to pick one of the mountain passes, and will probably be attacked. Stay alert.”
His mind clearer from the extra sleep, David nodded. As they moved towards the Estate, the twins detected many lures and traps. Takumi taught David to detect the faint discolorations of the plants and wood that marked them as having been manipulated, letting Rie keep them safe while he taught. The traps set for them were sometimes simple and obvious, to the twins at least. Twice they pointed out nets strung up in the trees with tripwire. Other times, the traps were cleverly hidden rocks set to develop into landsides, or branches set to fling at the heedless adventurer. After seeing so many of the traps, David realized that all they were set to hinder approach to the Estate, but did not prevent anyone leaving it.
As they moved down a hill, a soft flick was all the warning David had before a branch hit him in his face, knocking him back. Simultaneously, the ground beneath him gave way. The twins were just able to jump behind trees as David rolled by upon a bed of loose soil and stones. Exchanging a silent look, the twins hurried after.
Dangerous Shadows
May,
Although, my world was alien, the memories were not. After the initial panic and pain they caused, I recognized them as glimpses into how things should be…
The twins found David sprawled on top of a pile of stones, mud, and dead branches. Hearing them approach, David sat up, groaning from the pain of a hundred bruises. His clothes were covered in leaves and were ragged as if just sent through a blender.
“You alright?” Rie asked in a hushed voice as soon as she saw him, her concern was evident even in the minimal light.
“Yea, I think so,” David said, mimicking her. Fortunately, the pain from his cuts and bruises began to fade as he kicked a branch off his leg. “I ended up on top of all this, and it leveled out pretty quick.”
“It was designed to not hurt you. This is Grandpa’s work. If you can walk, we need to go. Even if we had thrown them off, Grandpa and Dad will be here soon,” Takumi said, looking around as if expecting them to jump from the shadows at any instant. From the top of a large rock, Rie’s eyes hunted the depths of the night around them.
Jumping from her perch, Rie helped David stand as he brushed the leaves from his tunic. Miraculously, David still gripped his makeshift sword. He checked himself for broken bones, and then gingerly walked forward, glad to find he was whole. He nodded to Takumi.
“We need to move quickly,” Takumi whispered. “I’ll scout, you two follow.” Silently, he slipped off into the night.
Rie rolled her eyes at her brother, and then glanced towards David. “You probably hurt, but I know from experience that you’ll be alright. I was caught in a similar trap two years ago.” David smiled, feeling a bit better about himself but his legs buckled when he tried to step forward. After a steadying hand from Rie, he took a few tentative steps.
“We need to go much faster,” Rie said. She turned to him, and although he willed his legs forward, they moved only minimally. With a sigh, her hand slid down from his elbow and she took his hand. Before David could even register her grip, she was off, dragging him behind. He stumbled along, attempting to match her fluid movements, but failed horribly. A focused killer had replaced Rie. She stalked swiftly through the forest, letting nothing, not even David, slow her down.
After an hour weaving through the forested mountain, David was extremely happy to have the last week of morning runs under his belt. The only rest he got was when Rie paused to listen and check for traps. David became used to the sudden stops so he was unsurprised when Rie jerked him behind a tall tree. His legs rubbery, David collapsed among the tree’s roots.
“It’s nearly sunrise. Takumi should have checked in,” Rie hissed, her words full of venom. “We aren’t far from the Estate. Our goal is the shrine. The trip is over when at least one of us touches it. Grandpa, Dad, or both must be between us and the shrine.”
Something in her voice made David eye her more closely. The way she fidgeted gave David a sinking feeling.
“How many times have you made it back to the shrine?” David asked quietly.
“Never,” she answered. “This is only our second time on our own. Before, mom would always go with us. Get your stick ready, and be very quiet. If something happens, do whatever it takes to get to the shrine. Don’t look for me or Takumi.” Rie lapsed into silence, watching the night around her. “If you see mom, ignore her too, she’s the referee.” She turned slowly, observing the entirety of her surroundings. David strained with all his being, willing himself to hear someone approach.
As the first light of morning pierced the sky, David heard Rie yell. He was startled to realize she had left his side. He was far more surprised to find he was excited rather than scared. Just like capture the flag, all he had to do was make it past his enemies’ lines undetected. He was encouraged that the rest of the way was downhill. David heard the clash of wood on wood from the direction Rie’s voice had come. Hesitating only a second, David turned and hurried as best he could toward the sound.
He emerged beneath a group of ferns just in time to see Rie fall behind a flurry of blows from a man dressed in the full armor of a traditional samurai warrior. As she fell, another taller man came out from the shadows of nearby trees. Takumi was draped across his back.
“She must have left David to draw us off his course. They probably told him to head straight for the shrine,” the taller man said.
“Hurry on and try to catch him. If you don’t find him, cover the other side. I’ll bring in these two and set them up as bait near the shrine in case he somehow makes it past you,” replied the shorter man.
Though he could not see their faces, and their voices were barely audible, David recognized the way they moved. The taller man was Masao. Nominally the head of the house he still followed Grandpa’s instructions. That meant the shorter man, who had just knocked out Rie, was Grandpa.
David watched as Masao ran off into the forest. A few seconds later, Grandpa revealed some of his strength by hefting both twins. With them secure in his arms, he headed for the Estate. Sliding forward, David tried to use everything he had learned over the last few days to stay quiet. Instead of simply following Grandpa, David strayed out and away from both him and Masao. Based on the rising sun, David figured he was north and a little east of the shrine. As they neared the Estate, David kept to the east.
David finally left the mountains, abruptly entering the forests around the Matsumoto Estate. Turning west, he crept ahead, keeping his pace just slower than Grandpa. As the sun rose higher above him, David saw the Estate’s wall ahead. He ran along parallel to the Estate, staying in the tree line until he found the stream. David slid under the Estate’s wall where the water flowed through. Big as he was, he barely made it through the small outlet. Luckily, the water had carved into the ground enough so that he could shimmy through on his behind and keep his nose above the water. David poked his head slowly out of the opening. With no movement around him, he crept north through the trees as quietly as he could.
“I could not find him,” Masao said, surprising David with how close his voice was.
“He has to be along the western pass, behind the shrine. There was no sign of him along the way back on the east. String up the twins, maybe he will go for the bait,” Grandpa said.
