----
“It made sense Jaden was suspicious. Since they’d arrived,
the ce didn’t seem like anyone had been there. No signs
of a struggle, nothing that said people had passed through.
“Then, as soon as they stepped in, they were met with all
kinds of danger. If they weren’t as skilled as they were,
things could’ve gone bad.
"David and Jaden both had the same doubt. If the vige
head had been lying, then the Darling family’s bodyguards
shouldn’t be any more trustworthy.
“Like Jaden said, the ce didn’t look like anyone had
been there at all.
----
“Let’s keep moving," David said.
“They kept going, but soon, he noticed something off. The
fog ahead was getting thicker, turning into a white cloud
that swallowed up the path.
“Stop!" hemanded again.
“Where is all this foging from?" Jaden asked, gripping
his gun and scanning the mist.
“Stay close," David said quietly, tightening his grip on his
knife.
"A dozen bodyguards immediately moved in front of David,
guns ready and eyes sharp, watching every corner for
movement.
----
“You hear that?" Nathan asked, peering into the fog.
“[ hear it. It’sing from up ahead," Aran, the mercenary
captain, said, stepping in front of David, his face set with
determination. "Everyone be ready."
“Jaden’s bodyguards took up positions at the back, just as
alert, scanning the surroundings.
“All of the bodyguards formed a protective barrier around
David and Jaden, prepared to keep their employers safe.
“The hissing sound kept getting louder, and the
bodyguards instinctively lined up, ready for whatever was
coming.
----
“Then, out of the fog, five long tongues shot straight at
them.
“Fire!" Aran ordered. In a sh, the bodyguards fired, their
bullets slicing through the air toward the tongues.
"The tongues noved like they had
minds of thelrown, dodging and
darting even’as bullets tore into ￠~
them. N&thing seemed to slow them
downy he bodyguards hackecdéand
shotdesperately, but the slimy
thisgs just kepting.
----
“What are these things?" Jaden growled, holstering his gun
and pulling out his knife.
“David shook his head, his jaw tight. "No clue."
“One of the tonguesshed out, coiling around a
bodyguard’s leg. With a startled yell, he went down,
scraping at the ground as the tongue dragged him toward
the fog.
“Hang on!" Aran barked, lunging forward.
"He grabbed the fallen guard by the
arms andttried to pull him back, butt
the tongue was too strong. Wi
frustrated grunt, Aran yanked.fis
knifesand plunged it into theGlimy
appendage.
----
“The tongue shuddered, loosening just enough for Aran to
drag the man to safety.
“Knives! Use your knives!" David yelled, backing up a step
as more tongues slithered toward them.
"The bodyguards didn’t need to be
told twicesThey shed and go
stabbedyat the writhing mass, the
metaltie ng of des mixing with
screeches that cut through the air
likesnails on a chalkboard.
----
“Then came a deep rumble, low and guttural, making the
ground tremble beneath their feet.
“The monsters areing, they must be huge!” Nathan
muttered, eyes darting around as the fog in front of them
seemed to ripple.
The tremors grew stronger, the sound louder, until five
enormous lizards emerged from the mist.