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The warmth of the fire cast long shadows against the walls of the log cabin, flickering over the furniture and floorboards. The crackling of the flames was the only sound breaking the heavy silence. Outside, the stillness of the night was unnerving, as if the whole world had frozen in place—waiting, watching.
Rite sat against the wall, his eyes sharp and unwavering. He'd been through this too many times to allow himself the luxury of sleep in such a situation. The creatures were out there, stalking the night with their unblinking, soulless eyes. He didn't need to see them to know they were waiting for the right moment. And that moment wasn't when they were still awake.
Lisa, however, had already resigned herself to the creeping exhaustion that weighed on her. She sat next to the hearth, her legs tucked beneath her. The fire's warmth was comforting, but it did little to ease the gnawing sense of dread in her chest. Her eyelids fluttered, but she forced herself to stay alert, glancing from the window to the dark corners of the room.
Beside her, Yuna curled up on her lap, her small body warm and soft. The little dragon's rhythmic breathing was the only thing that kept Lisa from completely unraveling. Despite the night's growing chill, Lisa's fingers absentmindedly stroked Yuna's soft white fur, finding a small sense of comfort in the dragon's innocence.
"Rite," Lisa whispered, her voice shaky. "How can you stay so calm?"
Rite didn't turn to her, his gaze fixed firmly on the window. His voice was low, almost detached. "I've been through worse," he said, his tone carrying the weight of experience. "There's no point in panicking. They feed off fear. If you give it to them, they'll use it against you."
Lisa nodded, though her nerves were far from settled. She let out a soft sigh, trying to close her eyes just for a moment. She was so tired. Every inch of her body felt heavy with the exhaustion that had been creeping in since they first arrived in the village. Yet, sleep was impossible. The constant feeling of eyes on her skin kept her awake, a thousand invisible gazes pressing in from the shadows outside.
Yuna shifted on her lap, her soft growl rumbling in her throat. Lisa immediately snapped her eyes open, her heart leaping in her chest. Her gaze swept toward the window again. The darkness outside seemed thicker than before. She couldn't help but wonder if the creatures were closer now.
A cold breeze brushed the window, but it wasn't the wind that made Lisa freeze. It was the sound.
A soft tap. Faint, but clear enough to send a chill running down her spine.
Lisa's eyes locked on the window, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, everything was silent again. The fire crackled, but the world outside seemed to hold its breath.
Then another tap, louder this time.
The creature had arrived.
Lisa's heart thudded in her chest as she slowly turned her head to Rite. "Did you hear that?"
Rite didn't move. His expression remained unreadable. "I heard it."
Before Lisa could react, the creature's face appeared in the corner of her vision. Pale, glowing eyes, staring directly at her through the window, just beyond the thin veil of shadows.
Lisa's breath hitched as her gaze locked onto the eyes. The creature didn't move, didn't blink. It simply stared—unblinking, unrelenting. And then, that familiar twisted smile curled across its face.
A cold shiver ran down Lisa's spine. It was so unsettling, so unnerving. The smirk was… mocking, almost as if it enjoyed the fear radiating from her.
Without thinking, she reached down and pulled Yuna closer, clutching the small dragon to her chest. Yuna's fur was soft, warm—but even that small comfort couldn't shake the cold dread settling in her gut.
"I don't think it's leaving," Lisa whispered, her voice barely audible. Her chest tightened with fear as she held Yuna close.
Rite slowly turned his head, narrowing his eyes at the window, his sharp gaze piercing the darkness. "It will. They always leave when they get bored. They're just watching for now."
Lisa's hand gripped Yuna tighter. "Why… why do they watch us? What do they want?"
"They feed on fear. Fear and pain," Rite replied, his voice calm but firm. "They don't need to do much more than that. They want to break us down, get us to crack. If you show them you're scared, it gives them more power. So you need to stay strong."
Lisa swallowed, but her throat felt dry. "I don't know how to."
Rite didn't say anything. He simply turned away from the window and glanced at the others.
"I'm staying awake," Lisa murmured, more to herself than to anyone else.
"Good," Rite replied. "We'll need someone to keep watch."
But Lisa wasn't so sure she could keep her eyes open much longer. The pull of sleep was too strong. It was only a matter of time before her body betrayed her. She could already feel herself nodding off, her eyes fluttering closed despite her efforts.
Yuna shifted on her lap again, curling tighter against her. Lisa couldn't help but sigh, the little dragon's warmth a small but welcome comfort in the face of everything. If only she could sleep. If only she could let go of the fear long enough to rest.
But sleep never came. Not yet.
Her mind raced with thoughts of the creatures. Of the darkness outside. And the twisted grin of the one who was still watching them from the window. She didn't know when it had happened, but eventually, Lisa's body gave in to exhaustion. Her head tipped back against the wall as sleep finally overtook her—reluctantly, unwillingly.
The night continued to stretch on. The fire crackled quietly in the hearth, and the shadows in the cabin seemed to grow longer and darker.
Outside, the creatures lingered, watching.
But inside, there was a brief moment of peace—at least for a few.
Rite stayed awake, his sharp eyes never leaving the window, his senses alert to every sound. He would not let them fall asleep entirely—not yet. Not until the danger was passed.
And, in the depths of the night, it seemed the creatures were content to wait as well.