False Faces

It was quiet in the night, save for the odd rattle of wind slipping through cracks in the wooden barn. The lantern hung up burnt low, its glow amplifying the shadows across the hay. None of them could sleep yet, knowing what was coming the next day. Straw rustled as they shifted, the silence heavy and strict. It was Hibiki who finally broke it. “So… anyone feel like the last few days have been the weirdest they’ve ever had?” His laugh was short and felt forced. Alice sat hugging her knees, her chin resting on them. “I mean… that wolf was so weird and what about this village… It—it doesn't feel real. Where are we?” Her voice trembled as she spoke.

Ren leaned against a support beam, his arms folded tight. “It is real. Whatever is going on, whatever this place is, it’s not a dream. We need to focus on surviving and then discovering why we are here.” Hibiki shifted to lie on his back, staring at the rafters. “C’mon, Ren, lighten up. If this is another world, then it’s kinda… amazing, right? Magic lights in the streets, people with swords, an actual castle. Like one of Sora’s games.” He froze, then suddenly sat up, eyes wide. “Wait! What if Sora is with us! We can find him, and things can be like they were before!” Miyako snapped at him. “Don’t say that! He’s gone. It doesn’t matter where we are—he won’t be here. He can’t be.” She looked down at her hands, and the cold silence had come back once more.

Ren was the one to break it this time. “It’s okay to have hope, man, but let’s be realistic; we have no idea what’s going on, and we can’t be making assumptions.” Hibiki lay back down, the excitement having left his body. “Uh, yeah, I’m sorry, guys. I didn’t mean to.” Miyako sighed. “I’m just saying we need to be careful, that’s all.”

Alice hesitated, then whispered, “Miyako… what happened… back in the shed?” She looked at Miyako, her eyes wide. “Those things were everywhere, and then—”

“I don’t know.” Miyako’s voice was cold, cutting off the question before it grew. “And it doesn’t matter.” She turned her face away, into shadow. “Hibiki didn't sit up, but he turned his head to look at Ren. “Well, what about the wolf? Something weird is going on; can you do that on purpose?” Ren's face got heavy. “I… I don’t know either.” No one pushed the topic further. Before the silence returned, Alice glanced towards the door. “The robed people we saw… they didn’t feel normal. Did anyone else feel that? Like the air got heavier when they walked by?” Ren straightened. “I noticed. And the way they moved—it wasn’t casual. They were doing something.” “Cultists,” Hibiki muttered. “Always bad news in stories, right?” He tried for a grin, but he couldn't bring himself to. Miyako finally looked back at them, her eyes narrowing, as if adjusting for the lack of good lighting. “Stories or not, let’s not get involved. We’ve got enough to worry about.” Ren hesitated, then spoke quietly. “Like that, Darius.” The others all turned to him. Ren pushed off the beam, pacing a step across the hay. “He helped us, sure.

Got us food, papers, even a place to stay. But people don’t just do that out of kindness. We can’t be too careful; let’s try and get by on our own from now on.” Alice frowned. “He didn’t seem bad, though.” “He drinks like he’s trying to forget something; he hasn’t let go of that flask, plus he seems to have no love for the city. Maybe he felt pity for us for trying to get in?”

Hibiki propped his hands behind his head. “Either way, he saved us from that guard. Who knows what would’ve happened if he hadn’t arrived? Ren exhaled loudly but didn't argue. He kept his voice steady. “Tomorrow, we use the papers. We go through the gates. Then once we’re in the city, we keep our heads down. Darius gave me a few coins for the chores from Roderick; we can use them to find somewhere for a few nights, and we will get information and maybe find some work.” Everyone nodded to the plan. “Right, let’s all try and get some sleep, okay?” Miyako said, turning over on some straw. They all agreed, and after a short while the silence of sleep took over.

Morning came grey and cold. The barn door creaked open, letting in the pale light. They ate the crusts of bread left from the night before, washed it down with water from the well, and gathered themselves. They all gave themselves a final check over, looking at the clothes and making sure they would blend in as farmhands, with the fake papers identifying them as such. “Guess we look the part now.” Alice smoothed the hem of her faded skirt, whispering, “Still feels wrong. Pretending to be people we’re not.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Miyako said, stepping out into the morning air. “We just need to get through the gates.” Together, they walked back toward the road. The line was already forming—farmers, merchants, and travellers all waiting to be let inside. The guards moved between the many groups like they had days before, checking them over. Ren scanned the faces, tensions easing slightly when he didn't spot the guard that Darius had protected them from before. “Good,” he muttered. “At least that guard isn’t here.” Step by step, the queue shortened; there was no turning back now.