"Lily and Ethan?"
"How did you know?"
"Because they harass every stranger that comes through here."
Kai laughed softly.
The two shared dinner.
Simple food.
Bread.
Soup.
Vegetables.
Yet after waking up with nothing, it felt like a feast.
For a brief moment, things felt normal.
Safe.
Peaceful.
Then a scream shattered the night.
The bowl slipped from Kai's hand.
It hit the floor.
The scream came again.
Outside.
Desperate.
Panicked.
Lee was already on his feet.
The two rushed outside.
Villagers emerged from their homes carrying lanterns.
A woman stumbled into the center of the road.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Please!"
Her voice cracked.
"Please help!"
Kai immediately recognized her.
Lily's mother.
The crowd gathered around her.
Lee stepped forward.
"What happened?"
The woman struggled to speak.
"My daughter..."
Her voice broke.
"She hasn't come home."
Silence.
The crowd froze.
Another woman stepped forward.
Pale.
Terrified.
"So has Ethan."
A cold feeling spread through Kai's body.
The villagers exchanged worried looks.
Lee's expression darkened.
"When did they leave?"
"This afternoon."
"They went gathering herbs."
The words hit Kai immediately.