy in the air. The forest seemed to hum with an unseen energy as the group gathered themselves for the return journey, tension visible in every face. They were walking back into the heart of danger, risking everything to rescue one of their own.

"We have to be smart about this," Yumi said, addressing the group in a low, steady voice. "We can't just rush in and hope for the best. The villagers will be guarding the shrine. We'll need a distraction."

Hikaru nodded, his mind racing with the possibilities. "Yuto and I can create a diversion, draw some of them away. While they're distracted, the rest of you can sneak in and find the captured student."

Mr. Sato frowned, clearly worried about splitting up the group. "That's risky. If you're caught, we might lose the element of surprise."

"We don't have much of a choice," Yuto said, his voice tense but resolute. "If we all try to sneak in together, we'll get spotted for sure."

Aiko stood close to Hikaru, her expression one of quiet determination. "Just be careful. We don't know how many villagers we're dealing with."

Mei, still shaken from what she had witnessed, clutched her arms tightly around herself. "The shrine is heavily guarded," she murmured. "But I think there's a back entrance. I saw some villagers taking supplies there earlier. It's not watched as closely."

Yumi's eyes sharpened with interest. "That could be our way in. If we can reach the back entrance, we might have a chance."

The plan was quickly formed: Hikaru and Yuto would create a distraction by drawing some of the villagers away from the shrine. Meanwhile, Yumi, Aiko, and Mr. Sato would use the back entrance to sneak into the shrine and rescue their classmate.

With the plan set, the group began to move. The walk back toward the village felt heavier with every step. The darkness of the forest clung to them like a living thing, and every distant sound made them flinch. The closer they got to the village, the thicker the tension became.

As they approached the edge of the village, Hikaru's heart pounded in his chest. The shrine stood tall in the distance, its silhouette barely visible in the moonlight. Villagers moved about, some preparing for the coming ritual, others standing watch near the shrine's entrance.

"This is it," Yumi whispered, her voice barely audible. "Everyone knows their role."

Hikaru and Yuto exchanged a glance, then quietly crept toward the outskirts of the village. The plan was simple: make enough noise to draw the villagers' attention without getting caught.

Once they were close enough, Yuto grabbed a rock and threw it hard against a nearby wooden shed, causing it to rattle loudly. The sound echoed through the village, and sure enough, several villagers turned their heads, startled by the noise.

"Go!" Hikaru whispered, and the two boys sprinted deeper into the village, making as much noise as they could. They knocked over barrels, threw more rocks, and ducked into the shadows whenever a villager got too close.

It worked. Several villagers broke off from the shrine to investigate the disturbance, leaving the path to the back entrance less guarded.

Back at the edge of the village, Yumi motioned to Aiko and Mr. Sato. "This is our chance. Let's move."

The three of them slipped quietly through the shadows, their hearts racing as they made their way toward the shrine. The path Mei had described was narrow and partially hidden behind a row of small, abandoned huts. As they reached the back entrance of the shrine, they found it just as Mei had said—unguarded.

Yumi pressed her ear against the wooden door, listening for any signs of movement inside. "I don't hear anyone," she whispered. "Let's go."

With a deep breath, she pushed open the door, and they slipped inside.

The interior of the shrine was dimly lit by flickering torches. The air was thick with the smell of incense, and strange symbols were carved into the walls. A sense of foreboding washed over them as they moved deeper into the shrine, their footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor.

As they turned a corner, they came face to face with the scene Mei had described. In the center of the room stood a large stone altar, surrounded by eerie statues of strange, twisted figures. And lying on the altar, bound and gagged, was **Riku**, the class president.

Aiko gasped, rushing toward him. "Riku!"

Riku's eyes widened in shock as he saw them, his muffled cries for help barely audible through the gag. Yumi quickly untied him, her hands shaking as she worked.

"What did they do to you?" Aiko asked as soon as the gag was removed.

Riku's face was pale, his voice hoarse. "They're going to… sacrifice me," he croaked. "You have to get me out of here. They'll be back any moment."

Yumi nodded, her face set with determination. "We're not leaving you behind."

But before they could move, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the shrine. The villagers were returning.

"Hide!" Mr. Sato hissed, pulling the group toward the shadows behind the altar. They pressed themselves against the wall, barely breathing as the footsteps drew closer.

The door creaked open, and two villagers entered the room, their eyes scanning the altar. They frowned as they saw the ropes hanging loose and the altar empty.

"They've escaped!" one of the villagers shouted, turning to leave. "Find them!"

As the villagers rushed out of the shrine, Yumi let out a quiet breath of relief. "That was too close," she whispered.

"We need to get out of here," Aiko said urgently. "Now."

With Riku now free, the group moved quickly, slipping out through the back entrance and into the night. They raced through the village, keeping to the shadows as they headed for the forest.

But just as they thought they were in the clear, a loud shout rang out behind them. One of the villagers had spotted them.

"They're here! After them!"

Panic surged through the group as they sprinted for the safety of the forest. The sound of the villagers' footsteps grew louder behind them, their voices filled with anger.

Hikaru and Yuto, hearing the commotion, emerged from their hiding spot, running to meet the group.

"What happened?!" Hikaru shouted as they ran.

"They found us!" Yumi gasped, her breath coming in short bursts. "We need to get to the forest, now!"

The group ran as fast as they could, but the villagers were gaining on them. Hikaru's mind raced, searching for a way out. They couldn't outrun them forever.

Just when it seemed like the villagers were about to catch up, a loud crack echoed through the trees, followed by a scream.

Hikaru looked back and saw one of the villagers lying on the ground, clutching his leg. He had stepped into a trap—a hunting snare hidden in the forest.

"Keep going!" Yumi urged. "We're almost there!"

The group pushed forward, the forest now within reach. As they plunged into the trees, the sounds of the villagers faded behind them, their shouts growing more distant.

Finally, they stopped, gasping for air as they collapsed onto the forest floor. They had escaped—for now.

But the danger was far from over.

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