Chapter 4

The group of strange humans gathered earlier stopped their activities that were performing a special ritual.

"Who are you?" Olivia stepped back as the creature stared at her sharply.

Olivia convinced herself that the one in front of her was a good astral being. However, suddenly the creature approached her, and instead gripped her hand tightly, Olivia tried with all her might to break free from the man's grip. She also tried to run, unfortunately her plan to escape failed, she was like prey that had just been trapped by a hunter. "Let me go!" Olivia shouted loudly trying to make the man stop what he was doing.

Olivia tried to fight back, but their strength was not equal, Olivia just surrendered and cried while praying and looking towards the sky.

"Brukk...!!!" Suddenly a branch that had no idea where it came from and had succeeded in making the creature release its grip from Olivia's hand.

Olivia used this opportunity to leave the place. "Run, I have to run faster. Otherwise that strange creature will chase me!"

Olivia ran with all her might and was full of anxiety and hoped that she could get home soon. Her shoulder-length hair now looked very messy, but the woman still didn't care about it.

Her breathing was ragged, the backpack that had always faithfully accompanied her made a sound due to the shaking of her body. "I hope that thing isn't chasing me anymore."

Olivia didn't even have time to look back. She continued to speak without realizing that someone was peeking behind a bush and a pair of hands pulled Olivia's body and hid it inside the bush.

***

Leon saw a blue-eyed woman running with a panicked face while looking behind him, at that moment he intended to help the girl.

"Looks like that girl needs help." Leon thought to nature. His steps sneaked up on Olivia and at the right moment Leon pulled her behind a bush. "Miss, don't worry and calm down. I'll explain later, now let's hide first!"

Olivia was so surprised that her breathing was up and down and could not calm down because she felt traumatized by a figure she did not know.

However, Olivia felt that she remembered something. "I seem to recognize this voice, but who?" The woman seemed to be remembering something.

Her eyes were closed trying to dig into her head. "Who are you exactly?" Her voice rose, as the man removed his hand from her mouth.

Shh... Leon put his index finger in front of Olivia's lips, "Don't speak too loudly.

Olivia's lips, "Don't speak too loudly, what if they find out where we are?"

If it wasn't in a pinch and a different atmosphere, perhaps Olivia would have immediately hit him for daring to touch her lips carelessly. However, the situation at that time seemed so urgent, Olivia realized and should be grateful for being spared from danger because of it.

Leon looked around and didn't hear any more clattering sounds around there, then he voiced softly. "How did you get here?" Leon asked out of curiosity.

Olivia took a deep breath, slowly the woman told him about the beginning of her intentions which ended up making him shudder in horror at the thought.

"Is that so?" Leon thought and thought about his next words. "It's already dark, Oh I don't know your name yet. Introduce my name is Leon." He offered his hand to the woman.

"Olivia." she replied quickly, Leon didn't think she would respond to him so quickly.

Olivia's anxiety and apprehension disappeared as she realized that the man in front of her seemed like a nice person. They are now chatting and getting along just like that

"What exactly are you doing in this forest? This place is too dangerous for a woman like you." Leon asked to make sure.

Olivia looked down, her mind was distracted imagining the things she found earlier, she remembered an old book she found earlier.

However, her hearing was focused on the sound of approaching footsteps. Leon immediately looked down while embracing Olivia into his arms.

From behind the bushes they peeked, it turned out that the sound came from the

the group of creatures that chased him earlier. Olivia refrained from making a sound, hoping that the group would go away.

As soon as there was no more sound, Leon turned his gaze to Olivia's trembling body in his arms. Tonight felt a little strange for him meeting a woman in the middle of the forest.

Leon saw the thin long-sleeved T-shirt Olivia was wearing. He immediately took off the black hoodie jacket he was wearing to reveal the dark brown long-sleeved shirt underneath. "Miss... um I mean Olivia, I think your clothes are very thin, so wear this jacket and let's get out of here. Let me take you home. It's not good for a woman like you to walk alone, especially at night." he said in a low voice.

Olivia looked doubtful, she was silent for a while. "Are you still hesitating? Don't think about anything else, right now you really need someone to accompany you." Leon warned again,

"Alright." Olivia took and used the jacket without saying anything, even though her heart was beating violently.

The sound of clattering footsteps again made him realize that they were not safe yet.  

Olivia paled and began to bury her face into her knees. Leon, looked at her with compassion. "You just calm down, I'll handle this. We're in the same situation, so we can help each other with anything," his eyes were lost in his words.

The look on Leon's face convinced Olivia, at that moment, Olivia turned to look at Leon's face. She felt that the man had a handsome face in every aspect and even showed firmness in his gaze.

Olivia could also see hope on the man's face. "Well, thank you for your willingness."

Leon tried to take Olivia out of hiding while looking around vigilantly. They paid attention to the atmosphere around them, when the voice was no longer heard.

The two of them moved quickly through the forest. Leon used the flashlight from his old cell phone to get out of the forest. "Looks like we're in the border area now, I'm sure the distance to get out of the forest is still too far." Olivia complained.

It was said that the place was not friendly to pass through at night. Wolves and other wild animals stalked the place, even the soldiers guarding the border often patrolled.

But the two of them would not relax their vigilance level before reaching their destination.

"Leon."

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"I heard something, about a few meters away from here, at seven o'clock. From the footsteps it sounds like there might be a swarm of lifeforms heading this way." Olivia told him calmly.

Leon felt strange, before he quickly took cover behind a large tree and hid himself among the dense shadows of the trees. "How do you know?"

"It's them." Olivia whispered before answering Leon's question, the sound of steps getting closer.

Leon nodded silently, he didn't even have any tools to keep watch other than the martial arts he learned in the youth community, he wasn't sure he could face them alone, especially if there were many of them.

But, the young man hoped he wouldn't have to because he had to save his strength for the long journey they were about to embark on.

"Quick! Find the intruder, don't let him get away!"