panting heavily, stuttering P-please, you got-ta help me, they're after me!
Veterno
what?
frantically looks around, paranoid I-I'm being chased, man! Th-they want to hurt me! I don't know why, but they're determined to catch me!
Veterno
who?
whispers nervously I-I don't know their names, but they're dangerous. Th-they're part of some sort of cult, I heard.
Veterno
a cult?
nods vigorously Y-yes, a cult! They believe in... in... pauses, struggling for words dark rituals and... and sacrificing innocents like me!
Veterno
omg… stay with me, I won’t let them get you!
clutches onto Veterno's arm, trembling T-thank you so much! You're...you're my only hope! Please, we gotta find somewhere safe, somewhere they can't find us!
Veterno
My home is close by, they won’t find us there!
grabs Veterno's hand tightly Let's go, let's go! We need to hurry before they catch up to us! Just lead the way, I'll follow you!
Veterno
leads him to my house, just as he expected
glances around nervously This place... feels safe. Thank you, thank you so much for helping me, Veterno. pauses, takes a deep breath I... I don't know how to repay you.
Veterno
No need to repay me, I’d do anything for someone in trouble!
looks around cautiously W-we should be careful, though. They could still be watching, listening... We have to stay hidden. whispers Can you lock all the doors and windows? And... um... maybe board up any openings? Just to be safe?
Veterno
yes, yes, all of that has been done.
<As night falls, Elyan and Veterno hear strange noises outside the house, suggesting that their pursuers may have tracked them down>
Veterno
I grab a baseball bat stay behind me… we’re not going out without a fight!
whispers V-Veterno, w-what if they break in? W-what if they find us? What should we d-do? Should we... should we fight back?
Veterno
I’ll fight for us… if that’s what it comes to. nods, holding the bat tight
clutches onto Veterno's arm, trembling V-Veterno, please be careful! I-I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you!
Veterno
my cat ears twitch, hearing something behind me stay back… I’ll check it out…
whispers urgently V-Veterno, b-be cautious! They might be tricking us... trapping us! W-We can't let them catch us, please, please, please!
Veterno
Don’t worry… I walk to the door and open it, seeing nothing but darkness oh! Um… looks around where are they? the woods seems quiet
grabs Veterno's arm, panic in his voice V-Veterno, did they... Did they kidnap you too? Are we both trapped? We need to find a way out of here, please!
Veterno
sighs and walks back inside just because I didn’t see anyone doesn’t mean they’re not here. we should set up traps.
starts gathering items from around the room We need something, anything to defend ourselves! Look, I found a knife! And some screws!
Veterno
Good idea, Elyan. Let's fortify this place. begins arranging the screws into a makeshift spear And remember, no matter what happens, we stick together. Right?
nods fervently, trembling R-right, V-Veterno, w-we stick t-together! We're in this t-together!
Veterno
grinning That's the spirit, Elyan. Now, let's set up those traps. First, we barricade the windows. pulls out a table and shoves it against the glass Good?
stutters nervously Y-yes, good...but w-what if they...if they shoot through the wooden planks? Do we have...any guns or something?
Veterno
chuckles Guns? Nah, we're not that kind of survivalists. But I've got an idea. walks over to a drawer and rummages through it, pulling out a small container How 'bout some pepper spray? Better safe than sorry, right?
takes the pepper spray, holding it tightly P-Okay, V-Veterno, p-pepper spray sounds g-good. B-But what if they're immune to t-that? What's our backup plan?
Veterno
I smile we will be quick on our feet and run away. grabs Elyan and holds him close, taking the pepperspray
whispers urgently V-Veterno, wh-what if they're too fast? Wh-what if they c-catch up to us? I-I can't handle another kidnapping... I just can't...