This is my entry for Weekly Wattpad Contest #40---Number 29

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The woods were becoming thicker.

The humidity was increasing, while the sounds of birds and bugs and life decreased. Trees appeared in places they weren't a couple minutes ago, the branches became arms and fingers latching on to their clothes and trying to haul them into the dark. Where the sunlight once streamed through the leaves up high, it now barely speckled. Vicarious felt sweat trail down her back, but she couldn't stop shivering.

"I think we will need a torch soon," Vicarious said softly, imitating the dead silence of the forest. There were no longer any gaps in the leaves above them to provide a glimpse to the sky.

"I don't think I can summon any lightning bugs here, too much gas," Locus all but whispered back.

They continued, each lost in thought.

Vicarious was terrified. Her friends were scattered doing Asha knows what, Locus was being quiet--a true fright considering he never shuts up-- and the longer she held the Sacred Stone, the more she felt its presence. While it was literally a rock in her bag, it felt like a bolder in her stomach. The energy it radiated was absolutely frigid. Vicarious couldn't resist the urge to take it out and examine it.

It was small, glowing green with intricate patterns of purple glowing from it. The touch of it resting on her palm gave her pins and needles. Clearly, this is a powerful object, but she had no clue how to use it! What is more, despite the power it radiates, Vicarious has felt the power of Dark Night before, even looming from a distance it seems impossible for this small stone to be his downfall. She put it back in her bag.

Locus was distracted by many of the same thoughts as Vicarious, but one danger lurked present over his mind.

He could not hear the bugs.

Bugs are everywhere, there has never been a time in his life where he could not hear a single one. Granted he wasn't the best at communicating or interpreting nor translating what they said, but he could hear them.

Their absence left deep anxiety in Locus mind; however, this desperation for the comfort if their noise caused Locus to listen very carefully to his surroundings, a fortunate thing indeed.

A rumble, faint at first, but becoming more prominent at each passing moment. There was a thwap of a whip and the chattering of bones as they bounced restlessly in their owners.

Locus grabbed Vicarious by her arm and practically threw her into the bushes, covering her mouth with a shaking hand as to ensure her silence. Not even a moment later, what must have been a thousand dead soldiers passed by them on the path.

The dead traveled with speed and ferocity the living could not achieve nor comprehend, they were unhindered by pain or mortal dissatisfactions such as food, drink, or pleasure.

Locus signaled for Vicarious not to move until he was 100% sure they had all passed and could hear them no more.

Almost in tandem, and with horror-filled eyes, Locus and Vicarious rose and broke out into a run, following the footprints of the dead soldiers. With each step it became more apparent, the soldiers were also headed to the Hallowed Black.

The forest became almost completely dark before the pair was blinded by the lightning flashing in a cloudy sky. The woods dropped off suddenly, Vicarious had to grab Locus before he fell off the cliff separating the trees and the barren landscape of the Dark Nights Domain, Hallowed Black.

The domain was usually desolate, but war raged among the canon. Blood watered the ground and bodies became mangled strings shifted off their mortal coil. The air was metallic and burnt, soon enough they found its source. Terin and Hershell stood in the thicket, the mismatched duo worked in tandem to destroy their opponents, Hershell worked in broad strokes, eliminating enemies and keeping them at a distance while Terin caught the stragglers who threatened Hershell. Dead soldiers fought the Kings army; no matter how gallant, the king's army was loosing.

But Locus smiled, he could hear his true companions again. Using all of his newfound strength and control, he summoned every bug he could to attack the enemy. Dead soldiers were brought with an onslaught of bugs that made the plagues look tame.

Vicarious used a different tactic to help, she searched for wounded soldiers and healed them so they could regain their strength. Asha must be on her side because Vicarious worked with greater efficiency and power than she felt she had possessed before.

Their efforts were futile, the help Vicarious and Locus brought was swiftly overpowered.

Vicarious might have revived and healed who she could, but the King's soldiers were being slaughtered. As soon as the last breath left their lips, they became indistinguishable to Locus' bugs. As more of the King's died, the less Vicarious could heal and the more bugs got diverted from their real target.

The light was losing its steadfast power, Vicarious could only look at the despair and anguish of her fallen comrades moments before they were overrun by maggots and worms. She felt the hope she gained from the stone shrivel up and die.