599 Flock (1/2)

”Sister Almon!”

”Sister Almon!”

In a shack with a low-ceiling, the female robber, Almon, was holding onto a bamboo basket with a kind smile on her face.

After greeting her, a bunch of children surrounded her and looked at the basket which was steaming and gave off a nice aroma, they swallowed their saliva furiously.

”Come, let's eat!” Almon smiled while she pulled away the white cloth to reveal the soft and delicious white bread, jam… and even half a turkey.

”Oh!”

The other filthy children cheered together.

”Rayne, pass the food down. Little Peter's been ill recently and can't go out as he's very weak. He needs to eat more…”

Almon gave instructions and went to sit down at the doorstep with her back facing the children. Similarly, she took out her own dinner—two pieces of black, charred bread. A single bite of it would definitely cause her teeth to fall out, and let's not talk about the horrible texture; it was no different from eating wood.

”Sister Almon!”

Suddenly, a voice came from behind her. Almon jerked up and wrapped the bread with her handkerchief properly before turning and making eye contact with Rayne.

”Yes?”

”This… is for you!”

Rayne was the oldest amongst the teenagers. He was around 13-14 years old. Although his face was filthy, his eyes were bright and had a persistent and firm expression while he passed the white bread with jam spread on it to Almon.

”I've already eaten!” Almon emphasized, ”That's your portion, eat it. I'm the oldest here so listen to me!”

”Phew…” Rayne had a stubborn expression and let out a long breath, ”I'm already 15 and can start to work. I want to be a robber on the streets!”

”No way!” Almon expression turned into a stern one, something she never did. ”Do you know that one's finger would be chopped off if the robber is caught? Also… without your protection, how will these sisters and brothers survive? Could it be that you've forgotten the lesson you learned from John and Jonna?”

”Sorry!”

At the mention of the pair of siblings, Rayne's eyes turned red as well.

”I didn't take care of them properly.”

”It wasn't your fault!”

Almon was suddenly determined, ”I've thought about it, we'll leave tomorrow!”

”Leave? Why?” Rayne didn't understand.

”Because it's… filled with danger here, even the Demon Hunters have been drawn here.” Almon sighed in her heart.

In actual fact, she had been searching like a lunatic ever since the siblings had vanished. She had originally thought that because of their appearance, they might've been kidnapped and sold off as slaves.

Unfortunately, there seemed to be no news about them in the entire Bay of Pigs, it was as if they had vanished into thin air.

Until the Demon Hunter appeared did it finally hit home.

”What man-eating monster…” Almon rubbed her eyes.

There was no famine or war at the moment, hence the allocation of food was enough for survival. In addition, the beggars and vagrants in the Bay of Pigs wouldn't have done such a terrible thing. Hence, there was only one possibility left.

”Thinking about it… there seemed to be fewer and fewer vagrants, even the lazy dog guarding Grimm Street has vanished, I'm afraid that it's been spread long ago…” She was extremely determined, ”we need to leave this d*mn place as soon as possible!”

As for John and Jonna, she could only entrust her hope to the other Demon Hunters.

After all, she had to consider the other children and had to be realistic with her options.

”It's because it's not safe here anymore. I'm prepared to go to the Hurin area, there are more people streaming in and out of the area, we'll be able to earn more money!”

Of course, Almon hid her own worries perfectly in front of Rayne.

”Since it's your decision, I'll agree!” Rayne was silent for a moment before answering seriously.

”Very good. Now, be obedient and go back to sleep!” Almon forced a smile onto her face.

…

The still night was quickly enveloping everything.

Inside the shack, many kids were already sleeping and were making quiet or loud snoring sounds.

Almon, who was sleeping at the perimeter, had her eyes closed, however, her brows were tightly knitted as if she was having a nightmare.

He was getting closer and closer!

A large shadow, as big as a mountain range, blocked the sunlight and was towering over her. Within that shadow was a pair of scarlet, hungering eyes that were looking up and down at her.

”Ah!” Almon shouted softly and woke up in shock with cold sweat all over her face, ”Again?”

Ever since who-knows-when, she had often been having nightmares. Moreover, the situation in the dreams was very similar; the large shadow with scarlet and hungering eyes jogged her memory.

”What is… that thing, exactly?”

This sharp and natural ability to predict danger had helped her avoid problems countless times.

At this moment, she felt absolutely terrified and couldn't get back to sleep. Hence, she did a patrol around the inside of the house.

The inside of the shack was very quiet. Many of the children had fallen into a deep sleep and even had innocent smiles on their faces.

In this environment, Almon felt that she was gradually calming down.

However, her expression froze promptly.

”Peter?! Where's Peter? Where did he go! Rayne!” Almon shouted and brought out a dagger in a flash.

”What happened?” Rayne rubbed his eyes while ignorantly transitioning to a standing position.

”We have trouble, look after the others… Run away!” Almon was regretting in her heart. If she had known then she would've gotten the Demon Hunter's address from the start.

Kaboom!

At that moment, the floor of a corner of the shack suddenly collapsed and two pale, white hands with suckers that were filled with fluid appeared. Like an octopus's tentacles, it curled around two children, trapping them and dragging them into the hole.

”Jerk!” Almon's eye vessels burst as he leaped over quickly. ”Give them back!”

Zap! Zap!