Moonlight filtered through the trees, giving the lost little girl enough light to see by.
Snap!
She whirled around, her heart beating furiously.
"Who's there?" she called softly. She licked her lips and cleared her throat. "Who's there?" she called, louder this time.
No answer. She gulped and bit her lower lip. 'Someone is following me… or something…' She had heard enough scary stories about monsters in the woods to be wary, especially at night. This hadn't stopped her that evening when she ran in there. 'Stupid boy, always picking on me. It's his fault I'm in here! If only he'd leave me alone… I wouldn't have had to run away… if only I hadn't gotten lost… if only…'
Crack!
'It's getting closer…' She ran away from the noise. Every step she took seemed to echo in the silent night. She was certain the entire forest would be chasing her soon. Tree roots tripped her up and tree limbs smacked her in the face and scratched any uncovered skin. 'The village has to be somewhere around here…' she thought desperately. 'Unless it's in the other direction,' she whimpered. 'Why did I ever leave? Why couldn't I just-'
Strong arms seized her and she shrieked. She was pressed against someone's chest and a hand covered her mouth. Something prickly touched her forehead. She looked up as far as she could and saw the outline of a man's hooded face. She could not see his face, but she could feel his goatee. He looked down at her and motioned for her to be quiet and then looked straight ahead.
Her pursuer went rushing past them and she got a good look at him, or it. She didn't see its face, but from the red fur and tail and the way it walked she could tell it was a kobold. 'What is it ranger Merella told me about kobolds?' It disappeared from sight. 'Oh well, it probably wasn't important.' However, whoever it was that was restraining her didn't let her go. Instead he kept a tight grip and started carrying her somewhere. 'What is he doing? The monster is gone. It's safe now…where's he taking me!' Every horrible possibility for what a strange old man would want with a little girl like her flooded her head. She struggled with all her might to get out of his grasp to no avail. 'He's going to rape me then kill me and cut me into little pieces… maybe if I scream monsters will come… noooooo…'
Her captor halted. 'What now?' She strained her ears for anything, but all she could hear were the bugs and dogs. 'Dogs? What are dogs doing out here? Maybe the town is looking for me!' She tried to pull away from her captor, but he wouldn't let her go. The noises were getting louder. 'They have my scent! They'll find me! I'm saved! I'm saved!' Her captor dropped her between two especially tall tree roots and motioned for her to stay down. He pulled a crossbow off his belt and disappeared.
"Hey, we're over here, oooooveeeeerrrrr heeeeerrrrrrrrrreeee," she called, waving her arms around and jumping up and down. It was odd that the villagers didn't have torches in their hands. 'I guess they wouldn't need them on a clear night like this.'
A flame appeared and shot towards her face. She screamed and hit the ground. She jumped to her feet and turned to flee, but her captor stood in her way, aiming his crossbow at her head. 'He's in league with the kobolds!' She dropped to the ground as he fired and heard something thud behind her. She looked behind her to see a kobold with a bolt in its forehead. It's arms and legs twitched and she jumped back. Blood trickled out of its head and down its face.
She couldn't stop staring at the blood. She reached out her hand, hesitantly. She wanted to… touch it? 'Yes, touch it. But then what? Taste it… She yanked her arm back just short of the blood and stumbled backwards into something. She screamed and jumped back.
"Come with me if you want to live," her captor stated calmly.
"Not much choice," she complained but followed him. He had an awful habit of getting ahead and blending in with his surroundings. Her excitement faded quickly and she began to lag behind. She couldn't stop herself from yawning. She hadn't been sleeping well lately due to… nightmares. What was worse was the feeling that they weren't just dreams at all. A masked figure flashed before her eyes and she collapsed. Her captor waited up for her, and she scrambled to her feet, blushing. She forced herself to pay attention from them on.
After what seemed hours they came into clearing. It took her a few moments to realize it was the town. 'I'm home!' A bubble of joy rose in her and she started jumping around and giggling. This time, her captor-rescuer followed her as she ran to her cottage. All the lights were on.
"Uh oh…" she hadn't realized how late she was. Her father had told her if she was late home one more time she would get switches.
She looked at her rescuer nervously. His face was expressionless.
"Do you think it's safe?" she whispered. He smiled slightly and nodded. She hesitated again and her rescuer knocked on the door and stepped back.
Her mother swung the door open. She looked at the man for a split second before they lowered to her daughter.
"Anna!" her mother called. She collapsed to her knees and held her daughter in a tearful embrace. Arianna returned the hug, but blushed. She tried to pry her mother off, but eventually gave up.
"Mom, I'm okay. I'm okay…" Arianna insisted. Her mother released her, but stood nearly on top of her when she stood up. Mother and daughter faced the strange man.
"Thank you," Arianna's father said and shook the stranger's hand. The stranger nodded.
"We don't have much, but please accept our thanks, and this gold." Arianna's jaw dropped when saw her father pull out his gold bag. She was relieved when the stranger refused it.
"Surely you'll accept something?" her mother said.
"Your daughter's safety is enough," the stranger said in a deep voice. Arianna's eyes widened. "I must be going. Good night." He bowed and walked away.
"Thank you again!" Arianna called., waving after his quickly disappearing figure.
The sun rose to a peaceful morning. Birds chirped, animals scurried, a gentle breeze steadily blew, and as people began waking up, gossip and panic spread.
The stranger stood before the mayor of the town, a fat, balding man who couldn't stop pacing. Sweat poured down his face and every now and then he used the cloth in his hand to wipe his face off.
"Mr. Corthala, yes?" the mayor asked.
The stranger hesitated, but eventually nodded.
"What?" the mayor asked, looking at him.
"Yes, that is my name," the stranger said.
"Your family owns a house here in Umar Hills, yes?"
Again, the stranger hesitated, but nodded.
"The house on the hill? Apart from the town?"
"Yes," the stranger admitted. "A family is renting it."
"Was renting it, was renting it."
The stranger remained silent.
"The family…" the mayor started. His eyes glazed over and his voice dropped to a whisper. "Such a good family, beautiful wife… lovely daughter… brave husband… who could have done this…?"
The stranger cleared his throat and the mayor looked at him again. "Oh, I… forgive me. The family… has been murdered. Their bodies were… barely recognizable…" the mayor's eyes glazed over again. This time the stranger did not interrupt him.
"Neighbors have already removed the bodies. The family's nearest relatives live in Athkatla have been sent for. They should arrive sometime tomorrow. Your family owns the house, so you can… that is, if you wish to… reclaim…" the mayor struggled for the right words. "I believe you know what I mean. It is your property to do with as you wish.
"It will need… repairs and washing…" the mayors face paled but he continued, "before you rend it to another family, though I doubt you will find anyone wishing to live in it."
"I will," Valygar said.
The mayor halted. "You will? You will… of course. How… convenient, I suppose…"
Valygar frowned. "You do not believe…"
"No! No," the mayor interrupted, though his voice was unsure. "The house is at your disposal. Welcome back to Umar Hills, Mr. Corthala."
"Thank you, sir," Valygar said. He bowed and left.
Valygar Corthala gently pulled open the partially unhinged door to his family's cabin. All the windows were open. Blood stained the floor and air. A bucket full of murky, red water and an equally soiled rag sat beside the bedroom doorway. The door had been torn apart and pieces strewn around the room.
Valygar carefully navigated across the room and grabbed the bucket, careful not to spill the liquids it contained. He didn't breath until he was out of there. He sighed. He had a lot of work to do.
Sharp, cold claws pierced her chest and dragged her out of bed. She screamed, and her parents came in. She watched in horror as it tore them apart as if they were dolls. Then it turned its yellow eyes upon her once more.
Far away, a gaunt young woman jolted back to consciousness, screaming. The swinging cell she was in swung back and forth, but she didn't seem to notice. She leaned forward, resting her head in her hands and breathing deeply.
"Good, you are awake," an emotionless voice said.
Her body stiffened and trembled but she did not dare look up.
"This won't hurt. Much," the masked man said coolly.
She knew better.
