Ch2 Why?

William was looking woried at such unnatural event, it was probably like trauma to him related to the loss of his Son and wife.

"What happened"

"Neighbours came along with Thomas brother Frank, searching for him. They have asked if we could help"

Grandpa Will camly explained situation but could not hide his own worry.

"Let's help then, he must have fallen asleep on some where along the road with how much he screams in his shop"

Asher tried to reassure his grandpa, by playing a light joke.

"Hmm let's go out,"

Asher looked around his room and gave his grandpa a stick just in case to defend himself. He was not sure if it was dangerous but taking caution was better.

Coming out they saw man people from their neighbourhood with lanterns looking around, Mr Frank was came their way to great William.

"Frank what happened" William asked.

"Sir I don't know 2 hours ago, Thomas just suddenly went out of his room without making any noise, I woke up to get some water and noticed he was not in his room" Frank was worried and looking pale, he was a young man not more 26 years old with average looks, helping his brother run their small shop in village near the central tree.

Asher heard this all from side, not interrupting their talk.

"I will look around his shop then" 'It's weird that some one in middle of night will go out' Asher couldn't help but have such thoughts, unlike nearby city their small village consisting of almost 200 people was backward in a sense.

Looking around Asher soon found the chubby kid, coming out in streets as well, he was looking around as well.

'That guy is not thinking that Meli will come right.' Asher inwardly hoped that kit was not that stupid and went towards him.

"Ah Asher do you know what happened" The boy asked him.

"I know, have you all searched nearby areas" Asher who was still a bit sleepy asked with a yawn.

"Yes almost, we all just arrived after Mr Frank knocked on our doors to ask for help" Kit informed while turning his head to look at Mr Frank who still talking with William.

"I have informed them that we will look at their shop let's go their"

"Alright"

"Do you think" . "No Meli won't come, why will some ask a young girl to come out at night."

Asher abruptly cut kit in middle, making Kit flush.

"Of course I know that silver eyes, I wanted to ask why would you think Mr Thomas is in his store."

With a small chuckle after looking at kit flush faced. Asher answered.

"Well I don't know,I am sure he is just wandering around, I just said it to get a night walk."

Kit shook his head at dejection after Asher useless reply. 'This guy is useless' kit blamed himself for this stupid conversation.

But suddenly, their banter was cut short by a sharp gasp from the crowd. Asher and Kit turned to see what had caused such a disturbance. The villagers had reached the central tree of the village, the heart of their community.

The central tree was a massive, ancient oak that had stood for centuries, its thick branches reaching out like welcoming arms. But tonight, it bore a grim sight. There, hanging lifelessly from one of the lower branches, was a figure wrapped in vines so thick they looked like serpents. The moon cast a pale glow upon the scene, revealing the figure to be none other than Mr. Thomas.

Asher gasped at seeing this scene, it was his first time seeing a dead human being.

"Oh my God, is that Mr. Thomas?" Kit's voice was trembling.

Asher nodded, his throat tight. The vines were indeed wrapped around Thomas' neck, squeezing the life out of him. The sight was gruesome, and it was clear that the villagers hadn't found him in time. The vines looked like they had been there for hours, slowly tightening their grip until the life drained from his body. The leaves rustled eerily in the cool night breeze.

The crowd parted as Frank and William rushed over, their faces a mix of horror and disbelief. Frank's eyes widened, and he let out a gut-wrenching sob as he recognized his brother. William's face contorted into a grimace of pain, his eyes reddening as he took in the tragic sight.

The village chief, an old man named Mr. Baker, approached them with a heavy gait. His voice cracked as he spoke, "We should burn his body soon. If it's a suicide filled with grief, there's a chance he might turn into a ghoul. We can't risk it." The words were harsh, but the sadness etched on his face was undeniable. He had known Thomas and Frank since they were children, and the thought of his spirit being trapped in an eternal cycle of pain was unbearable for everyone present.

As the villagers moved Thomas' lifeless form, carefully removing him from the vines, Asher couldn't help but stare at the purple fingers that stuck out from the coils. The bleeding, broken nails were stark against the moonlit skin. It was clear that Thomas had fought desperately for his life. Asher bit his tongue, unsure if he should voice his observation. It was not the time for questions or speculations that could only add to their grief.

Cried of grief resounded in air, as Frank cried for hours, he has lost his only family his big brother after all. No on has the right to stop him from crying or giving him something else than emotional support.

"How could such tragedy happen so suddenly Mr Thomas was just today morning energeticly working at his shop."

Looking at the process of Pilling woods to soon burn the body of Mr Thomas, Asher looked at Kit who had just commented.

"I- We don't know, but all we can do is pray for his soul to find peace."Asher stutter a bit showing his own self shaken by this sudden turn of events.

"Let's meet a bit later when we incinerate Mr. Thomas, I am Suddenly feeling tired from all this."

Asher was not lying as it was his first witnessing such events, his whole body was shivering and the possibility that this event was not a sucide was even more stressful to him.

Looking at Asher kit slowly nodded and told him to rest. To kit Asher no matter how mature or playfull was still a kid new to everything in world after losing his memories.

Asher slowly walked toward his grandpa who sitting at a chair far from crowd along with village cheif Mr Baker.

"Grandpa will, I have something to say can you ah come here for a moment." Not sure how to address this properly Asher sought advice from his only family.

William gave Mr Baker a glance before coming toward Asher who took him to a corner near a house.

"Grandpa I think Mr Thomas didn't committed sucide, I know its weird but hear me out. His fingers nails they are broken, and turned purple ots clear sign showing struggle. What should we do."

Asher hurriedly explained not giving William chance to interrupt him in middle. Listening To Asher William face paled a little, he knew how extraordinary his grandchild was, with his sharp silver eyes noticing such detail was not out of questions for him.

"I will inform Baker at once don't tell anyone about it now okay, not even to your friends" William swiftly went back toward Mr. Baker.

Feeling relieved Asher sat on ground, sweat flickering from his forehead.

'If granpa inform Mr Baker will be good, I don't think we can stop incinerating Mr Baker and calling for authorities will take days before they arive low level case like this in such rural regions .'

"We also cannot leave his body like this, no priest is here to preserve the body safely .If by any chance Mr Thomas turned into ghoul it will be even bigger problem then a murder case." Ashe ruffled his hair in annoyance at such thoughts.

"My kid thinks Thomas might not have committed sucide" Will sat beside Baker and whispers to him.

"What!" Baker responded in a bit louder voice making him get attention from around. giving a nod to others for reassurance he looked at William.

"Yes you heard correctly. He informed me that, Thomas fingers where bruised and nails broken showing sign of struggle, since it's night right now we have clearly missed it. I checked again before telling you,its true." William told in a bit shaken voice.

"Even if you tell me now,there is nothing we can do right now, Telling Frank will be out of questions that boy has already lost everything giving him more misery is not something even I can do." The cheif gritted his teeth.

"I have told Asher to keep quote about it. He is a smart kid, so he won't spread this news to other."

"We will later investigate it after forming a group tomorrow let's leave it for tonight. It can be dangerous to do anything now at night when whole village is already so shaken" Baker glanced at Asher who sitting far into corner of crowd mumbling something.

"Yes let's do so." William nodded approving such response.

"You took Asher to an awakener medic of you knew right, how did it go." Baker tried to change the topic seeing such terrible silence.

William licked his lips as if his throat dried from fatigue.

"No results, The awakener said there is no case with tamper or injury to his brain. It's as if his body doesn't have any memory ever to begin with"

William has been taking care of Asher for three years now. Treating him like his own kid. He has already lost his wife and son when they were attacked by a creature of beyond ages ago. So he wished to do everything he can for Asher his new family now.