Unknown Presence

"Ophelia?" Anne was frightened by the sudden movements of her friend. 

What was happening? Why did Ophelia suddenly stand up? Why is she moving like that? Why did she have that expression? 

"W-what's wrong?" Zane dropped the sticks of meat and stood up, gently grabbing her hand and cupped it in his hands. 

Ophelia opened her mouth and clearly mouthed some words. But no sound came out. She tried again, looking extremely stressed. Her veins popped out of her forehead and neck as she attempted to let out a scream.

She could've sworn her vocal cords were still working. She could feel the air escaping her lungs everytime she said a word. Her face slightly vibrates along with her screams. But no sound came out.

Kai extinguished the fire in front of him and watched the smoke cover his view. He pulled out the dagger from his belt and was about to push himself up before he felt someone grab his arm.

"Don't.." Anne murmured, her eyes focused on Ophelia. She grabbed the boy's arm and didn't intend to let it go. What if he killed Ophelia too?

Ophelia was fine. No, she is fine. She's just playing a cruel joke to liven up the mood. 

Anne felt a punch landed on her face. It snapped her out of her train of thoughts that comforted her amidst the situation. She looked at the culprit and was about to knock some sense into him before she saw how he backed off.

Within a few seconds, Kai felt something coming from his stomach. He could feel it shaking violently as if an earthquake had happened. He scratched his arm with his nails violently while he stared at his skin scraping off.

"Stop that!" Anne exclaimed, looking back and forth. She didn't know how but she had triggered some sort of repulsive reaction from the kid. 

Kai couldn't hear anything. No, he didn't want to hear it at all. He hit his back on a tree and slumped down. His mind was going into overdrive.

"Anne! Please help me! I don't know how to stop her!" Zane yelled loudly, as he pushed Ophelia back and made a shield around her. He compressed gravitational energy onto the area she was standing around.

But somehow, Ophelia who had rarely used her body and worked out, managed to shake the barrier Zane made. It became unsteady as cracks were seen sprouting while the gravitational magic got turbulent.

Anne, seeing the need for a helping hand, rushed over and used her wind magic to strengthen Zane's shield. She attempted to sneak a peek at the kid to check up on him but was interrupted.

Thoughts overwhelmed Ophelia in her mind. Why was this happening? She was just thinking and felt something prick through her with a small thin needle. It was the exact sensation she felt back at the tunnel.

Come to think of it..something provoked her. With her inner head voice, it asked her a question. The question roamed in her mind as she came up with answers for it..until she lost track of what was happening.

Her body was controlled by something mysterious. However, she could still feel the piercing pain as she watched her friends struggle to calm her down.

"You're hurting her!" Zane said, decreasing the magic he placed on Ophelia slightly since Anne placed so much pressure.

"I'm not! If I don't, she'll get out and hurt us!" Anne complained, wind blowing in her face vigorously until the knots on her hair fixed itself.

Zane frowned and turned his attention back to Ophelia. "Please hold on for a while longer. Me and Anne will think of a way to get you back to normal!" He reassured, gently placing his hands on the barrier. His hands met with hers through the barrier. 

Anne looked around to find the source that was hurting her friend. She eyed every crook and cranny. She used her magic to sense for an unknown presence, but the only thing she saw were 4 thin lines hanging down from nowhere.

And it connected to every limb of Ophelia. 

"Cut the strings." Anne said immediately. If she was right..those were making her friend run rampant. 

Zane stood up and took out his sword and passed it to Anne. "I can't use magic well to see what you see. Cut it for me." 

Anne agreed without a second thought, cautiously she stepped to the side and gripped the sword tightly. She swung and in one move she cut out the two strings. 

She bent down and was about to cut another one before Ophelia slammed the border with her leg. Furiously kicking like a maniac. 

She cut off another string and saw Ophelia's leg relaxed. She was right after all. She rushed over to the other side and jabbed at the thin strings that snapped easily.

Ophelia's whole body slumped like a sack of potatoes. She breathed heavily as if gasping for air. She touched her throat and face immediately to see if it would move to her command. She smiled at Zane and tears started rolling down her face.

"Ophelia.." Zane said in a soft tone. Bending down and removing the border. Letting her touch him.

"I thought.." Ophelia sniffed. "I was going to die!" She walked and hugged Zane as if she had suddenly transformed to a koala.

Anne smiled and heaved a sigh of relief. She was glad she didn't just cut her friend down. She didn't want to lose anyone else. She'll find every way to save them in this cursed place. She will.

She stared at the two lovebirds for a while and wondered when they were going to actually be true to their feelings.

She then suddenly remembered Kai. She turned her head towards the direction where she had last seen him. There he was, sitting on the wood logs as if nothing happened.

Kai smiled and ushered them over with a flick of his fingers. But even his smile couldn't hide the creepy aura standing right behind him. It was a dark smoke that devoured him whole.