The pale glow of a lantern pierced through the night, lighting the way for the three teenagers trudging through the forest. Their snow-white robes rustled as they walked, the golden wings embroidered on either side of their collars marking them as disciples of the Golden Sanctuary. 

“Why are they making us go on patrol so late at night?” Theo complained, his gaze darting nervously through the twisted underbrush. 

“His Holiness is returning tomorrow so they’re tripling patrols,” Alfred explained, lifting up the lantern a little higher. Its light sent warped shadows flickering across the forest floor. “The last thing we need is an assassination attempt his first day out of isolated meditation.”

“But it's so creepy out here,” Theo muttered, hugging his arms around his chest. 

The low hoot of an owl echoed from deep within the forest. Theo jumped at the sound, slamming directly into Alfred’s back and causing their lanterns to sway.

Alfred let out a heavy sigh, reaching out to steady his light with his free hand. “Brother Theo, please calm yourself. I promise, there is nothing to be afraid of.”
“You sure about that?” a raspy voice whispered from behind them.

Both boys spun around, their lanterns swinging wildly as they nearly knocked directly into the speaker. The swaying glow illuminated half of the boy’s face, the rest melting into the shadows. 

Alfred swallowed hard. “Brother Jasper, a patrol isn’t the time for jokes. Especially ones of that nature.”

“But I’m not joking,” Jasper replied, the lantern’s light reflected in his eyes as his gaze bore into them. Jasper always had a tendency of creeping everyone out. Now was certainly no exception. “The Rosen Slaughter could be in these very woods tonight.”

The mere mention of the name sent an icy chill through the air. Goosebumps rose up the length of Theo’s arms, his face going ashen.

Although Alfred’s expression didn’t change, the lantern trembled in his hand. “That’s ridiculous,” he countered a little too quickly, unable to hide the strain in his voice. “I highly doubt the most evil man in existence is hiding in the woods, waiting to pick off teenagers.” 

“He wouldn’t be waiting for us,” Jasper corrected, lips curling upward, “but for Him. After all, His Holiness is the biggest threat to the Rosen Slaughter. Surely you’ve heard the rumors?”

“Wait...what rumors?” Theo found himself asking despite himself. 

The eerie smile on Jasper’s face grew wider, revealing the sharp points of his teeth. “That His Holiness went into isolation because of his obsession with him.”

Alfred’s brows instantly snapped together. “You’re lying,” he retorted, his tone growing defensive. “His Holiness did it to strengthen his spiritual power. Everyone knows that.” 

“Sure, that’s what they tell us,” Jasper mused. “But I heard his obsession with killing the Rosen Slaughter got so bad that he suffered a severe mental break and had to be locked away until he was deemed sane ag--”

He was cut off by a sharp slap to the face, the sound reverberating through the cold night air. The lantern swayed in Alfred’s hand, the other still raised as Jasper stumbled backwards.

Jasper’s expression didn’t change as he slowly lifted his head, his hair falling into his eyes, completely obscuring them. “Uh oh, did I strike a nerve?”

“Shut up!” Alfred was breathing heavily, his face flushed crimson as he roughly grabbed Jasper by the collar. “How dare you spew such outrageous lies about His Holiness.” His grip on the other boy’s collar tightened, yanking Jasper up onto his tip toes. “If I ever hear you utter such blasphemous words again I’ll--” he was cut off by a forcefully yank to his sleeve. 

“We need to get out of here!” Theo squeaked, his voice coming out far shriller than he would have liked. “I heard something moving in the underbrush!” 

“Brother Theo,” Alfred snapped, shoving him off his arm, “you ‘hear’ something every patrol.” He didn’t even spare him a glance, continuing to glare down at a completely unphased Jasper. “I can’t deal with your paranoia right now. So would you please stop whining and…” He tried to shake him off once more. “Ugh, would you stop clinging to me?!”

Theo blinked. “I’m not.” 

“Oh ha ha, very funny. I’m not an idiot--” The words died on his lips as Alfred’s gaze finally snapped to him, finding that Theo was indeed standing several feet away. Alfred’s face instantly paled, the glow of the lantern sending shadows flickering across it. “But if you’re there then...who’s tugging on my…” His voice trailed off as he slowly looked downward. 

Theo followed his gaze, his stomach dropping at the sight. 

A massive, spider-like creature the size of his own head was crawling up his sleeve. Its entire body was covered in blinking red eyes, a pair of horns curling up from its gruesome scalp.

Upon being discovered, it made a mad bolt up Alfred’s arm, its spindly legs a blur of motion as it hurled itself at his face. Alfred shrieked, flailing wildly as panic erupted amidst the three boys.