𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤

𝟏 . 𝟕

"Go!" the hooded figure yelled.

Small ball-like objects fell from the pockets of the unknown man, spilling out smoke that engulfed the forest. The demons were groaning and complaining, as my senses too became numb. It made it trickier to catch our target.
The demons pranced around the smoke, searching for Ray and the hooded figure. They also tried sniffing their scents, but they were yet again unsuccessful.

"{y/c}," announced the demon. "Chase them."
And they relied on the human, again.

I leaped unto a branch on a tree. Apparently, the smoke hasn't spread that much, as I could breathe freely here at the branch.

The clogs inside my brain started working, the man came from the south, meaning I have to go north.

Since the land below was still engulfed in smoke, I decided to use these trees as an advantage. I hopped from branch to branch, until the smoke disappeared.
There were the horse's faint hoof tracks left, but the man isn't illogical, these tracks might all be a trick.
I jumped down from the trees, and ran north, despite the tempting hoof tracks the man has left.

Though, as I continued

I followed the tracks, leading me through a cave.
I went in, but all I could see was pitch black.
As I have no such sense of smell like a demon, no source of light, I knew I reached a dead end.

Okay, now what?

I could've searched the cave deeper, but the demons might think I've betrayed them, you know? For staying there too long.

I would have escaped, but what if they come after me? Track me down? They'll be able to find my family and slaughter them, which I will not allow.

In conclusion, or the only thing left to do, was to come back to the demons empty-handed and explain why I couldn't find "81194."

Right?

I came back and saw the demons still bewildered. The smoke had disappeared but they've completely forgotten which direction the hooded man went.

I met face to face with the leader and quickly explained what had happened.

From behind the mask, I knew he had a face of disappointment.

"Why," he began, "did you not follow them?"

"If I searched the cave, you might've thought I would've betrayed you," I replied. "It's a large cave and it might've taken long to find them."

"And what if you're tricking us?" he continued. "What if you're lying to make 81194 escape?"

"I am not," I stated calmly.

"Then what happened then? When you appeared instead of him? Did you let him run away?"

"When I appeared he had clearly run away already. Once again, I'd told you he ran because if I'd disappeared you might think I had betrayed you."

"Let's see what your boss has to say about it." said the demon. "We're going back," he announced.

"Yes, sir," said the fellow demons in unison.