Shoba POV

Driven by a singular determination to reach my home, I ran with tireless desperation, ignoring the pain that wracked my body with every strained step I took. As I neared my destination, only two streets away now, the distant screams of chaos became fainter. A mixture of relief and anxiety washed over me once the familiar grey steps of my apartment complex came into view. At that moment, memories of Ringo's laughter echoed within my mind.

"Please... let them be safe," I silently pleaded brokenly, clinging to any sliver of hope as I arrived in my relatively quiet neighborhood.

 The iron door of the complex yields to my fob, the elevator ignored in my haste. I take the stairs swiftly, my feet pounding the steps as I ascend stairwell after stairwell. With the last reserves of my strength, I bound up the stairs two at a time.

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierces the air, followed by the heart-wrenching sound of breaking glass. My heart stills within my chest with fear. "Mother?" I exhale rapidly, praying fervently that the commotion isn't coming from our home. As I ascend more of the floors, I pass families hurrying downwards, their faces pale and etched with fear and sorrow.

By the time I reach the fifth floor, my breathing is labored, and my sense of urgency is growing with each step. The thought that delaying could worsen their situation spurs me on, an invisible force urging me forward.

"Come on, Shoba, you're almost there."

Exhaustion weighed heavily upon me as I reached the seventh floor. My long, tireless sprint was taking its toll, but my focus remained fixed on reaching my apartment. I turned left, speeding past the closed doors of my neighbors. My heart continued to race as I approached our apartment door. I passed the familiar dark lime door of our neighbor, and then, finally, I was here.

My hand hovered on the doorknob, a moment of trepidation washing over me as I hesitated.

"Is it too quiet?" I wondered, bracing myself for what I might find inside.

My hand trembled as it pressed against the cold stainless steel of the door. From the slightest of touch, the door eerily creaked open. A wave of apprehension washed over me as I gently pushed it further open, stepping onto the familiar creaking redwood floor of my frigidly cold hallway. At first I heard nothing but a chilling silence. 

But then...

Wuwuwuwuwuw

"That sound..." A sickly sinking feeling stirred within my gut

Suddenly, my eyes widened in horror at the sight of a red glow emanating from the end of the corridor. With a sense of urgency, I ran full speed down my hallway and turned the corner.

"MOM!" The cry tore from my throat

My body stiffened instantly, overwhelmed by an immeasurable feeling of anguish. One of those strange portals had appeared right in my living room. The entire space, including the open kitchen area was in complete disarray. The floor was covered with broken debris, and bundles of linen and wool were scattered everywhere. But what truly gripped my heart was the sight of half of my mom's body submerged in a glaring crimson-red portal.

'M-mo-o-m?' I whimpered brokenly,

Her frail head gently lifted to meet my gaze. Her sallow skin was covered in sweat, and strands of her black hair stuck to her face. I saw her sunken eyes light up with spirit and relief the moment she saw me.

'Sho… my beautiful boy" she murmured, her voice a faint whisper of maternal love amidst the chaos. 

Her gaze, despite being fraught with fatigue, shimmered with an undying spirit, providing a small glimmer of comfort in my heart.

My heart ached, everything hurt. I could barely stand, practically stumbling forward as I slid against my knees beside her. Grasping her arms, I began to pull her away from the strange and damned portal.

But something was wrong. The force resisting me felt as though I was trying to pull a mountain with my bare hands.

 "Grr—why won't she budge... grr—come on—move—please move!"

"Shoba... it's ok... I... I'm ok," she said softly, a look of serenity glazing her brown eyes igniting my heart with worry. 

She had accepted her fate, but I refused to accept anything.

"No, you're not! What the hell is even that thing? The world has gone mad, Mom! I need to get you out of here—we have to run... grrrr... W-we have to leave Tokyo... grr-ergh." I continued fighting against the immovable force that somehow held my mom in place, with half of her body inside this hellish crackling portal. I could hear the sounds of static crackling fiercer.

"Sh-shoba... it's ok... my beautiful boy. I... I can't escape this—" I watched in despair as her face contorted into a gentle smile

"STOP IT! Yes, you can! Erggggg-grrrr... c-come on... fight it, Mom! Please..."

"Shoba, l-listen to me... protect her... you must protect your sister. Promise me, pr-promise me you'll look after her when I'm gone. I... I can feel something... SHOBA! You need to run—G-g-g-g-go Now!"

'Kukukuku... Found you... boy!!!'

Before I could utter another word, my body froze solid.

That distinct, chilling voice echoed eerily beside my face, its ghostly cackle sending a wave of ominous anxiety through me.

Without warning, I recoiled away from the portal as if flung aside by an invisible force.

"N-n-no," I stammered, my strength ebbing away.

Suddenly, I was hurled across the room, before forcefully slamming against the wall with a loud thud.

In a blink, the portal closed taking my Mom with it. The windows of our apartment shattered in unison, raining down shards like icy tears. At that moment, I felt a part of myself break too. I lay sprawled on the ground, weak and broken, my gaze empty and wide, a hollow shell consumed by despair. The weight of loss and the piercing sting of helplessness engulfed me.

In the depths of my despair, a faint yet distinct sound pierced through the haze of my grief. 

"Ri... Ringo?" The name fell from my lips in a whisper, a gasp escaped through my opened mouth as I rose gingerly to my shaking feet in haste.

Moving on pure instinct alone, I pushed myself forward, fighting back waves of nausea and disorientation. My heart ached with the loss of my mother and my body felt so numb, I knew if I stopped I would break down. My breaths barely sounded, barely a whisper, like a soft whimper from a wounded animal.

I stumbled towards the dark hallway, drawn by the muffled sounds growing clearer with each step. They were coming from Ringo's room. With a newfound urgency, I approached her familiar beige door. Pressing my palm against it, I left a bloody handprint, only then realizing the extent of my injuries. But the physical pain paled in comparison to the agony of loss and the burning anger at the unseen force that had taken my mother away.

Gently, I nudged Ringo's door open with my bloodied hand.

As I stepped inside, a blinding light engulfed the entire room forcing me to shield my eyes. My vision blurred, but I could hear muffled voices, an indication that something unusual was happening inside. Desperation clawed at my throat as I called out for my sister.

"Ringo! Ringo, can you hear me?" My voice was urgent, filled with concern

"Sh...shoba?" Her voice, soft and hesitant answered back, sending a surge of relief through my shaking bones.

"Ringo, where are you? What's happening?" I squinted against the overwhelming brightness, taking cautious steps forward. The intense light slowly began to fade, allowing my eyes to finally adjust. As the room came into focus, I lifted my head, but my breath caught in my throat at the sight that greeted me.

Before my uncertain gaze, another portal loomed large against the wall of Ringo's bedroom, its presence as startling as it was out of place. With Ringo simply stood there, oddly dressed in a combination of her pajama bottoms, boots, and a coat. The incongruity of her attire amidst the chaos added to my confusion. My eyes widened as I tried to piece together the situation, struggling to make sense of this surreal turn of events.

"Whe...where are you going?" I asked her with deep concern.