As everyone stepped out of the altar—

"Woah, what's with this fog?" Sufian said, eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, man... there wasn't nothin' like this when we came through earlier," Ali added. "If we go out in this now, we’ll be just as lost as the others."

Everyone paused for a second.

"What about Bayan? And that scream just now..." Malak said anxiously.

Another scream echoed in the distance.

"Aaaaaaah! Stay away from meee!"

"Wait... what the heck was that?!" Sufian shouted.

He pointed toward a shadow forming in the haze—Bayan’s silhouette, with someone short standing beside her… holding a knife.

"Is... is she being attacked by something?" Malak gasped.

"You mean like a pervert?" Ali asked.

"A pervert? On a MOUNTAIN?!"

"Maybe it’s an ibex or something? Yeah, I can hear... growling, I think?" Sufian added.

Yellow eyes flared in the mist.

"Whoa, hey! I... was it just me, or did something light up over there?" Ali asked, backing up.

"We should head toward her voice!" Malak urged.

(Are my eyes playing tricks on me? I can barely see a thing around here. This fog is seriously weird, man...) Sufian thought.

"It bothers me too, but not as much as Bayan’s screams!" Malak insisted.

"Yeah!"

As they got closer—

"Hey, Bayaaaan! Maaatt! Are you okay?!" Sufian called out.

"Wait! Something's here!" Jeremy shouted.

"What is that... some kind of green lizard?" Sufian asked, squinting.

"No... no, that thing's holding a knife!" Ali yelped.

"What in the world...?" Jeremy muttered.

"Glrk..."

"That sound again! So this weird thing was making it?" Sufian said, stunned.

"YEEEEEEK!" Bayan screamed, hands clenched near her heart.

"Weeep! Back off, you freak show!" Matt shouted, sweating as he held his arms up defensively.

"What is that?!" Amaya cried, eyes wide, hands covering her mouth.

Yusuf came running up, panting.

"Hey, what's going on?! I heard a bunch of screaming back there! Amaya! You were here the whole time!"

"What? Yusuf?! Why are you here?!" Amaya blinked.

"Wait, Bayan! We’re coming to help!" Malak shouted.

"Is that you, Malak?! No, stay away! Don’t come here!" Bayan cried out.

"No, come here and heeelp!" Matt screamed.

"Glaaarrrk!"

"That creepy thing’s looking this way..." Amaya whispered, lowering one hand from her mouth.

"Wh-wha-what should we dooo?!" Ali stammered.

"It's not like we can just leave them alone, right? Even if she tells us to?" Malak said, voice shaking.

"Glaaaaark!"

(This weird lizard-like creature's set its sights on the others... A creature...? No... a monster?!)

"What’re you waiting for?! Get the hell over here, already!" Matt yelled.

"Could this be one of Hubal’s...? No... how could that be?!" the Professor gasped.

(Professor! He followed us from the altar? We have to save those guys from this monster...!)

"Let’s try talking to it..." Sufian suggested.

"Yeah, it could be just some kid pulling a prank. Hey, you there!" Jeremy shouted, referring to the short figure.

"Wait, hold on, Jeremy! How heavy would a kid have to be to leave footprints that deep?!" Ali pointed out.

"Footprints...?!" Jeremy looked down.

"GLaaaaark!"

"Wha-- UWAAAH!" Jeremy screamed.

"Look out, Jeremy!" Sufian cried out.

The monster shuffled forward—lantern swinging in one hand, knife raised in the other—only to trip on its robe. The blade missed Jeremy but scratched Sufian as he jumped in the way.

"Ungh!"

"Sufian!" Malak gasped.

"Ugh... What the heck... It barely grazed me, and yet..."

"Are—are you all right?! I'm sorry... You saved me there..." Jeremy said.

"This is bad! Let’s get out of here!" Ali shouted, staring at the creature again.

Jeremy, Bayan, Matt, and Amaya broke into a run, scattering into the mist.

(A creature we've never seen before is coming right at us! What's going on?! What a crazy situation we’ve gotten into. Why the heck is this happening?!)

Malak stumbled as she ran behind Sufian.

"Yeep!"

"You okay, Malak?!"

"Glaarrrk!"

(Oh no. Malak fell down, and that lizard monster is coming this way!)

"Stop! Stay away from her!!!"

(I can't let it hurt Malak!)

"UWaaaaaaaaaah!"

(That thing just sent me flying—)

"Ahhh, jeez... Man, that thing’s strong... I'm lucky I got away with a few scratches after a tackle like that... The others...! Hey! YOU GUYS OKAY?!"

Sufian shouted into the fog, searching for Malak and Ali, who had run in the same direction.

"Sufian! Are you all right?!" Ali called back.

"I'm sorry... This is all my fault!" Malak said weakly, her eyes half-closed in guilt.

(Everyone seems to be okay, somehow... The fog covered the entire area. There’s red spider lilies at my feet. So creepy...)

"...Guys! You there?!"

Sufian shouted again, trying to regroup.

Suddenly—

"Ahhh... AAAAAAH!" Jeremy's voice rang out.

"Huh?"

"Glaarrrk GLAArR!"

A horde of the monsters had surrounded Jeremy and the others.

"When the heck did it corner them?!" Sufian exclaimed.

"This is bad... it's getting closer and closer!" Ali added.

(They’re in for a world of hurt. Is there any way they can make a break for it?!)

"Wha'... huh? I’m feeling... kinda dizzy..."

(Am I going numb? Or did I take a harder hit than I thought? Or is it...?)

Suddenly, the ground rumbled.

"Huh? An earthquake, at a time like this?!" Malak shouted.

"Holy crap... this is making me sick, I'mma throw—ugggh..." Ali groaned.

"Is everyone okay?!" Sufian called out.

"Be careful, everyone! Move without paying attention and you’ll— WAHHH!" Jeremy screamed.

"What is it, Jeremy?!"

"Woah!"

(I tried taking a step forward, and the ground crumbled underneath me. I plunged into a gaping hole that seemed to pull me in... I couldn’t even tell what was happening to everyone else... Unchecked development... recent landslides... the professor’s words are coming back to me—)

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

✿✿✿✿✿