Chapter 10: Into the Depths*

The forest seemed to close in on them as they pushed further away from the village, the air growing colder with each step. Hikaru, Aiko, and the rest of the group moved cautiously, every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves setting their nerves on edge. The revelation from Akane about their classmates still weighed heavily in the air, causing glances to shift uneasily.

Hikaru couldn't shake the gnawing doubt that had taken root in his mind. Haruto—one of their classmates, who they'd assumed was just a coward—was in league with the villagers. The thought sent a chill down his spine. If Akane was right, any of their classmates could be compromised. Could they even trust each other?

Yumi led the group, her face a mask of determination, though Hikaru could see the tension in her posture. Mr. Sato walked behind them, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Akane, still on edge, stuck to the shadows, her grip on her makeshift weapon never loosening.

"So… where exactly is this 'Boundary' supposed to be?" Yuto asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Riku, still pale from his ordeal, pointed ahead. "According to what I overheard, it's deep in the forest. There's a clearing where the trees start to thin, and somewhere beyond that, we'll find it."

"Assuming we can reach it before the villagers catch up," Aiko muttered.

As they trudged on, Hikaru noticed the atmosphere shifting. The trees here were older, their trunks twisted and gnarled as if they'd been shaped by some unnatural force. A thick mist clung to the ground, swirling around their feet like a living entity. The air felt oppressive, heavy with the weight of something ancient and unseen.

"We're getting close," Mr. Sato said quietly, his voice tense. "Stay alert."

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the darkness, causing everyone to freeze in their tracks. Hikaru's heart raced as he scanned the shadows, but he couldn't see anything. It was as if the sound had come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

"What was that?" Aiko whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Akane gripped her stick tighter, her eyes darting around frantically. "It's them," she hissed. "The things that guard the Boundary. The villagers spoke of them—they're not human."

Yumi stepped forward, her hand motioning for everyone to stay close. "Keep moving. Whatever's out there, we can't let it stop us."

The group pressed on, but the growling seemed to follow them, growing louder with each step. Hikaru's pulse quickened. He felt eyes on him, watching from the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Suddenly, a figure burst from the trees—**Haruto**.

He stumbled into view, his clothes torn and his face pale with fear. "Hikaru! Aiko! You have to help me!" he cried, his voice desperate.

Everyone froze. Haruto's appearance felt like a cruel twist of fate. Hikaru's thoughts raced as Akane's warning echoed in his mind. Haruto—one of the traitors. But his panicked expression didn't look like someone who had made a deal with the villagers. He looked like someone running for his life.

"What are you doing here?" Yuto demanded, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Haruto collapsed at their feet, gasping for breath. "I escaped… I didn't want to help them, I swear! They forced me!"

Akane's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her weapon. "Liar! I saw you with them. You were helping the villagers with the ceremony!"

Haruto shook his head frantically. "I didn't have a choice! They threatened me! Please, you have to believe me!"

The group stood in tense silence. Hikaru felt torn—Haruto's fear seemed real, but after everything they had learned, could they afford to trust him?

"We don't have time for this," Yumi snapped, her voice cold. "We're too close to the Boundary. If we don't keep moving, we'll all be caught."

Akane raised her stick, her eyes blazing with anger. "I say we leave him. He's a traitor!"

"No!" Aiko cried, stepping between Haruto and Akane. "We can't just leave him to die! If there's a chance he's telling the truth—"

"Move!" Akane growled, her voice filled with rage. "If we let him live, he'll betray us all!"

Hikaru's heart pounded as the group fractured before his eyes. Aiko, Yumi, Akane—they were all on edge, ready to tear each other apart over Haruto's fate. He had to act fast before the situation spiraled out of control.

"Stop!" Hikaru shouted, stepping forward. "This isn't the time for fighting. We don't know what's waiting for us at the Boundary, and we can't survive if we're divided."

Everyone turned to him, their expressions tense. Hikaru took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice. "If Haruto is telling the truth, we can't abandon him. But we also can't ignore the risk. He comes with us, but we keep a close eye on him."

Akane scowled but didn't argue. Aiko gave Hikaru a grateful nod, while Yumi remained silent, her face unreadable.

Haruto struggled to his feet, tears in his eyes. "Thank you, Hikaru… I swear, I'll prove that I'm not with them."

"We'll see," Yuto muttered under his breath.

As the group moved forward, the oppressive feeling in the air only grew worse. The growling in the shadows continued, louder now, as if whatever lurked in the darkness was closing in.

And then, the forest opened up into a clearing.

At the center of the clearing stood **The Boundary**—a shimmering, translucent wall that stretched impossibly high into the sky. It pulsed with an unnatural light, and the very air around it felt charged with energy. It was like nothing Hikaru had ever seen before.

"This is it," Riku whispered, his voice filled with awe. "The Boundary."

Hikaru stepped closer, his heart pounding in his chest. It looked like a barrier made of light and shadow, something not of this world. How were they supposed to break through it?

Before anyone could speak, a deafening roar echoed through the clearing, and from the shadows, **the guardians** emerged.

They were twisted, monstrous creatures, their bodies made of darkness and bone, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. They moved silently, their long, clawed limbs reaching for the group.

Hikaru's blood turned to ice. These weren't just monsters—they were the embodiment of the village's curse, the things that had been keeping people trapped here for centuries.

"Run!" Yumi shouted, her voice slicing through the terror.

But there was nowhere to run. The Boundary was right in front of them, the monsters closing in from all sides.

"We have to break through it!" Hikaru yelled, turning toward the shimmering wall. "It's our only chance!"

As the monsters descended, the group rushed toward The Boundary, the line between escape and death growing thinner with each passing second.

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