Darkest Ground Online The Lost Ones

Chapter 4

"We're too late!"

Sarah cried out, falling to her knees. Eren stood behind her, getting a good look at the village. Corpses of men, women, and children were impaled on the fences, walls, and some even hanged. This was cruel, he thought to himself. looking down towards Sarah, knowing the pain she felt.

"She was my cousin. She was just a child!" Her voice raised in anger, she slammed both her fist onto the muddy road. Eren backed a bit.

"They took them from me. I know in my heart those monsters killed all of them!" She yelled even louder, her voice carried across the dark forest.

"Hunter I brought you here to save my village. But now I know there is no saving it. I want you to kill those bastards and burn their tainted bodies!"

Eren saw the firey rage in her eyes any words he would say to calm her down, were completely gone.

Bell Noise.

Side Hunt: You have seen the horrors of the Taint now you must cleanse the village and its people. Do you Accept, Yes or No?

Eren, having no other choice after seeing this slaughter, agreed.

"We will find the ones responsible for this I promise you." Sarah reached towards her cousin's face to close her eyes. Then a cold hand grabbed her by the arm and pulled her.

"Why... you... left... me?" Her cousin spoke while tears of blood leaked from her empty sockets, pulling Sarah closer.

"Why... did... you... left... me... here?" Sarah tried to pull away, but her grip was tight.

"Why... did... you... let... them... do... this... to... ME!?" Her cold hand squeezed even tighter until her arm made a small crack noise.

Then a loud bang, Sarah dragged herself away holding her arm tightly starring at the now half blown away skull of her cousin.

"You? Hunter, I'm so sorry for you having to waste your bullets. I should've known better!"

She gripped her arm tightly feeling the pain greatly increase. Eren reached out to look at her arm but she shook her hand and backed away.

'It's nothing. Come on let's go. If the taint can reanimate dead bodies, then the people in my village are all monsters."

Eren reload his rifle while walking through the village.

"Do you know what the Taint is Hunter?" Eren didn't respond since he didn't know at all.

Actually he knows nothing about this world. There was no intro or cutscene, he was clueless in this game world. The only thing he knew was that he was a hunter and killing monsters was his job. But he wanted to know where was his youngerbrother and where are the other players.

Sarah came to stop and told a story.

"The old woman that lived in this village was a very kind and gentle woman. She took care of the young and old and she loved around the village. One day the old woman went out to pick berries in the forest but as time passed there was no sight of her returning. Day after day the children waited, worried that something could of happen to the old women. Then in middle of the night she returned. The children were excited and follow the women back to her home. The villagers began to worry because of the children who havent returned home yet. Most of the parants and village chief went by the old womens home but when they entered they couldn't belive what she had done

They all stood there, small bodies laid on the floor devoid of skin . The old woman sat in her rocking chair, her eyes gouged, her face skinned. The village chief asked why she did this and her only repsonse was.

We are born of flesh, made by flesh, undone by flesh. We are the taint and so is our flesh.... Fear our flesh!"

Eren noticed the change of tone in Sarah's voice for a moment, it sounded like muilple voices.

Thinking it was because of stress after all she's been through.

The village stood quiet with nothing but death and decay, as the sound of crows coming from above, some latched on a few hanged bodies and the rest on the ground.

"So this is what's left of everyone?" Sarah replied sighing at the fact she was too late to save anyone she ever cared about.

Then a loud door slam came from one of the nearby houses.

Sarah ran to one of the houses assuming that there was someone still alive, hoping it was her mother or father.

Reaching the first house she banged on the door so hard that the sound frightened the crows. Eren rushed to stop her, fearing that it would draw attention to whatever did this or wake the dead.

"Is anyone in there! Please come out! It's me Sarah and I brought a hunter with me!" She kept knocking till a sound of footsteps were heard coming from within the home.

The footsteps came to a stop, she then leaned her ears towards the door. Sarah listened and heard someone breathing heavy like they were frightened or nervous, a woman she thought of, could it be her mother she thought?

"Mother? Is...thats you?" she asked

"No...not really." the voice said

Eren sensing danger, grabbed Sarah by the arm pulling her away, as a large claw burst through the door. Eren believed it to be the same monster he fought earlier, grabbing his daggers.

The creature came out but it was not the same monster from before but a woman.

(Bell Noise)

Tainted Shrieker, grade 0, her screams of torment is all she knows. Having long black hair, its skin pale and bruised, its heart torn from its chest and claws stained with blood . The Taint turns this young woman's cries of pain into a weapon to anyone who hears it.

Eren switched to his rifle, ready to shoot down this new threat but was stopped by Sarah who jumped in front of his gun.

"Please stop! That's my mother!"

Eren couldn't make the shot since Sarah was in the way. Realizing that this creature was not her mother anymore, Eren tried moving her out the way.

The pale woman then lifted her head, shedding tears of blood while letting out a wail that went out around the farm. The wailing sound felt like you were being hit by rocks constanly. Throbbing in pain Eren and Sarah fell to their knees covering their ears trying to block the sound. Eren barely able to stand looked at Sarah and saw that she was bleeding from her eyes and nose, then she passed out. Know he couldn't keep her here any longer, sucking up to the pain he then picked up Sarah and ran away trying to find a safe place for her.

Eren vision was getting darker and it was hard to see where he was going. Looking around, he notices a stable with a large stack of hay.

The Shrieker stopped her wailing, she stood staring at the night sky then turned her head and looked at Eren running towards the stable. Stretching her claws, she then began chasing after him, her eyes glowingbright red. Hearing her footsteps getting closer Eren hastened and used the last bit of stamina he had left, reaching the stable and tossed Sarah in the hay stack. The pale women claws reached Eren and scratched his back, as he yelled out in pain.

Bleeding- Damage over time effect, must use bandage to stop bleeding

The pale woman was too strong and fast, he had to find a place to hide and use a bandage to stop the bleeding or he would die.

Knowing that Sarah would be safe and out of his way, grabbing his rifle he fired a few shots at the shrieker. The women dodges them with ease, dashing side to side evading every bullet. Reloading his gun he noticed something came behind him and attacked, striking it down with his dagger he notice it was one of the villagers now a undead monster. Eren then realized that the villagers' bodies were now rising from their spots and began to focus on him.

The hanged bodies of the children began to twist and turn, making gurgling noises from their broken necks, looking down at Eren.

(Bell Noise)

Tainted Wispe, grade 0, The taint doesn't spare anyone, not even children. The broken neck of the child leaves them paralyzed but still a threat. It gurgles and vomits large amounts of poisonoius substance and strengthens any who is of the taint.

The undead monsters stood in each of the Wispe, poisonoius vomit, taken in more of the taint they each turn into Maneaters. Being outnumbered he knew he couldn't kill them all, not with that Shrieker on their side. The Shrieker then leaned her head back again, Eren saw this and ran to find a place to think and recover. Barely able to keep himself up, hearing the sound of the Maneaters chasing after him, he thought that he was done. Looking around one last time he found an old mansion that had boarded windows and had a large gated fence.

Finally he found a place to hide and keep himself alive for a bit longer to figure out what he can do next.

Barely able to move he sucked up all his pain and ran. A few Maneaters saw him and started chasing after him. Hearing their footsteps getting louder behind him, he grabbed a couple of his throwing knives and threw one of them, slowing it down.

Finally reaching the gate Eren notice the gate was locked and he only had short amount of time before the maneater catch up to him.

With no hesitation he shot lock off and busted through the gate and then through the front door.

Eren slammed it shut and locked it.

Checking every exit Eren made damn sure that those monsters had no chance of getting inside.

When it was over the Manteater's clawed at the door trying to get inside, it was only a matter of time.

Eren was so tired he then notice a large dresser next to the door and without hesitation he pushed it down sealing it shut.

Now he was safe but for how long? Errn thought.

Completely exhausted and badly hurt, hearing the only sound of his heart beating heavy. By grabbing a handful of greenish herbs he then stuffed it down his mouth, as the pain lifted a bit from his body.

Feeling better, Eren notices an old dusty couch and sat down for moment.

After that he leaned his head back and pass out.