The demon's appearance began to become contorted. Its eyes were once again hollow, its features became inhumane. It smiled to the point that it stretched out its lips near its ears. The voice that came out from it was sinister.
Contorted arms wrapped around Kenjiro. Thin and lengthy fingers gripped hard unto him, bitting his skin. Kenjiro groaned in pain, the multiple hands pulled him to the ground. Darkness swallowed him. The creature's voice echoed inside Kenjiro's mind once again.
"I wonder what happened to your comrades. Aren't you worried?"
Kenjiro's eyes opened to a familiar landscape.
A desolate area in Wakaba Ward, Chiba. Unconscious bodies lay on top of the grass. One of
them was a woman with platinum highlights, contrasting her jet black hair. Puddles of blood
painted the grass red.
"Aiko!"
Kenjiro became weary, he struggled in his restraints. He mentally cursed repeatedly and shut
his eyes tightly.
This isn't real. This is all fake. That cursed monster is fake
"I'm all but fake."
Suddenly, the demon appeared in front of Kenjiro. Its haunting grin taunted him, leaving an impression even as he walked behind him.
"If the rescue team doesn't come back. to your HQ, who do you think will be dispatched next?
Kenjiro squirmed around, hoping for even the smallest hope of escape. Just the smallest hope. Just enough to punch this ugly monster in the face!
He couldn't see the demon's face, however, he could hear its menacing laughter. Akiko. Akiko will be dispatched next.
The demon waved his hand in front of him and they both floated up.
"Shall we take a look?"
The two of them zoomed into the air. Soon, they reached their destination. It was an area near the Miyako river. Kenjiro could see a figure fighting against a horde of monsters. It was Akiko. All alone, his bloodied companions lay on the top of the lush grass. Exhaustion was painted on Akiko's face.
No.
Kenjiro started to falter. Doubt started to fill his mind. He believed that this was an illusion but...
But what if it's real.
The clothes that Akiko wore were a spitting image of his expedition gear. Cladded with black gear, Akiko wore a black coat, black leggings, and black boots. The clothes that Aiko wore back then, as well as with the rescue dispatch.
Behind Kenjiro, the demon's smile turned into a devilish grin. Its satisfaction was fueled by Kenjiro's emotions. Worry and doubt will always follow grief.
The demon had a gruesome thought.
MORE! MORE! I WANT TO SEE MORE!
"You seem concerned. No matter how good of a fighter Akiko is... Will he be able to fight against
a monster horde that big?"
Anxiety was evident on Kenjiro's face. However, his trust in Akiko was strong.
If it's Akiko, then he can do it.
The demon clicked its tongue in disappointment until he laughed again as an idea popped into
his head.
"What if I make it even harder for him?"
Kenjiro tensed up. It felt like venom was rising in his throat. He felt helpless, he couldn't move no matter his effort.
"Don't you dare!"
"HAHAHAHA! Oh, but I will!"
The demon moved quickly, it floated its disgusting body above the horde. It flew towards the
unsuspecting Akiko.
Kenjiro struggled with his restraints. Knowing that he couldn't escape, all he could do was yell.
"Akiko! Look out!"
Akiko turned towards Kenjiro and saw the demon. Kenjiro's eyes opened wide. Akiko wasn't able to react on time. The demon's limbs turned into sharp claws. Horror filled Kenjiro's expression as the demon pierced through Akiko's body. Blood gushed out from Akiko's mouth. More blood flowed out from the wound itself.
The demon bathed in Akiko's blood. Its smile was wide, filled with glory. On the other side of the Miyako river, a look of dread could be seen from Kenjiro. His expression conveyed that he couldn't believe what he had just seen.
But it's all a facade. Everything that I've seen is just an illusion. No way in hell would Akiko die that
easily.
Under Kenjiro's expedition gear, something warmed up. The restraints made it impossible for Kenjiro to pull it out, however, he immediately knew what it was.
It's the omamori that Akiko gave me... Then it won't be long... I just need to play along with this
demon's game.
Just like his believable reactions earlier, Kenjiro decided on a facade of his own.
"Why... why are you doing this?!"
The demon had a sick and wicked grin. In the back of Kenjiro's mind, he wanted to smash the
demon's skull in.
The demon disappeared from the spot where the fake corpse was laying. It appeared in front of Kenjiro and opened its mouth to speak but stopped. A crazed expression formed on its face. The demon grabbed hold of Kenjiro's hair and tugged forcefully, bringing Kenjiro's face near to his own. It bared its sharp row of teeth bared at him.
"You've realized that this was an illusion."
Kenjiro flinched. His lips were a fine line. He clenched his jaw, suppressing any emotion from showing on his face.
How... Does it have the ability to read minds?
"Did you remember what I said? I'm doing all this to make you suffer. I have no plans in killing
you."
Kenjiro glared at the demon.
No way in hell that he's telling the whole truth.
The demon tugged harder, its long nails dug at Kenjiro's scalp which elicited a groan of pain.
"If illusions like these don't work then how about something real? Something you're very familiar with?"
Kenjiro's eyebrows scrunched together in bewilderment, trying to figure out what the demon
had just uttered.
The demon grinned as a purple haze glowed from its twisted hand.
"No need to be puzzled, you'll soon find out."
Kenjiro's sight blurred and his mind was reduced to a drunken state.
Soon, everything went dark.
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