Four young men moved through the dense woods, their laughter echoing among the trees. One of them sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "We are going to need some water," he said, trying to swallow but his throat was dry.
"There is a lake not too far away," one of the other guys offered. "We can fill our bottles up at the lake."
"But, who will watch our stuff?" asked another, looking at the little pile of bags they left behind.
"I'll watch it," the other guy said. "You guys go ahead."
The others nodded, grabbed their bottles, and headed toward the lake. The other guy sat down on the ground, leaning back against a tree, enjoying the birds and the leaves rustling around him. He patiently waited for his friends to return until he heard it.
A scream.
Faint at first. Human. Full of desperation.
He moved his head in the direction of the sound. He stood up quickly and scanned the woods.
Another scream.
He took one step forward. He didn't know why he took the next couple of steps, only that he needed to. First, he checked their bags—none of the bags were disturbed—then he stepped deeper into the woods.
The scream continued.
It grew louder and deeper until just then, finding it: an immense metal wall of thick, twisted wire. His blood went cold.
He recognized it instantly. The Government Wall. The wall made to keep demons out of human territory. No one was permitted past the wall, not even the military, without high-level clearance.
But there was the screaming. The sound of someone. Someone was in pain. Human pain.
His eyes searched the wall. A small tear - a hole - it was hardly big enough to crawl through, close to the ground.
He paused.
Fear gripped his chest; but then he thought: What if someone is trapped? What if it is a demon attacking them? Without another thought, he ducked and pulled himself through.
When he entered the woods, it was different. It was darker and still. The screaming had stopped.
He moved forward - every move he made somehow made the silence louder. And then he saw it.
A structure. A shack? A hut? A home... here?
His eyes grew large.
A figure was standing in the free air. Human. Or so it thought, until it saw what he was doing.
The person crouched beside a grotesque carcass. A demon's smashed body. He was... eating it. Flesh. Muscle. Raw flesh.
He gasped and stepped back.
No. No. What is this? he thought.
He duck behind a tree. Heart racing. Breathing shaky. Sweat drenched his back. He turned to leave careful.
Snap.
A twig cracked beneath his feet.
And then -
Whoosh.
A gust. Sudden. Fast. Sharp.
He felt it before he saw it. A bleary slice of wind in the sky.
And then nothing.
His body was cut in half. The blood sprayed across the forest. The top half slumped downward, the lower half still upright braced against a tree.
From the shadows, a masked figure stepped into the clearing. Silent. Cold.
He took hold of the corpse and dragged it over to the demon-eater, throwing the corpse at their feet.
Meanwhile at the academy, Finn, Fanny, and Leon are sitting cross-legged in a dorm room on the floor together.
"Why did you just march in without knocking?" Finn snapped.
Fanny grinned. "Sorry, didn't know I was interrupting something special."
"There's nothing special," Finn snapped, blushing. "We told you there's nothing like that."
Leon chuckled. "What's up, Fanny?"
Fanny smiled faded. Fanny's tone changed.
"Today is Isla's birthday."
"Oh wow! So you're inviting us to the party?" Finn grinned.
"No."
Finn's face fell. "Oh."
Leon elbowed him. "Shut up, Finn. Fanny, please continue."
Fanny breathed in. "Her family doesn't celebrate her birthday. Her brother? We'll have a big party with guests; gifts until new-year are overflowing. But Isla? Nothing. They don't even get a cake. This year? I want to change that. A surprise party. I need your help."
Leon grinned. "Count me in."
Finn raised up. "Annot me as well; we'll kill it."
Fanny nodded, her eyes bright. "I'll keep Isla distracted. You both can deal with the room, and decorations and food. You have to make it a surprise; she's never had a birthday party before. You want it to be a day she never forgets."
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Leon was expertly going through the ingredients, and Finn was… being a nuisance.
"Here, mix this," Leon said, handing him a bowl.
Finn mixed, and immediately dumped half the batter on himself.
Leon groaned. "Just—go sit in a corner. Please."
Finn gasped, holding onto his chest. "Wow. So now you're dating and treat your childhood best friend like this? I'm offended."
Leon rolled his eyes. "Just stop being dramatic and hand me the cream."
Meanwhile, Fanny was walking with Isla.
"Oh no, I forgot my books," Isla said suddenly. "I will go get them."
"No, no! I'll get them," Fanny quickly said stepping into the way.
"Why not? I can just—"
"Uh uh! Stay right here! I will be as quick as I can!" Fanny sprinted down the hall, leaving Isla utterly bemused.
She's weird, Isla thought to herself.
Isla was thirsty, so she made her way to the kitchen. Fanny came running back with the books in hand, panic spread across her face.
Just as Isla touched the kitchen door, Fanny flew into view and shouted, "Isla! Wait!"
Isla was startled and turned to her. "What is going on with you? Why can't I go in the kitchen?"
"Just - trust me. Not yet," Fanny wheezed from her sprint back.
In the kitchen, Finn slipped on the pool of cream that had spilled upon the floor and cannoned into Leon, sending them both to the floor in heap, cream splattered on both their faces and clothes.
The kitchen door creaked open slowly, and the air was thick with shock.
Isla's eyes widened.
So did Fanny's.
Finn and Leon were frozen in an awkward pile, both turning shades of deep crimson.
Fanny shut the door firmly.
"It's not what it looks like!" Finn yelled vociferously.
Later that evening...
"Don't peek!" Fanny said playfully while cupping Isla's eyes with her palm, leading her down the hall.
"What are you doing, Fanny?"
Isla smiled, her heart full.
Never, in her life, did she think she'd have something like this. Real friends.
And that night, two students crept through the academy's dark halls.
They heard something.
A low, raspy growl.
"Did you hear that?"
"Let's go check it out."
They followed the sound to basement.
It was dark. It was cold.
The sound was louder now.
They stepped in—and froze.
A huge shadow stood in the dark.
Eyes glowed.
"M-monster," one murmured.
They screamed.