Tragedy in Arcadia

As they arrived in Arcadia, their hometown, a heavy atmosphere weighed upon the group. The once-charming village, nestled beside a tranquil river with its welcoming bridge, now lay in ruins. The streets were stained with blood, and lifeless bodies were scattered throughout, painting a grim picture of devastation.

Jane's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening in shock. "No... How could this happen? Our peaceful village..."

Ethan's gaze fell upon the horrifying scene, his heart sinking with a mixture of sorrow and anger. "Monsters... They attacked Arcadia."

Jessica's voice trembled as she whispered, "It's... it's a tragedy. I can't believe what I'm seeing."

Xavier surveyed the fresh bloodstains, his brow furrowed in concern. "This happened recently... The attack must have been merciless."

Jane's voice quivered as she turned to Ethan, her eyes filled with tears. "We have to check the church, Ethan... Maybe there are answers there... Maybe... maybe Bryan..."

The group made their way towards the village church, a haunting silence accompanying their every step. The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding, as if the walls themselves held the weight of the tragedy.

The encounter some monster still lingering around the village, their presence a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked. With a mix of fear and determination, they fought off the monsters, drawing strength from their previous experiences in Median Mountain.

Reaching the entrance of the church, Jane's legs felt weak beneath her, her voice barely a whisper. "How... How could this have happened? Just a few days ago, everything was... normal..."

Jane hurriedly entered the church, her footsteps echoing through the empty halls. Jessica turned to Ethan, her voice filled with concern. "Does Jane have any family here in Arcadia?"

Ethan's eyes flickered with a complex mix of emotions, his voice filled with bitterness. "Jane has a stepbrother... Bryan... But I don't know where he is."

Xavier, sensing the weight on their shoulders, offered a glimmer of hope. "Let's search the church, all of it. We have to find any clues, any signs of life."

Their footsteps echoed through the desolate church, their hearts heavy with a sorrow they could scarcely bear. They searched every corner, calling out Bryan's name with a fragile hope that he would answer.

Finally, they found Jane in a room at the back of the church, her tears flowing freely. Her voice cracked as she spoke, "Bryan... He's nowhere to be found... I can't bear the thought of losing him..."

Ethan tried his best to comfort Jane, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and determination. "We didn't find him among the bodies... There's still a chance he made it out."

Jane's despair intensified, her voice filled with desperation. "What are we going to do? Where is Bryan...?"

Jessica gently placed a comforting hand on Jane's shoulder, her voice filled with empathy. "Jane, we haven't found him among the casualties. There's still hope he's alive. We'll find him."

Xavier, his eyes filled with compassion, suggested finding a safe place to rest and regroup. Jessica nodded in agreement, her voice soft and caring. "Yes, we need to gather our strength and plan our next move. Maybe there are others who survived..."

Ethan's voice held a tinge of bitterness as he shared his findings, his tone betraying his own emotional turmoil. "I... I don't think anyone else made it... I searched... They're all dead..."

Xavier looked at Ethan, sensing the deep wounds hidden beneath his stoic exterior. "How can you be sure?"

Jane, her voice trembling, revealed Ethan's connection to the church, her words filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. "Ethan grew up here... He's the son of the church's father..."

Xavier nodded, a mix of understanding and surprise on his face. "I see..."

Jane led the group to a hidden entrance that led to a storage room on the church's upper floor. It was a sanctuary untouched by the horrors that befell the village.

Inside the storage room, Jane wiped away her tears, her voice filled with a mix of relief and sorrow. "This... This is where we stored our food... It's dusty, but... but it should be safe."

Xavier took in the room's stillness, his voice filled with cautious optimism. "It seems the monsters haven't reached this room yet. We can rest here, gather our strength."

Jessica, her voice laced with weariness, agreed. "Yes, let's rest for the night. Tomorrow, we can figure out what to do next."

Ethan, however, made a different choice. He chose to stay in the church's main hall, a conflicted expression on his face. Xavier looked at him with curiosity, his voice tinged with compassion. "You... the cold one... You're the religious type?"

Jessica smiled gently, understanding the depths of Ethan's complexity. "Actually, he's an assassin from Jackson City. Maybe he needs this time to reflect and find solace."

Xavier chuckled, a touch of admiration in his voice. "Ah, so my guess was right after all. You've got quite a story."

Ethan silently left the group and headed to the main hall of the church, seeking solace in solitude. Alone in the hall, he spoke to himself, his words filled with pain and confusion. "Father... Why did you want to kill me that night?"

The echoes of his words lingered in the empty space, as if searching for answers that may never come.