The night was suffocating.
A dense darkness covering the outer sect, hiding even the moon behind it's veil of clouds. Whatever light that managed to pass through, was making trees turn into silhouettes of some still ghosts.
Scaring the two shadows hiding behind a wall.
"Why is he going deeper into the forest?" muttered Derek, the broader one from the minions of Thomas who often flanked him.
"Bastard's probably doing something shady." Lundy, the other thin guy replied back in a twitchier tone.
"But what is he carrying on his shoulders?"
"Probably nothing." Lundy replied, "Just some stuff to lie and make excuses about, if someone sees him."
"He must be behind Thomas's disappearance. He was the last one to see Tommy, right?" Derek asked.
"You're right. But unless we get some proof, no one will believe our words. He's a cripple, and Thomas was so strong, after all." Lundy explained with a frown.
"But, it's so late…." Derek complained, slapping the flying bug that suddenly fell on his neck. Making a sudden noise that became a stark contrast to the silence of their surroundings.
"Shhh. Keep your voice down." Lundy said, covering his friend's mouth and pulling him back for cover.
"He must be here to meet his accomplice, let's just follow him and find out." Lundy suggested slowly.
"Why not just call the elders and catch him red-handed?" Derek asked, feeling annoyed over missing his sleep.
Lundy looked at this idiot yawning and couldn't help but slap him lightly, "Do you dare to disturb them now?"
"Then just shut up and follow me. Or he'll disappear in this forest like yesterday and then we'll have to look everywhere."
Derek heard Lundy's words, and couldn't help but feel shitty over getting orders from this guy.
Like who died and made you the boss?
Ohh, Thomas did. That's fine then.
….
Though the duo of dogs were silent in their steps, how could their constant bickering and barking, escape the ears of Sunny.
But he didn't care and just kept moving deeper into the forest.
He's been waiting for a week now. Acting like a weak, meat-mute mutt, being bullied and belittled by everyone - just for this moment.
Just so that when he makes his move, he attracts the littlest of attention.
When he stepped out of his 'cave' after everyone dozed off, he already expected the duo to sniff their master's killer and follow him out.
Thomas's dogs were a bit loyal, but more stupid.
If they were smarter, they'd have snitched him out instantly or brought more people tonight.
Or better, to avoid the limelight of these days, maybe just run, flee the sect, by taking a mission, and vanish in the outer world. Come back when the anger of Thomas's enemies calms down. But no, they stuck around like rusted nails poking out of rotting wood—useless.
But knowing how even the son of God could be killed by some broken nails, how could Sunny ignore this brittle threat.
Sunny moved his palm over his waist, feeling the cold metallic touch against his skin. While a faint heartbeat and hunger pulsed inside his chest.
The Dark Lotus.
It was still dormant.
But as if sensing that Sunny would feed him soon, it started to respond.
"Bring out the plate, beggar. The food will be here soon." Sunny thought, imagining the petals unfolding to swallow souls once he finished his slaughter.
—
The duo didn't know how long they've been following Sunny, or how far they've ventured into.
But before their patience could finally run out, Sunny walking in front, finally halted his steps.
The trees had thinned out some time ago, and they were now standing in some open ground.
All around them were piles of garbage thrown around. Rotten vegetables, excess food, dried skin of monster corpses, or just buckets full of shit.
The very air was filled with a stinking smell. Making people instinctively feel disgusted.
"Urgh, did the bastard really have to pick this dump for some secret meeting?"
"I'm going to kill him even if he had nothing to do with Tommy? Just for dragging me here."
The duo both felt angry over this particular choice of location, cursing Sunny while holding their noses. Only to frown after feeling the stink hit sour on their tongues.
Urghhh disgusting
…
"Let's wait and see what he's doing here?" Lundy suggested.
But Derek just pushed him away, and stormed out. Shouting.
"What's there to wait? In a dump like this." He cursed, "Let's just beat it out of him, and go back."
"Damn it, now I need to take a shower before going to sleep." Derek said angrily after seeing his feet step over something mushy and yellow.
Lundy looked at him going out and raised his hand to stop him. But as soon as he did, a wave of bad smell hit his face, - and somehow he couldn't agree more all of a sudden.
It really stinks.
Just how long has it been since the sect last cleaned this area.
…
Obviously Sunny wasn't immune to his surroundings either, but being better prepared by having a mask literally coated in fragrance and various perfumes around his face, - at least he fared a little better.
Hearing the commotion behind him, he slowly turned around and smiled behind his mask.
It's here.
…
"We finally caught you, cripple." Derek shouted, as soon as he came. "Tell us what you're doing here?" He asked.
Sunny looked at him, and just shook his head at incompetence. "Nothing. Just getting rid of some trash." He answered.
Though his honesty felt more like a jibe and pun to the hot headed Derek, who didn't even wait for his partner and simply started running towards Sunny.
Trying to beat him senseless and soothe his anger.
"Bullshit. You think we don't know." This time , it was Lundy, who sneered and shouted, "We've been following you for days. And every night, you come out here to meet someone. Tell us, who it is? And maybe _ just maybe, _ we'll let you off easy."
He didn't even care to run and help his partner, in his eyes, the result was already obvious.
Sunny getting punched and falling down to beg for mercy.
---
But sadly, he saw it wrong.
Sunny somehow dodged Derek's punch, and started running towards him.
"Lundy, stop him. Bastard's trynna go back to the sect." Derek shouted, calling his friend, while running behind Sunny.
The dogs flanking him from both sides. Assure of their victory and the meat they're about to chew.
But sadly, the one in the middle wasn't a cat, cow, or another dog - but a Dragon.
Sunny spread his feet to an angle and just before collapsing into Lundy, who spread his arms and stood him blocking like a golekeeper, - he threw the sack he was carrying over his shoulders onto the idiot.
Dirt, thron fragments, chilli mixtures and what not spices spread over in powder form. Blinding Lundy instantly.
Forcing him to cover his eyes and stumble back.
Without wasting a second, trying to slip by, Sunny instead turned around to face Derek. Stretching his arm to stab the scum who got too close.
Kurlghh
Derek looked down at his chest, noticing a familiar handle still sticking out.
Blood gushed through his mouth, as his heart felt heavy and the world started to get blurry for some reason.
Instinctively by adrenaline, he pulled the knife out, splattering another wave of blood, only speeding his doom faster.
Sunny looked at this amateur response to pain, and shook his head in disappointment again.
Truly incompetent. He thought.
…
By the time Lundy managed to wipe his eyes by snot, sweat, and tears - before he even saw his friends dead body - Sunny picked a wooden stick from somewhere, and smashed it straight to his head.
Knocking the poor fellow out.
…
Lundy didn't know how long he was unconscious, but when he finally came to his senses, he only found himself, tied to a tree. Thorny branches wrapped around his body.
Blood pooled the ground reflecting the pale moonlight shining freely.
In front of him, was a mess of a human body. A mortal carpace devoid of skin upfront, laying the bones and vital organs, open for the world to see.
For a moment, Lundy felt weird, scared, and disgusted by the sight. But as his gaze landed on that face and the clothes thrown around, his eyes widened in horror. And chills shot up his spine.
He couldn't help but scream through his clasped mouth filled with puke, that refused to being swallowed.
"D_ de_Derekkkkkk..." He shouted, feeling more scared then sad over the loss of his friend.
Just what kind of monster did they encounter.
Clearly his friend wasn't missing any body organs, showing no one ate anything. So why was he flayed and butchered so badly.
"Ohh, you're awake."
Suddenly a voice reached his ears, reminding him of earlier events and the fact about what they actually encountered.
"That means it's your turn now." Sunny spoke, stepping out of the shadows.
His clothes covered in blood, face red like a devil, and eyes glinting like a monster.
If demon from hell had an appearance, it probably won't be scarier than this.