Chapter 85: Strange Village (02)
"I will check," Alistair said. He stood and went to the door.
He opened it slowly. A boy stood outside. He looked about ten years old. He held a basket tightly. His wide eyes darted around nervously.
"You brought food?" Alistair asked. His voice was soft.
The boy nodded. He pushed the basket into Alistair’s hands. Then he turned and ran away without a word.
"Wait," Alistair called. He stepped onto the porch. The boy was already running down the dirt path. "That was strange."
"What happened?" Oronik asked as Alistair shut the door.
"The boy gave me the basket and ran," Alistair said. "It was like he thought we would eat him instead of the food."
Alistair placed the basket in the center of the group. It held bread, cheese, and apples. The food was simple, but it was enough for the night.
"At least it is not poisoned," Oronik said. He picked up a loaf of bread and took a careful bite.
"The children are scared too," Morren said. His voice was full of concern. "I have never seen anything like this before."
Cassian picked up an apple. He turned it in his hand as he thought. "Something deeper is going on. This fear is not just about monsters. We need to stay alert."