Chapter 55 The Hunt and the Ambush

Chapter 55 The Hunt and the Ambush


"Woah!" Aurora shouted. "I can't believe I beat you in a contest that you came up with." She nudged Arnold, who was carrying two large deer over his shoulders. They were walking down toward the foot of the mountain. It had only taken them twenty minutes to hunt; the animals on the island weren't very elusive, and there were so many that they caught some immediately.

In truth, they had caught dinner at the exact same time, but it just so happened that her catch was larger, making her the winner.

"Alright, alright, you beat me. How do you want this deer cooked, my dear princess?"

"You’re asking as if you actually have a pot. Naturally, all this meat is destined for the grill."

"Have you forgotten that people used to live on this island? The ghouls who lived here ate cooked meat."

"So?" She arched an eyebrow at him. "I don't get what you’re trying to say."

"It means there are pots hidden around here."

She laughed loudly. "Didn't you say that was hundreds of years ago?" He nodded. "Then the utensils you’re bragging about are probably gone by now."

"Want to bet? If you lose, you do the cooking."

"You’re really trying to trick me? No way. I’m ready to sleep soundly tonight since I have a guard. Just walk faster so I can eat."

"What if we just build a new fire right here?"

"It’s up to you." She scanned the area. To their left, there was a path leading somewhere. "Wait. I’ll look for a place for us to settle."

"Don't bother." He pointed toward the path she had seen. "Past those woods, there’s a clearing and an open space. You’ll love the spectacular view there."

"Why?"

"It’s a secret. So, do you agree to set up camp there?"

Intrigued by the place he pointed out, she agreed.

They walked through the dense woods, and Aurora could hear the night insects and the birds that fed after dark. She saw an owl in a tree, hopping from branch to branch. It felt like she was in a fantasy movie because every tree they passed was filled with fireflies.

"This place is magical..." she exclaimed.

"Wait until you see the open area."

She stopped asking what was there so she wouldn't ruin the excitement.

"What kind of trees are these, Arnold?"

"Dalakit. Aside from the Talisay tree, fireflies are also drawn to the Dalakit. Mortals believe this plant is where the fairies live."

"Do they?"

"I don't know. I’ve never seen a fairy before."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"When Aliyah was still alive, why didn't you ask for her help to avenge your ancestors?"

The man turned to her. "Like you, Aliyah already had so much on her mind. Why would I add to it?"

"Wasn't she a Wiccan? Like Ryuk, she had the ability to see the future or the past. Didn't she offer to help you?"

"She did, but I didn't want to taint her goodness with evil, Aurora. As much as possible, she didn't want to kill unless the situation absolutely demanded it. She protects."

"In your estimation, if you fought the Tirong, what are your chances of defeating them?"

"None. But I still want to try."

"Why?"

"Because if we never take a chance, we will never win."

"You have a point. But gambling on the impossible is suicide, Arnold. You know that, right?"

"Hmm. Aurora?"

"Yes?"

"When we were at Agta Beach, you were saying something but didn't finish. What was it again?"

"Just forget about it, Arnold."

"I know Aliyah was violated before she passed, so you don't have to worry about me. I wasn't born yesterday; I could see it on her body."

"I'm sorry for what I said."

"It's okay."

A deafening silence fell between them after the conversation about Aliyah. It was awkward.

When they emerged from the woods, she saw that the place was indeed beautiful!

A vast, seemingly endless stretch of Bermuda grass covered the ground, while millions of stars filled the sky. To her left was a bed of various flowers.

"This place is amazing, Arnold!"

"Of course. This is our place, so it has to be right. It’s a good place to live, especially if you have someone with you, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. So, where should we settle?"

"Over by that tree." Arnold gestured with his chin toward a large tree glowing with fireflies.

"I'm hungry, so let's get over there quickly." Just as she had done before, she grabbed Arnold and teleported to the tree he indicated. "I'll start the fire, you handle the deer." She coughed, having choked slightly.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Don't worry."

When she finished her task, she climbed the tree and sat on a wide branch. From her spot, the stars seemed even closer. The atmosphere was so light that she felt at peace. While watching the stars, she didn't realize she had fallen asleep.

"Aurora, wake up, princess..." a voice said to her. The man's voice was gentle, but she couldn't remember who it belonged to. "You have to wake up now, princess..."

"Baby, wake up. Please wake up. Follow me and you can find the path." This time, she heard a woman’s voice. Like the man’s, it sounded familiar, but she couldn't place the owners of the voices calling and waking her. "I want you to open your eyes, Baby, and follow me. Your father needs you, Baby, that's why you have to wake up, okay?"

"Aurora!" Along with that shout, something grabbed her leg, jolting her awake. "Aurora!"

"Arnold, why? Are you done cooking?" She jumped down from the branch and looked for their food. "Where's my meat?"

"Be quiet." He pulled her hand, and they hid behind the tree. She didn't know why they were hiding.

"What is it?" she asked loudly, so he covered her mouth with his hands. "What’s happening?"

"Look!" From the woods they had just come through, many creatures emerged—the same kind that had pulled her into the water. "Those are the Tirong, Aurora!"

"What are we going to do?!" she whispered urgently. "Why are there so many of them?"

"That’s how they are when they attack, Aurora. They come in swarms."

How could she tell her companion she was terrified?

"How will we face them?" She tried not to stutter so he wouldn't notice her nervousness. What was happening to her?

"Escape, Aurora." When she looked at him, his rust-colored eyes were glowing.

"What? Why just me? What about you?"

"I'll give you time to escape, Hybrid. I’ll fight them until you get away."

She grabbed his arm. "No. We're both leaving, Arnold. We’re not splitting up because we’re stronger together," she insisted.

As she glanced at the more than two hundred Tirong, they were looking around and sniffing. They were hunting them, she was sure of it.

"Leave, Aurora! If you’re stubborn, we both die right now!" He stood up and pulled her up with him. "Go! Go to that place over there—it’s an old volcano, hide there! They won't be able to smell you because of the lingering scent of sulfur." He grabbed her waist and pulled her close. What he did next was unexpected—Arnold kissed her, and she was even more shocked that she kissed him back. Before she could lose herself in the feeling, he broke the kiss. He held her shoulders and lifted her. "Be careful. Goodbye," he said before throwing her with great force.

When her feet hit the ground, she ran fast. She needed to get away; that was all she knew. She ran and ran, but when she heard Arnold scream, she stopped.

When she looked back, he was being carried by a Tirong.

"A-Arnold..." she whispered before drawing her sword and teleporting back toward him. He was being carried like a hog!

She swung her sword, and anyone hit by the blade instantly lost a limb or had their head roll away. She was nearing Arnold when someone grabbed her arm and pulled. She kicked the owner of that hand so hard he flew back, taking others with him.

"ARNOLD!!!" she screamed as the creatures tore the man’s limbs from his body. Blood sprayed from his torso.

She tried to take another step, but something bit her hand and leg. She unleashed the wolf within her, knowing it could match the strength of the Tirong. As the wolf took over, she began slamming into everyone who touched her. She used her left hand to punch those in her way while her right hand swung the sword.

She screamed when something bit her arm and ripped out a chunk of flesh. "Son of a bitch!" she cursed, spinning around with her sword extended. Anyone who approached was cut down. Once she gained enough distance, she teleported to the volcano Arnold had mentioned. When she opened her eyes, she was inside the extinct volcano.

She tore her clothes and tied them around her arm where the wound continued to bleed.

"What do I do now?" she asked herself, feeling the weight of her loneliness. She sat down, hugged her knees, and cried. "D-damn it! I-I couldn't even protect Arnold!" She felt a deep regret for leaving him. She should have ignored him when he told her to go, or they should have escaped together.

She remembered the tattoo on her fist that Arnold had given her. She wanted to erase it, but she hesitated and ultimately left it there.

Everything was happening so fast. She wanted to call out a name, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. She lay on the ground and waited for whatever would happen next.

"You can't die here, Aurora," she whispered to herself. There was no one to help her but herself; she had to be strong if she didn't want to die on this island.

She sat up again when she felt a wave of intense dizziness. She felt nauseous and tried to stand up to vomit elsewhere, but she didn't make it and vomited right where she lay. At the same time, the wound from the Tirong began to throb with pain.

"Aurora..." She heard the voice again, and it felt like magic. The intense pain in her wound vanished.

"H-help..." she said in a raspy voice. She began to crawl, looking for water. She closed her eyes as her headache intensified. When she opened them, all hope of survival vanished—the Tirong were right in front of her, ready to close in and devour her.