Chapter 240 The Cabin In The (Floral) Woods
The flower forest sprawled around them as they moved quickly. Large roots hilled around the four as they moved down the hill. The sound of water made its way to Lee Seng's ears. The floral forest flattened out as a run down cabin appeared in view.
"That's the cabin." Halys pointed. "It's seen better days." Halys started to slow as the cabin grew closer. The cabin sat close to the small river that quietly ran through the floral forest. The cabin was made out of flower stalks. Parts of the "wood" were falling apart as they came to a stop near the porch.
"It could use some work but I think it's quite… quaint." Ritsuka nodded as he circled it.
"It's creepy." Halys shuddered. The dark glass windows soaked little light into the small cabin.
"It looks like it's a typical cabin." Lee Seng stood at the front of the cabin. "I feel like we're going into a horror movie."
"Is it even safe to go in?" Keng peered into a window. He noticed the small living room and used a fire fireplace. He started to scan the left side when something quickly walked past the window, scaring him. "Woah, what was that?" Keng moved backwards. Lee Seng and Ritsuka ran over and peered into the window. They noticed the living room and fireplace, but saw nothing else.
"What?" Lee Seng asked, looking at Keng.
"Something walked past the window." Keng pointed.
"Well, there's nothing there now. I guess the spirits are here." Ritsuka shrugged.
"Tread with caution." Halys instructed. The three looked back at Halys. He was standing a bit aways from the cabin, leaning against a tree. "You three will have to go in without me. I don't think I can step foot in there until the spirits are cleansed or appeased."
"Why can't you come in?" Ritsuka asked.
"I'll only anger them."
"Anger them?" Lee Seng narrowed his eyes.
"One of the Fox Spirits that stayed in there, came back and the spirits recognized them and scared them."
"Scared them?" Keng slowly turned to peer inside when a loud thud noise alerted them. Halys jumped and turned away.
"You guys need to figure this out. I'll do the necessary stuff to make sure we're okay with food tonight. Your first mission is that." Halys pointed. Before Lee Seng could say anything, Halys disappeared with a whoosh.
"Uhhh…" Lee Seng looked at Keng and Ritsuka before turning to face the cabin. "I guess that means we're going in?"
"I feel like he deliberately just did that." Keng pointed.
"Well, enough dillydallying. I think we should start." Lee Seng pointed. The three moved to the front of the house.. They slowly climbed up the creaky floral wood steps and slowly avoided the holes in the porch. Lee Seng reached for the door knob and twisted it. The door creaked open as Lee Seng pushed it away.
The smell of dust flushed out of the cabin. Lee Seng and Keng immediately sneezed at the same time, covering their noses.
"Oh god." Ritsuka turned away, pinching his nose. "It's so dusty."
"Mmhmm." Lee Seng rubbed his nose. He felt like he was going to sneeze some more. He forced himself to turn his attention to the cabin and took a hesitant step forward. The cabin porch creaked as his weight pressed forward and he made his way inside. The cabin had little to no light coming in through the windows. It was a small cabin with two doors leading to other rooms. The fireplace sat in the living room with shredded and turned furniture. Wood, leathers and fabrics scattered throughout the living room as Lee Seng moved to open the first door.
He gripped the cold doorknob and turned it.
It didn't budge.
'It's locked.' Lee Seng jiggled the door knob a couple of more times before he moved to the next door. Lee Seng placed his hand on the doorknob and twisted it. It clicked open and he pushed the door open. The smell of stale air and dust filled his nose.
"This room hasn't been opened in ages." Lee Seng scrunched his face. It was a room with a couple of beds. There was barely anything else in this room. "Just beds. This door doesn't open." Lee Seng turned and pointed at the door. Ritsuka and Keng were casually strolling around the small cabin living room, taking their time observing and taking in the room.
"It seems like everything's been left alone. Nobody's been in here for awhile." Ritsuka ran his fingers onto the wooden table and rubbed the dust. "How do we get a spirit to show itself?" The doors slammed shut and the three turned to look at the front door.
"I guess we didn't have to wait long." Keng answered. He moved over and tried the door. "It won't open."
"Well, I guess that's one way to do that." Lee Seng turned and looked around. The second door clicked open and the three turned to look at the door slowly open.
GRRRRAAWWWW! The door shrieked. Lee Seng moved to the door and opened the door. The sound of cracking echoed throughout the house. The light from outside darkened. The cabin was growing darker.
"ARGH!" A deep dark voice shrieked in front of Lee Seng. A pair of red eyes jumped out of the void as it screamed. Lee Seng jumped backwards, tripping over something and landing on the ground. "GET OUT!" The red pair of eyes started to manifest its body. A wicked grin placed itself over its face as two pointy horns grew out of its head. It was a humanoid that bent itself forward to move out of the doorway. Its long claws scraped the door as it stomped forward.
The immense amount of black energy oozed out of it. A small hint of pink energy showed itself and quickly faded from view.
"What the hell are you?" Lee Seng tilted his head.
"What do you mean 'what the hell are you?'" Ritsuka stepped backwards. Fear gripped him. He froze in place as Keng annoyingly turned away.
"He stinks." Keng pinched his nose. "He smells like standing water and garbage." The dark shadow roared once more before it continued forward towards Lee Seng.
"This is annoying." Lee Seng sighed. He lifted his hand and his body lit up. The monster growled as it shot itself forward. Lee Seng's tails whipped forward, slashing at the shadow monster. The shadow monster dissipated and stitched itself back together as it landed on top of Lee Seng. It roared as Lee Seng tried to not breathe in the garbage smell.
"GET OUT!" The shadow monster shouted. Lee Seng grunted as the warm breath pushed itself onto him.
"Are you really a spirit or are you just some trash monster sitting around here?" Lee Seng coughed. He pushed with all of his might and watched the shadow monster fly upwards and slam against the ceiling. The monster croaked as the room shook.
"What're you doing to it?" Ritsuka shouted, snapping out of it.
"Hold it!" Lee Seng shouted. The shadow monster flew straight back towards Lee Seng as he started to roll. Keng lifted his hands and watched as silver light started to bind itself onto the monster. The monster shrieked as it quickly twisted and disappeared.
"What the hell happened?" Ritsuka pointed. "It just vanish–" The shadow appeared behind Ritsuka and kicked him towards Lee Seng. The two crashed into each other, slamming into the cabin wall. The window rattled as Keng turned.
Silver light erupted from Keng as he moved forward. He swung his fist at the shadow, watching it connect with its face. The shadows rippled and Keng swung at nothing but air. The shadow stitched itself back together and slashed at Keng. Lee Seng pulled Keng backwards, Keng watching the creature barely miss him.
"Ritsuka, can you move?" Lee Seng asked. Ritsuka moved himself off of Lee Seng and nodded.
"I'm fine. That thing can't be hit?" Ritsuka asked.
"No, not its face." Keng pulled back towards the three of them and readied himself. Lee Seng stood up as golden light surrounded him.
"How do we fight a spirit like that? It reeks really bad." Ritsuka pointed at it. The red beady eyes stared at the three of them. The room became darker and along with it, came the smell.
"Argh!" The three covered their noses. It smelled like something was dying here.
'Why does it emit that odor every time it makes the room grow dark?' Lee Seng thought.
'What if it's not a spirit or a shadow? What if it's something else?' Keng theorized.
"How could it… Ack, be something other than a spirit?" Lee Seng asked aloud.
"I dunno. I'm just theorizing! What do we do?" Keng answered.
"What? Did I miss something?" Ritsuka asked.
"Telepathic communication!" Lee Seng told him. "We need a way to hit that!" Lee Seng pointed.
"Obsidian Glass." Ritsuka whispered. The black obsidian glass sword appeared in his right hand. He twirled it and released it. "Good, I can test something out." Ritsuka smiled. "Complete Black Void."