They kept moving.
The forest was thick, tangled. Every branch felt like it was reaching for them. The moon above barely broke through the canopy. It was quiet—but not the peaceful kind. The kind that ant sothing was watching.
Mob’s eyes scanned ahead. "Left."
Grace frowned. "Huh?"
Ruka vanished in a blur.
CRUNCH.
A creature dropped from the trees, twisted and dripping black sli. It didn’t even get the chance to growl before Ruka’s fist slamd into its jaw, sending it flying into a tree so hard the bark exploded.
He landed softly beside it. "Ugly."
Mob stepped forward and raised a hand.
FWOOM.
A pillar of white light dropped from the sky, disintegrating the creature midair before it could twitch again.
Fel covered her face from the sudden glow. "Ow—warn us next ti!"
"Right," Mob muttered. "My bad."
Sarah glanced around nervously. "Why are there so many of them?"
"They’re drawn to sothing," Mob said. "Probably us."
Lane huffed. "Cool. We’re bait. Love that for us."
Another creature lunged from the bushes.
Mob spun and caught it by the throat.
No sound.
Just a bright flash as he crushed it into ash with his hand, like it was nothing more than dust.
He didn’t even break stride.
The girls followed closely behind, ducking under branches, stepping over broken roots and monster remains. The further they went, the more twisted the forest beca. Trees warped. Ground cracked. Shadows moved on their own.
Ruka stopped.
"Two more. One right, one underground."
"Underground?" Grace asked.
The ground beneath them rumbled.
"MOVE!" Mob shouted.
BOOM!
A massive serpent burst from the dirt, black scales gleaming, fangs dripping venom.
Mob leapt, wings flashing back out.
WHOOSH.
He kicked off a tree, flipped midair, and drove a blade of light straight into the serpent’s head.
THUD.
The body crashed down and twitched once... then went still.
"Mob!" Fel called out. "Behind you!"
The second creature was faster—a blur of teeth and claws. But before it could reach him—
BANG.
Ruka’s chain shot forward, wrapped around the creature’s neck, and yanked.
SNAP.
It crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut.
Mob floated back down, panting a little. "Thanks."
Ruka nodded. "Don’t get sloppy."
Fel muttered, "Kinda hot when they team up."
Sarah nudged her. "Girl. Focus."
They walked again, this ti faster.
More monsters showed up. Mob and Ruka didn’t even hesitate. Blasts of energy. Cracking bones. Shadows twisting. Light burning. The forest lit up like a battlefield. Each fight lasted seconds—clean, brutal, fast.
It was like watching a fight scene from an ani. Midair clashes. Crashing impacts. Trees splitting in half. Ruka landed punches that sent shockwaves through the ground. Mob sliced through beasts like his light could cut through reality itself.
And the girls just kept running behind them, stunned silent, adrenaline making their legs move even when their minds hadn’t caught up.
Finally—
Light.
Not Mob’s. Moonlight. Real, clear, open sky.
They stumbled out of the treeline and onto the edge of a hill. Behind them, the forest stretched like a black ocean.
Fel dropped to her knees. "We’re... out?"
Grace breathed in deep, chest rising and falling. "We made it..."
Mob turned around, scanning the treetops one last ti. "...It’s quiet."
Ruka stood beside him, arms crossed. "For now."
The two locked eyes. Sothing passed between them. Not a truce. Not trust. Just... an understanding.
Mob turned to the girls. "There’s a road down the hill. If you follow it, you’ll find people."
Sarah looked at them, exhausted but curious. "Are you guys staying?"
Mob nodded. "This place isn’t normal. We’ll check it out."
Ruka didn’t say anything. Just stared back into the trees, like he was waiting for sothing.
Lane waved, tired but grinning. "Thanks for the... you know, everything. Still not sure if I’m traumatized or impressed."
Mob smirked. "Bit of both, maybe."
Fel gave a tired thumbs-up. "You two are insane. But thanks for saving our asses."
Mob and Ruka didn’t respond.
The girls started walking down the hill, finally safe... probably.
He pulled out his phone, the screen casting a pale glow on his face. One ring. Two.
Click.
"Yo, Ella. I’ve got four girls who saw too much. I’ll send Remu their faces and the coordinates. You handle the mory wipe."
There was a pause.
Then a soft, playful voice on the other end. "You know I’m not the only vampire anymore, right?"
Mob sighed. "Yeah, but you’ve been doing this longer than him. You’re cleaner. Smoother. I don’t want ssy."
Another pause. Then the call ended with a soft beep.
Mob slipped the phone back into his jacket, eyes narrowing slightly as he looked back at the forest.
"Since I’m already out here... might as well clear the rest of the trash."
Just as he turned to move—
"You’re wiping their mories?"
Ruka stepped out from behind a half-broken tree trunk, black mist still faintly clinging to his boots.
His tone was sharp. Too sharp.
"You’re seriously going to erase what they saw? Just like that?"
Mob’s eyes t his, calm as ever. "Yeah. Standard protocol. You don’t leave humans walking around with stories of supernaturals. It causes problems."
"And who the hell made that rule?" Ruka asked, stepping closer. His wings twitched slightly, still folded, but tense. "You? So council? You think you’re doing them a favor?"
Mob’s expression darkened.
"It’s not about favors. It’s about keeping the world balanced. The more they know, the more they’re targeted. mory wipes protect them."
"Protect?" Ruka scoffed. "You an control. You decide what they should forget, just because it’s inconvenient? Maybe they deserved to know what saved their lives."
Mob didn’t flinch. "They didn’t ask to be pulled into this. Most people break under the truth. I’ve seen it happen. You want to carry the guilt of showing them a world they can never survive in?"
For a second, the forest went quiet. Even the wind held its breath.
Ruka’s jaw clenched. He looked away, frustrated. Not because he didn’t get it—but because he did. Still, it didn’t sit right.
Mob watched him for a mont, then turned, walking slowly deeper into the woods.
"You do things your way," he said over his shoulder, "but while you brood in shadows, soone’s gotta clean up after the ss."
Ruka didn’t answer. He stood there, fists tightening at his sides.
Black mist swirled at his feet again. But this ti, it didn’t feel angry—it felt unsettled.
"Ruka!!"
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