Sitting around a table were demons, all equally as horrifying with their monstrous features such as their sharp teeth and tall stature.
"Well them, esteemed friends! What shall be your sport today?" A demon inquired.
"Something marbled...with more fat than muscle. Then...the white one with brown hair, around 14 years old." One demon replied.
"I just wanna mow down one of the weaklings!" One exclaimed. "Anything's fine, as long as I have a good time!"
"And you, Archduke Lewis?"
"Me? I'm still searching for the same kind of prey as I always do." Lewis replied.
"A very strong human who fights back with the eyes of a killer. Although, of late...I've been remarkably remiss about it."
-----
"A secret...hunting reserve?" Emma questioned, her eyes widening.
"Tell us! Is this another plantation? Or maybe they're the ones called, the 'poachers' who..."
"I knew it. You're not like the other kids. You know about the plantations...About them. This isn't one of the farms. It's a secret garden. The private property of an aristocrat called Lord Bayon. You two, me, the kids here....The only reason we're still alive is for them to hunt us." The purple-haired person revealed while pursing their lips.
'...What? No, wait. 'Demons shan't hunt humans'... to keep the promise-' Emma recalled.
"The farms don't know about this place. It's a hidden playground." Purple said.
"'All the kids', you said..." Emma trailed off.
"They are just innocent newbies. Once a month, they replace all who've been eaten." Purple frowned.
"Replace with whom...?" Emma asked.
"Farm kids mostly. They have some special privilege and use it to ship living cattle." Purple explained.
"You were saying the other kids don't know...?" Emma gulped.
"They don't know anything at all. They think they were fortunate to be born in a happy little orphanage, that they were chosen to move into a good home...And then some sort of monster kidnapped them, and now keeps coming to terrorize them. That's basically how most of them see it. Anyway, we can't stay around here. Let's hurry up and find a place to hide. There's someone I want you to meet." Purple said, waving their hand for Y/n and Emma to follow.
Then, there was a piercing scream, one that sent shivers down Emma's spine as it seemed awfully familiar. Y/n glanced at her before sighing as he followed after her running figure.
"HEY!" Purple called out for them.
-----
"I see you~" A demon cooed as it and other demons surrounded two children.
A girl held a spear as she stood beside a boy, attempting to hide her fear, but it was pretty much futile since her body continued to tremble. The boy beside her was on the ground, too scared and injured to move, so he could only stare with a horrified expression.
Watching from a tree not too far was a boy. He was under the impression that his presence was unknown and as he watched the scene, he couldn't help but feel guilty about wanting to help the kids but being too afraid to even act on it.
"I will give you kids...ten seconds!" The demon said.
"Choose one among you three for me to hunt next. Don't worry. After you decide, I'm letting the other two go. So, you, who's already been hurt? You, who managed to hurt one of my attendants? Or...you, who wants to betray your folk and run away?"
The kid behind the tree gasped, feeling as if his heart had jumped out of his chest at the fact that the monstrous being was aware of his presence.
"10...9...8..." The demon began counting.
Y/n, who hid with Emma a few feet away, narrowed his eyes at the demons, scanning each from top to bottom.
'What a liar. He has no intentions of letting either survive and it's pretty sad he's going after the weaker kids. He just looks like someone who enjoys picking on the weak and mocking the clear difference in power.' Y/n thought.
"Y/n." Emma whispered.
The boy glanced over at her before slightly raising his brows to see an axe in her hands, probably having been in her backpack the whole time.
'Alright. Guess we're doing what Emma wants.' Y/n slightly grinned as he took the axe.
Emma lifted her hand, counting down from 5, and when she lowered her last finger, they sprinted towards the group, catching them by surprise.
"Bam." Y/n muttered as he threw the axe towards one of the demon's.
It was an instant and the axe met the demon's eye, making collapse to the ground without even buttering a sickle word or scream.
Taking advantage of the attention momentarily shifting to Y/n, Emma carried the younger kid while ushering the other to follow.
"RUN!" She shouted.
And as fast as they appeared, Y/n and Emma disappeared just as quickly.
"Dammit...That little...It killed one of my attendants...!" One of the demons sputtered with fury
'Right in the eye...which means they know how to kill a demon. Even in a hopeless situation like that, they dared to jump in with but a single axe, with no hesitation...the eyes of killers. Magnificent! Perhaps I can finally find some entertainment. I haven't felt like this since the time I faced them...' Lewis thought.
"You two are my prey now. You will never get away." He spoke aloud, staring in the direction they ran off in.
-----
Y/n looked around while Emma made a quick check-up on the kids and the purple-hair person from earlier stood near them with their arms crossed.
"No one followed us." Y/n informed while side-glancing at Emma.
"Idiots!" The purple-haired person scowled, punching Y/n and Emma on their heads.
"Are you two out of your minds?! Just when I thought you had run for it, all of a sudden...turns out you came to help these kids you don't even know! Are you stupid?!" They shouted.
"Yes." Emma replied.
"I just followed Emma." Y/n said while pointing at the girl.
"You even had to go and get the worst of them too...That one is no laughing matter...the one with a hat..." Purple said with total seriousness.
"Say...the demons- I mean, the monsters who come to these, hm, grounds...are they always the same ones?" Emma asked.
"Yes, but why?" Purple raised a brow.
"How many?" Emma asked.
"Five. I mean, not counting the attendants." Purple answered.
"And how many humans?"
"Usually some 50 at best...Right now, it should be around that number..."
"Do they come to hunt every day?"
"No, about once every 3 days...But never mind that! We don't have to fool around! We really should get away right now and find a place to hide. Even if they're not actually tracking us right now, they will be soon enough. And other monsters could also spot us and come-"
"But...!" Emma tried to argue.
"Go, go! We can deal with this! You go!" The injured boy said.
"And thanks...Thanks, you three. You really risked your lives to save us. I can run just fine already. Only gotta rest for a little bit and I'll go. It's okay, so..."
"Got it. Then let's split up and get away." Emma smiled.
"But...where to? And you're still bleeding." The young girl they saved said.
Y/n then told them, "We bought some time, so head downwind and find a place to hide. If you stay downwind, it'll give them trouble picking up the scent of blood or any sound. But try not to leave tracks behind and make sure to keep watch for their tracks so you can run before they find you."
"However, if they corner you and you can't escape, tell them to come after Emma and me. Tell them, 'One is 63194 and the other is 94194, both from Grace Field. First come, first served.', got it? Just say something like that and you'll be fine." Y/n said with a blank face before smiling.
"I'm Y/n and this is Emma. Who are you guys?" He asked.
"Theo."
"Monica."
"Jake."
"Well then, let's meet again later!" Emma smiled before she ran off with Y/n and the purple-haired persons from before.
'So long.' Y/n thought, glancing back at the kids who moved in the opposite direction.
"...Well, in that case, I feel like you were all too easily convinced to leave them behind." Purple admitted, glancing at Emma.
"Well, a group as large as five would attract attention, and Theo's bleeding...I've got mixed feelings about it...but..." Emma said.
"Staying with us is dangerous. I believe those two demons are coming after us in particular. They're better off by themselves." Y/n spoke up.
"I see...Given that it was probably the best course of action." The purple-haired person slowly nodded.
"And, by the same token, you should get away from us too!" Emma told them.
"Shaddap. As if I'd let myself get killed by the likes of you. Do you get it? The crucial thing is to buy time. If you manage to stay hidden until the music plays again, you're saved from this hunt." Purple said.
"...Right, but...There's something I'd like to do while we run." Emma admitted.
Y/n and Emma halted, making the purple-haired person stop in confusion.
"Look. The demons don't seem to be taking any care in hiding their tracks, even though they're very smart...Anyway, what's clear is that our side can track them too." Emma said.
"And?" Purple raised a brow.
"I'll try to stay one step ahead of the demons, get to the children before them, and help those too scared to run. Maybe there's nothing I can really do...But I still want to help as many kids as possible."
"Because you can't just ignore them?" Purple guessed.
"Yes!" Emma confirmed.
"Better get used to this. Emma isn't quick to give up. I've been reminded of that several times." Y/n grinned.
"...Dealing with you is kind of a pain." Purple sighed.
"We get told that a lot." Emma slightly chuckled.
"Ok, I get it. But if things go south, I'm taking you two to a safe place. By force, if I have to." Purple said with a firm expression.
-----
'My targets...' Lewis thought, holding the axe that was used to kill one of the attendants.
'You know...I can't wait to track you down and kill you. But not now.'
Ba-Dump!
Theo, Monica, and Jake looked up in horror as Lewis stood in front of them, clearly not their for anything other than killing.
"RUN!!"
'It's still too easy for you. You're not ready yet.'
Lewis rose the axe and struck, blood soon splattering in the air.
'Well then, let's make you stronger. Sweeter.'
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Edited: August 2, 2023