Chapter 7 (1/2)
Chapter 7
[I see the square over there! Hang in there!]
It was only just before I fainted that I was able to reach the downtown area of the capital.
I didn’t even remember how I got off the wagon.
Fortunately, as soon as my feet touched the ground, my dizzy mind was cleared.
I put the ragged hood on properly, then took the paper out of my arms and unfolded it.
Once I was successful in entering the downtown area, it was not difficult to find my way.
“Let’s go.”
I moved with excitement.
But after a while, I realized that something was wrong.
First, a large dog ran towards me.
Just before being bitten, a soldier patrolling nearby saw it and stopped it.
“I’m sorry! I lost the leash…”
The man who seemed to be the owner of the dog made an excuse, but somehow it felt strange.
The dog’s pupils were completely dilated. Its saliva was dripping out of its mouth endlessly, and it didn’t look alright.
If it had ended there, I could have laughed at him for being a little unlucky.
But the strange events continued.
Next, I almost tripped over an obstacle that suddenly appeared.
I managed to balance myself and look back, but to my surprise, there was nothing on the floor.
‘As soon as I stepped on that certain point, something popped up.’
This was not a normal situation.
My nerves were on edge and all my senses began to get more sensitive.
[Up there! Be careful!]
As soon as I stepped back with a shriek, I heard an unpleasant sound of something smashing right in front of me.
“Hey, is it a flowerpot this time?”
There was a flowerpot the size of a soccer ball in the spot where I had been standing a while ago.
If I had been a little late, I would have been hit in the head.
Ash’s voice became serious.
I gritted my teeth. Things were getting dangerous.
‘It’s driving me crazy.’
At this point, even if nothing happened, I would be scared.
Several threats were given in a short period of time in the middle of the day.
Especially the last attack, it could have really cost me my life.
‘They’re making it obvious.’
As the situation had come to this, the poisoned tea leaves were no longer the problem.
I grabbed my hair, contemplating how to get through this crisis.
[Olivia! Look ahead!]
‘Huh?’
While I was immersed in my thoughts for a moment, the scenery around me changed strangely. It was a strangely quiet street.
An unpleasant feeling was emanating from passersby.
There were cold gazes looking at me.
I got goosebumps and the hairs all over my body stood.
I could tell instinctively.
‘I have to run away.’
I walked faster on my own.
The strange passers-by began to follow me. They were gradually, but surely, increasing in numbers.
This time from the left, and the next block from the right.
Because of them popping up here and there, I had to change the direction of walking several times.
Then, at some point, I got an eerie realization that made me shudder and stopped.
‘I’m being chased by a crowd…’
[Oh no! It’s a dead end!]
I turned around slowly, breathing in and feeling the chill on my back.
I should have noticed sooner.
Those who followed along were walking slowly after fully revealing themselves.
They were walking like a hunter to its prey, like a spider approaching the butterfly that was stuck on its web.
[Olivia, what are you going to do?]
Ash’s voice trembled.
My heart started beating violently with the rising tension.
I gritted my teeth and watched the people in front of me.
‘Their movement is unnatural. As if someone’s controlling them.’
I didn’t think it was their will to do this.
Due to the tension, the knuckles on my clenched fist turned white.
A cold sweat ran down my back.
‘There is no way out.’
As soon as I felt the crisis and bit my lower lip, a tremendous pressure was applied to my whole body.
“Argh!…”
I groaned at the unexpected pressure and collapsed.
[Olivia!]
I could hear Ash’s urgent voice, but I couldn’t respond.
My body trembled so much that it was hard to control it properly and it didn’t feel like my body.
Thud.
It was then that I heard the sound of footsteps slowly stomping on the ground.
.