CH 1-10

Summary

A secretive circus run by a sadistic witch and her coven have arrived on Molokini Island and invited fans from the dark web to a show. Danae, 28, is from the island of Maui, where a mysterious man invites her and a couple of friends to the circus. Once there, Danae and her friends are horrified to find that the circus holds creatures that are considered myths and legends. Also, many creatures are forced to fight, kill, and do other atrocious acts to entertain the audience. When allowed to see and touch the creatures, Danae meets a male siren who was part of the show and frees him from prison. However, the male siren develops a desire for Danae and made it his purpose to have her for himself. Not only that, but Danae is also targeted by the witch and her coven while trying to retain their creatures. Danae is facing danger everywhere, and she doesn’t know what is worse: being chased after by an evil coven or a male siren that lusts for her.

1 Hidden Shadows Coven

It was night, and the strong ocean water hit the beautiful Hawaiian islands. Many of the island inhabitants were enjoying the nightlife or were asleep. However, far from many of the larger islands, there were smaller ones that weren’t inhabited by people but were visited by tourists or locals for fun.

Molokini Island was one of these islands, and it had a crescent moon shape. Since crossing the waters at night was dangerous, four guards were sent to the small island to stop and look for anyone breaking the law. Three men and one female guard were looking around the island. It was 11:58 p.m., and they all knew it would be time to return to the boat and the island of Maui. “Everything clear here,” said one of the male guards in the walkie-talkie.

“Same here. Let’s meet at the dock to get out of here. Meanwhile, I will message headquarters that nothing was found on the island,” said the female guard already waiting at the docks. Everyone else agreed and said they would be at the port shortly. The female guard was alone as she prepared the boat. She then got on the ship and was about to radio headquarters when a noise outside was heard.

The female guard looked around the ship, and nothing seemed unusual. Everything on the ship was normal; I expected to wait inside for ten minutes. She got her walkie-talkie and asked her coworkers if they were getting closer. There was nothing but static; she asked for anyone to answer, but there was nothing. “Guys, this better not be a joke,” she said. Suddenly, another sound was heard outside the ship, and the guard got out, but she was drawing her gun this time. She also took out her flashlight and looked at her surroundings. The only thing she heard was the ocean waters. “Guys, is it you!? If it is, then cut it out! You guys got me!”

There was no response, and as she was about to turn her back, she saw one of her coworkers standing at the farthest corner of the ship. “Ugh, Bobby, it was you. What you did was not funny!” When there was no response, the female guard noticed something off from her coworker; there were blood drips on the floor. “B-Bobby, wh-what’s going on? Are you okay?” she asked while slowly walking toward him. Once behind and tried to motion him to look at her, Bobby fell, making the young female guard fall to the ground. The impact made her lose her grip on her gun but not her flashlight. The female guard’s eyes widened with horror when the light hit Bobby.

Bobby’s eyes and tongue were ripped out, and his neck was cut open. “AAAAHHHHH! BOBBY!” Just as she was about to push the body away, her back hit something hard, and when she was about to turn, someone got a hold of her long black hair and slashed her neck, making blood splurt out like a waterfall. The female guard tried covering the wound, but her body and heartbeat weakened. Minutes later, she choked on her blood and died.

“Well, that was boring. I wish we could have toyed with her and the others a little more,” said a female voice while dropping the female guard’s hair. The young woman was in her early twenties and stood five feet and seven inches tall. Her skin was pale, with many freckles on her face and chest. Her eyes were dark green and glowed in the darkness, and her long eyelashes made her eyes pop. She had a thin appearance that made her look gaunt. The young woman had a slightly big forehead with short, curly blue hair; she also wore a lot of makeup with black lipstick on her thin lips.

“Othalia, our Elder Sister, wouldn’t want us to waste time. We have a job, and these people were getting in the way.”

Othalia rolled her eyes. “Bethany, you’re no fun! You need to have fun with our toys once in a while.” Bethany was slightly taller than Othalia and was in her mid to late thirties. Her raven hair went past her waist and had small lavender flower decorations. She had a long, plain black dress held by a lavender corset. She wore black boots, which made her look taller. Bethany had slightly big hips and an average body type, but the corset made her look thinner. Her skin was light beige; her eyes were black and emotionless. Bethany also had a beautiful face and looked younger than she was.

The two women heard footsteps, and when they turned, there was a man who looked to be in his mid-30s. He had a handsome face, which people would mistake as a model, with a dark beard and mustache; his right eye was light blue, while the other was covered with a dark eye patch. He had a large scar on top of his nose, which made his nose slightly crooked. His raven hair was tied in a knot as it passed his shoulders. The man stood six feet and five inches tall and was somewhat muscular as his clothes clung to his body. However, his hands and clothes were soaked with blood.

“Jovan, you killed the others?”

“I did. The rest of our brothers will get and take the bodies to our ship. They are fresh meat, and our coven’s pets will enjoy them.”

“Tee hee! Well, these stupid guards saved us a lot of trouble gathering food for our little pretties, but we’ll still need more food for them for the show! The nearest island is Maui, and there are many people there.”

Jovan rolled his eyes as he removed a handkerchief from his pockets and cleaned some of his blood from his hands. “We mustn’t create too much attention. Remember that we are here to make a show for our dedicated fans, who are coming here by the end of the week. Since these people we slaughtered were guards, I know more will come. When they do, they will be food for our pets. Elder Sister Tabatha agrees.”

“Where is our Elder Sister anyway? I’m surprised she wasn’t here to enjoy the fun.”

“She is at the ship on the other side of the island and is sending invitations to those attending the circus. For now, we must clean up and tell our other brothers and sisters to prepare the circus and the upcoming food that will arrive.”

“Hee! Great, the Hidden Shadows Coven will be ready for business!” cheered Othalia.

2 Roommates

It was 5 p.m. on the island of Maui County, and a young woman in her late twenties had arrived home from her second job. The young woman had a medium olive skin tone with long raven hair that shined but was in a bun and disarray; her eyes were grayish-hazel. Her lips were slightly plump, and she had a somewhat round face. She had an average figure with little big hips and plump legs. Even with no makeup, the young woman was youthful despite her age, and many people confused her to be in her adolescence.

Once her car was parked in the apartment parking lot, she walked to her apartment, the last one in the complex. The lights were on, and she knew that her roommate arrived home. The door to the apartment opened, and a man walked out with a couple of trash bags in hand. The man looked ahead and chuckled. “Danae, you’re home. You look tired as hell.”

Danae rolled her eyes as she entered the apartment and dropped her bag and herself on the sofa. “Do I ever. The tourists from the hotel were from California, and let me tell you, the state should be called Karenmania. These people are so entitled and feel that they’re always right.”

The young man put the trash bags in the garbage bin and entered the apartment. “Maybe you should find another job. You always come home very stressed and tired.”

“I wish I could Makoa, but I have student loans to pay for my master’s degree, and not only that, we have rent to pay.” Danae slowly sat up and looked at her roommate Makoa.

Makoa was also in his late twenties and stood five feet and ten inches tall with a muscular build. He enjoyed working out, but Danae knew that Makoa had struggled with his weight since he was neglected as a child. He had gunshot wounds on different parts of his body because he once was part of a gang and survived a shootout. Since then, Makoa has changed his life. He has worked as a part-time coastguard and as an instructor in a juvenile program to help at-risk children and adolescents. He looked slightly older than his age due to the stress from his previous life events; his eyes were black, and his black wavy hair touched the tip of his chin. “Well, you need to find a full-time position. You may not be able to find it here, Danny.”

“I know what you’re trying to say, Makoa. I might have more opportunities in Honolulu, but I don’t want to leave this island; it’s my home. I have my friends and family here. I know that there will be an opportunity on this island that will come up.”

Makoa sighed as he sat on the sofa next to hers. He knew that Danae had a dream to create an organization to help native Hawaiian children and their families from homelessness. That is why Danae decided to study business. He knew that Danae was knowledgeable, but finances were the most challenging part of achieving her goal. Makoa wanted to help her, but she was too proud to ask and accept help. Danae’s family was poor since they couldn’t afford rent and were at risk of homelessness. Since Danae’s parents didn’t want her to suffer, so they put her in the foster care system, where she stayed until she was il eighteen.

However, Danae’s parents would visit her whenever possible and attend school events. Danae told Makoa she was bullied because of her parents’ predicaments, which motivated her to do well in school. She got some scholarships, FAFSA, and her bachelor’s degree in business and Hawaiian Studies. Still, she also needed her master’s and certification to make her organization, for which she had to take loans and two jobs as a hotel front desk worker and paraprofessional. Danae was able to get her parents to get some housing, but her father died two years ago from complications of diabetes, and her mother has other health conditions.

Without Danae’s knowledge, he helped her mother to pay some of her bills and medication. He and Danae were childhood friends since they attended the same elementary, middle, and high school. They eventually became roommates, but Makoa had another secret: he was in love with her. He didn’t know if she felt the same way for him. However, the young man couldn’t tell her what he felt, fearing it would ruin their friendship. “Well, Kahlua texted me, and she wanted to meet our group for dinner today at Coffee Attic. She said that she wanted to tell us something.”

Danae rolled her eyes when she thought about Kahlua. “Want to bet that she found another guy she wants to impress. Makoa she only brings herself trouble by going after men who are just not into her.”

“Come on, be nice. Kahlua doesn’t have many friends. Sure, she can be stuck up, but sometimes be friendly. We should still go and listen to her; she said to meet at 7 p.m.”

“Fine, let me shower and get dressed. I guess we’ll see what she has to say.”

3 Invitation

Danae and Makoa arrived on time at the Coffee Attic cafe, and a waitress tended to them. When they said that Kahlua expected them, they were taken to a table at the far left corner, which was dimly lit. The duo saw Kahlua talking with two of their other friends, Malia and Akamu. When Danae saw Kahlua, she slightly cringed at how much makeup she put on her face; it didn’t blend well with her dark olive skin. Her face was so powdered that it made her look like a ghost; without it, she had decent features. However, Kahlua had beautiful light brown eyes that shone whenever light hit them, as did her shoulder-wavy-length hair. The young woman had a thin figure that made her look anorexic; she always wore heels that made her taller than Danae.

When Kahlua saw them, she stood and smiled. “Danae, Makoa, you guys made it on time too!”

Akamu and Malia stood from their seats, and they all greeted the duo. Akamu and Malia were siblings, twins that were twenty-eight years old. They both had dark olive skin, black eyes, and hair. However, Malia’s straight hair went past her bottom with a couple of braids, while Akamu had short, straight hair. Malia had some freckles on her face, while her brother didn’t, but did have some scars from training during his time in the Marines. Akamu stood at five feet and eight inches tall, while his sister was two inches shorter; he had a slight muscular build, while Malia had a healthy, thin figure. The twins were good-looking, enjoyed caring for themselves, and had many suitors.

“Well, I’m surprised that you two arrived first. You guys are usually ten minutes late when it comes to these things,” giggled Danae.

“Yeah, well, Malia had a goal to beat you guys finally, and shocker, she was right. We haven’t ordered yet since we wanted to wait for you guys.”

The men sat beside one another while the three women sat opposite sides. Akamu motioned for the waitress to whom they made their orders. Once the waitress left, the group was left on their own. “So, Kahlua, you sent a message to us that you had an announcement. We’ve been dying to know what it is,” said Malia.

Kahlua took a couple of sips from her glass of water and smiled. “Well, I wanted to let you know I’ve met someone.”

Danae and Makoa looked at one another; annoyance and disappointment were imminent, but they kept a happy face. “Well, that’s…good, Kahlua. What is he like, and where did you two meet?”

“Well, since the dating apps suck, I heard on the radio an app called HookingUp where we can meet groups of people in person and to different events of your interest.”

“Oh yeah, I’ve heard about the app too. I know another friend who used it when she met her current boyfriend while going bowling,” said Malia.

Kahlua nodded while squealing in excitement. “That’s why I signed up. As you know, I like going to bars and clubs, and I met a guy at one of these meetups. His name is Zachery, and he’s a handsome hunk. He’s so hot but also mysterious.”

The waitress arrived with all of their orders, and once she left, they all began to drink and eat dinner. “Well, that’s good, Kahlua. I hope you guys hit it off,” said Danae while taking a bite of her hamburger.

“Well, that’s not all. He said his friends bailed on him since he invited them to a circus. He has a lot of extra tickets that he bought and asked me to invite friends to tag along. I wanted to ask if you guys could come with us.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at one another; they looked uncertain. “Well, we don’t know this guy, and we never heard that a circus was here on the island,” said Makoa.

“He said the circus is on Molokini Island, and only certain people get invites. He said the circus was extraordinary, and only certain people were invited. However, since he says he likes me, he wants my friends to come. So what do you all say?”

Everyone was silent for a moment, but Danae spoke up. “I find it strange that the circus will happen in Molokini Island. That place is like a small crater, and there are always guards who watch over locals and tourists who go to that area.”

“I know, but he said that the circus owners are very prepared, and the show will be on by the end of the week, and he will take us to the island on his yacht. So come on, let’s be adventurous! Besides, it will allow you to meet him in person.”

The friends looked at one another and felt the same way; they didn’t want to go. However, they knew that Kahlua would not let them hear the end of it. She will go on social media and rant about her miserable life and her friends being unsupportive. Danae didn’t want to befriend Kahlua since she only brought problems and annoyed everyone else. She knew the twins felt the same, but Makoa was the bleeding heart when it came to damaged people; it was his nature. However, if this event was to be a disaster, then she was done.

“Alright, I’ll go. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a circus.” The twins relented, and Makoa did the same.

Kahlua squealed in excitement. “Great! I will call Zachery, and we will go to the circus by the end of the week!”

4 Sister Tabatha

The Hidden Shadows Coven members had been preparing the circus throughout the week, which has come and gone. The circus was finally complete; the main tent, where the main events would take place, was in the top center of the small island. Beside the large tent were small booths where food and other handmade trinkets were made; everything was ready.

It was late afternoon, and Jovan ensured everything went smoothly. He stood at the cliff’s edge, looking at the sun setting; the cool air hit him, and he enjoyed the feeling. “Hey, Dracula, Sister Tabatha wants to speak with you.”

“Don’t call me that, Othalia. Where is she?”

“She had just finished doing her ritual in her tent.”

Jovan nodded and went toward a tall tent far from the others, black with dark velvet lines. When he got close to the entrance, he smelled some essence and other scents; he sighed. “Sister Tabatha, may I enter?”

“You may.”

When the warlock entered, he saw the coven’s leader inside a drawn satanic pentagram. Tabatha had her back turned to the warlock; she was nude. However, her long, wavy red hair went below her bottom and covered most of her back and breasts. Tabatha went to a wooden table where her long black dress was and dressed herself while Jovan stood quiet and patiently. Jovan was used to seeing many coven members nude since they had done many rituals; Tabatha was considered the most beautiful. He knew that she made sure that it was so.

Tabatha was slender, with light beige skin and long raven hair covering parts of her body. On her back, she had a satanic pentagram star tattoo. Her eyes were dark red, making her look like they were bleeding, and her lips were plump and pink. She stood five feet seven inches tall and had long, slender legs that would tempt men to touch them.

“You have called for me, Sister Tabatha?”

Tabatha finished putting on her tight, long black dress. “Yes, I have. I have put you in charge because I know how responsible you are. We have fans all over the world who are dying to see the show. Our coven must not disappoint them; they are our cash cows.”

“I understand, Sister. I ensured that the tickets were sold to our viewers from our site on the dark web. Our coven members will observe those who arrive on this island.”

“Very good, nothing can go wrong. I have gone through much trouble to make this happen. Especially since we had to kill those ingrates. How are my little pets doing?”

“They are restless, which was to be expected; they have been in their cages for a week without being fed.”

The witch smirked as she slowly walked toward Jovan. “It sounds to me that you are concerned for my pets.”

The warlock held his emotionless expression and tried not to look at Tabatha. “Not at all, Sister. I am only stating a fact. Your pets are just restless and ready to entertain the guests.”

Tabatha chuckled as she walked out of her tent; Jovan followed. The two walked inside the large tent with many benches in circular rows surrounding the main stage. However, a gate surrounded the stage, so no one from the benches or on the stage could get in or out. When they got to the gate, Jovan opened it, and Tabatha entered a door that led to the backstage.

Once they were backstage, there were echoes of growling, squealing, and other animalistic sounds. It became silent momentarily when Tabatha entered, but the creatures cowered in fear or growled. “Oh, my beauties. I know you all tire of being in your little cages, but don’t worry. You all will have your fun.” Then, something caught her eye, and she walked to the farthest part of the backstage; there was a concrete jail-like box where only a tiny window was shown. “How’s my little singer? Has he been creating trouble?”

“No, he has been quiet and hasn’t tried to sing after we gave him the punishment you ordered.”

Tabatha walked to the window, and there was nothing but darkness; she put her hand on the window. “He is my most prized possession; he’s perfect. I think we will save him for last.”

As Jovan was about to speak, a muffle interrupted him. On the right side of the backstage, six people were tied up and had their mouths gagged; they were ocean guards who were ordered to find their colleagues who hadn’t shown up from their shift. Four men and two women were beaten up and starved for four days. Tabatha noticed them, too, and slowly walked towards them. “Ah, I also can’t forget the true stars of our show. You all have no idea how grateful I am that you showed up to our show. I know that you all will not only make my pets happy but also my fans.” Some ocean guards screamed at the gags; others cried in fear when they saw Tabatha’s pets in the cages. “You all should be honored since this event will be viewed live and online. You all will be famous.”

Suddenly, Bethany entered the backstage. “Sister Tabatha, some boats are coming; from what we saw, they are our invited guests.”

“Excellent. Ensure our fans feel welcomed since they have been loyal to our coven. Well, I must get ready for tonight’s show. Everything will go perfectly.”

5 Circus

Makoa and Danae were getting close to the meeting point when Kahlua texted them to meet. The duo wore casual clothes and some bags with food and water, just in case the circus food was expensive. As night was setting, Danae looked at the ocean waters; they were calm but knew the waves would get strong as night arrived. “Hey Danae, any word if Akamu and Malia made it to the meeting point?”

The young woman looked at her phone and saw a text message from Malia. “Yeah, I’m surprised that Malia is arriving early and on time since she had a history of making her and Akamu late. She texted me that the guy is a hunk alright, but he gives off a strange vibe.”

“Well, Kahlua always had a history of dating good-looking whackjobs. We’re just going to this circus to make Kahlua happy, and then it will end.” Makoa turned to the left lane, a road leading to the pier where the group would meet.

“Makoa, you’ve known Kahlua longer than I have. She has gone through so much crap since she exited that abusive relationship; she won’t even talk to her parents, who want to help. Just being friendly with her is not going to be enough. We’re only enabling her to make the same stupid mistakes. Kahlua wants it all in a man, but sometimes it’s impossible; she needs professional help.”

Makoa kept driving on the road until he saw the pier from afar. “I know, but Kahlua does need some support from people, someone to listen.”

“Look, Makoa, if this event goes wrong, I’m done being part of this charade. Akamu and Malia are tired of Kahlua’s actions. We all are doing this because of your guilt trip. Since you work with people who face hardships, I know you tend to have hope for those from broken backgrounds. However, you must also understand that not many people want help; I can’t pretend anymore.”

The young man was silent as he parked his truck in the parking lot, where several other cars were also parked. “Alright, I respect your decision. I know Kahlua can be difficult to be with. This event might be fun; we should have an open mind.”

Danae nodded as she got out of the vehicle. The only reason she was part of Kahlua’s friend group was Makoa. Akamu and Malia were also convinced but tired of Kahlua’s troubling personality. Whenever they tried to walk away, Makoa would make them feel guilty and sorry for her. However, Danae had enough and wouldn’t let Makoa guilt-trip anymore; she was going to see how the event would go.

The duo saw Malia, Akamu, Kahlua, and her date on a small yacht. “You guys made it!” said Kahlua as she waved at them.

“Sure did. Luckily, there was no traffic,” said Makoa.

Danae went with the twins, who looked at the tickets. At the corner of her eye, she saw Kahlua’s date. She couldn’t believe that he was good-looking. He looked like a model since he wore tight clothes that showed his muscular body. He had nice wavy blonde hair, light blue eyes, and a light beard that was slowly growing. He had a slightly broad face with a crooked smile and dimples. Danae couldn’t believe that a man like him would date Kahlua; she didn’t want to sound rude, but it felt off due to Kahlua’s dating history.

“By the way, this is Zachery. Zachery, this is Makoa and Danae!”

Makoa and Zachery shook hands, and Danae did the same, but it was cold when she touched his hand. “It’s nice to meet you all. I can’t believe there are more people like us! Thanks for coming out since all these tickets were expensive.” Zachery gave Danae and Makoa tickets. When Danae looked at the tickets, she noticed they were black with flowing red outlines—something she had never seen before.

“Hmm, the Hidden Shadow Coven Circus?”

“Yup, only certain people can see their shows; it’s not entirely for the public. Kahlua told me that you guys like…”

Kahlua stopped him as she hugged his left arm. “Of course they do, babe! We need to get to the island before the waters get stronger! We also don’t want to be late for the show, right!?”

“You’re right. I especially don’t want to miss this since people don’t get to see these shows often. Come on, guys. My yacht is right here.”

As the group was being led to the boat, Danae and Malia stood beside one another. “Something is off. Kahlua is probably lying to this guy to get to him,” said Danae.

“I agree, but these tickets look a bit off too. It says that all people’s nightmares come true. Do you think this guy is onto freaky crap?” asked Malia.

Danae shrugged as she and the others got into a small yacht; Zachery turned it on and drove it toward Molokini Island, which was not too far. Everyone was silent as Zachery drove his yacht toward the island, but Danae couldn’t help but feel curious. “Hey, Zachery, what do you do for a living?”

“I work in the stock market and came here to see if I want to live here.”

“Wow, you must be very smart. I can’t imagine how stressful it is to have a job like that,” said Makoa.

Zachery chuckled. “Not at all; I enjoy what I do but like to change pace.” Eventually, they all arrived at the island pier, and he parked his yacht where other boats parked. Zachery and Makoa exited the small yacht and helped tie the rope around a wooden pole. “We’re here! I’m so excited about this since I have been waiting for an opportunity to see the show.”

Everyone saw dark-colored lights, tents, and what looked like booths; music was also heard. Kahlua walked next to Zachery and held onto his arm, and he let her. The couple led everyone toward the path leading to the circus. Everyone was quiet, and as they got closer to their destination, they saw some people walking around, many of whom had masks. Four men in clown masks looked deranged and sadistic, making the group nervous.

They all stopped when the four men asked for their tickets and showed them. “Very well, you may enter, but be warned not to speak of this of anyone, or you know the consequences.”

Everyone but Kahlua and Zachery were confused as they were motioned to the circus. Danae and Malia stood beside one another before the men.“What is this place?” whispered Malia.

There were many stands where the operators wore clown or monstrous masks with evil, sadistic looks. Jewelry, clothes, capes, food, and other things were being sold. Danae felt very uncomfortable, and the music played in the background made it worse.“I don’t know, but I feel bad about this place.”

While walking around, the group saw many acrobats making impressive moves or dancers doing suave dancing. Only Zachery and Kahla decided to buy drinks. Danae then looked at Makoa and said, “Something is not right here; everyone here looks off.”

“We must keep an open mind; this circus is very different. We have to see how this plays out.”

As Danae was about to speak, a man walked out of the main tent with a speaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you all can come inside, the main event will begin soon!” Everyone stopped what they were doing and walked inside the main tent. The group was also among the attendees going into the tent. Danae felt her stomach quench in pain; she couldn’t help but feel scared.

6 Show

Everyone slowly entered the main tent, and as everyone entered, they were given masks and instructed to wear them. Danae and the group were given sad-looking clown masks, which made everyone uneasy; Kahlua even looked uneasy. When everyone looked at Zachery, they noticed his excited grin as he wore the mask. Danae looked at Kahlua, who slowly put on the mask; she also put on the mask and went to one of the workers in the tent. It was a man who wore a clown mask, a devilish smile with natural sharp-looking teeth. “H-Hey there. Sorry for bugging you, but my friend and I must go to the restroom to avoid missing the show.”

The man was silent and pointed to another side of the tent with slight openings. “The outside will lead you straight to the bathrooms, but someone will keep guard to get you back to the tent. Hurry before you miss the show.”

Danae nodded. She immediately went to Kahula and grabbed her arm. “Danae, what are you-?”

“Come with me to the bathroom.” Before Kahlua said anything, Danae dragged her away from the others and toward the opening, which led to a medium-sized cubicle where two people were guarding on each side. They motioned them to enter, which they did, and entered the cubicle where two toilets were divided by a single wall. Danae removed her mask once the door was closed, as did Kahlua.“What the hell is this place, Kahlua!?”Danae whispered roughly; she didn’t want the guards to hear them.

Kahlua bit her lower lip.“I-I don’t know. Zachery told me that it was just a circus.”

“Kahlua, Zachery mentioned that he was happy that we liked something similar, but you interrupted him. You know something. I will make a scene if you don’t tell me.”

“Okay, okay! Zachery told me that this circus specializes in certain things: animal-like creatures, he called them. He didn’t tell me much but likes the occult and paranormal stuff. Everyone has their likes. Come on, we can’t be late.”Kahlua then put on her mask and exited the small restroom. Danae used one of the toilets, flushed it, and washed her hands. She also put on her mask and walked out of the bathroom, where she reentered the tent. Almost everyone was seated; she saw the group waving at her.

The group sat in the second row, where they could get a closer look at the stage. Danae sat next to Malia, who wore a mask, and noticed many cameras in different parts of the tents. Malia then motioned herself closer to Danae. “What did you say to Kahlua?”

“I tried to get answers from her, but she said that her new man is interested in the occult and other weird crap. I can’t help but feel something is off.”

“Same here. I don’t feel comfortable in this place. Maybe we should-”

Malia couldn’t finish as the music began to play, and the lights suddenly turned off.“Please remember there is no cellphones or other electronics usage during the show. If the rules are broken, then we will break you.”

Suddenly, a dark red light pointed to the main stage, and a cloud of smoke filled the stage. Then, a figure in a black cloak appeared with a goat’s head shaped like a demonic pentagram. “My humble guests, I welcome you to the Hidden Shadows Coven. As you know, I am Sister Tabatha; I also thank you for supporting our coven. Your invitation is our appreciation, and thanks for your support. Give yourselves a round of applause!”

Everyone cheered and clapped, and then everyone was instructed to quiet down. “Now, I am sure you all have waited for this moment. I wanted to let you know that this event will be recorded and put on our site. I must instruct that you all keep your masks so no one will be identified if one is caught. Failure to do so will make you food for my little pets.” Then, Tabatha snapped her fingers, and four cages appeared in the smoke. Danae and the group were shocked to see that a woman had the lower body, skin, and color of an anaconda. The second was a tank of a shark with a man’s lower body; the third looked like a werewolf. In the fourth cage, it looked like a minotaur; it had a man’s body but the legs and head of a bull.

The audience was amazed; Danae and her friends were in shock, and no one had words to say anything. Then, another person appeared with a sadistic-looking masquerade mask and a black cloak. “I am Sister Othalia, and this is the moment you all have been waiting for. Here are our wonderful volunteers!”

Then, five of the six guards appeared all bloodied and cruised; they were tied and gagged. Danae’s eyes widened in horror, as were her lips; the mask hid her expression.“What the hell is going on? Th-Those people look in bad shape!”she thought.

The five wounded guards, four men, and one woman were muffling since their mouths were gagged. No one in the audience did a thing, and many cheered. “Release my pets! Give my audience what they came here to see!”

The cages were suddenly opened; the minotaur ran out and went to one of the men, grabbed him in mid-air, threw him on the ground, and began stomping on him. The main immediately lost consciousness and killed him instantly with the force he was inflicted upon. The sound of his bones cracking echoed throughout the tent. Then, the female anaconda went to the female guard and wrapped its lower body around her, squeezing the innocent victim. The female guard screamed in agony as her life squeezed out of her. She eventually passed out and was slowly eaten by the female anaconda creature.

The rest of the two were thrown into the shark tank with their hands and legs tied. They tried to swim upward to the tank, but it was useless; the shark man-like creature swam to one of them and bit onto one of the guard’s waist. The bite was so strong that it tore the man’s left side; his blood and guts floated in the water. The other guard kept swimming upward and slowly reached the top, but the shark-like creature bit his tied feet off. Blood filled the tank, making looking at what was happening difficult. Moments passed, and the tank was filled with blood, guts, and the guards’ heads.

Danae and her friends were horrified by what they were seeing. No one could move or make a sound; it was as if their brains were also trying to process what was happening. Everyone but them cheered as the poor bodyguards were being tortured and killed. Danae’s heart was beating heavily, and tears formed and dripped from her eyes. People were killed and tortured before her, and she did nothing.

The audience cheered as the cameras were on the stage. Tabath returned to the stage as the creatures returned to their cage. “Thank you! Are you enjoying the show?” Everyone cheered again as a response. Tabatha motioned everyone to quiet down. “Now, I have a new creature different from all my creatures! This creature I have found in Mount Olympus of Greece! It was difficult to believe, but this mythical creature turned out to be true rather than myth!” Suddenly, the last female guard was tied and gagged onto the stage. Then, a cement-like box arrived on the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to my most prized possession, a male siren!”

The doors opened, and then a man slowly walked out. Danae looked at the supposed male siren, who was fully nude; his body was like an Olympian god; his hair was pale blonde and wavy, matching his slightly pale skin. The male siren had hawk-like feet and legs, and his lower body had feathers. His arms, though feathers, also covered muscular; his eyes were gold with slits in the center. The male siren had a handsome face and a slight androgynous look about him. He was the most beautiful being that Danae had ever seen. She couldn’t help but notice that the male siren had a choker-like necklace on his neck.

The male siren looked at the female guard; it was hungry since it hadn’t been fed for over a week. The female guard stopped shaking; it was as if she admired looking at him. The male siren then walked to her and sang a soft melody.

The voice was not so deep and not too soft; it had a calming tune that made everyone quiet and allured. The female guard looked like she was in a trance, and her eyes drooped as if she wanted to sleep; it soothed her. As the male siren sang, he slowly touched the female guard and stopped with his melody. Without warning, his handsome face changed into a monstrous look that would terrify the most courageous man. He then bit the female guard’s face off so that her facial skull and eyeballs were seen.

The male siren ate her facial skin, and once it was swallowed, he bit off a chunk of her neck, killing her instantly.

Everyone cheered, but Danae couldn’t watch anymore as she looked away, closed her eyes, and put her hands over her ears. The male siren looked around the audience, who cheered on what he was doing but noticed Danae still wearing her mask. He saw how she covered her ears; it intrigued him as he returned to eat.

7 Secretive

Everyone cheered when the siren had eaten the last bodyguard; Tabatha went to the center of the stage while her ‘pets’ were imprisoned. “Did you all enjoy the show!?” Almost everyone cheered, while Danae, Akamu, Malia, Mokoa, and Kahlua were silent; Zachery cheered and whistled out of excitement. “Well, as a thank you for making this show happen, my coven and I decided you all will have a chance to see more of my pets backstage.”

Everyone mumbled to one another. Danae was still in shock and was traumatized from what she had witnessed. She felt someone patting her on her shoulder; it was Makoa, still hidden behind the mask. Danae wanted to slap his hand away since he was the one who guilt-tripped everyone into being friends with Kahlua. Danae then stared at Kahlua, who still sat with Zachery, but her hands and fingers were fidgeting; she, too, didn’t know what to expect. Danae listened more to what Tabatha said and thanked her viewers online for watching the show.

That was when something came to her mind: the ‘show’ that was witnessed had something to do with the dark web. The dark web was dangerous for the curious and the faint heart. One day, Danae came across a video explaining the dark web and the many experiences many people had when they decided to cross this path. The dark web showed humanity’s cruel and sickening reality, and she unknowingly saw a small part of it. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw everyone standing up and removing their masks. Danae also removed her mask, and sweat dripped down her face and neck.

Everyone else in the group did the same; Zachery cheered in excitement. “We’re able to go to see these things in person. It’s something I have always wanted! Did you guys enjoy the show?” No one responded, not even Kahlua. This made Zachery suspicious that Kahlua and her friends were not who he thought they were.

Danae noticed the suspicions on Zachery’s face and realized that they were all in danger if they didn’t pretend to be part of the dark web community. She forced herself to smile and turned to him. “W-We sure did, Zachery. It’s just that we can’t believe that we had the opportunity to see something like this in person. I-I mean, looking through the screen can be a bore, can it?”

Zachery grinned as he slowly walked down the benches. “It sure can. You only see these things online, but being here in person feels so good. So what do you like to watch?”

Everyone else in the group slowly realized what was going on and where everything they had witnessed was coming from. They looked at Danae, who tried to hide her fear and nervousness. The young woman stood and watched as everyone slowly walked backstage. “I’m more into government conspiracy; it has always fascinated me. I guess you can say I want to explore my tastes.”

Zachery then put his arm around her, pulling her close to his body. He slowly put his lips by her ear.“You’re more my type than Kahlua. Maybe after this, we can ditch the others.”

Danae felt a disgusted chill go down her spine, but she didn’t want to break character and decided to keep the facade. “Geez, you’re an evil man. Why are you with her anyway?” she whispered.

“For a lay and some other fun.”

The young woman believed Kahlua would be in danger if she stayed longer with Zachery. She wanted to think of any excuse to leave, but at the corner of her eye, some guards with masks were blocking all the exits. The coven didn’t want anyone to escape; they were keeping an eye out for any suspicion. She knew she and the others had to play along if they wanted to go home alive.“Well, we’re going to have fun now. Look, the lines are getting smaller, and we should look.”

Zachery nodded and walked ahead of the group to go backstage. Everyone else walked toward Danae, and the young woman looked at them and then glared at Kahlua. Everyone else did the same. Danae grabbed Kahlua’s shirt and pulled her closer to her. “That man and everyone here are psychopathic! He had plans for you, and you dragged us to some dark web show!”

Malia looked as if she wanted to cry, but Akamu gently put his arms around her. Kahlua bit her lower lip and put her arms around herself.“I-I didn’t know that he likes things like this. He said that he liked the occult, among other things. I-”

“You got us into trouble, Kahlua! You always jump to any man who gives you attention, and now look! We just witnessed the murder of innocent people!”

“Why aren’t you coming backstage?” asked a male voice. Everyone flinched and saw a man standing a couple feet from them. “The lines are getting smaller, and people are going back outside to have more fun in the circus.”

Danae saw the man and couldn’t help but admit that he had a dark beauty, but there was more to him than met the eye. “S-Sorry, we’re just discussing the show, and-” She became silent when he motioned everyone down and asked them to walk backstage. The group didn’t want to go, but there was no way out other than backstage. The groups slowly made it down the benches and slowly made their way backstage.

Danae was about to go down, but the man grabbed her right arm. “What is your name?”

“Sir, I-”

He lowered his face closer to one of her ears.“You are not in trouble; you will be if you make yourself too suspicious. What is your name?”

“D-Danae.”

“Hm, beautiful name for a beautiful young woman. I was watching you, and I know you and your friends are not like these people. Some coven members noticed this; you and your friends are in danger.”Fear overwhelmed Danae, and became panicked. The image of the people killed so brutally came to her mind. “However, you can stall everyone.” The man then motioned Danae to walk so as not to raise more suspicions. Then, he gave her stacks of keys. “You know what you can do once you backstage with these keys.”

The man then motioned her to go inside, but Danae stopped him. “Who are you?”

“The name is Jovan. Hide by the stack of boxes, wait for everyone to leave, and do what you must do.” He went off, leaving Danae confused and scared. She was finally backstage, and many people were still everywhere. She then saw long stacks of boxes and walked quickly toward them, trying not to get noticed. Danae hid behind the boxes and waited for the right time to decide on the following action.

8 Melody

It felt like an eternity since Danae hid behind a stack of boxes; people were looking at the creatures imprisoned in their cages and other prisons. Danae peeked; the lines of people got smaller, and she knew the backstage would soon get empty. She then remembered what Jovan had told her: they were in danger. The young woman got her phone and texted Malia about the situation, hoping she would receive it. When it was quiet, Danae peeked again, and no one was in sight. She slowly left her hiding spot while looking around; coming out to the open was safe.

Danae then looked at the keys and thought about what Jovan meant about knowing what to do. Looking ahead, she saw the many cages that entrapped the creatures. She felt afraid to even walk past them, but she noticed their expressions when looking at the creatures carefully. Many of the creatures looked depressed, malnourished, and weak. Although she saw five people killed, she couldn’t help but feel pity for the creatures. Danae never would have imagined seeing such creatures and thought they existed. It also made her wonder if these creatures were victims themselves and just wanted to be free.

When getting closer to the cages, the creatures noticed Danae and many of them growled or hissed at her. The young woman shivered a bit, but when looking at the creatures, she saw many scars; they looked like they were abused and deformed. She stopped in the center and looked at all of them. “H-How long have you all been caged? Looking at your current state, I imagine that you all are treated poorly.” The creatures then stopped with their hissing and growling when Danae spoke to them. “I-I saw what happened out there, and I never felt so much fear and horror. I thought creatures like you were monsters. Now, I am not so sure.” The creatures were still silent, and Danae couldn’t help but notice that they listened to her. It was as if they could understand her. “D-Do you all understand me?”

Suddenly, a soft melody came from afar. Danae stilled when she heard it. It was coming from the far left corner of the area. She slowly walked toward the melody, which led her to a concrete jail-like box with only a tiny window. The melody sounded so peaceful and beautiful. It sounded feminine with a hint of masculinity. Danae believed that no human man or woman could match such a voice, no matter how much training one had.

She stopped once before the jail-like box; a couple of plastic stairs led up to the small window where she climbed. There was a dim light within the jail box, and looking inside, it wasn’t easy to see who or what was inside. The singing stopped, and then, a hand appeared on the window, frightening Danae that she let out a squeal. Then, the hand disappeared, and a face showed itself. The face was recognized; the male siren was on the show. The male siren looked at her curiously.

“Y-You. A-Are you really a siren?” The male siren moved his head childlike, but it did not speak. However, it looked as if he understood her. Danae took a deep breath and climbed back the stairs but kept her distance between her and the window where the siren stood. “I-I saw you at the show and couldn’t believe what you and the others have done. Is it part of your nature, or were you forced?” The siren stilled as his eyes pierced through her, making Danae look down momentarily. “Sorry, it’s just that I’m processing everything that had happened. That lady said that you were found. If that is true, then you must miss it, right?”

The siren was still silent, but its lips were slightly opened, and he sang the same melody. When he sang, Danae felt a euphoria throughout her body, but then something in his melody differed from before. It hinted at sadness, as if the siren told her he and the other creatures were suffering. The melody was so beautiful yet sad that she shed a tear. Then, that was when Danae looked down at the keys she held. Out of them, one held the number 666, and since the siren was in a different prison than the rest, the key might have belonged to his cage.

The young woman looked at the key and wondered if she should free the siren and other creatures. She wanted them to be free from their prisons so they didn’t have to be seen as entertainment. Also, more people would be spared from the fates like the previous five individuals. She slowly lifted the key and was about to put it in the keyhole, but then a noise was heard on the stage; it was coming backstage. Danae immediately ran back to the boxes pile and hid between them to make herself hidden.

Two men entered with different colored hair and piercings on their faces and other parts of their bodies; they also wore black clothing. “I thought that woman was here. She wore a mask, but I couldn’t get a good sight of her.”

“She acted very suspicious and wondered if she was a viewer of Sister Tabatha’s account. I think we have to inform our sister of our suspicions.” The two men left; Danae heard everything from afar. They suspected her, and if that were the case, they would suspect her friends. They were all in danger. When the coast was clear, Danae left her hiding spot and returned to the Siiren’s prison. The siren was no longer seen.

Danae’s heart was beating rapidly from the fear and pressure. She was afraid of what would happen if she let the siren go. However, he didn’t view her with ill intent; he just wanted his freedom back. Danae couldn’t imagine the horrors the siren and the creatures had to endure and were forced to do. With a trembling hand, she gathered her courage, put the key into the lock, and unlocked it.

9 Attempt

Akamu, Kahlua, Malia, and Makoa sat outside the circus while still wearing their masks. They didn’t want to take them off because they didn’t want to show discomfort. Zachery went to look more into the circus and see what they had available. The group was silent, and some shivered from what they had witnessed beforehand. Kahlua sat slightly apart from the group and looked away from the others. “I can’t believe we came with you,” said Malia. The men were silent but decided not to say anything. 

“I-I didn’t know that this is what Zacahery was into this stuff. I-”

“You haven’t dated this monster long enough, and look at the consequences. We witnessed innocent people getting butchered and murdered! We all sat and did nothing!” Malia tried to calm herself down since she didn’t want to cause too much of a scene.

“It-It could have been fake. I mean, it could have some special effects.”

Malia had a raging glare behind her mask; she fought the urge to beat Kahlua. “Then, what do you call all of this, Kahlua!? If this is fake, why did this freak show happen on this island in the middle of the ocean!? Why did we have to wear these creepy masks!? You are such in denial, all for a man who only wants you for a quick fuck!”

“Sis, calm down,”Akamu whispered roughly.“We can’t do this here and now!”

The young woman tried to calm down, trembling with utter rage. “We should have never hung out with you in the first place. We’re only here because Mokoa guilt-tripped us into hanging out with you because he pitied you.”

Akamu flinched. Even though he agreed with his sister’s statements, they were harsh; he shook his head. Makoa immediately looked at her.“Malia, that’s enough! You’re going too far!”However, it was too late. Kahlua’s body trembled violently. She removed her mask, threw it on the ground, and ran away from the group. Makoa stood and wanted to call out to her but noticed other people were looking at him and the group. He immediately sat down.“Damn it, Malia! What the hell is wrong with you!? I know you’re freaked out, but you should have done this when we got back to the island!”he whispered.

“Like hell, Makoa. You also have to blame for this. If you hadn’t guilt-tripped us, then we wouldn’t have been witnesses to murder. It’s because of not minding your business we are here.”

“Guys. Guys. We need to calm ourselves. We are not going to solve anything by arguing here, especially since we’re surrounded by maniac. What we need to do is find Danae and get the hell out of here.”

Malia scoffed. “How are we going to do that, Akamu? We got here through that psycho’s boat. We have to wait when he wants to go.” Then, Malia felt her phone vibrate; it was a message from Danae.

“Malia, we’re in danger! The workers of the circus suspect us! I’m still in backstage and will get out soon! Meet at the pier before they catch us!”

“G-Guys, we need to go now. Danae told me that the workers here know we’re not part of their community. She told us to meet at the pier.”

The men stood. “How are we going to get out of here!? These people have keys to their boats,” said Akamu.

“Well, we’re not going to stand here and find out. If we tell that Zachaery creep, then he might blow our cover. We will have to take a risk and find any boat we can and escape.”

“What about Kahlua? We shouldn’t leave her here. I know that she screwed up being with that guy but-”

Malia then got Makoa’s shirt and motioned him to her. “She has to own up to her actions, Makoa. She was never a friend, not mine. I’m not going to pity her just because of her attention-seeking behavior. If you want to be a saint, stay here with her. Let’s see how long you last.” She let him go and began walking toward the path leading to the pier. Akamu looked at his sister and then at Makoa. He followed her. Makoa was conflicted about whether to track or to try to find Kahlua. He couldn’t deny that Malia was speaking some truths, but the image of those people murdered couldn’t escape his mind. He feared what would happen if they were caught. That’s when Makoa decided to stop caring for someone who didn’t want help; he went to catch up with the siblings.

As the group left, one of the circus workers noticed them walking away. He got out his walkie-talkie and spoke to the others: “I see a group of three walking out; I think they are the ones we seek. It seems that they are headed toward the pier, copy.”

Meanwhile, the group of three walked down to the path where they saw the pier ahead. No one said anything as the crunching of rocks and first echoed. “Do you think Danae will be there?” asked Akamu.

“Danae knows what she’s doing. She’s braver than she looks.” As they got closer, the group heard another noise: another group of footsteps. It sounded as if they were coming from behind.

“Going somewhere?” asked a feminine voice. The friends stopped but dared not look back. “We are hurt that you are thinking of leaving so soon. After all, the coven has done so much for our fans to have a good time.” It was Othalia, but she wasn’t alone. There were five other people with her, and they had automatic rifles in hand.

The three slowly turned around and saw the guns pointed at them. “W-We’re tired since we all had a sucky day at work. However, we enjoyed the show,” said Malia.

“Really? Then, why were you guys looking away when those pieces of meat were being eaten alive? I mean, that’s usually the best part! Besides, we looked at our list, and five of you were extra.”

“A guy named Zachery invited us since we have the same interest.”

Othalia smiled, but it was not ordinary; it was straight with a hint of sadism. “So then, where are your other two friends? Some of our members heard you arguing. Let’s just say that we have eyes and ears everywhere. You’re not one us.” The friends felt absolute fear; it was so much that they thought that they would pass out that very moment. “Now, we can do this the easy way or the high way. Sister Tabatha will-” Othalia couldn’t finish her statement when a loud sound was heard from the circus.

“THEY ARE ESCAPING! THE CREATURE ARE ESCAPING!”

10 Escape

It was chaos in the circus as everyone in attendance saw the creatures running out of the tents. The circus’s occupants screamed as all of the creatures ran towards many of them. Many creatures growled, howled, or screeched as they saw the full moon; they were free. The creatures then eyed the people trying to run away, but some were still from the horror and shock. Most creatures ran toward the ocean; some flew away, but some stayed. The ones who stayed viewed the horrified occupants as their prey, as they hadn’t forgotten the horrors they were forced into. Without warning, many of the creatures ran towards many of the people; some cut them in half or began to eat them.

As many of the creatures on the island began to kill the former spectators, they noticed that there were coven members who ran to them with bazookas and other guns. When the coven members were about to shoot, some creatures ran away or toward them—many of the freed creatures held hatred and grudges for their captors. When the weapons were fired, all of them missed.

Some of the coven members either tried to run or shoot their weapons again; everything was futile. Many coven members were killed; blood and guts splattered on the once-green grass.

Danae was still at the backstage of the tent when she heard the screams. She stood at the center, stunned by what she had done. She not only let the siren free but also the other creatures. When released, Danae feared and thought that they would kill her instantly; they didn’t. When letting the creatures go free, they all looked at her with gratitude. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt someone standing behind her. Slowly turning around, Danae was surprised that the siren didn’t leave with the others; he stayed.

The handsome siren stood on top of his prison, nude. Danae couldn’t believe she didn’t notice, but the shock of everything made her brain rewire. The two looked at one another, and the siren was silent as his beautiful and terrifying eyes never left the human woman. “Y-You are free. Why don’t you leave?” There was no answer from the siren. Fear suddenly overcame her when she realized the danger of her situation; Danae had to meet her friends at the pier. “I-I have to go and meet my friends! You should leave and go home!”

The siren then cocked his head from side to side as if trying to understand her words. “Home?”

“Y-You can talk?” Danae was surprised. With one word, the siren’s voice had a masculine voice that would make a woman fall for him even though his melodies were soft and quiet. Then, there was a loud thud coming from the tent that was coming her way. “W-We have to go!” Danae was about to run out of the backstage, but there was a gunshot that almost hit her right arm.

Two coven members arrived to the backstage. “Don’t move, you damn bitch! One more step or we will-!” The siren jumped before Danae, shielding her from the coven members. “Damn it, the freak is freed! F-!” One of the coven members couldn’t finish his statement since the siren used his super speed and slashed the head of one of the members. Danae and the last standing coven members were bewildered and shocked. However, Danae got out of her shocked state when she saw blood gushing out from the headless body. Her eyes widened in horror as her body trembled. Before the other member could react, the siren grabbed his neck and slowly squeezed him.

The grip was so hard that the surviving member put down the gun as he was struggling to breathe. The siren slowly turned to Danae; his face and parts of his chest were covered in blood. His lips curled into a smile. “Run,” he said while squeezing the life out of man. Danae got her sense back and realized the dangerous situation she was in. She ran out of the tent and into the chaos. Once outside, she saw that there were many dead bodies of former spectators of the show. Danae wanted to scream in horror when she saw blood, guts, and different body parts on the ground. However, she knew she couldn’t stay behind much longer, so she ran toward the pier and hoped her friends would be there.

Meanwhile, Akamu, Malia, and Makoa were still held at gunpoint by Othalia and coven members. Everyone heard the chaos coming from the circus. Othalia looked above and looked annoyed. “Damn it, the creatures are roaming free!” She glared at the group in annoyance while shaking her head. “I knew that all of you were going to be trouble! We still can’t have you all leave this island alive.” She motioned up her hand, and the others readied their guns. “You all should be glad that you all are going to have a quick death. If it were up to me, I would keep you all alive and cut your body parts up piece by piece.” A sadistic smirk came across her lips. “I do enjoy the sight of blood, it turns me on.” Othalia was about to give the order, and everyone braced for their end, but then, the group saw someone afar.

“YOU GUYS! WE NEED TO GO!” Danae was running down the hills quickly, and there were times when it looked like she would fall. Othalia and the others were distracted and surprised. Without hesitation, the group attacked the men with the weapons. Akamu and Makoa removed the guns from the members they fought and pointed them toward them. However, they were still outnumbered.

“Really now? Do you think that will stop us? You all are truly stupid.”

“There may be more of you, but we can still shoot and kill you!” yelled Akamu.

Othalia giggled. “Go ahead. You don’t have the guts to do it. Even if you fire, you will still die. We all will.” She licked her lips. “The thought of it makes me want to cum.” Without Othelia knowing, Danae slipped, making her fall and roll down the hill so fast that she bumped into Othalia, making her fall violently to the ground; her head hit a rock. The coven members with the weapons shook violently, which Akamu and Makoa took advantage of; they fired the machine guns. The coven members were shot and killed instantly.

She wasn’t entirely injured because Othalia saved Danae from falling on a pile of rocks. The gunfire didn’t frighten her as much due to the adrenaline rush to escape. The twins and Makoa were shocked at what just occurred; the men let down the guns and realized that they killed people. Danae slowly got off of Othelia, who looked to be unconscious. “Guys…we need to leave now.” The group didn’t move as their eyes were on the dead bodies. Danae then gave all of them a push, but she had trouble standing up due to pain in her left leg; there was a possibility that it was broken. “GUYS, SNAP OUT OF IT! WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!”

The group got out of their trance. Malia went to Danae; the friends hugged one another. “G-Guys, find a boat with keys. We have to get out of here.” The trembling men walked to the pier and looked for any boat with keys; Makoa found out and called out to everyone. Malia noticed that Danae couldn’t walk properly, so Akamu helped her carry her toward the boat while Makoa turned it on. Once everyone was on it and secured, they saw some people and some creatures coming down the hills. Makoa drove the boat away from the pier. When the boat was far enough from the island, everyone let out loud sighs of relief. Danae sat on the boat floor with Malia and Akamu by her side; she felt them trembling from fear. She couldn’t blame them; they all went through horrifying experiences.

Unknown to them, someone watched them from afar and smiled.