[DAY 10] 

It has been nearly two weeks since you arrived in the forest. At the beginning, it was merely to save some missing kids for a few bucks, but it soon turned into something different.

In this forest, there was never a simple day. Going out to explore, scavenge, and kill animals were only some of the many things you did. Trying to solve this endless mystery was something you felt was just so draining, the repetitive days slowly eating away at you. You felt like the only brain in the forest, the only one who wanted everything to go back to normal, wishing you hadn’t taken this job.

Eventually you found some of the missing kids, but instead of bringing any kind of relief it only meant more food and trying to comfort for their trauma of being captured by a horrific anthropomorphic deer. You felt like your plate was completely full, and if anything else showed up everything would topple into disarray. You weren't a survivalist, nothing of use.

On the tenth night, you had gotten into a routine with knowing attacks from the cult of people who worshipped the deer. Just more cult members being sent to you, nothing out of the ordinary. Unable to discover their true motives, they were merely just another obstacle to get over on some nights. Tonight should have been no different. Fight those men and be done with it, but fate had other plans.

The usual cultists came to ruin your night like normal, wielding their axes. Though as you jabbed them with your spear, you felt a sudden sharp pain in your back. You assume it was just another cultist, and spin around to jab him too. Though you're met with a different cultist with a crossbow. They have the same deer skull mask as the others, but a long red suit tailcoat thats dull in color with dirt and general wear. The pants and undershirt was the same as the other cultists, making the redcoat stand out. The cultist aimed their crossbow at you again but with one hand, perhaps signaling their "final blow." You quickly dash over to kill the other cultists and try to focus on the redcoat, but you only slashed their stomach at how good they were at dodging. You were eventually able to corner them against your log wall, but ultimately decide to take them hostage for questioning.

You watch them slowly wake up from a disoriented unconsciousness, the wound on their side from you still open but not gushing blood. They try to break free the second they open their eyes, but are held back from the rope you tied them to a log post in the ground with. Knowing they cant escape, you hear their voice for the first time. It's a woman. The rest of the cultists were all men.

"What are you going to do to me? I have nothing for you!"

She sounds panicked, extremely breathless and chest heaving.