The shadow’s head was that of a normal horse.
Except—
…the absence of its lower jaw.
It was…
replaced by two long teeth.
Some type of fluid was dripping from its head.
Ren could only see the shadow of the fluid.
As it kept dripping.
Then—
The head moved again.
This time, the horse’s—or whatever the thing was—facial features began shifting right in front of Ren.
After a brief moment, the movement stopped.
Its head became normal…
It was as if a real horse was standing in front of the camp.
The figure leaned slightly towards the camp.
“…Hnnng.”
A familiar sound was heard.
It was crystal clear in the dead of night.
Even Elvan, who was asleep in his cart, woke from the sound.
As soon as he woke, his first instinct was to crawl towards the front of the cart— to check on Tom.
But as he reached the spot, he found the place empty.
…Tom was missing.
On the other hand, Kai, who had been awake for a while now, was staring at the figure beside his camp.
Unlike Ren, Kai wasn’t calm.
His forehead was covered in sweat.
Fists clenched.
Gaze fixed on the creature.
His eyes were wide open.
The reaction was from fear, true— but not from something unknown.
Rather…
from something known. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
People tend to dilate their pupils when faced with the unknown, and widen their eyes when faced with something known.
“…Is it…”
“…a ceremony?”
Kai muttered to himself, while taking deep breaths.
Just as he calmed a little—
“Is it a ceremony?”
“Is it a ceremony?”
“Is it a ceremony?”
“Is it a ceremony?”
“Food is ready.”
“Come out.”
“Tom wants to go for a walk.”
“I need a walk.”
“Come out.”
“Tom is hungry.”
“Come out.”
“Come out.”
“Come out.”
The voice belonged to Kai.
But the speaker…
wasn’t Kai.
The speaker continued anyway.
“Come out.”
“Come out.”
“Come out.”
“Lettuce.”
“Potatoes.”
“Meat.”
“Come out.”
“Partner.”
“Partner.” Get faster updates on novelping.com.
“Medicine.”
“Come out.”
“Pain.”
“Come out.”
The voice stopped abruptly.
“…Ren won’t fall for this…”
“…Please don’t, Ren.”
Kai said while slowly shaking his head, as if trying to drive away the negative thoughts.
“But, cart driver—”
Just as Kai was about to finish his sentence—
“Ren won’t fall for this.”
“Ren, food is ready.”
“Ren, Tom wants to walk.”
The voice began again.
But after three sentences, it stopped.
For a few minutes, silence enveloped the site.
Then—
“Ahhhhha.”
Squelch.
Screech.
Scratch.
Scratch.
The sound of meat tearing and being pierced was heard.
“Ren…
don’t come out.”
“It’s dangerous” , it said.
Kai covered his mouth.
As the realization dawned on him—
It’s using information.