Confirming the Dead – Chapter 3

-Feelings of Betrayal-

Olan looked back at the stables, about fifty feet away. He was explaining the three mercenaries offering to Delita. The Mercenaries were at the stables, fitting their chocobos with armor. Their eyes occasionally looking at Olan and Delita. They looked as if they were discussing something.

"Olan, are you sure we can trust them? I have never seen them in my life. I don't think we should do this, they never even told you their names." Delita stated.

Olan looked at the three mercenaries "They look strong, powerful, and they know what they are doing." Olan said as he turned his head back to Delita. "They are going to help us; we need all the help we can get."

The leader of the mercenaries, Arox, left the other two and walked over to Delita and Olan. "Our chocobos are fitted, we are ready to go."

Olan smiled and nodded to Delita "Alright, we are ready as well, lets head out. Delita, where are we headed?"

Delita headed to his Chocobo. Olan followed. "To the north, I cannot tell you exactly where we are headed, but it is a forbidden area. No man has been to it in many years."

"That's reassuring" Olan said as he mounted his Chocobo. "Well, I guess we have no choice." Olan started riding off down a path to the north. Then stopped at a hill, not even twenty feet away.

Delita and the mercenaries mounted their Chocobos and started to ride toward Olan. "We had all the choices in the world; you are just one stubborn ass."

Together, they all rode on down the northern path. The path would soon enter the Norwood forest. Territory unspoken for many years.

The forest was a dense one; the Chocobos could barely maneuver through the trees. The tree canopies were so dense and packed together, barely any sunlight could pierce the already dark forest. Norwood was once home to many thieves, anyone that would enter the forest would immediately be robbed, killed, or both. About two-hundred years ago, monsters invaded Norwood. Hiding in the bushes for the correct time to strike. When they did, the thieves fought, but didn't have a chance. Those monsters currently control Norwood.

The five men slowly navigated Norwood forest. It was getting dark, and the forest was becoming increasingly hard to navigate. "Let's settle down here for the night, not to far in the forest, away from the monsters." Olan suggested. The group agreed and found a small clearing to set up a camp. They set up a fire and sat in silence, Olan and Delita on one end, the mercenaries were on the other end. The mercenaries were constantly whispering to each other and giving Delita glances.

"I don't like them" Delita whispered to Olan.

"Live with it, they are only here to help us. We need them" Olan replied.

An hour or two passed, Delita slowly watched the fire die out. It was down to embers now. Everyone was asleep. Delita slowly rose and moved away from the fire, he was headed to his Chocobo. "I can't do this, I'm leaving" he said to himself.

Suddenly, Delita felt a large and heavy foot on his chest. The foot easily pushed Delita onto his back. "You don't think you are leaving, do you?" The man said. Delita could see a faint outline of the man from the remaining fire light. His arm was raised, in it, a dagger. The man threw the dagger at Delita, laughing. The Dagger pierced Delita's hand. Delita yelled out in pain. He quickly pulled the dagger out of his hand, and painfully looked back to where the man was standing. The man was gone.

A cloaked figure laughed from the trees above. "Tear Delita apart slowly. Then I will finish Olan quick and easy"