THE VILLAGE THAT NEVER LET ANYONE LEAVE
Chapter 10
Ethan refused.
He attacked Samuel.
The chamber erupted into chaos.
Nora pulled Maya toward a side tunnel while Ethan fought through the villagers.
They ran.
Behind them, Ethan heard Samuel shout:
“You cannot outrun your blood!”
Maya and Nora reached the surface.
The village was waiting.
Hundreds of people stood in the street.
But something was different.
They weren’t angry.
They looked frightened.
Nora whispered:
“They’re trapped too.”
Maya looked at them.
“Then help us.”
Nobody moved.
Then an old woman stepped forward.
“I remember my son.”
Another person spoke.
“I remember my wife.”
Another:
“I remember the highway.”
Slowly, the villagers began speaking.
Hundreds of forgotten memories.
The mountain began to shake.
Cracks appeared in the church walls.
Samuel emerged from the crowd.
“Stop!”
The villagers ignored him.
Maya realized what was happening.
The memories were returning.
The village had spent generations suppressing them.
Now they were breaking free.
Ethan appeared behind Samuel.
He was covered in blood.
Samuel turned.
“You don’t understand what you’ve done.”
Ethan raised his weapon.
“Maybe.”
He looked at the mountain.
“But I’m done being afraid of it.”
A massive crack split the ground.
The church collapsed.
And somewhere beneath the village, something screamed.
