Everyone froze for a moment.
The scream that tore through the forest was enough for them to recognize its owner without the slightest doubt.
Even Allen almost looked back, but the masked man's voice stopped him.
"Do not raise your heads and do not look behind you. Anyone who does that dies instantly, just like he did."
Everyone lowered their heads toward the ground even more, all at once.
They continued walking in silence, their feet sinking into the dirt of that region.
They stayed close behind the masked man until the fog began to fade little by little.
Then he raised his hand in the air as a signal to stop.
"You can raise your heads now."
They lifted their heads. Some collapsed to the ground from the sheer tension, while others stood frozen, unable to sit.
No one dared to look behind them except Oliver.
He turned toward the fog.
For a brief second, he thought he saw the silhouette of the old man walking between the trees before it vanished.
