Shadow hearts
A novelisation
By Lucia Widdop
Chapter 3 - Hostility over hospitality
I woke up face first in a pile of crumbly dirt.
It took me a minute to realise where I was at first but then out of the corner of my eye I saw Alice kneeling beside me hands clasped as if praying… Jesus how long had I been out?
Not wanting to worry her and feeling kinda awkward I stood up trying not to show how light headed I was feeling.
I looked around taking in my surroundings trying to convince my mind that I was no longer trapped in that awful graveyard.
Rocks, pile of burnt wood, soft smoke emitting from the cold embers of the past fire…
"So…he's back…" I muttered to myself.
Alice looked at me creases of worry etched into her youthful face.
Great if she hadn't thought I was psycho before now she definitely would.
"Are you all right? You were having a nightmare…Mumbling about masks…And 'Malice.'" she asked.
Yeah thanks for that as if I needed reminding.
A mental image of the four masks appeared in the periphery of my mind.
Gloating…
No! I couldn't think about them for now I needed to focus!
Like I was gonna spill my life out to her anyway.
"…None of your business. My head's really starting to hurt. That's all." I replied curtly.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
"Only two or three minutes since I found you but you seemed in such pain." she replied.
Oh great here we go was if she even thought of going all Christian on me…
I'd lost faith in God.
What kind of God leaves a young child orphaned alone after watching his mother killed?
A cruel god. God was cruel. What did she know about pain and misery?
Nothing that was my bet.
I decided to play it cool keep my emotions in check I was reluctant to let her in.
I barely knew her and even if she did grow to trust me how could I tell her what a freak I'd become?
"Nothin' to worry about. I always have nightmares. Ever since I was a kid." I answered half truthful.
She just looked at me like she wanted to believe me but couldn't…
"…C'mon let's go." I said.
After walking back the way we came the river that had originally been uncross able now was filled in with rocks creating a small bridge.
I jumped across no sweat but Alice seemed pretty hesitant.
It wasn't that deep or anything please tell me she wasn't worried about getting dirty!
I smirked which seemed to piss her off because she kind of skipped across chin stuck out as if to say 'So there!'
The funny thing was I had no idea where I was going.
This seemed the only viable route though so I continued despite feeling uneasy.
Where was the god damn voice when I needed it?
As if something somewhere had felt my unease I noticed some lights switch on and realised me and Alice had stumbled across a village!
"Hey! Look at those lights it's a town!" I said to Alice happily.
She looked really anxious now remaining silent when I turned to her.
Were all women this hard to please really?I was just glad I didn't have another face full of dirt to look forward to!
"Why the long face? We'll have food, and a bed to rest on!" I exclaimed.
I took a few steps forward falling to my knees as the mysterious voice entered my head again.
FUUUUUUUCK!
"…Be careful… … of .y… … man-eat.r's tr.p…wai.s you…"it mumbled.
Guar what?
I tried to catch my breath before muttering "It's… gone…?" surprised that the voice hadn't plagued my head with a million other things I'd done wrong.
"ARRRRRRGH! Leave me alone! Damn you! Leave me ALONE!
I'm not a damn marionette, you hear me?" I yelled.
Alice moved behind me sounding incredibly nervous.
"Um Yuri…That voice." she started.
I whipped round still raging that it had invaded my head againand I was seriously not in the mood for Alice's sweet, innocent, pitying bullshit.
"Yeah what about it!" I snarled.
"I heard it, too…" she finished quietly.
I paused shocked.
She… heard the…voice?
But how was that possible if it was in my head? Did this mean part of her power was like… mine?
"Really?" I asked hopefully.
She nodded composed as ever.
"Yes. I don't think it means us any harm. I didn't sense anything… evil about it." she replied.
It was interesting that she used the word 'sense.'
So dad was right she really did have this strong, weird power.
Even if she didn't have the same power as me it was almost… relieving that I wasn't alone with the weird shit.
" I think… It feels like it just wants to tell us something." she said.
I remained quiet trying to think of something witty to say in response but my curiosity got the better of me.
"…Oh yeah?" I asked.
This time she was the one to blow me off.
"Let's head to the village." she replied then she walked forwards towards the gates.
That Alice. She hears the voice but it doesn't bother her. Why?
I looked at her realising she wasn't waiting.
"Hey, wait up don't leave me here!" I called.
She waited and I caught up to her walking together we reached the village.
It seemed strangely cut off surrounded by a huge wooden fence which looked impossible to climb, the entrance marked buy the heavy, iron gates locked tight.
At each side of the gates were wooden torches each burning with a large orange flame.
I turned to Alice grateful we'd made it one piece.
"We're here. Looks like we'll be able to get food and a place to rest." I said.
I had a little money that I'd saved although I was hoping the villagers would show some hospitality.
Alice turned away from me warily eying up the large gates, she seemed off ever since she heard the voice was I missing something she wasn't?
"What's up? Something wrong?" I asked.
Alice walked further away from the village.
"That voice…It tried to warn us about danger in this village, something waiting to devour us. That's what it started to say anyway. I think we should be extra careful." she said hesitantly.
I started to laugh at the irony of it all.
We escaped from danger on the train only for me to end up in the graveyard then stuck outside some monstrous village yet Alice seemed to be so calm and collected.
She always seemed so at ease no matter what dangers were thrown at her was that confidence in her power or a reckless attitude?
Well it wouldn't matter there was no monster stronger than me we'd both go in sleep eat thank them then leave how dangerous could one poxy village be?
"Ha ha, how cool 'n' collected you are! You talk as if it's happening to someone else." I said.
She turned clasping her hands together in worry like she was scared of offending me.
"But not to worry. Nothin' can surprise me at this point." I said.
Alice dropped her hands by her sides nodding her head slightly as if she'd just finished praying or something.
Then turned round to face me jumping back in shock whilst staring at the gates.
Huh what got her so spooked?
"Hey look!" shouted a voice.
I jumped at the sudden voice.
"Wh-wha!" I cried.
I turned to see two small children at the other sides of the gates.
"Damn brats! Don't freak me out like that or I'll kick your scrawny little asses!" I threatened annoyed at being caught off guard.
I ran towards the gates eyeing up the children both ere incredibly small and pale as if malnourished both similar in looks were obviously relatives both had dark hair and Asian features the only difference being that one had luminous yellow eyes the other red glowing eyes.
"I knew it!" exclaimed the red eyes child.
"You're right it's true!" replied the yellow eyed child.
I was starting to get seriously pissed now I was hungry and tired and these stupid brats were too busy talking to let us in!
I walked over and booted the gate hard ignoring the shooting pain in my foot.
"Huh? Look you brats live here, right? Here in the town? Great. Open the gate." I ordered hoping to scare the shrimps.
I booted the gate again to make a point.
"Um, nobody gets in at night so, you're gonna just hafta stay out there." said the red eyed child sweetly.
"Yup, we can't let you in." chimed the yellow eyed child.
"Run along get your mommy. Tell her you've got guests." I replied shortly.
The kids looked around and suddenly noticed Alice.
They smiled twin evil grins almost salivating over her.
"Hey…That's a woman, right?" asked the red eyed child.
"Yeah, she's TOTALLY a girl, right? Nice and soft!" finished the yellow eyed children.
Nice and soft? What were they talking about maybe they were copying their elders did that mean this village was full of perverts?
I started to get really pissed what would I have to do to get them to open the goddamn doors?
"Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?" I asked fuming.
Before I had chance to smash the gates in Alice walked forward leaving me feeling stupid.
"Sorry to trouble you so late, but we're lost. Would you allow us to stay here for the night?" asked Alice soft and sweet as ever.
I felt my temper rising, damn Alice with her perfect manners and shit, damn those stupid brats with the gate, damn the voice, damn everything!
I was hungry, tired, annoyed, bored and most of all frustrated Alice hadn't bothered to even try to get to know me I was a hero not some angry kid and…
"Ooh, she looks so tender!" cried the red eyed child.
Tender wasn't a word I'd have used the way these kids were describing Alice it was as if she was some piece of meat or something.
"A nice, juicy girl!" continued the yellow eyed child.
God help the poor women these two end up with.
The children ran back into the village and I looked at Alice, she looked back, for once both of us were speechless even I didn't know what to make of these children.
There was a huge clang as the iron gates swung forwards and the children ran towards Alice drooling over her, it as if…no these kids surely didn't want to eat Alice?
A wave of panic washed over me but I remained quiet I couldn't panic Alice and we were both low on energy I was sure I'd manage a village of monsters but what about Alice?It then occurred to me. What if the gates and fence weren't to keep people out?
What if the gates were to keep people in?
The red eyed child giggled "It's okay, you can come in!" it said happily.
"Yeah you can come inside now!" promised the yellow eyed child.
Alice walked forwards leaving me with no option but to follow.
"Thank you" she smiled at the children.
The red eyed child ran forwards to Alice.
"Our house is at the very end of the square. We'll be waiting! Bye!" said the child.
The yellow eyed child laughed at Alice.
" A girl, we have a girl! Gotta go tell Granny Mayor right away!" it said and skipped away happily.
As Alice and I stepped forwards into the village I was acutely aware of the Iron gates shutting behind us and I couldn't help wondering what we'd gotten into.
Further in the village I saw people hustling and bustling which was surprising considering the time.
To my right I noticed a pile of wood it looked like it used to be a shack but age hadn't taken it's toll leaving it to crumble.
When I looked left I noticed a few derelict stalls made out of old wooden tables and faded cloth. Although the tables were surrounded by people the stalls were empty of goods.
The ground was incredibly dusty as if there had been a drought and as we walked forwards we left footprints Alice's much smaller than my own.
We decided that we would talk to the villagers I especially was curious to see if all the villagers were as strange as the children.
The first man we came across was a skinny guy he was dressed in green overalls and his teeth were like that of a rats.
"Well, well it's not very often we get outsiders comin' ta this town! I figgered the outside world had totally forgot about poor old Zhao yang village" he commented.
I didn't reply, my worry was increasing at the fact that Alice and I were the only outsiders here, it didn't help that I'd travelled across the whole of Asia and had never heard of this place before either.
The next guy we saw was a fidgety pot bellied man he wore the same green overalls but he looked quite anxious as if he'd been diagnosed with a terminal illness and he knew his time was nearly up.
"War burned everything! Nothin' but cinders left. 'fore ya even have the time to turn around! Am I right?" he asked us.
We remained silent and he smirked.
"But that was a long, long time ago, weren't it?" he laughed almost manically to himself and Alice and I took a step back I looked at her I could tell by her pale complexion that even she was starting to worry and so far my suspicions hadn't been proven wrong.
We then found an elderly woman holding a basket with scraps of meat in it she seemed frail and bony almost like a bird.
"Aww men're just sticks 'n' bones. No good to us at all. But women…Women are fulla fat 'n' gravy…" she finished with a shrill laugh.
Alice had each hand balled into a fist I could sense her fear now.
She turned to me.
"These people… Are they people?" she asked.
I shrugged "Don't worry Alice things will be alright" I replied.
She forced a smile but I could feel her panic.
I took her hand her tight grip revealing her true horror at this village.
I remained silent and continued walking.
The next man we found was dressed in black overalls and he had a terrible haircut patches missing as if he'd been attacked by a wild animal in a scrap.
He turned with a wicked grin as he saw Alice.
"A woman! A woman? It is! It is…" he sighed.
I tried to converse with the clerk all I needed was one person to slip us a get out free card then we'd be saved. I decided first to ask her about the villagers.
"Everyone in the village? They're all so greedy, you know? So I gotta share everything fair-like. Cause if I don't? I might not live to eat again." she finished.
I looked at Alice imagining these weird villagers fighting over who got the most of her and I felt a chill run down my spine.
The next woman who had huge, bloated, sagging breasts asked Alice a question.
"Oh dear… Where did my children go? After I went through all the sweaty trouble of HAVING them… No matter how many times I go through labour, there never ends up being any babies left…" she asked.
I could see Alice pitying the woman, did she actually realise that if we didn't get out of here then tomorrow she and I would be the missing ones?
We ran forwards almost at the other end of the village now when we found another man a frog eyed male.
"I'm sooooo hungry, but I can't eat anything…
Why? Cause if I eat something today then I'll get eaten tomorrow." he complained.
Alice looked at me positively white.
"Eaten? Yuri! I think…" she started but we were interrupted by a woman warbling her way through a song.
We walked further and I noticed a stone well I was hoping for a drink but all the water had dried up into a pile of mud at the bottom, the woman next to the well was the mysterious warbler.
She was singing about ripping and skinning and I felt my stomach turn.
When we approached her she squealed embarrassed.
"You heard me singing didn't you?" she asked.
I nodded her dumbfounded.
"So "Take it out, peel it off…" kinda sexy don'tcha think? Sure ya do. Just a little. Sure." she replied for me whilst I tried to mask my disgust.
At least I knew one thing for sure.
The voice was right these people and this village was the trap, and the villagers wanted to devour me and Alice!All I needed now was a pile of bodies.
The last person around here was a woman who looked like a weasel.
"Feed friends, starve strangers! Words ta live by! Eh whassat look mean? You never seen dried fish before?
See when yer young ya like stuff fresh but as ya get older ya like it aged…Don't get it, do ya?" she asked.
I hadn't but that wasn't what the look was for the look was my way of saying.
I wanna grab Alice and get the hell outta this place now!
As we moved forwards I noticed a little house on the edge of the square two lit torches in the porch welcoming.
This had to be the mayor's and the children's house but I hadn't done exploring.
I walked over to the most normal looking guy here.
He lurked in the shadows wearing an ivory hat.
He turned I'm just a travelling peddler. I, I happened on this village by chance…
B-but there' something not quite right about it, don't you think?" he asked.
I didn't say anything but I agreed it was pretty obvious that these people weren't your general welcoming villagers.
"…Oh, say! Since you're here, how'd you like to buy something? I have plenty of useful items!" he said.
I looked at Alice it seemed a good idea to at least get some items whilst we were here especially as I had a feeling that things were going to go really badly once we got to the Granny Mayors house.
Alice and I pooled our money and she bought herself a leather belt to increase her attack power then we decided we'd come back later on if we started to get short on items.
We reached the house but decided not to go in just yet instead we walked just north of the house I wanted to see if there was a way out of this village although I'd told Alice I was just curious no point in worrying her.
As soon as we reached the top we found the true secret of the town.
Looking around I noticed a wooden shrine surrounded by human bones which had had small scraps of rotten, putrid flesh clinging to them.
There were mounds of them including skulls.
Alice looked around in horror and I could see her shaking with fear.
Now I really wanted to get out of this village!
"Th-These are all… bones! Human bones!" she cried fearfully.
I looked at her slightly smug that my suspicions had proved correct.
Well at least I wasn't going to be bored, I had a village of cannibals to fight!"The bones of people…killed here! What's happening in this village…?" she asked her voice wavering as she struggled to comprehend what she was seeing.
I examined one of the bones yup definitely human.
"Looks like the voice was right. These people are cannibals." I said.
Alice turned away noticing the ancient shrine.
"Look over there, that shrine…" she started.
I noticed it was tinged with red and even I could sense immense evil protruding from it I felt myself pitying Alice, if I could sense the evil what on earth must she be sensing?
"It's as if it holds the anger of all the people who died here." she said.
Both of us remained silent not noticing that one of the villagers had followed us.
"Hee hee… Good travellers, you like the shrine?" he asked laughing.
Both me and Alice jumped out of our skin and we turned.
"What is it pops?" I asked glaring menacingly at the vacant eyed old man.
"Looking for the Black Tortoise God that was enshrined here? He's been gone for six months!" laughed the villager.
"The Black Tortoise God?" asked Alice.
I was glad she'd asked because I hadn't any idea what this man was babbling on about either.
"Yes, to pacify the Earth Spirits, humans deified him, and built this shrine. It's all such nonsense!" he laughed wickedly.
I was starting to get pissed now and I could tell that Alice was scared.
The villager looked hungrily at her.
"But now with the troublesome Black Tortoise God gone, we're free to do as we please!" he exclaimed happily.
Riiiight and it pleases him eating humans does it?
"We can even take on the form of humans! We couldn't ask for more! The only problem is now we get hungry…It's all thanks to the new protector of the town Yamaraja!" he cried.
Yamaraja? What on earth was a Yamaraja?
"Yamaraja? What kind of a name for a demon is that?" I asked scornfully.
I turned back to the shrine and so did Alice.
"I suppose I'd find him in that shrine there?" I mused.
We turned back to the man who stamped his foot in anger, despite our predicament I did find it quite amusing annoying the guy.
"How…how insolent! But, no matter…You won't last long…" he said.
Ha that's what he thinks, I was going to enjoy ripping him apart he thought he was a demon? He hadn't seen anything yet.
"Tonight there'll be a special feast, for our rare guests…Now, you just run along and say hello to the Granny Mayor" he walked away laughing.
I turned to Alice her eyes were blazing as if this was all my fault.
"Don't tell me we're going to be eaten…?" asked Alice fearfully.
"Well, I don't know about you but I'm not too fond of the idea" I replied teasing her.
Alice stamped her foot in fury.
"I'm not too happy about it either, I can tell you!" she raged.
I tried to mask my smirk, looks like Little miss calm and composed had finally cracked, it was great to see some fighting spirit in her.
I roared with laughter "It's alright, I'll protect you." I promised.
She quietened down as if she was a child and I'd just comforted her.
We walked back towards the Granny Mayor's house and the two children from earlier came running out of the house excited.
"Ooh, it's the girl from before! Thank goodness!" said the red eyed child relieved.
"You really came! We're so glad!" exclaimed the yellow eyed child.
I bet they were.
"C'mon, C'mon come inside!" pleaded the yellow eyed child.
I really wasn't looking forward to this, I didn't really fancy getting sacrificed!
I gritted my teeth and we walked into the house, it was quite a simple house appearing to be a bungalow if you could call it a house.
"Granny Mayor! Granny Mayor! We got visitors! Visitors with lots of juicy, juicy meat!" cried the yellow eyed child.
Way to be discreet!
"…Juicy!" cried out the red eyed child.
I could hear the children before I'd even entered the room.
At the far end was a fireplace in front of the fireplace knelt on a rug was the Granny Mayor who appeared to be performing a ritual or praying in front oaf a huge gaping hole in the floor. I noticed to the right was a basket suspended from the ceiling.
The two children stood either side of the Granny Mayor.
"You're the mayors wife? Great! As you can see I have a lady with me." I said.
I looked at Alice who was giving me a strange look.
"Yuri she IS the Mayor!" she whispered.
The Mayor didn't look up.
"We sure could use a bed for the night." I hinted.
She smiled at me which I found rather creepy.
"Yes, Yes! I heard all about you from the children. You just make yourselves at home." she said.
I looked down at the floorboards noticing faint bloodstains then I remembered the bones. I wondered how many other travellers had 'Made themselves at home' then woke up to find themselves bound and on a spit for lunch.
"We rarely get visitors here. We don't have much for you, but please rest your weary bones." said Granny Mayor.
I decided to play dumb and not tell her we'd cottoned on just yet, I mean how would we manage against the whole village and that Yamaraja thing. Nope I had to bide my time. Thankfully Alice barely spoke she was so scared so my plan wasn't uncovered yet.
"Hey thanks ma'am. We'll be out of your way by early morning." I said sweetly.
The Mayor cackled with glee "Now, now, no need to rush you just stay as long as you like!" she laughed.
Alice stepped forwards she'd picked up on my plan.
"Thanks ma'am. It's kind of you to let us stay, having shown up in the middle of the night like this." she said innocently.
The Granny Mayor eyeballed Alice.
"What a nice-mannered young lady. But you don't have to worry about your manners so much here." she said with a wicked grin.
"…For it won't change the taste of their meat." she finished.
I hid a smile finally the bloodsucking hag was showing her true colours!
She had no idea what she'd gotten herself into.
"Kind woman! You all talk as if you're going to have us for supper!" I feigned amusement.
She laughed "At least one of you has brains! Eat you both, we will!" she admitted.
Alice clasped her hands in fear and I burst out laughing.
She really was dumb did she really think we wouldn't put up a fight? I was looking forward to killing her.
"I've got to go tell Yamaraja we have an offering for him!" she said.
She grunted as she stood up and her back cracked.
"Let me get through here…Okay,okay…" she commanded and she shoved past us tripping Alice up.
I caught Alice and she regained her balance and we both turned to challenge the kids.
"C'mon you two, here, take a load off!" said the yellow eyed child.
"Don't worry, we'll be right outside so you can't get away!" the red eyed child mocked.
They both ran outside guarding the door, presumably they weren't human because no child could have prevented that amount of people escaping and judging by the bones nobody had ever escaped.
I walked to the far corner of the room looking for a way out.
Alice turned towards me. "We're in trouble now. Looks like they've got us trapped." she concluded.
"It appears so." I replied.
She stamped her foot in rage again "How can you be so calm at a time like this?" she yelled.
I snickered to myself. Once again Calm, collected Alice was starting to lose it I would have offered her a pure leaf but I think it might've offended her so instead I walked forward and decided to tease her. If she saw that I wasn't worried wouldn't she relax too?
"Aw, c'mon, if you get too anxious, it'll just make you hungry." I said.
"Let's take a rest, and see what their next move is." I suggested.
As we curled up on the bloodstained floorboards I closed my eyes and called in my head to the mysterious voice.
'Pleas help us. Help us out of here. Let us live' I begged.
There was no answer and as I lay there I couldn't help but worry what the villages next move would be…
Authors note - Next chapter will be in Alice's point of view feel free to review or flame!