Isle of Beasts and Shadows (The Forgotten Isle Saga #1)

Chapter 8

The next morning dawned with a harsh light, casting long shadows across the camp. Everything Airella experienced last night felt like a distant memory, a surreal occurrence in the light of day. Was it even real? The stranger? The confrontation with Duran? It all felt like fragments of a story that didn’t quite fit together.

“Alright gentlemen, we will split up into three groups,” Jonathan’s voice cut through the morning air. “Group 1, you will scout the coastline of the island. Group 2, you will be in charge of gathering supplies. That includes food, water, and whatever else you can find. Group 3 will search through the center of the island. We will make camp as we go on our own, but we will consider this camp our base camp. Understood?”

“The more advanced scouting will occur with Group 3, for we will travel as we can throughout the island,” Duran interjected, his presence looming over the assembled soldiers with an air of authority and determination.

The sun continued its ascent as everyone split up, the camp bustling with activity and preparations. Airella decided it would be best to stay close to Jonathan, finding comfort in his steady presence amidst the uncertainty. She positioned herself in Group 3, ready to venture into the unknown territories of the island alongside her comrades.

Duran led the large group of about 20 men into the thick woodlands, his steps purposeful and confident. The men swung away at the vines and tree limbs blocking their paths, the sounds of their efforts echoing through the forest. Airella moved with ease, her movements fluid and efficient as she navigated the dense foliage.

“How did you sleep last night? First nights on missions, especially ones like this, are the roughest,” Jonathan remarked, his voice carrying a hint of concern as he swung his sword in practiced arcs to form the path ahead of them. His scarlet-colored hair caught the sunlight, creating a fiery halo around his head.

In that moment, Airella felt Duran’s piercing gaze on her, a silent challenge in his intense stare.

“Oh, you can say that again,” she mumbled in response, her words barely audible over the sounds of the forest.

Jonathan offered her a sympathetic smile, a moment of camaraderie amidst the tension.

“Yeah, the bugs are crazy around here, am I right?” he chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood. A stray branch then swung back and smacked him in the face, breaking the tension with a moment of unexpected humor.

“Oh! Are you alright?” Airella covered her mouth with her hands to prevent herself from laughing.

Jonathan stopped walking as he blinked a few times to regain his vision. He turned bright red from embarrassment. Then he nodded in response.

“But speaking of last night… there’s something I need to tell you about. I think I saw someone.” Airella whispered to Jonathan.

“Get a move on,” Duran warned with a hint of frustration.

“I’ll tell you when we’re alone,” Airella finished, casting a quick glance at the group of soldiers around them.

Jonathan gave a concerned nod in response, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to grasp the seriousness of her words amidst their current surroundings.

At least a few hours had passed, and the large group of soldiers were all miserable in the intense humidity and heat. Many of the soldiers behind Airella were filling the air with complaints.

“So thirsty...”

“Can’t we take this armor off?”

“So much more weight to carry.”

“I need a break. I’ll have a stroke.”

So much for being the King’s handpicked soldiers, Airella thought, a faint smile playing on her lips as she observed the soldiers’ discomfort, finding some amusement in their struggle.

Duran paid no attention to them, focused on the mission at hand, and they soon arrived somewhere strange. At first glance, you could easily tell it was a village, but if you looked again, it appeared as if no one had touched it in centuries. The soldiers all gathered and examined their new surroundings.

“Split up around here and check every house and section of this village. There could be valuable information here,” Duran’s voice was firm and authoritative. The soldiers swiftly followed his orders.

“Sir,” Marcus called out, “I found something just outside of this house.”

The soldier’s eyes fixated on a tattered piece of dark cloth lying near the barren entrance. He kneeled to pick it up, his hands brushing over the frayed edges with a mix of curiosity and caution, before presenting it to the first-in-command.

As Marcus handed the cloth to Duran, the leader’s expression darkened with a deep sneer. His reaction hinted at a blend of disdain and impatience towards the soldier of lower rank, clarifying that Duran harbored suspicions about this deserted village. He could almost envision the once vibrant community bustling with children playing, diligent workers, and housewives attending to their daily chores, now eerily silent and abandoned.

Airella obediently followed the instructions given to her, mirroring the actions of the surrounding others. She began her solitary journey, the sound of her footsteps creating a soft echo along the eerily quiet and overgrown path of the abandoned village. The atmosphere held a sense of desolation, with nature reclaiming its territory.

She arrived at a small wooden house that had been untouched by her fellow soldiers. This dwelling, just like the surrounding village, bore the marks of centuries past, showing the effects of time and neglect.

Airella noted the precarious state of the home’s exterior. Many of the roofs had collapsed, reduced to nothing but dust and debris. As she reached for the door of the decayed house, a feeling of unease washed over her, urging her to reconsider. Her hand hesitated on the handle, frozen in place as she gazed at it intently. Time seemed to slow down, enveloping her in a shroud of apprehension and uncertainty.

“Going in?” Jonathan’s voice broke her time spent frozen in thought, his presence startling her out of her reverie. How long had he been standing there, watching her contemplation?

“Oh, yeah...” Airella replied, her voice a little unsteady, as she pushed the door open and took a cautious step inside. The dim interior of the house enveloped her in a shroud of mystery and uncertainty.

Airella and Jonathan cautiously ascended to the second floor of the village home. The aged floorboards groaned under their weight, adding an ominous soundtrack to their exploration.

Suddenly, Airella froze in her tracks, a gasp escaping her as her eyes locked onto the remnants of the family that once called this place home. Jonathan, following her gaze, felt a chill run down his spine as he beheld the jumbled pile of skeletal remains haphazardly stacked in the shadowed corner of the room.

“What the hell happened here?” Jonathan stammered, taking a hesitant step back, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Airella and Jonathan stood transfixed, unable to tear their gaze away from the haunting sight before them. Jonathan crouched near the bones, inspecting them under the dim light filtering through the dusty windows of the abandoned house.

The family’s skeletal remains appeared eerily intact, as if a viscous, oily liquid had preserved them, emitting a faint, unpleasant odor.

Wrinkling his nose in distaste, Jonathan muttered to himself, “Clearly, something bad happened here a long time ago. These are human remains, Airella. Something wiped out this entire village, maybe even this entire island, of human life. Who knows how long this village has been here?”

Airella gawked at the human remains.

“About earlier… Something happened last night. It’s not safe here, Jonathan.”