A small traveling cart, pulled by two horses, drudged across the sloppy wet road. Rain poured in thick blankets around them, and the distant rumble of thunder rang through the lonely old path.
Jostled by the bumpy road, a frail, lavender haired girl bounced slightly in her awkward sitting position, perched on a crate of swords forged just the day previous.
"I'm hungry again…" She spoke up timidly, reaching to tap the shoulder of the cart's driver, a bearded, muscular man with brown hair and simple clothing.
"My dear, you just ate, don't you remember?" He turned to face her, showing off his tender smile under a rough face. "You ate back at the Inn… and what a wonderful meal it was," He said with a reminiscent sigh, closing his eyes at the thought of all the steak and breads and assorted wines.
"You know I can't help it… I just get hungry, oh, so hungry…" Whimpered the girl, holding her hands to her chin in an innocent fashion, using her charm to try and win the bearded man over.
"Ilyana my dear, I promise you, we'll stop for another feast as soon as we reach…" He trailed off as the cart gave a huge lurch. He pulled the reins and looked around, bewildered. "Good gracious, what did we hit?"
The cart driver leaped from his seat and landed on the ground with a soft squish. Striking up a lantern, he headed around the side of the cart, while Ilyana stayed in the safe confines of the tarp, pulling her purple hood around her head.
No sooner had she just gotten comfortable, that she heard a muffled yell coming from outside the cart. Giving a sigh, she leapt from the crate, picking up a dusty golden book on the way to the back of the cart
She peeked from the sides of the cart's rear exit, unable to see through the dark.
"Daniel?" She cried for the shopkeeper, squinting for the light of the lantern. "Daniel?"
Small squishing noises like that of footsteps, although too fast for a human's, rang from what felt like right in front of her very nose. But squint as she did, nothing was seen through the pouring rain and the darkness.
She crawled off the cart, slipping on the wet steps and tumbling into the mud.
Ilyana made a noise of disgust, trying to wipe the filth off her short skirt. The skittering sounded again, and she gave a small cry of fear.
A humanoid arm shot past her head, nearly hitting her square in the face. It disappeared from sight just as soon as it appeared. "D… Daniel?" She whimpered again, pushing herself away from the cart.
She screamed again as a deformed human face rose from the darkness, flinging blood as it slowly came closer.
Before she could see it in full view, she held the golden book she had grabbed earlier, her palms shining as they grasped it in front of her.
The book gave a faint glimmer, and suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the apparition in front of her. The monster gave a loud screech and faded from sight once more.
Ilyana sobbed and crawled across the muddy ground, her cape and shirt getting torn by stray branches and rocks. She clawed desperately, attempting to find the cart, her vision blurred by rainwater and fear.
Finally, exhausted from hunger and trauma, she closed her eyes and fell asleep, the book she carried held close to her chest as the night overtook her thoughts.
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