Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 633: ...And then there were five

Chapter 633: ...And then there were five

Ana didn’t know what to expect from the scary wolf-like creature but it was not this.

Helping the creature to pick flowers from a flower bed left her unsure of how to feel towards the creature.

It was a dangerous predator yet for reasons unknown, it didn’t attack her, instead asking her to assist it in such a mundane yet calming task.

Of course, it’s not like she didn’t like the current situation; after all, who would wish for an attack in her current state?

A simple glance was enough for her to understand that the wolf would rip her to shreds should they engage in combat which made her worry more about Baba Yaga’s current state.

If she was greater than this wolf, then her group had no way of dealing with her and as it was, escaping looked to be on the cusp of impossibility.

Taking a deep breath to calm her worried mind, Ana spoke up. "Mr. Wolf, can I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Did you see any of my friends in the woods?"

The wolf appeared thoughtful for a moment before he replied. "None at all, why?"

"I’m looking for my friends. Do you think you could help me find them?"

"Of course, but first, it is paramount you take the basket home to your grandma."

Even as it felt foolish to agree with the wolf’s suggestion, Ana replied. "Alright then."

***

"I don’t believe it," Alex muttered in apparent disbelief as he stood several meters away from the sight ahead.

Blinking repeatedly, Nadia muttered. "Is that a house... made out of pastries?"

"There’s no escaping it." Alex intoned, causing Nadia to look at him.

"What do you mean?"

"No matter what path we take, it will always lead back to this spot."

"What does that mean?"

"That we are about to take on a mean old witch and the decisions we take now would determine if we step out of here alive."

Nadia furrowed her brows, struggling to grasp the essence of what Alex was talking about.

Meanwhile, Alex began to ponder a possibility.

What if the others were also stuck in fairy tales woven by Baba Yaga?

If he recalled correctly, there were two versions of most fairy tales from Earth.

The grim version and the more lighthearted version.

If it were the latter, then the others had hope of surviving, but god forbid it was the former, then something needed to be done fast, or else they would all end up dying painful deaths.

Thankfully, Hansel and Gretel were one of the more tame ones in which the protagonists had hope of survival.

But that was only if they went according to the script.

Pursing his lips, Alex turned to Nadia and inquired in all seriousness. "How good are you at pushing old ladies into brick ovens?"

"... What?"

***

The silence that persisted between Victoria and the strange old lady was deafening, with both exchanging looks with one another, waiting for someone to speak up and break the ice.

Just then, a bird chirped and Victoria furrowed her brows as a strange sensation pulsed through her entire body, leaving her briefly disoriented.

Grabbing the side of her head, she struggled to maintain her balance before finally settling on one of the small chairs in the living room.

As she regulated her breath, she once again glanced at the window to find the old lady staring at her with an intense gaze.

"You... who are you?"

In response, the old lady flashed a toothless grin that appeared quite nauseating before replying. "Just an old lady who enjoys picking apples. Now then... would you like an apple?"

"Apple..." Victoria trailed off as she stared at the apple the woman was offering.

Even as her gut screamed at her to look away, she found herself unable to do so, enticed by how juicy the red fruit appeared.

Her mouth watered as she wondered how it would taste once she took a bite, her heart racing with each passing second.

But then, she held herself back, unable to understand why an apple would elicit such a response from her.

It reminded her of her early years as a vampire struggling to fight against the urge to feed.

Back then, it was like an addiction that she couldn’t ignore, forcing her to murder hundreds in a bid to save it.

She was well aware of what she had to do back then to let go of that addiction.

Perhaps that was why, faced with the danger of falling into yet another addiction, her survival instincts kicked in.

Even though the desire for the apple remained, she felt she could better control herself now.

"Leave." Victoria breathed out, catching the old lady off guard.

"You..."

"I said get out now!" Victoria bellowed, decidedly using anger to fight against the desire burning her chest.

The old lady looked her over before pulling back the hand, holding the apple, and sauntering off before she disappeared into the woods.

Victoria staggered to the window and forcefully closed it shut before falling to the ground, her heart palpitating as she struggled to control her breathing.

***

Ulysses dragged himself home, the pains of the sores and boils on his body no longer as hurtful as when he’d first got them from the angry fish.

Gritting his teeth, he cursed himself for being so foolish.

He knew that something was bound to happen yet he went ahead and did as the so-called wife wanted.

Now look, he was in dire straits and unsure of how to handle the current situation.

But not anymore, he had to put an end to this to reunite with the others.

Just then, he got home to find that the mansion he had wished for had turned into a dirty, dilapidated shack with his ’wife’ seated outside with her head down and her hair a complete mess.

Her skin was covered in dried-up scabs, causing her to appear like a leprous patient.

"This is all your fault!... Why did you have to be so greedy!?... Why couldn’t you have been content?... Why drag me down with you?" Ulysses remarked in anger as he approached.

But just as he got within arm’s length, intending to reach down and grab her shoulder, the ’wife’ reacted.

She suddenly raised her head, before pulling out a knife from under her garment.

Then, she stabbed Ulysses in the neck, catching him completely off guard.

Ulysses’ eyes widened in shock as he stared at the terrifying face of the woman before him.

"Baba..." he muttered softly as blood clogged his throat and dyed his pus covered skin.

But the woman didn’t stop there as she stabbed him several more times, forcing him to the ground in the process.

Only when his blood had formed a pool beneath his unmoving body did the old woman stop and in a hoarse tone, mutter.

"...And then there were five."