No matter what the situation was, these missing villager "spirits" always creeped Max out. He honestly wanted nothing to do with these ghostly figures. It was creepy and a tad bit terrifying when they were watching him from behind the trees, the first time he had seen them. Not it was terrifying in a different way, as none of them had an expression in their face, and were right in front of him.
As the silence between the folks and the duo endured, Max found it incredibly difficult to maintain his composure. He had to joke somehow to ease the tension.
But before Max could utter a single word, the Samurai, also known as Albert interrupted with a question.
Albert: So, who are you folks..?
Max turned to look at the ghosts to see if they answered. And to no surprise they just stood there, directly looking at Max. It seemed like they were uninterested in Albert.
Max: Answer him!!
Again, it was to no avail. They just stood there, as if they were carved stones without any emotion.
Albert: Do you guys wanna co-operate or be eliminated..?
Max thought it was a threat, but knowing that it's a sentence from the cold blooded Samurai, he was kinda leaning towards the potential that it was definitely a threat. He had seen a slightly softer side to him, but he was still not sure about his bloody thirsty violent tendencies. Cause Max had first hand seen the deadly aura that the Samurai possessed, due to his new eyes.
Albert: Looks like they ain't answering. I guess we are done talking..
Albert, without hesitation, pulled his sword from the sheath. The silver blade shone in glistening moonlight. The red gem in the middle of the sword also gave out a beautiful glint. He straightened his arm and steadied himself to take on all of them.
Max: Wait...don't be rash..!!
Max reached out his hand trying to stop Albert. But he had gone full speed ahead to strike his enemies.
Albert was directly aiming for the person that appeared to look like the leader. His Excalibur was ready to pierce through the man with the monocle's left arm. Max kinda was relieved that he wasn't going in for the kill, but just trying to injure them. And Max also realised that even while fighting them back in the Dome, he wasn't aiming for any vitals. And Max honestly didn't know if he does it to help people or to make sure that they suffer before they die. Either way, Chuck's uncle, Matthew, was done for.
Max noticed that, for some reason, none of these villagers were moving at all, even though a man with a terrifying aura was charging at them like a mad bull. Albert cut Matthew's hand, or so he thought.
When the Excalibur tried to fut his arm, the sword just went through it as if he were a collection of air particles. Albert tried stopping but he went into lady ahead of him, hoping to grab her shoulders to straighten himself. But instead his hand went right through her body and he fell down on his face, going through multiple other "bodies"
Max: No way....you serious??
Max talked to himself. And then he shouted.
Max: You guys are ACTUALLY spirits..??
A chill ran down his spine. Max had tried convincing himself that these people were just creepy but still human. When Chuck had mentioned that they were his villagers, he was relieved that they weren't ghosts. And it seemed like a good idea to consider that the truth for a little while. But now suddenly facing them, and realizing that they were all intangible and didn't move, he was sure that they were ghosts. And no matter how strong he was, it didn't erase his engraved fear of the supernatural.
Max: You! In the monocle! MATTHEW!
Max called him out.
Max: You are Chuck's uncle right..?? Did you see him come here..?
Max wasn't hoping for any change, as he was just stalking time until Albert finishes getting up and coming back. Albert was raising his head and turned towards Max. But something weird happened.
Matthew also lifted his head, the first movement among the ghosts. His eyes looked like they were in pain, even though he was half transparent.
This was the first time, Max saw the guy in the monocle show emotion. There were no words spoken, but he looked straight at him, expecting something more. So Max continued.
Max: Look, I don't know what happened to you...but I'm here to save Chuck. He was taken away by a porcupine dude and an ugly dude.
All of the villagers raised their heads, as if recognizing these descriptions.
Max: They also took a spiky haired man in armour and a red haired girl wearing a white jacket. Do you know where they are...?
Matthew, stepped forward immediately. He straightened his back and brought one arm forward and touched his left side of his chest. Felt like a gesture a male maid, or a butler would do.
Max: Can you help us...?
Max asked politely and without a second thought all of the villagers lifted their arms. There were kids the same age as Chuck, there were women and men, old and young. And all of them were doing the same action. Every one of them pointed at a boulder in the near distance. Albert also turned around to look at it. It seemed like they were pointing at the location of the secret entrance.
And Albert started moving towards the boulder. They both reached it and finally turned to look at the villagers. The old man in the middle just smiled, something that no one had done until now.
Old man: Please do save the young boy...
Matthew: He is good kid. Let him go through the right path..
Max was shocked to suddenly hear their voices after this long. Their expressions finally made them more human than ghosts. There was something with them, that resonated with Max. It was as if they placed their Hope's for Chuck on Max. They were counting on Max and Albert.
Suddenly they turned when they heard a creaking sound. Max realised that it was the Samurai moving the boulder away, to reveal an opening in the ground. Albert turned to him.
Albert: I strted sensing this when we got near. I don't know why but it wasn't visible from the other side.
Max: Thanks. Now we can go save them.
Max turned to the villagers to thank them too, but instead all they could see was an empty field.