The creatures were no longer in an orderly fashion but basking in the chaos. Alex turned couldn't see Elsa in all the smoke. Either she moved or the smoke thickened. Or both. Alex couldn't do much for the burning villagers. The spikes had taken much out of him. But that wasn't the real problem. He could not think in all the smoke. And he was somewhat worried since he could not find Elsa. Alex just used his gloves to take out the creatures that would happen to pass by. He would no try to escort the villagers. Why? Because majority of them were on fire or dead. Plus he did not know any of them who is to say they wouldn't think about him as an enemy? What if this happened for a reason? 
____
••••••
Within the smoke what appeared to bea calm person had became more visible as smoke in the area cleared a bit. The man was no ordinary man if he was even a person. It had worn beaten up rags for shoes. It sported what were probably supposed to light blue shorts but had been beaten up and covered in dirt and grime. They went past its kneecaps to around the middle of its shin. It had wore casual villager clothin of a brown best and cream colored shirt. It had appeared to be human in these aspects. Having a muscular build and talk stature. What had clearly not made it human was its head. Instead of a face it had been replaced by a black human skull. A strangely clean skull. No meat on it. Attached by a neck packing flesh in some areas. In its hands a blade. A black obsidian handle with a double edged silver blade. In its other hand a torch. It used both to kill a few of the remainder of the villagers. 
•••
Alex had been in a small house that had not burned down. Looting. It may seem wrong, but the village should not be forgotten. He was planning for the future already believing the village was doomed.
•••
The humanoid had found a villager still alive only singed slightly and had placed a blade to his throat. Asking about an artifact of a sort. The villager pushed up against a fallen black tree. Strangely, majority of the sorry around was untouched.