The sun slowly inched closer towards the mountain, hiding itself behind a lone hill. Atop the range, a dilapidated estate was built. There wasn't a single soul living up there, just memories of luxury and hedonism. Moreover, it seemed to be more part of the surrounding forest than a separate building - because inch by inch, vines and grass crawled their way inside the venerable house.

Certainly, it was a place which only fools would dare to take a step in. Scum and lost souls, those who didn't have attachments to their former lives. The whole area was practically oozing with dread, cracking ajar even the sturdiest hearts.

But perhaps, either because of foolishness or a lack of choice, 4 young lads and lasses walked up the forgotten trail, taking measured steps into the ever-encroaching forest.

"This- this doesn't feel right. There's something deeply wrong with this place." The youngest of the bunch said from the back, his voice cracking a little. Every now and then he would glance at his back, trying to find something hiding in his shadows.

"Tch, get a hold of yourself Heitor! Don't let things get inside of your head; that's literally the first rule every adventurer learns." Their leader harshly scolded him, even though his own heart drummed loudly inside his chest.

Indeed, there was something amiss there - the whole forest was dead silent, not even the sound of bugs to be heard. All they could hear was their voices, and every once in awhile their breathing (if they focused well enough). Furthermore, there was this unusual feeling of being watched, and although a little blurry, that emotion remained there, at the back of their minds.

Small droplets of sweat slid across their foreheads as the front yard came into view. The first thing which greeted them was marble statues which looked more like deformed humanoid shapes - time sure marked its presence there.

"Come. I need someone to help me open this gate." Julia whispered, trying her best to keep it as low as possible. Nonetheless, her voice broke the defying stillness in the garden, traveling across the whole property.

Heitor nodded, choosing to remain quiet. Both of them slowly walked towards the rusted gate, dead leaves and branches snapping under their feet.

The entrance creaked shrilly as they opened it. Immediately, panic set in, and they chose to open it as fast as they could.

Crack... something gave way in the gate as they forced their way in, a loud crack resounding from it, and the entire thing fell down to the floor with a powerful bang - any attempt at stealth completely disrupted past that point.

From their blind spot, a pair of eyes landed upon the group, sending shivers down Agnel's spine. They were being watched, he was certain now. Snapping his head towards the front windows, he caught a quick glimpse of an old woman carrying a baby within her hands. She was staring down at them.

Gulping a dry gust of air, he steeled his resolve before saying, "Prepare yourselves, we are going in."

Raising her iron mace, Julia prayed. "Lord, please bask us in your everlasting light and protect us from the evil which lurks in the darkness - Divine Clarity!" A blinding glow radiated from it, rushing towards every participant of the party. As it permeated inside them, explosive adrenaline shot through their veins, pumping blood to every cell.

If before they could hear even their comrades' breathing, now it was possible to hear the very silence. Heitor, the most fearful of them, felt a soothing warm embrace his body, telling him that everything would be fine.

"I can't get enough of this spell," Agatha murmured while stretching her limbs and joints, preparing herself for the coming battles. Inside the house, the furniture was beyond repair, having rotten throughout the eons. Fungi grew from the walls, floor, and roof. There wasn't a sole place untouched by its infestation.

"Let's start by exploring this room - it seems to be the most important one. And remember, we are looking for a crimson amulet." Agnel said.

Straightaway they got to work - after all, the faster they found the amulet, the faster they were getting out of there. All over the place, old paintings filled the walls, depicting the noble dynasty which owned the property. Curiously, ritual materials littered the floor, where a salt circle was drawn onto.

"Julia, do you have any idea of the purpose this ritual could have had?" Agatha asked while circling the ceremony circle.

"... Not quite. This one is quite strange though. Normally, salt rings are used to summon upon entities, but this one... it attempted to summon something else. The sacrificial objects are unusual, so either the ones performing it didn't know what they were doing or they were trying to accomplish a complex feat."

"What are you two blabbering about? We need to focus on finding the amulet." Heitor rushed them, for he couldn't stand the place anymore. It must be his imagination, but the fungi seemed to start moving at the edges of his vision, just out of his perception.

"And you need to focus on calming down, brother. Maybe this will help us solve the amulet's whereabouts." Agatha went inside the circle, kneeling to take a closer look at the materials used during the invocation.

"I would suggest you to not touch those things. It's never good to touch ritual sacrifices."

"I know Julia, I'm just taking a closer look." She shrugged her concerns before analyzing the objects at display.

One heavy book, a small skull and a sacrificial dagger. Nothing out of the norm, although... taking a closer look at the book, she noticed that time didn't damage it. The pages were as new as ever.

"Karacatoa..." She read the title, a sudden urge calling her to open it, "I wonder what is written in it." Ancient runes were jumbled in its cover, like they were thrown there without a clear objective into mind. She had never seen such symbols, their shapes were jagged and violent as if ripping the book to shreds. She gradually approached the book, ready to unfold its pages when-

"What are you doing Agatha? Didn't I just say to not touch it?" Julia asked.

"Oh, sorry." She quickly got away from the book, realizing the close call.

"I think I found something! Quick, there's a hatch in here." Agnel excitedly opened it, quick on his toes to find the damn amulet already. The wood creaked and a few splints flew into the air.

"Annnd....", A frown came to his face, "what-?" He muttered before falling to the floor, resisting the urge to vomit his contents out.

Skulls... lots of 'em. White, brittle and hollow, they were piled over a swampy red mud, filling the cellar to the very top. If the house was infested with fungi, then the basement was corrupted by it. Mushrooms grew out of everywhere, even from the heads' eye-sockets - aghast expressions froze in time. And there, in the middle of the gory mess, hanged an amulet - a fungus engulfed hand holding it tight.

Agnel felt his lungs go into disarray, completely lost on how to breathe. In a fit of panic, he forgot how to properly inhale and exhale. Julia, a prime example of a cleric, immediately ran towards his side, avoiding the nightmarish sight. Cupping his head within her hands, she said with a very calm voice, "Calm down now, calm down. I need you to focus on your breathing. Count from 1 to 5, and then exhale with all your strength."

Nevertheless, his fright only rose to higher levels. His eyes shot open as he tried to mumble something, but the words wouldn't come out. Tilting her head, Julia tried once more to tranquilize him, "Agnel, what are-"

"Watch out!" Agatha screamed at the top of her lungs, a quiet whistling sound traveling across the room.

In a split second, she turned her head to face Agatha, and then she felt her right shoulder being torn apart. Just a split second and the arrow missed her nape. Blood was the first thing to gush out, what followed though, could only be described as pained cries.

"ARGhhhh!" She howled as she tumbled onto the floorboards, falling right inside the basement. A second arrow narrowly missed her neck, flying across the air.

"Julia!" Agatha took cover against a wall, her brother behind.

"Did you see where the archers are?!" She frantically asked her brother, who in turn couldn't even reply. He mumbled the words, tripping over his tongue every sentence while trying to speak.

"Julia and Agnel are out the-" Another arrow flew, penetrating Agnel's forehead with a squishy sound.

Her mouth didn't utter a sound anymore. Gulping dry, she could only hear her and Heitor's breathing. Agnel was... no more. It came with no warning or preparation, it just happened. And that frightened them. They saw themselves in Agnel's position - it could very well be them. As unforgiving and fast as an arrow, a life taken away.

The idea that they could be... so feeble frightened them. Until then, the concept of death didn't even come to their minds. After all, it may happen to others but not them. Now, however, they know how close loss could be.

Agatha's legs trembled, and her lips parted in a perpetual expression of horror. Leaning on the wall, color drained from both her lips and face.

Run, that's right, she needed to run out of that hateful place and protect her brother. Yet, just as she prepared herself to bolt right out of there, she heard Julia's pleas for help. They sounded fearful and hurt, breaking down into quiet whimpers.

Could she really leave her friend there? Flee like a coward and sacrifice Julia's life? Wouldn't Julia run to aid her? What if it was her in there?

Sweat poured from her face as she pondered over a decision, paralyzed between running or fighting. Meanwhile, Julia crawled upon straws and bones to reach the blood-tinted amulet. If anything could save her, then her only chance was the amulet - the others were silent, probably dead as well. A red light compelled her to reach the amulet, it was literally a light at the end of the tunnel.

Finally, Agatha chose. She had to save her companion.

"We need to go back there, Julia is still alive." She whispered.

"N- no! We will die!" He shook his head furiously as if begging her to not go.

"We must." She said before jumping out of cover and running towards the hatch.

Heitor stood there, still. He just couldn't find the strength to move his legs.

Arrows ripped across the air as the archers targeted Agatha. Jumping and ducking around, she used the furniture to her advantage, slowly inching closer towards Julia. She smiled - just 2 more steps to the hatchway.

Just as she was stepping into the basement, an arrow found a way to her knee. It didn't make a squishy sound though. Instead, it broke into many pieces, shredding her knee at different places.

She fell with a heavy thud, and before she could even scream, another arrow found purchase into her head. At the same time, Julia managed to take hold of the amulet. A red beam flashed in the basement as she held the jewelry for her dear life. Beaming a sly smile, she sighed in relief as she held the amulet.

Then, at the edge of her eyes, she noticed something moving. It was small and fast, but she couldn't quite catch a glimpse at it. Then a tingly ache enshrouded her body from the feet to the legs. It almost tingled, like a feather being rubbed all over her body.

The slight tingle quickly became an itchy feeling. She tried using her nails to scratch herself, but the itch just wouldn't go away. Instead, it only got worse. Gradually, green spots started appearing all over her legs and arms.

"ARHHhh!" The itch evolved into full bloom pain like she was being repeatedly cut open by a sharp knife, and then submerged into a firepit.

The green boils popped open and fungi started spreading from it, covering her whole body within slow torturous moments. Her last words were a blubbering mess of words, asking for a merciful death. And yet, it was for naught, for her body was maintained alive. Like many others, she would wither away after years of being used as nutrient fuel.

The single one left truly alive, Heitor, runs away with a book under his arms, following the forgotten trail with shame on his back. As his comrades and family are left behind, he flees alive as a coward, but alive, nonetheless.