chapter: Unknown Creature

The cold morning air bit into Lennox's skin as he stood in line with the other boys from the village. His stomach churned, a mix of fear and exhaustion twisting into a tight knot. Around him, the villagers, mostly elders and women watched in silence, their faces lined with worry. Some wept quietly, others simply looked resigned.

The soldiers, clad in the green and yellow of Westmoor, paced before the group of conscripts. Their boots crunched against the frosted ground, their expressions as hard as the steel swords at their sides.

Lennox glanced around. There were five boys in total, all around his age. He recognized most of them, farmhands and shepherds he'd grown up with. But one face was missing.

Where's Cael?

He shifted uneasily, his eyes scanning the crowd. Cael's absence gnawed at him. They had spoken just yesterday, their plans of adventure interrupted by the Baron's call. Cael had promised to be there.

A soldier strode forward, holding something wrapped in a tattered cloth. With a sneer, he stepped in front of the boys and hurled the bundle to the ground.

It hit the dirt with a sickening thud, unraveling to reveal a severed hand.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the gathered villagers. Lennox froze, his eyes locked on the object. His breath caught in his throat as he noticed the bracelet still fastened to the wrist, a simple leather band with a small, carved stone.

Cael's bracelet.

His mind raced, a storm of disbelief and horror. That bracelet had been a gift, something Cael never removed. It was unmistakable.

"This," the soldier barked, his voice cutting through the stunned silence, "is what happens to cowards who try to flee the Baron's call."

Lennox's legs felt weak, his vision blurring as rage and sorrow warred within him. The boy next to him swayed, and Lennox reached out to steady him, though he himself was on the verge of collapse.

The soldier leaned down, inspecting the hand with a grim smirk before muttering under his breath, "Next time I see that little bastard, I'll finish the job."

The words struck Lennox like a bolt of lightning. His heart pounded, and a spark of hope flared amidst his grief. Cael's alive.

Despite the loss, his friend had escaped. Cael had survived, though at a terrible cost. Lennox clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

The soldier straightened, turning to address the boys again. "Remember this. You serve the Baron now. There's no running, no hiding. Disobey, and your punishment will be worse."

Lennox swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain composed. He couldn't afford to show weakness or anger, not here, not now. But inside, a fire burned.

As the soldiers barked orders and began herding the boys toward a waiting cart, Lennox silently vowed to himself.

I'll find you, Cael. No matter what it takes.

The cart rattled to life, pulling away from the village as the conscripts were taken toward the Baron's keep. Lennox sat stiffly, his thoughts consumed by anger and determination. Around him, the other boys sat in silence, their faces pale with fear.

As the village disappeared from view, Lennox glanced at the frost-covered trees lining the road. Somewhere out there, Cael was fighting to survive. And now, so was Lennox.

The cart jolted to a sudden stop, nearly throwing Lennox off his seat. He grabbed the wooden edge, his heart skipping a beat as the horses whinnied and reared, their cries filled with terror. The soldiers shouted commands, their voices tense and sharp, but the horse refused to calm.

"What's happening?" one of the boys whispered, his voice trembling.

Lennox's pulse quickened. He craned his neck, trying to see what had caused the commotion. Ahead, the road was blocked by several figures emerging from the shadows of the forest.

They were clad in black, their faces obscured by hoods. Their movements were unnervingly calm, each step deliberate, as though they feared nothing. The Baron's soldiers, dressed in their green and yellow, scrambled to form a defensive line, swords and spears drawn.

"Stand your ground!" barked the captain, his voice wavering despite his command.

But as the black-clad figures drew closer, the tension thickened like a suffocating fog. Lennox's eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of their pale faces under the hoods.

The fight began abruptly.

It wasn't a battle, it was a massacre. The black-clad figures moved with inhuman speed and precision, their blades slicing through the Baron's soldiers as if they were paper. Screams filled the air, mingling with the wet sounds of steel meeting flesh. The boys in the cart cowered, their faces pale, too frightened even to cry out.

Lennox pressed himself against the back of the cart, his breath shallow. His mind screamed at him to run, but his body refused to move. All he could do was watch as the soldiers, so fierce and commanding just moments ago, fell one by one.

And then, silence.

The forest seemed to hold its breath. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves and the distant caw of a crow. Lennox dared to lift his head, his heart hammering in his chest.

One of the black-clad figures stepped forward, his movements unnervingly smooth. He was taller than the others, and as he pulled back his hood, Lennox's blood turned to cold.

The creature standing before them was no man. Its skin was deathly white, stretched tight over angular bones. Its eyes were pure black, void of any whites or pupils, as if they were portals to some unfathomable darkness. When it opened its mouth, sharp, jagged teeth gleamed in the faint light, and a long, serpentine tongue flicked out, tasting the air.

The creature tilted its head, its gaze sweeping over the terrified boys in the cart. It said something in a guttural, alien tongue, the words grating and harsh like metal scraping against stone. Lennox couldn't understand, but the tone sent chills racing down his spine.

The creature stepped closer, its eyes locking onto Lennox. It was as though it could see straight through him, peeling back his flesh and peering into his soul.

Lennox wanted to scream, to run, but he was paralyzed. The creature's hand shot out with unnatural speed, its clawed fingers striking Lennox's head. Pain exploded behind his eyes, and the world spun.

The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the creature's jagged smile, its tongue flicking out as though savoring its victory.