The wagon was already moving steadily into the deserted road, passing towering trees, sleepy towns, and rivers. They already left the vicinity of Hallowpass and entering villages where houses are getting far and between from each other.
The two drivers of the wagon, Lucas and Omar, takes turn in guiding the horses. When one is already feeling sleepy the other one will take charge in making sure the two horses stay on track in the road.
While Lucinda the female servant was already sleeping beside the chest inside the wagon.
It was already 3:00 am, the moon was still shining brightly up in the sky. The area surrounding the road was submerged in darkness due to the dense forest. Thanks to the four burning lanterns attached to the wagon, the travelers' only source of direct light.
The road was in the middle of a forest.
Omar was snoring beside Lucas.
Lucas noticed that there was a thick fog a few meters on the road ahead. He knows that it's dangerous to travel when fog is thick because it's hard to see the road ahead.
He halted the horses for a minute hesitating to continue traveling or not.
He squeezed Omar's arms to wake him up, he needs to ask him if they will go ahead or just wait until the fog disappear?
Omar rubbed his eyes. "W-what's wrong?"
"Look at the fog ahead, I can't see the road ahead! Can you see it?" he asked him.
Omar squinted his eyes. Indeed, he can't see the road ahead. He looked left and right. He pointed his fingers to the left side. "Go to that area... there's seems to be a small clearing. Let's just stay in that place until the morning comes. When there is already light and we have a clear view of the road, we will resume our travel," he said.
"Alright, go back to sleep," Lucas told his companion.
Omar shut off his eyes again and resumed dozing off.
Lucas stirred the horses out of the road going to the area on his left side where a small clearing can be seen. It was surrounded by towering trees and wild bushes.
After he settled the wagon in the clearing, he went down and took some hay and feed the horses, then let them drink water to quench their thirst. The horses need to rest as well.
He went to the back of the wagon to check on his passengers. Lucinda was sleeping beside the chest. The chest was not showing any movement inside. Satisfied that everything is looking normal, he went back to his post in front of the horses. The horses dozed off in a standing position.
Lucas lighted his tobacco. Getting bored with nothing to do, he gathered dry twigs nearby, then made a small bonfire near the wagon. He won't be sleeping because he will be guarding his travel companion tonight. He might as well warm up himself beside a bonfire to ward off the mosquitoes away.
He looked heavenward, the bright moon was nowhere to be seen. His gaze sweeps the entire area. There were endless trees as far as his eyes can see.
He was enjoying the tranquility of the surrounding, staring at the flames produced by the dry twigs while smoking his tobacco.
A few minutes later, sleep caught up with him and he was slowly dozing off. He sat straight up and rubbed his eyes, no, he can't sleep!
He rose to his feet and went to the back of the wagon, he took a glance at Lucinda's sleeping form and the chest. Then he carefully picked up the basket where the powdered coffee, sugar, spoon, mug, plates, and thermos were stored.
He brought them near the bonfire and began mixing coffee, sugar, and hot water on the mug.
"Ah, nice! My hot coffee!" he murmured to himself, smiling.
He began sipping his coffee while enjoying the company of the bonfire. A few minutes later, he finished his coffee, then all of a sudden he noticed the thick fog starts creeping in the whole area.
Lucas's attention was centered on the coming fog, he failed to see the dark men in black hooded capes hovering above the trees, there's about thirty of them.
Lucas and the wagon were totally swallowed by the thick fog, the bonfire died instantly, and he can't see anything, then he slowly loses consciousness and crumbled on the ground.
The men in black hooded capes descended and their feet landed on the ground, the thick fog disappeared slowly.
The leader in black cloak addressed four of his men. "Open the wagon and take everyone out," he said.
The mysterious men opened the wagon's door and took the chest out including the sleeping Lucinda.
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