Erythro: The Prophecy Unveiled

Thomas was happy that he was free indeed. The memory of his encounter with Madeline brought an even brighter smile to his face. Deep within his heart, he harbored a hopeful longing that their paths would cross again. The air around him was chilly, and the sky above was an inky black canvas devoid of stars, creating a stark contrast to his inner happiness. Despite the darkness, he felt a warmth from within, a flicker of hope that perhaps destiny would bring them together once more.

It was a day of merriment for the empire, a grand celebration marking the arrival of the summer days. Festivities were in full swing, with laughter and joy echoing through the streets. Yet, amidst the cheerful atmosphere, Thomas couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The lively revelry around him seemed to clash with an unsettling sense of foreboding that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness. 

He looked up and noticed the full moon, casting an ominous glow in the dark sky. The air was chilly, and his clothes offered little protection against the cold. Each breath he took formed a misty cloud in front of him. He tucked the baked sweets inside his shirt and rubbed his hands together, trying to generate some warmth. An eerie music drifted through the air from a distant parade. The road was packed with a congested crowd, blocking his view and leaving him stranded in the crowd.

The people who were trying to get home after the festival, were also stranded because of the parade. Suddenly, he noticed figures in red cloaks holding candles. They danced to the eerie music and then began to sing. The singing was unlike any melody he had ever heard—enigmatic and ominous. Goosebumps rose on his skin as he watched.

Thomas struggled to navigate through the dense crowd, determined to make his way home. Suddenly, performers in wolf costumes obstructed his path, frightening children with their antics and dramatic displays. Irritated, Thomas muttered under his breath, "What kind of parade is this?" Avoiding eye contact, he continued to push forward, intent on leaving the chaos behind.

A guard shouted from a distance, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. His commands were sharp and urgent, causing a ripple of disturbance to spread through the crowd. Panic ensued as people began to scatter, running for their lives. Amidst the chaos, Thomas noticed several cloaked figures hurriedly discarding their robes and tossing them aside.

One woman, in her frantic attempt to flee, became entangled in the discarded garments. She stumbled and fell to the ground, the red cloak enveloping her like a shroud. Seizing the opportunity, the guard quickly reached her and shackled her wrists with iron chains. She was roughly dragged away, along with several others who had also been captured in the turmoil.

A lot of people got caught, and Thomas was sure some of them are innocent. 'Why are they taking them'. He got scared and decided to hide behind a huge trash bin. Without making a sound, he waited until the commotion dies down. After an antagonizing hour, the city fell silent.

Then, a loud howl echoed in the distance, breaking the stillness of the early morning. Thomas emerged from his hidden spot; his curiosity piqued by the eerie sound. "What was that?" he wondered aloud, his voice trembling. A sudden wave of fear washed over him, and without further hesitation, he sprinted towards his home. It was already dawn, and the narrow alley he navigated was eerily silent, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle.

As he neared his house, Thomas slowed to a stop and looked around. The slum was cold and silent, with not a single person in sight. Every house was tightly shut, their occupants presumably asleep. It was a typical scene for the time of day, but an unsettling chill ran down Thomas's spine. Something felt off, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

Despite the stillness and the normalcy of the sleeping neighborhood, an inexplicable sense of dread lingered in the air. Thomas stood there, scanning the deserted alley, his mind racing with unease. The howling had ceased, but its haunting echo seemed to hang in the atmosphere, amplifying his anxiety. He knew something was wrong, but the exact nature of the danger eluded him, leaving him on edge as he resumed his cautious walk home.

The people of the slum often scavenged for leftover food, but today the place was eerily empty. "Too silent," Thomas whispered to himself. His heart pounded in his chest as he ran through the narrow alleyways towards his home. He heard another distant howl and froze in his tracks, his mind racing. "What was that? A wolf?" he wondered. As he reached the edge of the forest, he saw his home in the distance and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing a light in their small house.

He hurried towards his home but stopped abruptly when he noticed the front door slightly ajar. With unsteady steps, he approached, a sense of dread building inside him. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside and was met with a scene that made his heart shudder. The baked sweets Madeline gave him fallen on the ground, the remnants of what had been a peaceful morning now shattered.

Thomas stood there, frozen in shock, unable to process the chaos that had invaded his home. His mind raced with questions and fears, the silence inside the house now more terrifying than the howls outside. He felt as if he were mummified, stuck to the ground, unable to move or tear his gaze away from the unsettling scene before him.

He prayed, hoping it was just a nightmare and he will wake-up soon. Thomas's house, once a humble yet cozy sanctuary nestled at the edge of the forest, now bore the unmistakable scars of a violent intrusion. The front door, which had been slightly ajar, now hung precariously on one hinge, its wood splintered and claw marks visible where it had been forced open. The living room, usually warm and inviting, was in disarray. Furniture lay overturned, and the modest wooden table where Thomas and his siblings often shared meals was split in two, its contents strewn across the floor.

The fireplace, usually the heart of the home with a gently crackling fire, was cold and dark. The embers had been scattered, leaving a trail of ash and soot that mingled with the debris on the floor. The scent of burnt wood and something more primal lingered in the air, a grim reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. The small, handwoven rug that his family had cherished was now shredded, its colorful threads tangled and scattered. Most things are scattered, as if a storm attack the inside of their house.

And the most disturbing for him is the blood. There was blood everywhere. The inside was painted red with blood, splattered blood on the walls and the floor. He searched frantically for his siblings, "Gab, Macy!" he shouted. Thomas's gaze moved to the room, he went inside and paled on what he seen. Macy, his sister was lying on the bed, her eyes open and lifeless, her frail body was injured, she was clutching a teddy bear on her right hand. The teddy bear was a gift he gave to her on her birthday, and she treasured it dearly. She can't fall asleep without it. There's a huge claw marks on her stomach making the innards visible. The bed was a mess and bloody. The bedding was torn and tossed, clothes were flung from drawers, and precious keepsakes lay broken on the floor. With hesitant steps, he went near and touch his sister body, hoping that it was not too late. But the body was cold to touch, she was dead. 

A wave of despair washed over Thomas as he choked out a final goodbye to Macy. "I will be back," he whispered, his voice thick with grief and anguish. He stumbled into the kitchen, bracing himself for what he might find. The sight that greeted him sent a fresh wave of horror crashing over him. There, sprawled on the floor in a pool of blood, was his brother Gab. A single knife lay clutched in his lifeless hand. It was as if a savage beast had mauled Gab's body, leaving it mangled and torn beyond recognition.

Paralyzed by shock, Thomas could only take a step back, a strangled cry escaping his lips. "Ahh ahhhhhh" The heart-wrenching sound echoed through the dead of night, piercing the stillness of Perstone City. Startled awake by the bloodcurdling scream, some residents tossed and turned in their beds, their minds racing with worry and speculation about the source of the horrifying shriek that shattered the night's tranquility.

The once-peaceful home, filled with the echoes of laughter and warmth, now stood as a stark testament to the ferocity of an attack. Every corner bore evidence of the struggle, and the silence that now enveloped the house was thick with the weight of what had been lost.