Chapter 20: A Step Behind Death
Cold sweat trickled down Veythor’s face as his eyes locked forward.
"Shimi... Raika. Don’t move. Don’t move, clear?"
"O-Okay..."
Shimi’s voice quivered, her whole body trembling. Raika said nothing, his silence heavy, his jaw clenched.
Before them stood a beast a two-headed dog. Its skin was pitch-black, stretched tight over long, sinewy limbs. Twin pairs of eyes glowed faintly, its ears sharp as blades. Both heads growled in unison, a low, guttural rumble that made the earth itself seem to vibrate.
Grrrrrrrrrr...
Veythor’s breath steadied he was stil...
"Don’t turn your backs," he warned coldly. "If you do... it’ll strike."
The beast suddenly tilted both heads skyward and let out a deafening howl.
AAAUUUUUUUU—!
The sound tore through the forest, so loud it rattled their bones. Shimi shrieked and collapsed onto the ground, clutching her ears.
"Shimi!"
Raika cried out, stepping forward instinctively. But Veythor’s hand shot out, stopping him. His crimson eyes never left the monster.
"Don’t move... don’t you dare move, Raika. We’ll be in deeper trouble if you do."
His voice was low yet sharp, cutting through Raika’s panic. Then he turned toward Shimi, his tone calm but commanding.
"Shimi. Listen to me nothing will happen if you follow my instructions. Don’t move unless I tell you. Do not act on your own."
The two-headed dog lowered its necks, both throats rumbling with menace. Then, as its howl faded, the forest answered back.
One after another, shadows emerged from between the trees. More of them. Two-headed dogs, black as tar, slipping into view, their eyes glowing faintly red. They began to circle, their growls weaving together into a chorus of dread.
Veythor’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Fuck. It called its pack.
"Shimi slowly Stand up," he ordered.
She tried once... her legs gave out. Again... she crumpled. Fear shook her body so violently her knees wouldn’t obey. Her breaths came in broken gasps.
Don’t fear... stand up... stand up... she whispered to herself, over and over. Finally, with a desperate cry, she forced her body upright, swaying but standing.
Veythor’s gaze flickered briefly over the two of them, his thoughts cold.
These two useless shits... should I abandon them and run?
But then his eyes narrowed.
No... not yet Alone, every problem will be harder. They’ll serve their purpose.
Veythor suddenly spoke again, just as the dogs began creeping forward.
"Quietly... start backing down," he commanded, stepping back himself. Seeing him, Raika and Shimi followed his lead.
"Shimi, why do you fear these dogs so much? You didn’t even fear that monster this way," Raika asked, puzzled.
"I... I have Cynophobia," she admitted in a trembling voice.
Raika furrowed his brows. "Pardon me? What exactly is Cynophobia?"
"Cynophobia means being very scared of dogs," Veythor explained. "Even friendly ones can make you feel nervous, or make you want to run away. It’s a specific phobia... an animal phobia."
"You two, we might have to run," Veythor cut in sharply. "Backing off doesn’t seem to be working."
Suddenly, one of the two-headed dogs barked... loud and sharp. The others joined in, their thunderous voices echoing as the ground itself seemed to shiver. Shimi shrieked and collapsed again, clutching the dirt.
"No... no, no, don’t do this... don’t—!" Veythor kept warning.
Suddenly she screamed, her voice breaking her panic drowned out Veythor’s words. Then, in a burst of desperation, Shimi scrambled to her feet and bolted into the forest at full speed.
Fucking bitch... Veythor cursed under his breath, then roared aloud:
"Run after her, Raika... fast!"
They sprinted after Shimi, but the pack of two-headed hounds stormed behind them, their furious barks shaking the night. Their prey was fleeing, and they would never let it escape so easily.
They stumbled through the forest, weaving between roots and trees.
"Don’t get lost! If you do, we’ll die for sure!" Veythor shouted over his shoulder.
"Okay!" Raika and Shimi answered at the same time, their voices trembling.
"Tch... idiots," Veythor cursed under his breath. "I told them not to do anything stupid."
Branches whipped across his face as he ran, the bark scraping his shoulders when he slammed into trees. Still, he pushed forward, refusing to slow down.
Fucking hell... can’t these dangers give me a single moment of rest? One after another, it never ends.
Behind them, the pack of two-headed dogs barked furiously. Their eyes glowed a deep, blood-red, and their overlapping howls rattled the air, a grating sound meant to break minds before bodies.
The three children sprinted side by side, their speed finally matching. For an instant, it seemed they might escape.
The barks seemed to lower Then as Veythor glanced back. His blood ran cold. He skidded to a halt, dirt scattering beneath his feet. Raika stopped beside him, panting.
"Shimi’s... gone," Veythor muttered, his voice low and sharp.
"What?!"
Raika’s heart thundered, his eyes darting in every direction.But the truth was undeniable. Shimi’s figure had vanished dragged into the forest, swallowed along with the dog’s pack.
"No... this can’t be!"
Raika’s breath grew ragged, panic flooding his veins. His hands shot out, seizing Veythor by the collar.
"Veythor, do something! You have to do something! Save her!"
But Veythor’s face remained unreadable, calm as ever.
"Calm down, idiot panic won’t help. She was with us just minutes ago, which means she’s close. But if we don’t hurry, she might already be in their stomachs."
Raika froze, then slowly released his grip. His fists trembled helplessly. Veythor’s eyes narrowed as he thought.
Should I abandon them both and escape? Alone, survival might not be impossible... but in this forest? Hmph. Better to keep them alive for now. At the very least, I can use them as bait if things get worse.
"Raika," Veythor said coldly. "Let’s go back to the place where she vanished. Retrace our steps."
"...Okay." Raika’s voice was low, defeated.
They hurried back, scanning the ground.
"Hey. Look here," Veythor said suddenly, pointing at the dirt.
Raika squinted. "What? Dead leaves? Why are you showing me this crap?!"
A faint smile curved Veythor’s lips. "You don’t understand?"
"Don’t play games with me!" Raika snapped... "Shimi’s out there explain it!"
"Look carefully," Veythor said, his voice patient, almost mocking.
"These leaves weren’t in our path earlier. They’re from the right side, and they’ve been crushed. Not by one set of feet, but several."
Raika’s eyes widened as the realization struck him.
"You mean... the dogs dragged her that way."
"Correct,"
Veythor said smoothly. "So let’s follow. I just hope your little Shimi is still in one piece." His smile lingered calm, sharp, unreadable.