Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Trap
Aiden held his breath, petrified. Did they see him? He tried to regulate his breathing, slow and shallow, unsure if it even mattered.
He clung to the hope that controlling his breathing actually offered some form of concealment, though he wasn't entirely convinced. He couldn't afford recklessness.
He didn't want to be even a little careless, and he isn't a fool that believes that they would mercy him because he is also satient and intelligent being like them.
They weren't exactly human, that much was clear. Their build held a resemblance, yet their dark skin, piercing eyes, and backward-pointing ears marked them as distinctly different. The concept of human itself was a hazy notion for Aiden.
On Earth, his memories of his sister were limited to the touch of her face. Thus, he used his own human form as a reference point to judge these unknown hunters. As such he wasn't sure if they were humans from some hidden corner of Earth, or something entirely different?
Uncertain, Aiden remained perfectly still, vowing not to move until he was absolutely sure the forest held no hidden threats.
The humanoids possessed an unnerving ability to blend in, and he wouldn't make the foolish assumption they were truly gone.
Only after a full hour had passed did Aiden consider climbing down. He knew even creatures with exceptional stealth wouldn't possess the patience to wait that long.
His entire life of sightless existence had instilled in him an immense capacity for patience; staying still for an hour was a small price to pay for survival.
He cautiously approached the nearest lifeless caterpillar, scrutinizing its remains. Upon looking at it, it lacked any trace of blood, both within and without
'It seems the blood arrows they use are also made of the living being's blood, and the arrow does have frightening destructive power.'
What truly piqued his curiosity was the missing blood arrows. The humanoids hadn't retrieved the arrows used to kill these creatures.
Aiden was really interested in those blood arrows.
But where had they gone? He couldn't find them on any of the lifeless caterpillars.
Did the arrows merge with the dead bodies, or did they simply vanish after expending their deadly energy?
He cautiously extended a hand, intending to examine one of the creatures closely. But the moment his fingers brushed the flesh, something incredible happened. The entire caterpillar disintegrated into a million tiny particles, dissolving into the very air as if it had never existed.
Aiden's heart pounded in his chest, not from the surreal sight before him, but from a sudden, chilling realization.
If a creature slain by a blood arrow could vanish so completely, why wouldn't the hunters simply touch them to dispose of the bodies? Wouldn't that be the easiest way to erase any trace of their presence?
A cold dread bloomed in his stomach. Maybe they hadn't left at all.
The horrifying thought had barely formed in his mind when his preternaturally heightened senses screamed a warning. Something was hurtling towards him at an unimaginable speed. It was too fast to dodge, his body simply incapable of reacting in time.
At this time, Aiden really wishes to have a body that is capable of reacting as fast as his thoughts.
Sshhh…
There was only a hiss, the unmistakable sound of a blood arrow slicing through the air, filled his ears. Then, a searing pain erupted from his ear.
Aiden instinctively raised his right hand to block the source of the searing pain, only to find it slick with warm blood. A numb horror filled him as he realized his ear was gone. He stumbled back, a choked cry escaping his lips.
His vision swam, momentarily clouded by the sudden surge of pain and realization.
Across a few meters of ground, his severed ear lay steaming, blood oozing from the severed flesh.
A metallic tang filled Aiden's mouth, and he realized with a jolt that he could hear the frantic hammering of his own pulse in his ears. He gritted his teeth and forced his mind to focus, the world tilting precariously around him.
He had made a terrible mistake.
He should have fled rather than coming here to check these dead bodies.
But would it have made a difference?
No, maybe even then he couldn't have escaped from them.
Soon, Aiden hears the sound of footsteps, it echoed in the distance, growing closer with each beat. Aiden didn't move, didn't try to flee. He knew it was futile. Against such speed, against an arrow that outpaced anything he'd ever encountered, escape was a mere fantasy.
He was utterly helpless.
A tense silence stretched for a few seconds, broken only by Aiden's ragged breathing. Then, two figures emerged from the dense foliage, their dark skin and piercing eyes unmistakable. Unlike before, however, their faces were split into wide, unsettling grins.
"You've got some serious patience, kid," the female said, her voice surprisingly melodic despite the guttural language she spoke. Yet, Aiden understood every word as if it were his own.
"And a powerful regeneration ability, too." she added, amusement lacing her words.
Aiden glanced at his ear, where a third of the missing flesh had already knitted itself back together in a matter of seconds. The pain, however, was a different story – a dull throb intensifying with each passing moment as the mangled ear attempted to heal.
Aiden stayed silent for a second, before he open his mouth
"What do you want?" he asked, unsure if they'd even comprehend his words.
The woman sauntered forward, closing the distance between them. Stopping just a hair's breadth away from Aiden, she reached out and dipped her finger into the blood pooling around Aiden's neck. She sucked it into her mouth, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
"Strange blood," she muttered, a hint of exhaustion in her voice. "It tries to devour the local blood."
The male humanoid behind her, previously stoic, perked up, his eyes gleaming with what seemed like predatory interest.
"As for your question," the woman continued, her voice now playful, "We don't need much. Just a little help from you. What do you say?"
Aiden couldn't ignore the male's gaze, a chilling mix of curiosity and something darker.
He wasn't naive enough to believe they were asking for his help after severing his ear. This help was clearly an order, a thinly veiled threat.
But his options were limited. If he wanted to see another sunrise, there was only one answer.
"Okay," he forced out, his voice barely audible.
A triumphant grin spread across the woman's face. "See, Jiange? The woman exclaimed, turning to the male. "I told you he was a reasonable kid."
The man grunted in agreement, his gaze flickering away from Aiden. He turned and began to walk deeper into the forest.
"Follow us!" the woman called out, throwing him a quick smile before rejoining the male.
Aiden, his body screaming in protest, had no choice but to comply.
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CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
priya012
priya012 Any idea, how will Aiden escape from them?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone