A boat is sailing towards a dark and misty island in the distance, with eight people on board the small deck. As the sounds of the water and the ship's engine have grown boring to hear, one of them loudly asks,
"So raise your hand if you are here for the fabled treasure that is said to be on this island."
Three people raise their hands. The woman nods her head, impressed at the number. "And you lot are after what?" the lady asks.
"We are investigating a rumor." One man, the tallest of the trio, answers for his isolated group.
"Ahh, that rumor wouldn't happen to be that the Diablo might be on this island?" The woman asks with a smirk on her face.
"So you've heard too." The tall man confirms.
"I did, and I was intrigued. So I dragged this sack of sin with me to show me the island." She points to the short, seasick man with his head over the ship's railing.
"A guide? Smart, but if he's not a warrior, he might just be a liability." The big guy of the group speaks.
"I'm not the guide." The man says, pulling himself back onto the deck. "I just know the guide. This broad just has trust issues and wouldn't take my word that I already told him that his services were requested." The short man responds.
"Anything with ears wouldn't trust a thing you said. But yes, I do have a guide. And I am quite capable of taking care of myself." The lady tells him.
The man doesn't respond, he just turns his attention back to the approaching island. They soon arrive on the dock, and upon arrival, they are met by a man with some dark shades on his face.
"Greetings. I am Neji. I am the guide you have requested, and I will take you through the safest route to what you seek. But first, my payment."
The lady pushes the short man forward. "Easy, this jacket is expensive." The man claims. Reaching into said jacket, the man pulls out a bag of herbs and places it in
Neji's open palm. Neji opens the bag and takes a whiff. Satisfied, Neji tells the group to follow him.
The short man hangs back and tries to escape to the ship, but when he turns around, he sees it has already pulled off. Deflated, the short man silently weeps in his hands.
"Don't worry, I'm sure that expensive jacket of yours will keep you safe." The lady tells him, laughing as she leaves to catch up with the group.
As the group slowly traverses the path led by Neji, Neji calmly explains the island's history. It isn't until he mentions the dangerous inhabitants of the island that the hunter's ears perk up.
"And what is so terrifying about these creatures?" One of the treasure hunters asks.
"Nothing at first glimpse. From what I've gathered from survivors, they are actually quite cute. But it's once they look into your eyes that they take on a more demented form."
"Such as what?" Another ask.
"Well, the inhabitants of this island are rumored to see your fear and transform into something similar. One survivor described it as 'your nightmare's fear, seen through the windows of the soul. Quite poetic.' Neji explains.
"You keep saying survivors. Does that mean that the treasure has already been found?" Ask a hunter.
"A few were close, but most turned tail at the end of the trail. I only hope they survive, as I'm a natural optimist, but I've never received confirmation. Once I start to walk, I don't stop, and I don't look back." Neji informs them, continuing his steady pace.
"So keep up or die. Got it." One of the hunters states.
"I would say walk with your eyes closed, but I know I would lose at least half of you if that happened." Neji chuckles.
"And how is it that you can walk this deadly trail without losing your life?" The female asks.
"Simple," Neji says, spinning around and walking backwards. He calmly removes his glasses, and the sight shocks a few of the tourists. "There are no windows to see through."
As the group continues their travel, Neji congratulates them. "Wow, we've finally hit the quarter mark, and all of you are still here! This is a promising group."
"And why is that? I'm actually curious as to what these things look like." Says one hunter.
"I ain't. I've ran into some of those survivors. They usually end up in a room with a never-ending lightbulb. Afraid of the dark forever." The short man states.
"It's probably because of the season. The sexes of the inhabitants have a different hibernation schedule. There are only about 60 days when both sexes are up simultaneously.
"Luckily, you've arrived when the males are up. The females are a lot more aggressive due to them outnumbering the males 6 to 1." Neji tells them.
"Well, hopefully, our good luck keeps run-" The hunter in the back is interrupted, feeling something land on him.
Turning around, the hunter sees an adorable little creature on his back looking into his eyes with the biggest gaze. The hunter can't help it as he is sucked into this cute creature's stare.
Flashing a big smile, the creature jumps off the hunter's back and disappears into the forest.
"Hey, uhm, I think I just ran into one of those inhabitants you mentioned earlier, " the hunter informs the group.
"So it begins," Neji states as the group goes on high alert, pulling weapons out as they prepare for the worst. "What color was it?"
"It was a bright red. Really adorable, too, " the hunter says, walking backwards.
"That's good," Neji replies, continuing his walk.
"Why is that?" The assassin asks.
"Well, it's not good, but the brown ones have a twin that they share the fear with, so it's like double trouble," Neji tells them.
Suddenly, a rumble is heard in the bushes. The group tenses up as they prepare for an attack, slowly moving backwards so as not to separate from Neji too much.
Bursting out of the bushes comes a giant spider, set ablaze and screeching as it races towards the group. As a fiery spiderweb shoots towards the hunter in the back, he passes out before it can touch him.
The short guy runs behind the female, who immediately flies into the air, and the fourth hunter in line perfectly slices the web down the middle, sparing the rest of the group.
The hunter smiles and dives into combat with the spider. Being cautious not to get too caught up in combat that he loses the group, the brave hunter quickly defeats the spider.
Kicking the passed-out hunter in the side to wake him up, the two quickly catch up to the group, who continued the trek.
"Welcome back," Neji chimes.
"Thanks for the help back there." The hunter sheepishly states.
"No problem. If blazed spiders are all I have to worry about, this trek might be easier than we thought." The brave hunter chuckles.
"The inhabitants tend to match the level of the person whose fear they have captured. Hopefully, there is someone here strong enough to deal with your fear." Neji states.
The female finally floats back down to earth and lands beside the short man. The man scoffs, catching her in the side of his eye. "Never took you for a coward."
"Never said I was a warrior. But why fight when you can reach heights your enemies can't touch you." She states, floating through the air on her back. "Besides, didn't you try to run behind me?" She retorts.
"You know I'm not a warrior, " the short man mutters as he walks away.
As they continue to walk, the female, still floating on her back, looks at the passing leaves that block out the sky. Suddenly, an inhabitant soars through her view.
It's quick, but it's just enough time for the two to lock eyes.
The inhabitant flies through the air and lands in front of Neji, smiling, as it quickly runs into the bushes.
The group instantly becomes alert. "Was this one red or brown?" Neji asks.
"Brown, " the tall assassin replies as he and his colleagues coolly walk behind Neji.
"Oof," Neji comments, shaking his head.
Suddenly, a giant crocodile with dark wings comes flying out of the bushes. Jaws wide open, the crocodile aims right for the girl's torso.
Eyes white with fear, she instantly propels herself into the sky.
The crocodile skids to a halt and glares at the hunters. The hunter pulls out his knife as he smiles at the crocodile. Diving in with a roar, the brave hunter takes on the predator.
The female floats in the air, her heart beating so hard she can hear it. She takes deep breaths, trying to calm herself, when she hears movements in the treetops.
Eyes darting around trying to find where the inhabitant will strike, the woman screams when another flying crocodile explodes into the skies, trying to claim its meal.
The girl flies around, trying to shake it, but this crocodile is quite agile and keeps up with her. Her fear gets the best of her, and she decides to fly through the trees to try and shake it, but it's to no avail.
She returns to the open sky and continues to evade it, but the crocodile has closed the gap and swoops down and smacks her with its giant sharp claws.
The female lands hard back onto the path ahead of Neji and the group, who are slowly walking up.
The female tries to stand up, but when the crocodile crashes down between her and the group, her knees buckle, and she falls back onto the ground.
Seeing the female crawling backwards, too scared to fight, the brave hunter, bloodied from his fight and carrying the other scary hunter, jumps up to the front.
"Are you three going to be of any help?" he yells
"We came only for the Diablo. Your fears are your problems." The assassin comments as he continues behind Neji.
The brave hunter scoffs and leaves the injured hunter behind for them to carry as he rushes to help the female.
The three assassins walk past the dizzy, scary hunter, unfazed by his condition, and leave him to be caught by the short man, who barely manages to do so.
The crocodile slowly creeps up on the female, enjoying the evident fear on her face as he comes closer and closer to ending her life.
Stepping on her leg with his massive claw. The woman screams out in pain.
Opening her eyes, she sees the open jaws of the crocodile closing in on her.