Damian walked steadily ahead of me like a weapon that would destroy anything that threatened to come too close, while Anson behind me felt like a shield that would keep me safe from all harm, and I held onto that, assuring myself that I would make it out alive. We were on the side of the forest that bordered Laydel since that was where we suspected its victims were taken from and where its lair possibly was, but so far, nothing had come up
The two marked the trees with their magic as we went on, a reminder of where they had been. We continued our walk, and it was only when we noticed the sun peering on the horizon that Anson picked me up and ran. We had to get back; there was no need making anyone suspicious
"We need to think of something else. We can't keep walking around hoping to find it," I said, sipping on my juice. Can't you use your ma…abilities to locate it?"
"It's harder here, our power isn't as strong, plus your world is filled with so many foreign scents we can't distinguish it from the Wendigo's and that's assuming it has the same scent as the rest of the Wendigo's in its family," Anson answered in a whisper
"Family?"
"Remember I told you it's a boss, right? There are only a few of them, and they act like the leaders of a group, which we just call a family. You can identify many of the Wendigos as a particular group since they smell similar, although they are usually loners, they prefer to stay together for security purposes."
"So the boss doesn't necessarily have to smell like members of its family."
"Yeah, perhaps it would have been easier to find it if it did."
"We need a way to draw its attention to me if we can't find it."
Both brothers remained silent, considering
"Wait, we tried to keep silent yesterday, and perhaps that's the problem. What if making some noise could work?"
"Too much noise could draw unwanted attention from other people," Damian answered
"Who's talking about too much noise? What if I pretend to be a lost traveler calling out for help, the forest is dense enough to cover up the sound of my voice?"
The two looked to each other, then to me. "Also, you two shouldn't keep too close to me, it could scent you and choose not to approach. We need to lower its guard."
"What, that's crazy, Lyla. That could put you in serious danger."
"You won't be too far right? How about we try to mask your scent?"
"With what?"
"Aah, I don't know how about…perfume and lots of it, maybe something sweet like a flower or earthy, something like that could possibly blend in the forest or at least be close enough."
"I don't know Lyla."
"Anson, we have to get rid of that thing fast, so we're doing it my way."
Anson wanted to object, but I threw him a look of warning; I had made up my mind. So he turned to Damian, hoping he could do something to plead his case, but his brother looked at me and nodded his head in agreement
After it was settled, we went to the nearest supermarket we could find such a perfume, and I'd be the first to admit, even though it was my idea, it seemed stupid, but what choice did we have? We managed to find the closest fit and purchased two bottles. I hadn't thought of how the two even had money until now, but I didn't care enough to ask. What we were trying tonight was already occupying most of my thoughts
Night fell, and we headed to the forest again. Only when we were a few feet away did the brothers start spraying themselves with the perfume. By the time they were done, the smell was strong enough to bring on a migraine.
Rushing past the trees we had previously marked, we delved deeper into the forest, till we were a bit further from where we had reached last night, there the two separated from me and went to hide
I steadied my breathing and readied for my performance. I had no experience in acting, so I only hoped that either the movies I had watched over the years would help or that thing was oblivious to the lie. One breath in, then out, and I shouted
"Help me…someone please help," I screamed, walking further ahead, "help…please"
I stumbled as I walked, faking disorientation, and continued with my plea, "Please help anyone, help me."
I walked on, and although I didn't know exactly where the two hid, I could feel their eyes focused on me
"Help me anyone…is anyone there…I'm lost, I was walking a trail but got lost…please help."
On and on I went, hoping it would take the bait, and just as I crossed a small wild berry bush, did I hear rustling from my left, "help me, anyone, please help," I called feigning ignorance
"Here," I heard someone say, and I almost thought that someone truly had heard me and chosen to come to my rescue. I almost cursed, thinking that was the case, but remembered something, a detail about the creature that Anson had shared, the boss could mimic a person's voice
A shiver crawled up my spine, and my legs almost shifted to make a run for it, but I remained rooted and released a breath of nervousness
"Who's there?" I managed to ask. My voice, shaky, not entirely faked
"I'm here to help," the voice said, too human-like for me to imagine that a beast could be the carrier of that sound
"Oh, thank goodness, I've been walking for a while now. Where are you? It's too dark, I can't see you."
There in the corner of my eye, I saw a silhouette approach, and it took everything in me not to run. I turned to see its glowing yellow eyes approach, but it briefly stopped surveying me
"It is you…the one with the gift," it said, recognizing me, and its once firm human voice cracked as if the joy of seeing me was too much to contain the facade
"You have come to me," it continued, still standing on the same spot, "the heavens are great, they delivered you to me." The creature said, the voice more wicked, making me stumble back, and it let out a screeching sound that I imagined was its way of laughing
"Don't be scared, my precious, the heavens have brought you where you belong, and I shall make good use of you, oh, how good you will taste."
My heart beat too loudly for me to hear whatever it said next, and I broke into a run. I heard it move, snapping the twigs on its feet. I ran as fast I could using all the might in me but I could feel it on my back taunting me because I knew deep down it could ran faster but I did not stop neither did I look behind I let my legs carry me until I fell face first into the ground having tripped on a protruding root
"Now you are mine," I turned to face the beast before me, and I almost screamed
Tall with slender arms and legs, with a skeletal face that would haunt my dreams for days to come. It smiled, showcasing its sharp razor teeth that would soon dig into me. Its antlers, like those of a deer, protruded from its skull, too huge for its head. It moved its arm towards me, and I gulped at those sharp claws as they approached my face