From the dead

The group of teenagers stood frozen, their eyes wide in shock at the surreal scene unfolding before them. Liam, a few meters away, faced the sky, his movements unnaturally stagnant. Sophia, fearless, stepped forward to touch his shoulder, only to be met with an unexpected and horrifying response. Liam grabbed her hands tightly and forcefully dragged her towards him, clutching her neck with a menacing grip.

"Who are you?!" Liam's voice, once familiar, now sounded cold and distant. His eyes glowed red, and his teeth elongated into something monstrous.

"Stop... *Cough* *Cough* it's me... Sophia," she gasped, attempting to make him remember. But Liam's eyes remained frigid, devoid of recognition.

"Let her go!" Ethan instinctively seized the staff from Moris and rushed towards Liam. However, as he approached, Liam turned to him, and Ethan froze on the spot. Liam's gaze, piercing and soul-searching, held him captive. Liam's expression turned colder, an unexplained hunger for Ethan's death evident in his eyes. He released Sophia and, in the blink of an eye, stood before Ethan. The group, stunned by this unparalleled speed, realized the gravity of the situation. Liam effortlessly lifted Ethan by the neck, choking the life out of him with just one hand, as if the weight meant nothing.

"Let him go, Liam. We can sort this out peacefully, but first, you need to calm down," Leo pleaded, dropping his weapon and raising his hands in surrender.

"No... I am not .. I-I am..... AHHHHHHHHHHHH WHO AM!!!". At the mention of his name, Liam dropped Ethan, standing still for a moment, his thoughts chaotic. Shaking his head, he attempted to sift through his memories, struggling with his identity. Suddenly, he let out a piercing scream towards the sky, causing everyone to cover their ears. The power and pain in Liam's voice sent shockwaves through the surroundings, frightening off birds and animals within a fifty-kilometer radius.

When the group opened their eyes after the deafening scream, Liam had vanished, leaving only a silhouette disappearing into the distant bush. Attempts to chase him proved futile, as everyone's head buzzed incessantly. It took about thirty minutes for their minds to clear, during which none could recall the direction in which Liam had disappeared. Their sense of direction had been distorted by the extraordinary events.

"How... H-How did he do that?" Tilly grunted as she stood up, staring at the place where Liam had been buried, still in disbelief. The unbelievable had happened before their eyes—Liam had died, his breath stopped, and signs of life extinguished. Ethan suggested feeding him a potion in the hopes of healing him, but by the time they administered it, it was too late. Liam had passed away, leaving the group grappling with the inexplicable and the sorrow of a lost friend.

"What was the content in that bottle?" Leo seized Ethan's shirt, his inquiry sharp and cold. Heidi attempted to mediate, urging an end to internal disputes, but Leo's anger escalated. Flinging Ethan away aggressively, he confronted Eloise, Tilly, and Eliza, accusing them of being murderers. He unleashed his fury on Heidi, criticizing her leadership abilities.

"What is your problem?!! What do you want me to do again?" Heidi shouted furiously, hitting the floor in frustration. "I am trying to do what a leader does here!"

Pointing at Ethan and Eloise, Leo spoke coldly, "If you were a good leader, you wouldn't hesitate to send these two away. I know you probably won't, but I promise you that these two would not hesitate to stab you in the back if they have the slightest chance."

Ignoring Heidi's response, Leo walked towards Ethan with an icy stare. "Now tell me! What was in that bottle?"

Ethan nervously gulped, having witnessed Leo's formidable capabilities back on Earth. Attempting to flee, he stumbled and fell, admitting, "I-I don't know. I-I killed Liam, p-please kill me too. I can't live like this. I won't allow myself to live like this!"

"Leo, stop torturing him," Tilly, usually reserved, interjected, standing between Ethan and Leo with outstretched hands. "If you want to touch him, then you have to go through me first."

Sarcastically, Leo replied, "And how long do you thi—"

"You have to go through me too to touch him."

"Me too."

"Don't count me out."

In an instant, the dynamic shifted. Everyone, except Moris, stood before Ethan, shielding him from danger. Leo, in silence, assessed the situation for a moment before surprising everyone by withdrawing, laughing silently. He moved back to stand beside Moris, offering an unexpected suggestion.

"You guys should plan your next move. Since none of you cares about the death of the other, let's just pretend Zaid and Liam never died and continue living a normal life. That is what all of you want, right?"

"We all saddened by the death of Zaid and Liam. But we all see it, Liam's alive and we..." Eloise stepped forward, trying to reason with the group. However, her words were abruptly interrupted by an unexpected outburst. Surprisingly, it wasn't Leo but Moris who shouted, fuming like a beast and startling everyone.