Staring blankly at the head, I feel my mouth go dry.

  …Wait. I think I recognize that man…

  Wordlessly, I reach my hand toward the bag. Several tentacles dart out ahead of me.

  They dig around inside and pull out what looks like several butchered tentacles.

  While the bond radiates horror and fury, my eyes drift back to the victim’s face.

  And then, like a bolt of lightning, realization strikes.

  Wait—wasn’t this the Essevian I saw the two hunters talking to?

  I snap my head up, eyes scanning the area. Hazel’s words about the slowly disappearing Essevians rise to the forefront of my mind.

  …Okay, so they’re targeting Essevians. But why? For some sick fantasy?

  Narrowing my eyes, I reach up and tug at the fraying strands of the scarf around my neck.

  …No. That doesn’t make sense. Why go to all this trouble just to kill us? We’re low-ranked. Even if they hated the undead, why not just shoot us and be done with it?

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  A tentacle taps my shoulder repeatedly, drawing my attention.

  A few of them are holding up what looks like the bloody top half of a torso.

  Grinding my lips together, I try to ignore the way the red blood drips from the chest and pools on the floor.

  In the center of the torso is a gaping hole that goes straight through the back—the place where the core should be. The pulsating, sphere-like organ that keeps an Essevian alive is simply missing.

  It isn’t smashed or beaten to a pulp—it’s just gone. No scraps, no connecting veins, no trace it was ever there.

  Narrowing my eyes, I ignore the continuing agitation and horror pulsing through the bond.

  …So that’s why none of the Essevians were coming back. How could they, when the very thing keeping them alive was ripped out?

  As the tentacles gently lower the body back into the bag, I glance off to the side.

  Okay. Missing core. Dead Essevians. What the hell does any of that even mean?

  Crossing my arms, I start tapping my foot rapidly against the floor.

  …Damn it. I just wanted a normal mission—just enough money to pay rent. And now I have to worry about my own team trying to butcher me and harvest my core for some unknown reason.

  I glance toward the camp and frown.

  I need to get Mary and myself out of here. Make up some excuse, anything... I don’t care if we end up on the streets or don’t get paid for all the work we’ve done—this is too dangerous to stay—

  "KRAAAAAKKKKKKK!!" A roar tears through the air, echoing across the empty space.

  The floor beneath my feet shakes violently, nearly knocking me off balance.

  I quickly grab the side of the cavern wall, holding on as the vibrations ripple through the ground.

  After a bit of time, just as suddenly as the vibration came, it quickly ends. Turning toward the source of the sound, I feel my stomach flip.

  …That sound… didn’t it come from the camp?

  Quickly shoving the body parts back into the bag, I toss it into the cavern.

  Without another second’s hesitation, I sprint toward my camp.