Chapter 3
~Morgan Vales~
A jolting thud shattered the eerie stillness behind Josh, causing him to whirl around in alarm. His eyes widened in terror, but there was nothing there. Instead, a trickle of blood streamed down from his eyes, a horrifying sight that sent shivers down his spine. Fear tightened its grip as he frantically scanned the surroundings, calling out Paulo's name in desperation. "Where are you? Where on earth are you, come on!" His voice trembled with panic.
Amidst the panic, a bow lay abandoned on the ground, catching Josh's eye. His heart pounded wildly as grunts echoed from the tree ahead. Ignoring the source, he continued his frantic search for Paulo, oblivious to the horror lurking above.
Suddenly, blood dripped from the branches, compelling Josh to slowly lift his gaze. Dread consumed him as he witnessed the tree ensnaring Paulo, draining the life from his friend till only a haunting silence remained. A bloodcurdling scream tore from Josh's lips as he turned and fled, the image etched in his mind.
Panic-stricken, Josh stumbled into a clearing, confusion clouding his thoughts. The blood trickling from his eyes ceased, but his mind raced with terror. He couldn't comprehend the horrors he'd witnessed.
Driven by a mix of horror and guilt, he rushed back to where Paulo lay. Tears streaked down his face as he dragged the lifeless body towards the village, his anguished cries echoing through the wilderness.
As he reached the village, a sea of astonished faces greeted him. Questions swirled around him, but he stood there, speechless, consumed by shock. Paulo's family rushed forward, tears streaming down their faces in disbelief.
"How could this happen?" Paulo's devastated wife cried out, her grief echoing through the gathering crowd. Josh could only stare, his eyes haunted by the horrors he had witnessed.
Concerned villagers approached Josh, their expressions filled with empathy. "What really happened?" one of them inquired gently. Josh, still reeling from the trauma, managed to stammer out an explanation.
"Paulo said he wanted to use the toilet. I waited for him, but when I went to look, I found his lifeless body," Josh recounted, his voice trembling with emotion.
The inquisitive villager pressed further, his voice laced with concern. "Did you witness what attacked him? What could have done this to him?"
Josh's mind flashed back to the horrifying scene with the tree and Paulo, but he shook his head in disbelief. "No," he muttered, his voice barely audible amidst the turmoil in his mind.
A heavy silence enveloped the gathering, broken only by another villager's grim revelation. "Four people from our village have disappeared or died this year alone." An air of fear settled among the villagers as they exchanged apprehensive glances.
Examining Paulo's remains, the man continued, "An animal from the mountains wouldn't leave his intestines untouched. This wasn't a predator attack; all the blood has been drained." Shock rippled through the crowd at the eerie description.
"Are you suggesting that thing in the forest killed him?" A tense question hung in the air as the villagers contemplated the unthinkable. "What else but the Imoogi vampire?" Fear choked the murmurs that followed.
Tension crackled in the air, thick with confusion. Some contemplated leaving, others weighed their options, fear gripping their hearts. Amidst the chaos, Paulo's daughters exchanged glances filled with anger and despair.
"Damn it! Should we abandon our village? What's our course of action now?" Fear and frustration mingled in the villagers' voices, seeking answers in a moment of escalating terror.
A narrow-eyed man pointed an accusing finger. "That cursed boy with no name!" His words ignited fury among the villagers, fixating their blame on me. The atmosphere grew hostile as Paulo's daughter, overwhelmed by grief and anger, fled from the village.
Meanwhile, in the snow-laden forest, I continued my search for sustenance. Spotting a lone fruit hanging from a tree, I plucked it and settled down to eat. The tranquility of the chirping birds above eased my weary soul.
As I poised to bite into the fruit, a sudden impact sent me reeling. Pain shot through my head as I collapsed, the fruit rolling away from my grasp. Blinking away the haze, I gazed up to see Paulo's enraged daughter, a peer of my age, glaring down at me.
Furious accusations pierced the air as Paulo's daughter confronted me. "You caused it, didn't you?" she accused, her voice edged with anger. I looked away, not in the mood for an argument, and attempted to retrieve my fruit. But before I could, she kicked it away, intensifying my frustration.
Resolute to avoid conflict, I stood up, aiming to reclaim the fruit. Yet, she rushed towards me, pushing me aggressively. I resisted the urge to retaliate, but her relentless assault pushed me to the breaking point. In a moment of desperation, I pushed her away and fled.
"Hey, stop right there!" Her voice echoed, demanding my attention. When she stumbled and fell, it compelled me to halt. I glanced back to find her weeping bitterly. Approaching her, I knelt down, gently wiping away her tears. She voiced her anguish, revealing the villagers' claims about my cursed existence, "The villagers said you're cursed by Imoogi vampire, and your father's flew out of fear."
Remorseful and silent, I continued to console her, absorbing her questions about the Imoogi vampire. When she demanded an answer, "Is it true that you're cursed?" I shook my head, unable or unwilling to respond. Her frustration peaked as she yelled at me, demanding clarification, "Is it a no? or you don't know!" but I chose to resume my escape.
"It's your fault! My father is dead because of you!" Her accusation lingered in the air as I fled, refusing to engage further. Exhaustion gripped me, compelling me to transition from running to walking through the snow-covered terrain.
Despite the biting cold and encroaching darkness, I pressed on, reaching a familiar cave. Reluctantly, I sought shelter within its foreboding depths. The villagers' words about my supposed curse echoed persistently in my mind, haunting my thoughts.
Alone in the chilling cave, I couldn't shake off the weight of accusation and fear that had been cast upon me. Thoughts of Paulo's daughter's words echoed relentlessly. The cursed label and the ominous specter of the Imoogi vampire loomed over me, leaving me restless and disheartening.