Deep in the woods
VINCE
Coming to these creepy woods and ancient caves wasn't on my bingo card whatsoever.
But the downtown elder had referred us to come here instead. We're to meet a certain Mr. Ri. He's a sorcerer, and he's supposedly going to give us the answers to our questions.
“I'd never understand why these sorcerers would live in creepy ass places like this.” Luke scoffed, dusting off a greeny, slimy shirt that just clung to his shirt.
It's pointless, actually. Every tree has something icky on it. Every step gets your shoes stuck on something slimy. The endless bellowing of invisible beasts leaves you agitated or worse, terrified.
Like I said, I never imagined I'd be here, in the middle of dark magic. I'd have sworn you'd never find me in such a disgusting path ever.
“Let's just find the cave, talk to the man, and get the fuck out of here,” I grunted in exasperation.
“I'm getting goosebumps from all these incessant, invisible bellowing,” Luke said, staring around in obvious fear.
I grabbed a twig to get it out of my way and it left a yucky lump on my palm.
Fucking hell!
“Here,” Luke handed me his handkerchief. I wiped off the mess and threw the handkerchief with it.
“You know, if you gain those dark powers, you might start living in one of these caves.”
“Not a chance.”
There were numerous caves, almost identical to one another. It's low-key frustrating. Then again, the elder said Ri was written on top of the cave entry of the sorcerer.
Hopefully, we'll get to the cave soon.
“What if my car gets stolen?” Luke asked with an annoyed grunt. He's wiping off another yucky shit.
We left his car in the street, and yeah, it might get stolen. Not many people walk on those streets, anyone who does is certainly not normal. Either a fucking thief or one of these freaks of nature.
To think I'm gonna be a freak of nature soon. And all because one woman refuses to listen. I just hope I don't hate her after everything.
“There, man. Look.”
I looked. There was a long line of men walking on a bridge a far distance away. They were muttering chants and carrying something. Like a…
“Is that a casket?” Luke voiced my thoughts.
“Yeah. Seems like it.” Something about it was instantly clawing at me.
“They're creepy as hell. Can't imagine you'd become like them soon. You know it's not too late to back out, right?”
“Right,” I mumbled back, but my gaze was still fixed on those men. Where are they going?
“Vince,” Luke snapped me out of my thoughts. “Are you going further or do you wanna go back home?”
Go back home after coming this far? He must be out of his mind.
I resumed walking but I found myself glancing at those weirdos. For some reason, I wanted to know what they wanna do with that casket.
We finally saw the cage with Ri written on it. Luke almost had a cardiac arrest at the sight of the shapeless, crawling creature guarding the entry.
I didn't give the same messy reaction as he did. But I'd be lying if I said I'm not disgusted out of my mind.
These people and their darkness can make a man go insane.
“I fear I'm not gonna make it out of these hellish woods in one piece,” Luke mumbled, rubbing his chest to calm his obviously racing heart.
“I fear so too.” Everything freaks him out.
“Vince!” He jumped, at the sudden movement around his feet. Worms.
“Keep that voice down.” I shushed him. He nodded frantically. God, he looks so damn terrified. It's both funny and understandable.
We made our way inside. The path was pitch dark at first until we got to the candles lined up, leading into the deeper part of the cage.
Luke grabbed my hand like a scared toddler. I tried shrugging off his grip but he wouldn't let me.
“Please, man. I'm freaking out like crazy.” He whispered with quivering lips.
“I shouldn't have brought you.” I mean, what's the point? He's been such a drama queen. But then again, it's understandable.
He lives a very sophisticated and comfortable life. He's not used to horrific sights like these.
We got to the center of the cave. It had the arrangements of a room. An ancient room.
“These people are crazy,” Luke whispered.
“They'll cut off your tongue,” I whispered back. Fear engulfed him. His grip on my hand grew tighter. God, I'd laugh if the situation weren't a bit too serious.
“Look who’s here.” The croaky, weak voice startled us from behind. We both spun around.
The miniature figure was clad in an overly sized white coat and grey hair falling to his face. His blank, whitish eyes were boring holes into us. Those eyes are terrifyingly cold.
I tried not to be so obvious about how petrified I am by his stare. Just like I was the first time I met the downtown elder. Until I eventually got comfortable.
But then the elder doesn't emit this much dark and twisted aura as the man in front of me. So I doubt I'm ever gonna get comfy around him.
I fear I'm gonna be on my toes, however long this meeting lasts.
Like a sudden realization, I recalled Miguel's words. He has an ample knowledge of dark magic and he'd briefed me back when we went to see the downtown elder.
He said we should never look them in the eyes. But I just did. He also mentioned we should bow at first sight to them.
Right.
“Uh, greetings.” I bowed. Been so long I fucking bowed to anyone. The last time was the day I got crowned as Alpha. I had to bow to my Father's grave.
Luke wasn’t bowing. I had to pull his head down and make him give a 90-degree bow.
The man huffed past us. He was carrying herbs which he ditched into a basket. My eyes followed his every movement till he sat down. On the damn floor, if I might add.
I remembered this part and chose a very casual outfit. I wasn't about to ruin a designer suit again. The last time at the elder’s residence was more than enough.
“We're not sitting on that floor, are we?” Luke whispered. He was elegantly dressed. The poor guy.
“I'm afraid we are,” I whispered back. God help me, but I just gulped as the man's eyes found me again.
He smiled, showing his ruined dentition. “Have a seat, Alpha Vince.”
I wasn't even about to ask how he knew my name.
I just nodded and tore my hand away from Luke's grip. I sat on the floor, facing the man. There's a very small table between us.
“Could I at least get a chair?” Luke stuttered.
The man laughed. “He's one funny guy, isn't he?” He had a painful accent.
“He’s not trying to be funny. He's uncomfortable.” I replied straightforwardly. “I'm okay sitting on the floor. But can he get a chair?”
He stared a few seconds longer at me. I wasn't one to ever feel fazed by a stare, but those ghostly eyes are something else. I had to break eye contact. I couldn't keep up.
From the corner of my eye, I spotted the man getting up. He disappeared into something that looked like a chamber and returned with a stool.
He handed it to me and I stretched it to Luke. The idiot was gonna say something else.
Not another word. I mind-linked him.
It's an old, wooden stool, man. I've never sat on something like this before.
Sit on it or sit on the floor. Your choice. But not another complaint.
He hesitated and eventually took the stool from me.
I returned my gaze to the sorcerer. I was gonna speak but he beat me to it.
“I know you're here for answers. The question is, how much do you wanna know?”
I straightened, putting on a serious expression. “Everything.”
He chuckled. “Everything? Are you sure?”
“Very.” I didn't need to double-check if he knew exactly what questions I wanted to ask. I think he does. Miguel mentioned they're psychic. So they kinda read minds or something.
“You'll be shocked.” He began fiddling with some brown stones on the table.
“Shocked? Why?”