“They are looking for the six you killed the other day. Avoid them. Fighting them is too dangerous. Engage only if you are discovered. Hopefully, they will get bored and leave when they do not find the men from earlier.”

  The hunters did not respond, but I sensed they understood. As the years and their bond deepened to my Core, nonverbal communication became easier. The four men moved with a casual professionalism. Grey, the tracker, stopped regularly to read what signs he found on the ground. The other three held their guns casually, but their eyes spoke of their readiness. They never stopped looking around for dangers.

  The men had gone south and stayed on the path until they chose to veer off it. They had gone to the north and lost the trail, which caused them to change direction and return to the southern path. They found where they had left the path, following it to where the fight had occurred. The blood had been removed by [Hide the Crime!] being used over the last few days.

  “There was a fight here. Three or four men attacked the six.” Grey was kneeling on the flattering grass. “It's strange. This was a place where violence has occurred. But many of its signs are missing. I can make out where the men fell, but there are no signs of blood.”

  The leader spoke without taking his eyes from scanning the area. “Are they alive then?”

  “Maybe. But subduing a greater number as fast as these signs indicate would be hard at the best of times, even for us.”

  “Then we have a group of three to four men acting within this graveyard.” The leader reasoned. “Skilled and armed. With the six men, we are looking for possibly prisoners.”

  “That’s what the tracks are saying.” Grey agreed. “Do we continue or leave for help?”

  “Continue for now. Any indication of where they were taken?” The leader asked.

  “That way.” Grey pointed to the west.

  It was not far to walk until they reached six newly dug graves. They had found the men they were looking for and they came to the same conclusion. Reading the names on the graves confirmed it beyond all suspicion.

  “What will we do now, Mr Sampson?” Gray asked the leader.

  “It appears that the men are dead. We will seek the wagon and return to our employer with the news.”

  The men retreated from the Dungeon. Sampson looked at the plinth in the courtyard and read the inscription as the others left through the gates. He looked around the Dungeon grounds again with a thoughtful expression and then to the left through the gates.

  “They're gone.”

  I said to my hunters and felt them returning to their lairs. Rigger is moving the fastest out of the three. It is getting harder for him to operate in sunlight.

  “What will this bring?”

  I had no idea what this event would bring. Good or bad? A group had come to the Dungeon and had left unmolested. Would they tell the locals, and what of their employer? I knew they would find the wagon with several others at the bottom of a ravine. What would they do with this discovery?

  “Questions with no answers. Looks like I am going to have to wait. What’s new?”

  I could drive myself mad with what-ifs. I returned to the top of the bubble and waited to see if some of my questions would be answered.

  Days passed and nothing came. Driver came by with the paper and told me what was happening beyond my sight. The return of the men sent to find the missing workers had caused a bit of a stir as it was the first known group that had been here and returned without stories of violence and death. The discovery of the wrecked wagons had left speculation of how many had died here. Some called for the town to call in the army, clear the Dungeon, and destroy it.

  The problem they had was how they explained this place to outsiders. They had not found the words or terms to get others to take action for them.

  Yes, Colonel, we want your men to ride to this large graveyard, but we have no idea who built it. Why, it seems that spirits and killers live there, and we would like you to kill them and raze the graveyard to the ground.

  If they were lucky, they would be laughed out of the place. Many in the town did not believe all the stories, as many new families had settled in recent years. The oldest families were the believers. They had seen the evidence from the few survivors.

  I had noticed increased numbers of people travelling through the forest to the ravine, avoiding the Dungeon.

  Days turned to weeks, and I became confident that I would not have a mob visiting anytime soon. Summer gave way to the start of autumn, and it was just as the weather changed that I got my next visitors.

  A canvas-covered wagon rolled up the track and stopped outside the gates. I moved to the gates to get a better idea of what I was going to be dealing with. It looked like most other settler wagons I had seen over the last decade. It looked worn but was not as packed as the others.

  “… now Ma, this is not a waste of time. You have heard the stories, and plenty of daylight is left.” A man in his mid to late forties was getting off the wagon. He was dressed in rough but sturdy clothing. It spoke of practicality over money. His accent was more midwestern, I thought. It was rough and sounded like he smoked a lot.

  “Come now, Pa, we can be doing better things than going on some foolish treasure hunt.” Next down was a woman in a period dress, who was rather on the large side. She looked about a decade younger than the man, with mousy brown hair that a bonnet tried to control. Her face was round and not unpleasant, but she still had no beauty; she was rather plain.

  “We can have a quick look around, and if we get no hints, I reckon we can be away.” He continued looking at the gates. Two other women from the wagon followed him. It was clear they were the woman's daughters. Both between sixteen and twenty were close copies of the mother.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “This place has an ill reputation.” Ma continued. The three opened patched parallels, holding them over them as they peered around.

  “True, true. But the railmen who came through looking for the missing workers said the place was empty.” Pa was now up to the threshold of the gates. The way he was squinting, I wondered how far he could see without glasses.

  “As you say, Pa. A little adventure might be the thing…. Amy, where are you, girl?” Her tone suddenly changed and became shrill when she called for this, Amy.

  From the wagon came a third girl. It was hard to give her an age. Her clothes were heavily patched and were one lousy rip from being called tatters. She had the same hair as the other three but was thin and looked malnourished or even exhausted. She moved like a beaten animal, not making eye contact with the others.

  “What happened to you, I wonder?”

  “Stupid girl! Bring the picnic box and the canteens.” Ma snapped, which caused the other two to giggle at the other's distress. Amy flinched, expecting to be struck. This explained much to me.

  I watched them badger and harass Amy as she carried a large wicker basket, Blanket, and several canteens. They treated her worse than a pack animal. I watched them collect themselves and wander into the Dungeon. They went through the courtyard and turned south.

  [Alert! Intruders are not recognised as Challengers.]

  As they walked, they discussed what they found here, with Amy trailing behind. Pa was carrying a six-shooter on his hip. I informed the hunters of who had entered and waited for them to find the group. I added the instruction not to attack until all three were present.

  It did not take long, as they were walking at a slow pace. It was warm still, as the summer heat had not yet started to disperse. The sky was clear, and the sun shone brightly. It was a good day for a picnic, I had to agree.

  Shame that was not going to happen.

  When all three hunters were ready, I gave them the go-ahead. Rigger, wrapped up as he was these days in sunlight, was the first to move. Pa was close by, and as he passed a large statue, Rigger pounced from his blind side. The man died quickly, and the three women screamed. Amy stood there frozen, watching who I believed was her father die.

  [A Hunter has made a Kill]

  Ma collapsed, and the other two made to run. As they set off, they were run down and caught by the other hunters. They were not killed but bound. Rigger stood and walked towards the panicking Ma, covered in her husband's blood, holding the bowie knife ready for another kill. I knew why the other were being kept alive.

  Looking at Amy, I did something I had never done before as I had come to a decision. I summoned my avatar to the scene right behind the girl. The hunters had not seen this as they were dealing with the others.

  With a gurgling scream, Ma died drowning in her blood from her slit throat.

  [A Hunter has made a Kill]

  With two subdued and two dead, they turned their attention to the last. They saw me and were confused.

  “Not this one.”

  The three hunters looked at me and then at each other, unsure of what I was doing. The girl had stiffened as she heard my voice but was held in place by her fear.

  “I believe this one is ours, Keeper,” McGregor said after a few more moments.

  “Normally, I would allow you your sport, but not today. I have plans for this one.”

  Again, they looked at each other. They were unsure of this as it had never happened before. I felt I needed to remind them who was in charge here.

  “Of course, if any of you want to disobey me in this …. I can always punish those who wish to test me.”

  That was the only threat I could make, but they all knew what that meant and decided to leave things as they were.

  “There is a wagon outside. Loot it, but leave it intact with the horses and deal with your newly acquired “toys”. As for the body, remember to bury it.”

  This got them moving. The women disappeared with the hunters, leaving Pa’s body behind. They would be back to deal with it shortly. I walked around the girl and faced her. Her face was white, and she was crying but was trying to hold it in. She was not afraid but terrified.

  “Hello, Amy.”

  Calling her by her name caused her to look in my rough direction. I had to take this slow, or she could break down or go catatonic. I made all my movements slow and deliberate so as not to spook her anymore. I was not good at this, but I was willing to attempt it.

  “I know you're afraid, but no harm will come to you.”

  I lifted my hands and palms out, showing her that I was not holding anything.

  “Would you like to put down what you are carrying there?”

  I indicate a spot on the path near the grass. At first, she did not move, but after a few more verbal prods, she placed the things down. I waited for her to step back, then moved over to them. I took the blanket out and opened it up. I spread it over the grass. She watched me the whole time, not looking at me but keeping me in her eyeline.

  “Would you like to sit down on the blanket?”

  She was hesitant, but I told her it would be fine and invited her to sit again. She slowly slid over and sat on the blanket, hugging her knees and watching every move I made.

  I slowly opened the basket and investigated its contents. There was more than enough food present for me to use.

  “My, this is quite the selection. What do you want to have first? That is if you are hungry.”

  I got no answer but began taking out wrapped items and opening them up to see what they contained. I placed them near her on the blanket. She watched everything I did, making no move, but then a loud rumble came from her stomach. She flinches, ready to be struck.

  “So, you are hungry. Go on, take what you want.”

  I also placed a canteen on the blanket. When this was done, I sat on the grass out of arm's reach. It took a few minutes and another rumble, but with great hesitation, she reached out. When close enough, she snatched a sandwich and retreated. I watched and said nothing. She started nibbling on the sandwich and was watching me. I made a show of looking in the basket again. I lifted a tart and placed it where the sandwich was.

  “Eat what you wish, and then we might talk if you are happy to.”

  I waited as she ate. I looked around the Dungeon, which seemed pleasant from where I sat. I did not rush things, allowing this to play out at its own speed. Rodriguez appeared, which caused her to tense up. He removed Pa's body and disappeared.

  “Fear not, Amy, no one here will hurt you.”

  It had been over two hours before I got my first words.

  “C-can I-I.. h-h-have m-more.” The voice was soft and quiet. Full of fear and uncertainty.

  “Have as much as you want. Tell me when you are finished.”

  I waited for another hour. The sun was now well past midday, but the day was still warm. I knew she was watching everything I did, but I made no sign of being aware of her. I just enjoyed the weather. This was starting to strain my ability to hold my avatar form, but I could handle it as I was not doing anything strenuous. Time was not on my side now. Looking over, I could see she had eaten a little of everything. I noticed McGregor haunting the gravestones just out of her sight. We were in his hunting grounds.

  “Shall we take a walk?”

  I stood, surprising her, but she rose, and we walked towards the gates. I walked at a sedate pace, trying to hide the strain I was going through just holding my avatar’s form.

  It did not take long before we reached the gates.

  “Can you drive the wagon?”

  She nodded yes with wide eyes full of fear and confusion.

  “Excellent. This is what I need you to do…”

  I gave her directions to Herbert Driver's home and left her a message. It was to help Amy for now and invite her to come and see me later. She was extremely hesitant but did as I did. By the time she got moving, I was ready to scream, as the strain was affecting me badly.

  As soon as she set off, I let out a groan of pleasure as my avatar dissolved.

  Driver appeared later that day near dusk, and I told him what he needed to do. Amy was his chance at a wife, so do not fuck it up. He returned home with the money from her family, what had been looted, and a story to tell that her family had agreed to the marriage before moving on.

  Would it work?

  I have no idea, but it was a plan for the future I was working on.

  Two days later, I got a notification.

  [A Hunter has made a Kill]

  Rodreguez was tired of his new toy and finished her off, which brought me to the next level. I had McGregor finish his off, and as soon as the bodies were buried, I triggered the levelling.

  “Here we go.”