Chapter Thirteen: Fangs in the Shadow of the Trees

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In the early morning, the oak grove was shrouded in the chill of dew. Inside the hollow of a tree, a group of people were startled awake by a faint, persistent scratching.

Little Black arched its back, a low whimper rumbling in its throat, its amber eyes fixed intently on a crack above the tree hollow, where the moonlight was blocked by some unknown thing, casting a twisted shadow.

“What is it?” Tao Zui pressed Yaya closer to her chest, her hand reaching for the revolver at her waist—Chen Mo had given her the gun last night, saying women and children needed protection more.

Chen Mo was already standing, a spade in his hand, his gaze keen as a hawk’s as he swept over every fissure in the hollow. “Something’s outside.” His voice was low, cold as a stone steeped in ice.

Xiao Li had woken as well, struggling to sit up. His wounded arm tensed painfully with anxiety. “Is it a Corrupted?”

“Doesn’t seem like it.” Chen Mo’s gaze settled on the crack above, where the scratching grew louder, as if claws were scraping the bark. “Corrupted aren’t this… cautious.”

He hadn’t finished speaking when there was a crisp snap above—the sound of a dead branch breaking. Suddenly, a shadow flickered like a phantom between the branches, so fast it left only a blur.

Little Black’s fur bristled; it let out a piercing screech and lunged into a corner of the hollow where their collected dry grass was piled.

“Watch out!” Chen Mo yanked Tao Zui and Yaya aside.

Almost simultaneously, a black-furred paw reached through the crack above, with nails long and curved, glowing a ghostly green, raking the spot where they’d just been sitting. The dry grass flew in all directions.

“It’s a ‘Tree Wraith’!” Amu's voice was trembling with tears, his face ghostly pale. “Grandpa told me—these Corrupted haunt trees, mimic the wind, and prey on anyone who’s alone!”

A Tree Wraith’s shriek echoed from the treetop, not the roar of ordinary Corrupted, but sharp and wailing, like a woman mourning, making their scalps prickle. More scratching arose from all directions; they were surrounded.

“They’ve encircled the tree!” Xiao Li gripped his machete, his back pressed to the wall. “This hollow can’t hold them off!”

Chen Mo swung the spade at the paw reaching in. With a metallic clang, like striking stone, the Tree Wraith howled and withdrew, leaving deep, bone-baring gouges on the spade’s blade.

“Tough claws,” Chen Mo muttered, frowning; their hardness rivaled bone armor.

Suddenly, heavy thuds came from the stone wall to the left, bits of rubble tumbling down. A Tree Wraith was ramming its body against a weak spot, the sound of bark and stone splintering chillingly clear.

“It’s going to collapse!” Tao Zui shoved Yaya into Amu’s arms and grabbed a thick stick from the ground. “Chen Mo, think of something!”

Chen Mo glanced outside—the sky was only just paling, the woods still cloaked in gloom. “We’ll have to break out!” He pointed at the only exit. “Xiao Li, cover me. Tao Zui, take the children and run! Head for the thinnest part of the woods—don’t look back!”

“No!” Tao Zui protested at once. “There are at least three Tree Wraiths out there, you two—”

“No time to argue!” Chen Mo cut her off, eyes resolute. “I fought these things at the farm—I know their weakness! You go first, we’ll follow!”

He suddenly pressed something into Tao Zui’s hand—a lighter and a small roll of pine resin-soaked cloth. “Use fire if you have to. They fear it.”

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The Tree Wraiths’ pounding grew fiercer; cracks spread over the stone wall, and shifting shadows and emerald eyes could now be seen outside.

“Go!” Chen Mo growled, smashing the spade into the stones at the exit, widening the opening.

Xiao Li rushed out first, swinging his machete at the nearest Tree Wraith. The creature resembled a giant monkey, covered in black fur, but its face was like a decaying human’s, its mouth splitting to the ears, baring two rows of razor fangs.

The Tree Wraith dodged agilely and swiped at Xiao Li’s arm. He screamed as three deep, bone-splitting gashes appeared, the skin around them turning black at once—its claws were venomous!

“Xiao Li!” Chen Mo charged out, sweeping the spade to force the Tree Wraith back. “Don’t fight it—retreat to open ground!”

Tao Zui seized the moment, scooping up Yaya and pulling Amu as they dashed from the hollow. Amu hugged Little Black tightly, stumbling after her. They’d barely gone a few steps when a Tree Wraith sprang from behind a tree, blocking their path, fetid drool sizzling holes into the earth.

“Fire!” Amu suddenly shouted.

Tao Zui whipped out the lighter and set the resin-soaked cloth alight. Flames flared, thick with smoke. The Tree Wraiths recoiled a step, hissing in fury.

“Go!” Tao Zui brandished the burning cloth, shielding the children as they ran. The Tree Wraiths dared not approach the flames but followed like shadows, letting out piercing cries to summon more of their kind.

Behind them, Chen Mo’s shouts and the dull clang of the spade rang out, mingled with the Wraiths’ shrieks. Tao Zui dared not look back, gritting her teeth as she ran. Twigs and leaves tripped her repeatedly, her knees hitting stones so hard tears sprang to her eyes.

“Big Sister, Amu is bleeding!” Yaya suddenly cried.

Tao Zui glanced back—Amu’s arm was sliced open from earlier, blood beading along the cut. The Tree Wraith behind them fixed its gaze hungrily on the wound, a guttural rumble in its throat.

“Don’t stop!” Tao Zui dragged Amu onward, her heart tight with fear—Chen Mo and Xiao Li still hadn’t caught up. Had something happened to them?

Suddenly, the bushes ahead rustled violently; two Tree Wraiths leaped out, blocking them fore and aft. One drooled hungrily, the other closed in from behind. The burning cloth was nearly at Tao Zui’s fingers, its light casting the children’s faces in a ghastly pallor.

“Big Sister…” Yaya’s voice quivered with tears, but she clung to Tao Zui’s clothes, stifling her sobs.

Amu stuffed Little Black into his shirt, picked up a stone, and clenched his jaw. “Sister Zui, I’ll help you!”

Tao Zui drew a deep breath, flung the burning cloth to the ground, and, as the Tree Wraiths flinched, shoved Yaya and Amu down the nearby slope. “Go! Run to the bottom—don’t look back!”

The children tumbled down the slope, screaming. Little Black sprang from Amu’s arms, arching its back and snarling at the Tree Wraiths, as if to cover their retreat.

“Monster!” Tao Zui snatched up the machete and swung it at the lunging Tree Wraith. The blade bit shallowly into its shoulder, spraying foul, black-green blood.

Enraged, the Tree Wraith hurled itself at her, claws slashing for her face. Tao Zui twisted away, but its tail struck her lower back, sending pain coursing through her as she staggered and crashed into a tree.

The other Tree Wraith seized the chance to pounce from the side, its fangs gleaming, lunging straight for her throat.

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At that life-or-death moment, a black shape flashed in—it was Chen Mo, swinging the spade down hard on the Tree Wraith’s head. The creature let out a strangled cry and collapsed.

Chen Mo’s arm was wrapped in a bloody bandage, his face streaked with black-green gore, but his eyes were still sharp. “Run!” he barked, turning to face the other Tree Wraith.

Tao Zui didn’t hesitate. She ran down the slope, seeing Amu and Yaya struggling to their feet at the bottom, waving for her.

As she reached the middle of the slope, a muffled groan sounded from above. Tao Zui looked back—Chen Mo was pinned beneath a Tree Wraith, its claws tearing at his back, soaking his camouflage with black-green blood.

“Chen Mo!” Tao Zui screamed, her eyes burning, about to rush back.

“Don’t come!” Chen Mo roared, summoning the last of his strength to drive the spade into the Tree Wraith’s belly. “Take the children! Go to the Ark Base!”

The Tree Wraith let out a wailing shriek, its claws raking deeper wounds into Chen Mo’s back before it slumped to the ground.

Chen Mo struggled to stand, his wounds gaping, every movement sending agony lancing through him. He saw two more Tree Wraiths bounding from the woods, charging down the slope—they’d abandoned him for weaker prey.

“Go!” Chen Mo shouted with all his remaining strength, hurling a stone at the leading Tree Wraith.

Tao Zui’s tears finally fell, streaking her dirt-smeared face. She knew she couldn’t go back—returning meant death, making Chen Mo’s sacrifice worthless.

“We’re leaving!” She dragged Amu and Yaya deep into the woods without looking back.

Behind them, Chen Mo’s shouts, the Tree Wraiths’ screams, and the faint crack of gunfire—was that Xiao Li’s hunting rifle?—slowly faded, swept away by the wind.

At some point, Yaya began to cry, her voice small: “Is Uncle Chen Mo… not coming with us?”

Tao Zui didn’t answer; she only bit her lip until it bled, letting the tears fall, her pace never slowing. Her back still ached, but the pain in her heart was worse—that voice beneath the broken bridge, saying “Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” the man who promised to boil candy for the children, might remain forever in that oak grove.

Amu clenched his fists, Little Black trembling in his arms. He glanced back up the slope, now silent, only the wind rustling the leaves—like someone was weeping, unheard.

They had to survive, carrying Chen Mo’s hope with them, and reach the Ark Base together.

But the road ahead was darker than they’d ever imagined.