Purge The Cursed!

"Put this on." Lauren said. Walking into their room, he tossed a bag to Tega.

Still having his gaze fixed out the window, Tega caught the bag and asked. "What's in here?"

"Put it on." Lauren repeated, having a frown under his mask and annoyance in his voice.

Removing the clothes that were in the bag, Tega raised an eyebrow as he stared at Lauren. "Shouldn't you be going out?"

"You're no fun," Lauren clicked his tongue and turned his back towards Tega, adding in a boisterous tone. "Back in the day, we guys took baths together."

"We called it bonding with our nakedness!" he yelled, slamming the door behind him.

Unfazed by all that Lauren had spouted, Tega looked at the clothes and muttered, "Not like I asked."

In a few minutes, Tega was fully clothed and he had to say walking around in leaves wasn't meant for a human.

"Looking sharp." Lauren complimented, barging into the room while pointing both his index fingers at Tega.

Tega took a seat on the bed, ignoring Lauren's remark he asked. "What's next?" They've gotten the clothes they came for and if they don't need to stay here any longer Tega thought it was best they leave.

Slowly getting used to Tega's personality, Lauren leaned on the wall teasing. "Scared?"

"I know this town is quite spooky but as long as you're with me you'll be fine." Lauren continued, placing his hands into his pockets.

Unwilling to argue with Lauren, Tega calmly replied. "If we don't need to stay longer, let's not."

"Nah…" Shaking his head comedically, Lauren concluded. "That's what someone who's scared would say. Don't worry like I said I'll protect you."

Short of words, Tega could only sigh, a faint trace of irritation flickering across his face.

"Anyway I'll be going to meet the town head, wanna tag along?" Lauren said, trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere between the first time.

Unresponsive, Tega rose to his feet and muttered. "Sometimes the silence is better."

After that brief exchange, the duo spent their time in silence as they slowly made their way towards the town's center.

—

"Not bad." Lauren muttered, having a hand on his chin as he took in the sight before him.

'Maybe I'll style Tinubu's house like this.' He thought, his mind gradually wandering to his spider which was in its contracted space.

Tega looked at the town hall, its dim lighting, strange markings, and ominous decor perfectly merged beauty with a lurking sense of unease

Flinging the double doors open just as Tega was about to knock, Lauren strutted in with a grin under his mask.

With his eyes darting through the town hall, Lauren complimented. "Nice crib you got here old man." His voice carrying a mix of slight awe and immense pride.

Although they were momentarily stunned by Lauren's ballsy entrance, they quickly regained their wits and stared at him with murderous eyes.

"Seize him!" A man barked, jumping to his feet immediately after he got his thoughts in order.

"Make sure every bone in him gets broken!"

"His parents must have done an awfully poor job bringing up such a menace."

"Breaking his bones is too light of a punishment!"

After the first man had spoken, the others quickly regained their wits, yelling out whatever punishment they thought fitting, throwing a few jeers at his parents.

Unbothered or even pleased by the ruckus he had caused, Lauren placed a hand on Tega's shoulder before whispering. "Chaos is so beautiful."

His voice showed the delight he felt and even carried traces of pleasure while under his mask was a gleeful expression.

Staring at Lauren who was enjoying his creation, Tega had slight hesitance visible in his eyes as a thought crossed his mind. 'What could drive a man to enjoy in disorder?'

Honestly, Tega wasn't surprised by Lauren's behavior as it seemed like something he would do but what surprised him was the delight the latter felt from chaos.

"Enough!!"

A hoarse voice yelled, echoing through the town hall while silencing the rest who were arguing on a suitable punishment.

"But—"

"I said enough." The owner of the hoarse voice repeated, his figure slowly revealing.

He was a rather short man whose whole body looked like it was made from muscles. He had curly auburn hair that trailed behind him and pitch black eyes that commanded respect.

"That's enough for today." He added after making sure everywhere was dead silent.

Ignoring the Elders, the man turned to look at Lauren and said. "Please come on in."

"Only cause a scene if you're strong or have someone to support you." Lauren chuckled, he paid no heed to the Elders who stared daggers at him and followed behind the Town head.

Ignoring Lauren's smug advice, Tega quietly trailed behind the Town head. As he stepped forward, Tega couldn't shake the feeling that this meeting was only the beginning of something troublesome.

And unfortunately, anytime he has a feeling something would be troublesome it usually was.

—

"Want some tea?" The Town head asked in an awfully polite tone.

Although comparing his macho body to how he was talking politely was already an abomination, Tega felt uneasy every time he heard him speak.

Obnoxious because he was too strong or just overconfident, Lauren teased the maid who served them while enjoying the tea's taste.

Weary, Tega stared at the people around them—having the feeling that something was off gnaw at him.

No matter how he looked at them, their behavior seemed rather tense. It would be understandable if it were only the maids since they would be afraid of making a mistake and getting punished but the town head was also tense.

'There is something off about the tea's flavor… almost too bitter. But if Lauren trusts it…' Tega thought, looking at Lauren who was drinking the tea like it was water then at the town head who was also drinking from the same tea pot.

Throughout their meeting, Tega was unable to find what made him feel uneasy and even felt lightheaded for some reason.

"It's the type of tea we drank. It clears the mind." Lauren responded, dismissing Tega's complaints.

Irritated, Tega went straight to bed. He didn't bother asking why it wasn't affecting him—he could already hear Lauren's likely answer: 'Because I'm stronger than you.'

Staring at Tega from the corner of his eye, Lauren added. "I'll be going on a mission given by the Town head."

"When I'm back we'll depart." Aware that Tega wouldn't reply, he added. "It's for the thrill… I doubt you'll understand that."

With the sound of a door getting shut spreading through the room after Lauren was done speaking, Tega remained on the same spot.

Currently, the town head's plans were gnawing at him.

Whether it was due to the tea he had drunk or tiredness, Tega soon fell asleep—failing to tell Lauren about what he had realized.

—

"Ugh…" Closing his eyes immediately after he opened them, Tega let out a light groan as he waited for his eyes to get adapted to the brightness.

"You slept like a log!" He heard a voice yell from not too far away.

Immediately after, he felt something pour on him. It clearly wasn't water as it had a slightly harsh scent and felt weird.

'Gasoline? No not that but it's similar.' Tega thought, easily recognizing the liquid that he had been drenched with.

"Light 'em up!" He heard the voice yell again.

And this time since he wasn't drowsy he had a feeling he had heard it somewhere else.

Shelving thoughts about who owned the familiar voice aside, Tega tried his hardest to move but realized he had been tied tightly.

The ropes were so tight that even the slightest struggle would draw blood. His pulse quickening as he felt the air of death thickening around him.

"Purge the Cursed!"

"Purge the Cursed!! Purge the Cursed!!!"