Chapter Twenty-Four: Following the Lights
After sunset, we decided to explore a little to get more information about what was going on. It wasn't too long before we came across Volgud.
"C'mon, just follow his lantern." Milo said to us in a hushed tone to Volgud wouldn't hear. We followed after him.
First came the noises, which had caused Audrey, Kida, and Milo to go on edge. They had been eerie, but not new. I remember hearing them when I had gone out a few nights ago. Knowing the sounds would not lead to anything good, I chose not to follow them when I was on my own.
"It is not of this earth..." Mole commented.
"That'd be nothing new for us." I responded nonchalantly.
"No, that's a bird, a very big, goony bird." Vinny tried to rationalize, "Or a possum with a very upset stomach."
"No, it's voices." Milo replied.
"So, the sea monster talks." I shrugged, "That could be interesting."
Then Audrey and Mole realized had disappeared.
"We could be walking in circles." Milo sighed, "We'd better head back to the village."
"And which way would that be?" Audrey questioned.
"Tia, any ideas?" Milo asked.
I shook my head, "Not with this fog."
After hearing I couldn't lead them back to the village, Milo proposed we follow the lights. When I tried to protest us following mysterious lights that weren't seen in the village previously and backtrack instead, no one would listen. After trying a couple of times, I just gave up. We'd find out soon enough what we were headed into.
"Just a moment, listen to the gravel." Mole spoke up after a while, I stopped in my tracks and watched the scene play out before me. I knew once Mole started speaking up I had been right.
"Not now, Mole." Audrey told him.
"But this is decomposed granite, which would mean we are headed for the cliffs." He said before falling from the cliff with everyone else while me and the lava dog watched.
"You all okay?" I called after them. Mole called back saying that they were fine and Milo was going to get Audrey who had slid down further than they had. Once they all climbed back up, we found our way back to the village.
"How'd you know not to follow the lights?" Milo asked me as we made our way back to the inn.
"I've done some research on hocus pocus." I responded lightly.
As we headed into the inn, we heard Volgud talking to Inger, "Gather the possessions of the strangers and burn them."
"You know, I'd kind of like to keep my stuff." I told him, crossing my arms.
Volgud looked back at us as the lava dog growled at him.
"What's the matter Volgud?" Vinny asked, "You think we've got fleas?"
"Gee, you seem surprised to see us." Milo commented.
Volgud left without saying a word.
"Definitely worm or leech, salamanders are too cute." Vinny commented.
"We'd like to hear more about Volgud's deal with the devil." Milo told Inger.
"It is an old wives story, a folk tale, nothing more." Inger responded shaken.
"Inger, we want to help." Milo pressed, "Lives have been taken at sea and I suspect in this town."
"Everyone I spoke to disappeared, Inger." I added, "I don't think this is going to let up anytime soon. If we don't do anything, things could get worse."
"I would love to let my little one play outside again." Inger sighed, before saying, "Long ago, the fish left the sea. The town was in danger of dying; a bargain was struck: the souls of the people for the life of the town."
"The Kraken…" Mole gasped.
"Also known as the devil fish." Milo commented.
"The town is provided for, but no one can leave." Inger continued, "And the sun has not shown since."