Host, Please Be Honest! What Exactly Are You?

One step forth, another step forth.

Angzen walked on tiptoes, holding onto Chan-ki's clothes.

His hands were slightly quivering, and his body filled with goosebumps.

A dry throat, a clenched pack of jaw muscles, and a sickening wave of acid welling up in his belly.

The further they declined the dark, moldy, and winding ancient stone stairway, the more troubling his heart became.

Wheee~~

A gentle yet icy breeze suddenly caressed his cheek from nowhere.

Where did that come from?

Angzen swallowed dryly, unable to wet his now parched throat. He wanted to speak up but found his throat constricted, as though fearing to make a sound and attract any evil.

Mommy...

Angzen tightened his grip on Chan-Ki's attire, constantly throwing his head behind his shoulders to look back.

In horror movies, there was always something following the protagonists from the back, no?

"Stop fidgeting," Chan-ki spoke in a calm time with only slight tremors not easily detected.

"The Zombies haven't broken in yet. So there's nothing behind us."

"Ye-- Yes... Yes! Yes! You're right."

I hope you are. Angzen thought, looking at the dimly lit stairway that glowed with orange-yellowish candle hues.

"We have to hurry up and find a way out of here. So pick up the pace."

He's right. Angzen thought, nodding his head in agreement. Who knows when the Zombies would break down that door?

If they didn't prepare their escape or block the way, things would only get work for themselves.

Good heavens!

Angzen was already at his wit's end.

Like so, the duo proceeded down the ancient stone stairway similar to that of a dungeon.

And soon, they arrived at the bottom.

What to expect?

.

Bubuum!

Angzen's heart froze, feeling his legs suddenly grow heavier.

"Wait!" He spoke out anxiously. "Shouldn't we check first?"

His instincts told him there was danger ahead.

Chan-ki stayed quiet. "Even if an enemy was there, our candle flames had already given off our arrival. With the Zombies behind, we have no choice but to keep moving."

Saying that, he calmly walked a few more steps down before firmly planting his feet on the bottom floors.

F***!

AngZen knew they had no other way out.

Gritting his teeth, he also followed behind Chan-ki.

And at this moment, the door above broke with a loud crackling noise.

Zombies!

They've unbroken their way in!

"What do they do now?" Angzen jumped in horror, unable to take his eyes away from the stairway behind them.

But little did he know that this was the least of his worries.

Chan-ki forced himself to look at the bottom floor they were on. But what he saw was enough to give him nightmares for an eternity.

Plop.

His body weakened in horror at the gruesome sight before him.

"Doh--- don't touch us... Please... Let us go..."

Angzen's tears poured out from the sight before him.

Yes... They were surrounded.

Those vile little creatures with tails, horns and rotting bodies smiled devilishly at them from all corners of the floor.

Blugghh~

This time, Angzen pulled after getting a proper look at the creepy, ugly things.

How can something be so hideous?

Clitter. Clitter~

There was that weird sound again.

The creatures echoed out in unison with bright shiny eyes.

They settled back, becoming one with the wall, though their eyes still glowed like those of wolves in the dark.

And soon, the eyes finished altogether.

But this wasn't all Angzen witnessed.

.

Puff!

The ancient room that was as big as a hidden ancient treasure vault now had countless people hovering in despair.

Where they the townsfolk?

Their bodies were stained with blood, and their clothes were torn and ripped.

What a huge space.

The space was so huge, probably built as a haven for the town in dire situations back in ancient times.

But now, the space was being used by these creatures to trap them all!

What's funny was that the large group of people had been screaming and telling the duo to flee and run when they saw them arrive.

Yet, the duo didn't seem to hear a thing.

It was only after taking a few steps further into the room that a blanket of 'nonexistent' fog cleared from their eyes.

F***!

Did these townsfolk appear out of nowhere?

That was how Angzen saw things, not knowing that the townsfolk had always been here.

"People... People..."

A few brave townsfolk called out to the duo with vigilant eyes, not wanting to catch the attention of these creatures looming over them from the walls.

Chan-ki and Angzen reached the 40something years old man surrounded by others.

This man should either be the chief of police or a government official overseeing the town's activities.

And sure enough, he was right.

The man was Mayor Raymore.

His wife, children, men, and many others saw him as a pillar of support in these harsh times.

There were also several police officers amongst the group of hundreds.

But nothing was more eye jarring than the pile of human bones and clothes in the small corner of the vast space.

.

F***!

Angzen once again cursed his luck, envisioning himself being eaten by these beings.

Chan-Ki's eyes delivered, with no one knowing what he thought.

Raymore, on the other hand, was shaking his head, seeing more people entrapped in this space.

"You guys... Sigh... You really have bad luck to be here."

Everyone else thought so as well.

"Tell us, are you part of any investigation teams?"

"Has the country attached importance to our sudden disappearance?"

"Will we get saved?"

One by one, many gathered around, hoping for a miraculous answer.

One should know that it was just yesterday that all this happened. Yet, it already seemed like an eternity to them.

Mayor Raymore himself was a busy man that needed to keep in contact with the many government officials across the country with assignments, documents, and projects to complete on a daily basis.

Though it's only been a day, his cell phone and that of his subordinates and secretary should've rung severally... If there was still signal around the parts.

Unfortunately, no call could go through. Thus, those looking for him might delay for a day or so, thinking maybe he fell sick and would get to them.

But if they couldn't contact him for a while, they would definitely send people to investigate or ping-pong his location, wanting to know what was going on with him.

Additionally, the police officers and many others had to constantly contact people out of the town too.

So if many reports got relayed out about their sudden disappearance, wouldn't the many officials out of the town find it strange?

Why were the reports all about people in this town?

Undoubtedly, everyone was more or less riding on common sense and their importance to once to others out of the town for their rescue.

So they knew that eventually, people would notice their disappearance.

But for how long would they have to wait for their rescuers to arrive?

For all they knew, they might get eaten during this time of waiting.

.

Everyone's anxiousness had no bounds, questioning every visitor thrown in the group alongside them since yesterday.

Since their capture, there have been over 30 visitors who were added to their group in the span of a single day.

Angzen felt uncomfortable underneath everyone's scorching eyes.

"Everyone... It's not what you think... We... We were just passing by the town and stopped for a meal."

This...

Raymore and the rest looked at each other, seeing the flames of hope diminish further.

"Mayor Raymore, I thought you said the government would definitely notice our dissonance before nightfall?"

"Yeah! I think you overestimate your value to them. Or does how haven't they arrived get?"

"Good mother of pearls! We're doomed! Doomed, I tell you! We will end up as meals for tense creatures!!"

The atmosphere was gloomy the more many complained.

"That's enough!" Mayor Raymore bellowed.

Did they think they were the only ones afraid?

He too was human and scared out of his pants. But he knew more than anyone else that keeping a calm mind in troubling times would make one last longer.

Even the police officers tried to calm the frightened crowd, though they were also in despair.

Raymore's thundering voice caused many to quiet down.

Coupled with his burly figure, sharp eyes, and bearded face, he gave off a very authoritative aura.

"Enough! No matter what? If we're going to survive, we need to keep calm!... Now, tell us... What's the situation out there? From the narrations of the earlier visitors, I keep getting the feeling that you all were led here by these things."

Many police officers also nodded in agreement.

Oh?

Chan-ki revealed a slight smile, looking at mayor Raymore. At least someone was using their head.

Chan-ki didn't speak but allowed Angzen to narrate all that passed.

The more many listened, the more Raymore frowned.

"You say there's one more person amongst you?"

"Yes..." Chan-ki replied... "You may call him Grandmaster... And... He should be here any moment from now. But first… tell me all you know about the baby."

"..."