"let's split up," Feng Wu suggested, tension cutting through his words. " If the assassin finds us,it won't get all of us at once."
Li Hua, Li Liu, Feng Wu ,and five others formed one group. Jian Wei , Mei Ling, Bai Lu, Liu Yang,and others went the other way.
As Feng Wu's group trudged through the burning dunes, they stumbled upon a cave tucked beneath a collapse dune ridge. It had a door-cracked, sun - worn , and half buried in sand. They hurried inside. Darkness swallowed them.
" We should be safe in here," Feng Wu said, catching his breath. " There's no sunlight. The shadow can't move without it."
They lit a dim lantern and started exploring. The place was littered with old crates,broken blades,and forgotten sacks. " Looks like a bandit's hideout," Li Hua observed, lifting a rusted sword.
" Must've robbed desert travelers," another muttered.
Then something stirred above them. Perched silently on a rafter was an owl, unmoving, almost statue-like. None of them had noticed it before. A thin crack in the cave ceiling let a narrow shaft of sunlight in - just enough. It hit the owl's feathers. Then ...bounced. The beam refracted, almost unnaturally,down to one of the disciples standing closet to the wall. He went still.
" Hey...you alright?" Li Liu asked, taking a cautious step forward.
The boy didn't respond. Then he turned, his eyes - pitch black.
" No_" someone whispered. " He's here."
The boy reached for a heavy axe propped against a stove nearby. The others backed away instantly, panicking.
Li Liu sprang into action. " Get out! Now?" She shoved Feng Wu and Li Hua through the door. They stumbled into the sunlight. Then she slammed the door shut from the outside, sealing the possessed one- and the others still trapped - in the dark chamber.
" LI LIU!!" Li Hua pounded the door. " What are you doing? They're still in there!"
" We can fight him!" Feng Wu yelled.
" No!" She cried , voice trembling. " He'll get us too.. we're not ready. I had to..I had to..."
From behind the door came screams. Cries. Steel. Then silence.
Li Liu fell to her knees, shaking.
Li Hua turned away,tears brimming in her eyes." They trusted us.."
Li Liu grabbed Feng Wu's sleeve. " Please... don't tell anyone..if the masters find out what I did...our family will be disgraced. I didn't mean to - I was just trying to protect.."
Feng Wu said nothing. He walked off without a word.
Above them, the owl was gone.