The Body

“Kids!” Aunora barked, dragging Victor and Seraph behind her, pushing their faces into her back. Color draining from her face, she watched Infinity with grit teeth.

“What the crap happened here?” she said, clenching her fist, “We were hardly gone an hour.

Infinity knelt down in the snow, joined by Matthew. Sedna was spread on her back, the gentle, falling snow leaving a shallow layer of white on her face. Her chest had been mangled to the point of being unrecognizable, deep puncture wounds exposing dark red viscera.

Infinity adjusted his glasses, appearing nauseated as he stared solemnly down at what was once Sedna. Selkie hovered close by, trembling. “It's no easy feat to kill a spirit. Whoever did this had to injure her beyond what her healing magic could repair.”

“That many stab wounds looks like it would be enough,” Matthew muttered darkly. Aunora saw his throat wobble, as if he was choking back tears. She wondered if he was remembering the sorry state Esper had been left in after their capture by Hawkins.

“Aunora, help me get her inside,” Infinity said with a heavy sigh, “We need to sit down and figure out what is going on.”

The smell of blood was thick in the air as she and Infinity trudged inside the guild, a scent that Aunora normally found appealing, but now it was sickening. A still silence had fallen over them, only interrupted by quiet whimpers from Victor. Matthew lagged behind, avoiding glancing at his children.

Aunora paused, lowering Sedna’s lifeless body into an empty room, sensing something else buried beneath the stench of death.

“That thing in the cave,” Aunora muttered suddenly.

“What?” Infinity said.

“That's what she smells like. Whatever I smelled in that cave yesterday, that's who did this to Sedna.” Aunora’s pulse pounded in her ears, adrenaline burning in her veins. “It must be still out there, Infinity. It killed her and ran back to hide.”

Infinity’s eyes were hidden behind his glasses. “Aunora, are you-"

“We don't have time!” she snapped, “This could be our chance to end this thing! Victor, Seraph,” Aunora said, “You're staying here. Selkie, you too.”

Matthew watched her spin towards the door, furrowing his eyebrows. Aunora threw a bitter glance over her shoulder. “Are you coming with us?”

“Of course.”

----

Sunlight creeped into the mouth of the cave, creating a slow drip of water on the icicles hanging from the ceiling. Gravel crunched under Aunora’s boots as she led the way, taking short, angry huffs for air.

“We need to split up to cover more ground,” she said, turning to face Infinity.

“I'll be fine on my own,” Infinity responded, “But you and Matthew need to stick together. We don't know what's out here.”

Nodding, they split off, Aunora and Matthew taking a narrow path that seemed to dip downward. The darkness had an almost sedating effect, dulling the blind urgency Aunora had felt. The situation suddenly felt more real, and she struggled to calm down her breathing.

She climbed over a stack of fallen rocks, landing on her feet with minimal effort. Behind her, she became aware of Matthew’s exhausted gasps.

“Aunora,” Matthew mumbled, pressing his hand against the cave wall to support himself, “I think I need to sit down, my head is killing me…”

Before she could respond, Matthew slumped against the stone, holding up his chin and clenching his eyes shut.

Aunora stood in front of him as seconds ticked by, staring at the ground, sweat running down her face.

“Hey, Matthew,” she said, “You've been acting really weird lately.”

Matthew nodded, his hair falling over his face.

“Like, I know you don't feel good, but I need help, okay? The kids need you too, and you've just been ignoring them.”

He nodded again, his movement more stiff.

“Come on, just say something!” she snapped, stomping her foot, “I don't even know what's going on! None of us do!”

Matthew hung his head in his hands, his face pale.

“At least say something to defend yourself!”

“I…” Matthew started, his voice quivering, “I don't even deserve to touch those kids…”

Author's Note- let the drama begin