Evelynn was pacing beside the stopped wagon. While mister Johnson was eyeing the valleys of Roaming Eyes, and the two horses were grazing, Evelynn was nearly out of her mind with worry.

Charlie should be back by now. Given Charlie's eldritch abilities, an hour should be more than enough time, and yet Evelynn couldn't find any trace of her best friend. A few minutes ago, she even walked onto a nearby hill. Craning her neck, all she could see were grass and the Roaming Eyes swarm in the distance.

She continued pacing beside the wagon, choosing not to go back onto the hill. She would be exposed on such a high vantage point. Even though the Roaming Eyes were attracted to fear, Evelynn didn't want to take the chance especially since Charlie was still absent.

If the swarm decided to attack the wagon, both Evelynn and mister Johnson would hardly be able to defend themselves, and they would also be forced to ride away, leaving Charlie behind.

Evelynn glanced at the sun and saw it was well over an hour. Chewing her lip, Evelynn continued her pacing. There was nothing she could do but wait. The same went for mister Johnson, although his nervousness was distinctly different from hers.

After all, he was still unnerved by the Roaming Eyes.

Even his session with the eyeball only helped marginally, and based on his tight grip on the horses' reins, he really wanted to get as far away as possible. Ready to go at a moment's notice. And Evelynn couldn't really blame him.

After all, what was she expecting when she pulled out the eyeball and made him hold it?

Exposure training could only go so far.

Shaking her head, Evelynn trudged back towards the hill. With a curious mixture of weariness and anxiety, Evelynn placed one foot in front of the other and reached the hilltop. It was still grassy hills all around with the swarm of Roaming Eyes pooling in the distant valleys. She waited a few moments longer, scanning the mass of eldritch vegetation for any sign of life that wasn't a waving stalk.

She sighed. Turning around, she nearly went back down the hill for the umpteenth time, only to be arrested by something strange in the corner of her eyes.

The vegetation was writhing.

The dense mass of Roaming Eyes for as far as she could see was writhing and heaving in a single wave. And something was rising. A gigantic circular structure was slowly forming, so far away that Evelynn could barely make out its rough shape. She stood wide-eyed as tons of eyeballs and stalks flowed together, forming a massive dome the size of a mansion.

Evelynn could scarcely believe her eyes.

What could have possibly caused the Roaming Eyes to move in such a purposeful manner? Even as Evelynn watched, the mass of eldritch vegetation calmed down from its writhing—like a stormy sea smoothing back down into the gentle lapping of placid waves. However, the dome remained.

That gargantuan edifice stood, taunting her with her impotence. Evelynn had a good idea of what could have caused such a drastic change in behavior, and there was nothing she could do about it. Her fingernails dug into her palms as she glared across the sea of Roaming Eyes, and fixed her gaze on the structure—or most likely, prison.

It couldn't be a coincidence that the Roaming Eyes would do something so drastic in such a short time after Evelynn had sent Charlie off to grab some eyeballs. And now Evelynn was regretting her decision. She nearly took a step towards the valley of Roaming Eyes before reining herself back. As much as she detested herself for sending Charlie into danger, there was nothing she could do.

She was only human. Even through her anger and fear, Evelynn could recognize the vast gulf between herself and the veritable sea of eldritch vegetation.

She could only hope that Charlie was alright. That Charlie's eldritch abilities would save her just like when they were accosted by the bandits.

The only thing Evelynn could do was stare at the mottled green stalks and the glistening eyeballs, stewing in her worry and frustration. Fixed on the dome, she didn't notice mister Johnson climbing up the hill to stand beside her. Evelynn only snapped out of it when she heard a voice.

"Th-That sure is big. Miss Evelynn, I think it's high time we get out of here."

She blinked and incredulously turned towards mister Johnson.

"What? And leave Charlie? Do you really want to leave when the Roaming Eyes are nowhere near us?"

He rubbed his head, ruffling his grey hair. But he lifted his downturned eyes and his uncertain expression firmed.

"Yes, we're leaving. Both of you are supposed to be my escorts. Instead you've been dragging me into danger, and miss Charlie even brought a Roaming Eye into the wagon!

Evelynn took a breath and calmly exhaled. She turned around and ignored mister Johnson, because his points were valid and it would be impossible to defend Charlie's actions without revealing her true nature. Sure, if she told him that Charlie was actually an eldritch horror, mister Johnson would stop being nervous of some eyeballs on a stick... but he would instead be terrified of Charlie. Making the ride to Glennworth unbearable. Not to mention, causing a headache as Evelynn would have to find a way to keep him quiet.

"Miss Evelynn. If you don't answer me. I'll just take the wagon and go. I won't be party to your hare-brained schemes. Especially not with-" He gestured at the dome in the distance. "Whatever that thing is."

Now that got Evelynn's attention.

She glared at him, and in a frosty tone sniped back.

"You might want to reconsider." Evelynn narrowed her eyes, fixing him with her gaze. "I'm not leaving Charlie. And we need that wagon to reach Glennworth. I can give you half the profits from the eyeball sale, which is well worth the risk."

Mister Johnson stared back at her. A finger tapped on his leggings, clearly still hesitant of remaining anywhere near the Roaming Eyes. Seeing his indecision, Evelynn gave him a nudge.

"Think of how much gold that would be. Also, all you have to do is wait here for Charlie to return. It isn't like I'm asking you to walk into the dangerzone."

Mister Johnson hesitated for a moment longer before he glanced away and sighed. It would be best to wait a bit longer. It just didn't sit right with him to abandon miss Charlie and run to save his own hide. Lifting his head, he was about to resignedly agree to Evelynn suggestion—only to freeze.

He looked over her shoulder. Blank faced. His hand trembling as he involuntarily took a step back.

With a feeling of foreboding, Evelynn followed his mile-yard stare. She traced his gaze across the sea of Roaming Eyes and settled on a patch of land.

The patch of land where the dome stood just a few minutes ago.

With no warning or sound, all the Roaming Eyes vanished in a massive circle, centered around the previous location of the dome, leaving only barren dirt behind. There was nothing left. Only dusty earth and loose pieces of stone.

Evelynn couldn't help but shudder. If it was an explosion, or if there was any indication leading up to the devastation, she might have felt better.

She took a breath and staring at the unnerving circle, trying to figure out a plan. There was only a remote likelihood that the Roaming Eyes would inflict such a grievous wound on itself, unless it was done to try to get rid of a threat. However, nauseating fluids and constricting stalks were what Roaming Eyes were known for. Not causing widespread devastation with no warning.

With that out of the way, the only answer would have to be Charlie.

Somehow, Charlie had decimated the dome, displaying powers that Evelynn had never imagined before. Or at least, never imagined that it would be her best friend wielding such power.

Both Evelynn and mister Johnson stood silently on the hilltop. Mister Johnson considered making a dash for the wagon, while Evelynn was weighing her odds of survival if she ran into the Roaming Eyes swarm to search for Charlie.

However, her ruminations were answered when she saw a spot of grey amidst the green sea of vegetation. A flash of a familiar grey robe heading towards them that quickly got buried underneath the mass.

Evelynn stumbled, and after a shaky first step, headed down the hill to greet her best friend. She ignored mister Johnson's words and approached the valley of Roaming Eyes, staring at the last spot she saw that flash of grey, and scanning the swarm in front of her.

No matter how much she searched, Evelynn couldn't find any trace of Charlie. With her heart in her mouth, Evelynn waited for her best friend to pop out of the vegetation and greet her with a smile. However, she saw nothing.

Just more vegetation. Green and mottled stalks... and a glimmer of bright green.

A fluorescent green glow was peeking out from the edge of the swarm, and as Evelynn watched, the green glow became two, only to resolve into a pair of eyes.

Her best friend brushed away the stalks of vegetation and walked out of the swarm.

Everything was the same... except for the luminescent green glow pouring out of Charlie's eyes. Twin beacons of her eldritch nature above Charlie's slight smile.

Frozen in shock, Evelynn's mind went blank. She could only watch as Charlie walked closer. However, even that was off.

Charlie's movements initially appeared fluid and normal—but she would occasionally jerk while taking a step. An uncanny twitch that when combined with Charlie's glowing eyes, caused Evelynn to back away.

"Ch-Charlie? Are you okay?" Evelynn stuttered, glancing away from her best friend's face. It was difficult meeting Charlie's eyes. "What happened?"

Charlie stopped walking and cocked her head. However, instead of Charlie's usual inquisitive pout, her smile stayed frozen on her face.

"Who's Charlie?" Evelynn's best friend said, causing her heart to drop through her stomach.

No. This couldn't be happening. What could have possibly gone wrong? Aghast, Evelynn stared at Charlie. No, stared at the eldritch being wearing Charlie's body, and who had locked luminescent green eyes with her. Unblinkingly, the eldritch horror continued in her cheerful tone.

"If you're talking about us... We are called Ť̶͓̱̩͋͆̂͋̇͘͜h̵̜̗̣̹̎̑͘͘͜e̸̗͍̲̼̮̪̎̚ ̴͇̆͗̽E̷̗̱̗͛̓́̄͗͑̚͝ṅ̶̜̮̫̮̋̈́d̶͙͙̳̓̆͘͜l̴͖̯̮͖̔̈́͋͌̆̑͑͝e̵̹͖͍͜͝s̸̢̛͕̰̱̜̯̣̈́͊͆̐s̵̛̪̹͒̊̇ ̷̨̟̪̗͈̯̋ͅG̷̟̘̊̄̇͑̒̎ṙ̷͇͍̫̱̞̘̼̀͝a̴̧̛̼͓̩̻̝̱̖̿̃̕s̴̫̍̐p̵̗̔̋̀̈́͒̀i̴͓͛͊ń̸͕̞̼̼͜g̵̡̧̲̲̯͕͙̎̅͂̃͗̚ ̶̭͊͠T̸͓́̿̋̅͂̎ė̸̛͉̠̑͒̄͘ṇ̵̦̈́͌̓͑̀͊d̷͓̫͕̱̮̘̜͊̈́̅͆͗͘r̸͙̮̽̈́̈͆̈́͋͝i̵̮̠̜̠̬͆l̸̦̻̮̅̅s̴̥̟̤͔̎͌̄͂́̓̔͝ͅ."

With a snap that sent chills down her spine, the eldritch being righted her head and looked past Evelynn. The frozen smile grew marginally larger.

Opening her arms as if for a hug, the eldritch horror started walking forwards, skirting around Evelynn.

"Hi, old human man! Do you want to be my friend?" The eldritch being gestured, with a mass of unearthly black tendrils pouring out of her right sleeve. "Or do you want to play?"

Mister Johnson initially cringed when he saw the abomination walk out of the swarm. Malevolent green eyes searing into his soul. However, he quickly rallied while that blasted monstrosity was talking to Evelynn, and silently crept down the hill to reach the wagon.

Now, he shook with the abomination's gaze fixed him. With difficulty he wrenched his eyes away from the unearthly black tendrils trailing out of the grey robe, and bolted for the wagon.

He would rather take his chances getting to the wagon that was only a fast sprint away. There was no knowing what that thing meant when it talked about becoming friends and playing.

Quick panting breaths. His heartbeat pounding in his ears, mister Johnson sprinted for the wagon. One foot in front of the other. The meters were shrinking. Ten meters. Eight meters. A little bit more and he would-

That was when he heard the slithering and felt something snag his legs—taking out his feet and sending him sprawling.

He impacted the ground with a thud, and grimaced as loose pieces of stone dug into his palms. However, now wasn't the time. He must get away.

Glancing back, he saw several tendrils twinned around his legs, trailing back to the monstrosity who hadn't moved an inch. That abomination was smiling its frozen smile and gazing at him with luminescent green eyes that were a little brighter.

Mister Johnson felt a pull on his legs, and he scrabbled at the ground. Tugging on the sparse grass to stop himself from sliding.

However, it was no use. The grass was torn at the roots, and with a heart-stopping jerk, he found himself hanging in midair.

He was suspended upside-down.

His coat hung loose and flapped behind his head, as he was leisurely pulled towards and turned around to face the abomination. With blood rushing into his head, mister Johnson pried at the black tendrils, but by now they had already branched into threads that thoroughly coated his legs. And the threads clung so tightly that he couldn't even gain a grip.

Mister Johnson ceased his efforts when he felt the green glow shine on his face.

Looking up, he stared wild-eyed into the abomination's smiling face. Luminescent green eyes burning with an intensity he had never witnessed before.

The monstrosity's lips moved, and he heard.

"You're not very nice are you? We just wanted to make friends."

The abomination cocked its head. Tendrils slithered into the air and started branching. Forming countless threads that stretched further and further. Writhing sigils and tracing an interlocking configuration of unnerving complexity.

Mister Johnson's gaze was wrenched back towards the abomination's face as it asked him a question.

"Now. Do you want to be friends?"