Caged - On hiatus

Chapter 8

When I first step foot on the other side of the door my breath was taken away. Being outside was definitely a weird feeling after all those years but there was wonder in my eyes as I took in the view.

There was some visibility of the trees from my small window but seeing the full extent of the forest surrounding the place was mesmerizing.

The whole mansion was isolated, there was not a single house in sight for miles. Since we went outside through the back door before us lay a fortress of trees.

The mansion was surrounded by a forest, I'm not sure what the front of the mansion looks like but it seems that we were in the middle of nowhere. Because there were nothing but trees and not even a path for cars to get through.

Well William was collecting 'monsters' so being in this obscure area is not weird but how are we going to get out?

My worries seemed to be in vain since. Kairo and his men just walked ahead with no care as if they know where to go already.

I looked at Fumi who was looking warily at the world around us. I don't blame her since compared to me she's been locked up there longer. I don't think she's any better with the outside world as I am.

Kairo looked back at us when we didn't move. "What are you waiting for?" he asked and the other guys stopped to look at us.

Their eyes are intense and I feel like shrinking back from their gaze. Fumi clutched my back and I felt her shivering.

"Nothing." was all I could say as I proceeded to walk behind them. I looked at Kairo who was still staring at me, there was something in his eyes that I don't get before he turn around and told his men to move forward.

Our party travered the thick undergrowth and I looked like I was a kid again as I stared at the varieties of small animals scurrying away from us as well as bigger ones like deers.

The forest was also lively as the birds sung their song and the tall tress blocked the sunlight allowing only a few strays of light to peek through. Just enough for us to see without tumbling at the fallen logs.

Now that I think about it, all my life I dreamed of going outside. Last time that I did, I was brought back inside a worse cage.

My eyes flickered towards Kairo and the men around him. My heart beat faster at the implication.

I shook my head to dispel the silly thought. Kairo wouldn't kidnap me like those men did.

So why does my heart feel heavy at that thought?

I took in a breath as I tried to stop my paranoia. I'm free now. I wouldn't let myself be captured again.

Behind me I felt Fumi's movements. Ever since we got out she never once left my back.

"Fumi what are you doing?" I asked her in barely a whisper. I don't know why I did that but it felt like if I spoke any louder they could hear me.

Fumi copied the volume of my voice and answered with her own question. "Why are we following them?!" she asked, the fear in her voice very apparent.

"Because we need help, remember?" I told her, reminding her about William possibly still alive and probably thinking of looking for us.

She stared at me helplessly, her all black eyes showing her worry and distrust on our new companions. If we could even call them that.

Besides Kairo, they don't look like they want to shelter us.

"Yeah, I don't think this is a good idea. Akira, you only met this man for a day. And they managed to kill off all the humans in that house in less. Why are we following them?!" she ranted repeating her question oncd again.

I understand her worries. We just came out of a monster's house and here we are walking straight into another.

But, compared to the dread I felt when William first laid his eyes on me and placed me in his mansion. That fear that resonated within me was not present as I stared at Kairo's back.

It's true that I barely know him heck I know him in less than a day and I am already worried for him before and blindly trusting him now.

I bit my lower lips as I pondered that thought. Did my imprisonment dulled my instinct with people? I don't think so, so what's different now?

"I don't know, but they're our best bet at survival. We have no idea how to get by. We need to understand how the world works now so we could go back to Japan." I answered her question while my mind was wondering.

And then I felt a sharp feeling making the hairs on my naoe to stand. My eyes widened and I looked around to see any danger, only to find Kairo looking back at me.

I caught his stare and once again there was something there in his eyes that I can't pinpoint. However, this time his gaze was heavier and there was a deep frown in his face.

My heart stuttered in fear at the heavy stare he gave me. More so when he slowed his steps down to match ours.

They were walking so fast and their strides are bigger but I know that they are slowing down considerably for us. They haven't shown any fatigue either yet I also know that they're irritated at having to match our pace.

We were lagging a bit behind but now that Kairo slowed more, he was now beside me in a minute.

He walked beside me in silence, Fumi was cowering on my right as she tried to distance herself from him and I'm in the middle feeling paranoid and worried.

"So, how are you two?" Kairo suddenly spoke and I almost tripped in surprise but I manage to catch myself before he could.

His outstretched hand retreated back to his side when I tried to smile at his action but it must've come off as a grimace.

I coughed to hide my awkwardness. I tried to regain my posture before answering him as casually as I can.

"We're fine. We're not used to walking far away though so I'm sorry that we're slowing you down." I said trying to dispel the stiff atmosphere but it was as forced as the smile he gave me.

"No it's all right. We understand, besides you just healed me so I'm worried that you're pushing yourself to match us." he said, his brows creased and a frown marred his face.

He looked genuinely worried and my paranoia lessened a bit.

I smiled at him to ease his worries. "Don't be, I'm fine. It's weird but I actually feel energetic." I told him sincerly.

"Ah, how about you? How are yoyr wounds?" I asked, I didn't managed to heal him completely earlier. Just enough to bring him out on the brink of death.

He smiled at me as he nodded his head. "I'm alright now. I already healed up any wound and damaged you missed." He replied and once again I was left amazed.

There were more creatures other than me who has faster healing rate.

"That's good to know." I told him truthfully.

Silence came after that since I don't know what to say anymore nor did he.

We left it at that, just walking in silence as our group moved forward however night is fast approaching and the men in front shouted us to halt.

Emmanuel, who was the biggest in sheer muscle alone was leading our group and the one who shouted. All of us stopped at his command.

Then he strode towards us and stopped before Kairo. He paused for a moment, opened his mouth and spoke but something cut him off his first words then he changed it.

"Yo- I mean Kairo, we're going to set up camp now and look for food." He told him and Fumi and I just stood there fidgeting in the intensity of the two.

Imagine being in front of two big muscled men towering over 2 meters while both of your just barely passed 5 foot.

Although Fumi's spider form makes her just a bit smaller than them though.

Still, us two felt small comoared to these towering men. And their aura of authority are suffocating to say the least.

"Okay, make sure to sweep the surrounding areas as well. We have no idea if William is truly still alive and if he is. He might have some of his men looking for us now." Kairo ordered him and Emmanuel just nodded his head before barking orders to the other men with us.

At his orders some of them set up camps while some went with Emmanuel to either get food or patrol the area like Kairo told them to.

There were seven of them that came to Kairo's rescue, all of them as big as him. I wonder if that's a lycan trait or maybe they're eating something we aren't. Because if they were I would like some of it.

They were actually not prepared to camp outside as the two men left used twigs, vines and leaves to create a small tent for us.

I watched them with rapt attention as they weaved and assembled the tent like a professional. They're so used to it and I'm envious of their talent.

I've always wanted to camp out and just stare at the stars. Although because of the trees I can't really watch the stars but this is the next best thing.

If we didn't have a target on our back I would love to do this everyday. Just sleeping in the forest, or in an open field just looking at the stars and sighing in wonder. Just peaceful times.

However, I will settle for this and having Kairo and his men with us was a huge relief. I don't think I'll even think of sleep if Fumi and I ate alone right now.

My quiet watching was interrupted by a growl besides me where I found a suddenly angru Kairo when I turned my face.

He was glaring at the two and they looked uncomfortable at the hostility he's producing.

I was about to ask him what's wrong when he just went towards them, glaring still by the way, and taking over with the tent preparation.

They seemed to be in a panic and just stood there not knowing what to do until he told them to look for other materials. Who looked at each other before obeying when he growled once again.

He proceeded to take charge once again and continued with the building of the tent. Fumi and I looked at each other and we just stared at him not knowing what just happened.

He worked at it like he wanted to murder something and I wonder what set him off.

He was huffing and grunting as he assemble each part and he was seriously scaring me too. Fumi's been scared since earlier and now she just looks like she wanted to be anywhere that's not here.

Poor girl.

After finishing the roof. He finally looked calm enough and he turned to us and stared specifically at me before saying, "Don't look at them that way again." Then he just continued working after he saif that.

I just stood there staring at him clueless.

What?

What did he mean I can't look at them like that? How am I looking at them even. I turned to Fumi, my face probably wrinkling in a weird way as I question her wordlessly.

She just shrugged at me, just as clueless as I am.

Niw what is wring with this guy?

When the other two comes to bring materials they were looking everywhere but our way and they excused themselves to patrol the area as well when Kairo refused to let them work on the tent further.

I just don't know what happened.

In the middle of it, he took his shirt off to be be able to work easier I guess but now instead of me enjoying watching how the tent was being made, all I could look at was how he was ripped and the way his muscled flexed with every move.

I heard Fumi's sharp intake of breath and my head turned quicker than a bullet and I saw her looking at him like I just did and I swear my eyes went red.

When it did I panicked and gripped Fumi's arm harder than I intended and she flinched while turning to me.

"Ouch, hey what's -" her words were cut off and I knew that my eyes were really bleeding red.

"What the-" was her only response.

"Don't look at him. Just don't" I said as I tried to blink the anger away.

What the hell is happening?

--

A/N: Okay, guys put down your torches and pitchforks I'm back. So yeah sorry I missed a week. I'm so unmotivated lately but I promised to upload every other Sunday and I missed that. I'm so sorry.

But as promised I will post another chapter this week to compensate for it.

So stay tuned for that!

Also I typed this in my phone, past bedtime so sorry for the typos I kniw they're plenty.