Choose Your Own Renventure

by Persephone Jinmi

Ren, a mercenary-for-hire, is contracted by the bard Hikaru & his friend Kijima to escort them to Hikaru's betrothed, Kyoko Mogami-whom Ren knows from his own past. Their journey leads them into a bewitched forest where vampires, witches, & thieves lie in wait. Many paths lead them to the ends of this story. Which they take—and whom they love—is up to you. Choose wisely, Reader.

16. Chapter 16

"Fuck," Ren said. Then he said it louder. "Fuck!"

The bandit's stance shifted. Hikaru blinked. Ren roared. "FUCK IT ALL, KIJIMA GET YOUR BLISTERING ASS OVER-"

The bandit lunged, tugging Hikaru with him. He smacked a branch, causing an avalanche of snow to rain down behind them, obscuring Ren's line of sight. He cursed, at himself this time, and ran. The wolf bandit was weaving through trees. Only his hand on Hikaru's wrist linked the two together.

"Hikaru!" Ren shouted. "Fall!" If he fell the link would break-but Hikaru kept running, tossing a single glance over his shoulder at Ren. Ren grimaced. He leaped over a holly bush. His sword beat uselessly against his thigh. Hikaru wasn't stopping, wasn't fighting the bandit at all. Ren pushed himself to run faster.

Something zipped past his back and thunked solidly into an ash tree. An arrow, sliced through his thick woven cape. The cape caught, jerking Ren backwards. He gulped for air, the cloak's fastening tight against his throat. Fingers fumbled, found the clasp, threw it down. The cape slid open, falling from his shoulders to wrap around the tree. Cold embraced Ren instead; he shook it off and ran after Hikaru before the archer could fire another shot.

The forest was empty. Ren looked down as he ran, following the deep tracks the pair had left. His mind was spinning. The footsteps stayed close together, Hikaru never once trying to jerk sideways or run.

A second arrow sliced the air in front of Ren's face. Ren ducked behind a tree, his palms and cheek pressed into the rough bark.

"Back down, knight," a voice yelled, lighter than the wolf bandit's. "He will not be harmed if you let us leave."

Ren's breath made a thick mist in front of him. He wiped off sweat, leaning into the tree. "Hikaru!" he shouted. "Hikaru!"

The forest was quiet. Ren ducked out enough to scan the treeline. An arrow slit the space just beside his face. He cursed and jerked back, slamming his fist into the rough bark.

Then nothing but quiet snow filling in all traces of their footprints. Ren wrapped his arms around his chest, retracing his steps to find his cloak. The arrow remained buried in the tree, but the cloak was gone.

He would find Kijima and they would look for Hikaru together. Before he froze to death in this storm.

Reader, turn to Chapter 20.