Zed stood before the grotesque sight—five strangers, all pinned to the front of the house with blood still dripping from their lifeless hands. He wiped the sweat from his brow and forced a crooked smile.
"I don't even wanna know what's going on…" he muttered.
Then he froze.
Through the bloodied scene, he spotted a familiar figure.
"That's Floris."
The house creaked.
A voice echoed from within the walls calm, sweet, and chilling.
"Welcome, child. I hadn't, for a single second, believed you'd return. But everything went along so smoothly…"
Zed's eyes narrowed.
"…Kate?"
"In the flesh," the voice answered proudly.
Zed raised an eyebrow. "So I'm guessing you're not a hunter."
"No," she said, her tone dry. "As you can obviously see."
"Shame then," Zed replied, unsheathing his sword. "Release Floris and I'll spare you."
Kate laughed—a high, ringing sound that echoed from the windows.
"You're far inferior to me."
One of the windows burst open. A wooden stake shot out with sharp speed.
Zed ducked just in time. It sliced the air where his head had been.
Miss Kate didn't stop.
From within, she turned to one of the pinned strangers—Traveler One—and consumed them in a flash of red energy.
"Mmm. That makes one," she said, licking her lips. "I feel stronger already."
Chains exploded from the house's four corners like steel vipers, lashing toward Zed.
Zed moved quickly, dodging left and right—but one of the chains whipped him hard across the side, sending him crashing to the ground like a ragdoll.
"Gah—you bitch," he groaned, dragging himself back up.
My fight with those brothers was something else… he thought grimly. But right now, she's far stronger than both. This is bad. But I still need that cure…
Inside the house, Miss Kate calmly sipped her tea, her expression unbothered.
She absorbed another body "Two.
Thank you for being here," she said sweetly. "You'll witness each and every one I consume."
Zed took a breath. "I wanna ask you something."
He stalled for time, his grip unsure. "Why poison Felt?"
"Oh?" she replied, entertained. "Good question. Since you're still useful to me, I'll give you a little clue. I poisoned him to lure you here."
"Me?" Zed blinked.
"Yes. Monsters who consume others in large numbers tend to leave behind a witness—like a thank-you gift. But…"
Zed didn't see it.
A chain slid silently under the grass and coiled around his ankle.
"…they're just prey to me."
The chain yanked him off his feet.
Zed was slammed back and forth into the dirt—over and over—until blood flew from his mouth. Finally, he slashed at the chain and broke free.
I'm short-distance… he thought, gritting his teeth. I hate to say it, but I wish Felt was here.
Meanwhile, Miss Kate consumed Travelers Three and Four without breaking stride.
Zed's eyes widened.
"She's absorbing them faster!"
Chains flew again too fast to track. Before he could move, they wrapped around him tight, crushing him in mid-air.
"She's fast and getting faster!" he screamed in his mind. "AHHHHHHH!"
Then a figure fell from the sky like lightning.
CRACK.
The chains shattered.
Felt landed between them, knees bent, hair falling in front of his sharp eyes.
"Dumbass," he said, standing tall.
Zed spat blood. "Tch. I was doing just fine."
"You're not dead?" zed asked with a tilt of his head.
"I'm resistant to poison," Felt said flatly. "Long story. Anyway… what's the plan now?"
Zed looked around nervously.
"You're the plan guy, Felt."
Felt slapped his forehead. "Unbelievable."
Miss Kate's eyes widened inside the house. "That face… I know you. The Unknown Entity told me not to kill you."
Both Zed and Felt turned at once. "The Unknown Entity?!"
Miss Kate smiled again—and sucked in the fifth and final traveler.
Only Floris remained, pinned high on the house.
Zed's gaze snapped to her. "We need to get her down—now."
Felt scoffed. "Tch. I'm not helping that spoiled little witch…"
He paused.
"…Never mind. She could be useful."
The Unknown Entity? What does it want with me? he wondered.
Suddenly, chains flew at them from both sides.
They dodged swiftly but a hidden chain from the ground whipped Zed across the back.
"Zed!" Felt shouted, turning.
But another chain slammed him, too, knocking him down.
He grunted then smirked.
Felt grabbed the chain mid-air.
It sparked.
"Hungry?" he whispered.
Electricity surged through the metal, straight back into the house. Miss Kate screamed.
Zed took the opening.
"On it!"
Miss Kate slapped Felt with a burst of force but he twisted, then raised his hand.
A roaring bolt of lightning shot from his palm.
BOOM!
Zed leapt into the air, grabbed Floris, and ducked behind the nearest tree.
Floris stirred in his arms, barely conscious.
"Heads… they're… heads…" she whispered, trembling.
Zed held her tighter. "Slow down. Are you okay?"
Floris suddenly grabbed his collar, eyes wide with fear.
"She's not alone…!"