The rain fell slowly and heavily, each drop striking the aged canopy like the tired beats of a weary heart. A faint wind drifted through the forest, carrying a sharp, acrid scent that crept into the air — the smell of blood, not yet dry.
"Run faster, you idiots!"
Kai's voice tore through the silent woods.
Three young men sprinted between towering trees, their feet slipping in the wet mud, breaths coming fast and ragged. Behind them, from the depths of the forest's shadows, came dozens of tiny, frantic, chaotic footsteps — like a massive swarm of insects on the hunt.
"Flash!" Mike shouted.
The staff in his hands flared to life.
A blinding burst of light ripped through the rain, illuminating the scene behind them. Gaunt figures with gray-green skin and bloodshot eyes emerged — goblins. Dozens of them, mouths gaping wide, jagged teeth bared, claws scraping against tree trunks as they charged forward.
"Die!"
The snap of a bowstring rang out.
Two arrows from Duke sliced through the air, burying themselves into the chests of the leading goblins. They collapsed into the mud, screeching in warped, inhuman sounds before going still.
"Now! Take advantage while they're blinded!" Kai barked.
Kai spun around and charged straight into the horde. In his hand was a mid-sized sword, chipped and worn; in the other, a round wooden shield darkened by rain. Duke and Mike didn't hesitate — they followed immediately.
"Die, you bastards!"
Steel met flesh.
The crack of breaking bones, broken groans, the heavy stench of blood mixing with the damp smoke of the forest. Blades pierced, arrows tore through bodies, staffs smashed into twisted skulls. The surviving goblins writhed in desperate agony, claws flailing wildly before falling silent.
At last… only the sound of rain remained.
Kai planted his sword into the ground and gasped for breath. Blood — it was no longer clear whose — dripped slowly down the blade.
"Damn… that should be all of them."
Duke scanned the surroundings, then said coldly,
"Gather the bodies. Burn them. Before they get a chance to reproduce."
No one objected.
The three of them quietly dragged each goblin corpse into a nearby rock cave — deep enough to keep out the rain, sealed enough that the wind wouldn't snuff out the fire. Kai pulled an old kerosene bottle from his pack, his hand trembling slightly as he poured the pungent liquid over the misshapen pile of bodies.
"Mike, light it."
Mike lowered his head, exhaustion in his eyes, then stepped forward. The staff in his hand trembled faintly.
"Light up."
A small spark appeared… and in the next instant, flames roared to life, devouring the heap of goblin corpses. The firelight reflected off the three men's faces — exhausted, filthy, but alive.
They slumped down beside the fire, no one speaking for a long while.
Kai was the one to break the silence.
"How many days has it been… since we were brought here?"
"Three days," Duke replied, adjusting the frayed bowstring.
Mike sighed, leaning back against the stone wall.
"Only three days? Feels like a whole week."
Kai silently wiped the dried blood from his sword. The unsteady firelight flickered in his eyes.
"I miss..."
Duke glanced over, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Miss what? School?"
Kai let out a soft laugh — one completely devoid of joy.
"Not a chance, asshole…"
He paused. His gaze dropped, his voice lowering, nearly swallowed by the sound of the rain.
"…but yeah. I guess so."
The wind continued to blow. Outside, the rain showed no sign of stopping. That scent still lingered in the air — the smell of death, of blood and flesh.
Inside the cave, the fire continued to smolder.
Kai, Duke, and Mike stared out into the darkness, eyes heavy with exhaustion, because they knew the forest had not yet fallen asleep.