Kou stepped out onto the edge of the farm, grinning as he saw the rows of lush crops stretching before him. Everything was green and bursting with life, the neat rows standing in sharp contrast to the struggling patches of earth back home. He felt Vi stop just behind him, their presence steady, and for a moment Kou just breathed in the sweet, damp smell of tilled soil.

“We made it,” he said softly, feeling a warmth that went deeper than the midday sun. His fingers tightened around Vi’s briefly before he pulled the demon forward. “It’ll be a bit easier from here, Fyre keeps his land neat. Still a bit of a walk up to the house.”

Vi said nothing, but nodded slightly, their attention fixed forward, as if they could somehow sense the openness stretching out around them. 

“It is… open.”

“Yeah, like I said, farming requires space,” Kou chuckled, carefully stepping toward a route between the carrots. Fyre often complained about the limited crops that could be grown so close to the mountains, but they were also always willing to give Kou seeds to try. Hiking up through the forest reminded Kou why he only made this trip once a year, but having Vi to help him made it somewhat bearable. The demon was more than willing to pick up Kou, and often had done so without Kou even asking. Kou never complained though, using each as an opportunity to hold on to the feel of Vi’s body near his. 

Even now instead of enjoying the view of the mountains looming close by, Kou was more distracted by the long fingers laced between his. Vi walked with the same steady, measured steps as always, unbothered by the rocky soil and loose stones underfoot. Kou couldn’t resist glancing over, watching how Vi moved with a careful grace.

As they walked however, Kou couldn’t help but notice how… quiet it was. Considering how late it was in the season, Frye would normally be outside with their children, gathering whatever was ready to harvest and not wasting any good crop. They knew that their crops were important for all the nearby communities and unlike Kou, took the Rules very seriously. And yet, everything was silent at the farm, save for the breeze blowing through the crops. 

No children laughing and playing. 

No Adele fussing over the more rambunctious twins. 

No sign of Frye with their eldest.

“Are you alright?” Vi’s voice made Kou jump, and he shook his head, trying to push back his concern. Maybe they were just all in town; it's not like they knew what day he would come and it was likely the family had simply gone to trade. “You are slowing down.”

“I’m fine, just not used to it being quiet.”

“Should it not be?”

“I guess I just usually get lucky that I visit when they are home. Not used to walking through their land without being swarmed by their kids,” Kou explained, doing his best to sound light as he led Vi around a patch of beets. Kou was starting to be able to see the rye and barley that Frye grew on the side away from the forest, and his his throat tightened the closer they got to the farmhouse. The house itself stood tall against the fields, a simple, worn structure of wood and stone, with the familiar wide porch that Adele loved to sit on during warm evenings. But now, the door hung slightly open, creaking faintly in the breeze.

“Who is here? You better get off my land!” A female voice rang out and Kou sighed with relief, finally releasing Vi’s hand as he cupped his mouth. 

“It’s just me, Adele!” Kou shouted back. “Where’s Fyre and Bero?”

“Oh they are away in town!” Adele yelled back and  Kou watched as he saw movement in the house, easing his tension more. If Fyre and Bero were out, then it made sense why Adele had the rest of the children inside to manage her own sanity. “Who's that with ya?”

“Oh, it’s uh… friend! They’re helping me out.”

“Good, Good!”

Kou could finally see the full house and from here, he could see that the window facing the forest was open. The cloth was blowing in the wind, but Kou frowned as he noticed one of the panes was broken. Maybe one of the kids had broken a window; it wouldn’t be the first time. 

“Well, don’t be shy, Frye will be back soon!” Adele’s voice faded into a welcoming laugh, the warm sound carrying across the fields like sunlight breaking through clouds. Kou smiled instinctively, but the edge of unease inside him didn’t quite vanish.

“Come on, Vi,” he said, turning to retake Vi’s hand, but what he saw made him pause. Vi’s expression had changed, and they had their hand on the hilt of their sword, ready to draw it at any moment. That made no sense; demons couldn’t harm humans, and Kou couldn’t hear or see anything out of the ordinary. “Vi?”

“Don’t answer.”

“What are you–”

“Are you coming? I have some new cloth I think you’ll like Kou,” Adele’s voice rang out again, and Vi’s grip tightened on the hilt of their sword. Kou couldn’t tell why Vi was acting differently and he felt his panic start to return. “Come here, Kou.”

It was then Kou felt his body freeze, and he turned away from the demon, facing the house as his feet started to move. Kou felt his heart start to pound in his chest when he realized he couldn’t stop, and as he got closer to the farmhouse, the scent of rot reached his nose. 

“Good, Kou. Don’t be shy. Your glass is always so pretty,” Adele’s voice still sounded normal, just as human as it always did and Kou closed his eyes, his panic causing him to hyperventilate. This couldn’t be happening, it couldn’t, it couldn’t, it couldn’t– “Glad I wrote your name down, would have forgotten otherwise. I’m so happy you came by Kou.”

“Kou! Kou Stop!”

Kou finally stood even with the farmhouse and he could see the full picture that distance had hidden. The blood strewn all over the ground, the shattered panes of glass glittering like broken stars, the grotesque shape in the doorway. A trail of blood that led away from the house and into the forest, only to double back and head inside again.

“I was so heartbroken when Frye left with the twins, left me all alone. We could have gone together, should have stayed together…” Adele continued, and Kou watched as a hand… no, a claw appeared in the opened doorway. “Left me behind, only Bero to keep me company. Only Bero to keep me from starving. I’m so glad you came, Kou.”

“Kou, duck!” Kou felt his body relax and he quickly dropped to the ground, cradling his head as he heard Vi fly over him, colliding with whatever had been about to step out of the doorway. Screams, shrieks and the sound of splintering wood tore through the air. Kou stayed frozen, arms wrapped around his head as the battle raged just feet from him, the thud of heavy impacts vibrating through the soil. He could hear Vi’s sword slicing the air, the harsh grunt of effort, the wet sound of a body being struck  and under it all, Adele’s voice, still the same comforting tone he had come to know.

“Come here, Kou. I have new–”

“Cover your ears!” Vi’s voice made Kou quickly obey, the tears burning in his eyes as he finally stood and ran back toward the forest. He didn’t get far, tripping over the plants and crashing to the ground, feeling the glass in the bag shatter as he fell. Kou didn’t move, just shaking as he tried to cover his ears, tried to ignore what was happening nearby. He lay there for what felt like hours, heart hammering against the earth, the sharp scent of crushed carrot greens filling his nose. The bag dug into his side, the broken glass inside biting through the fabric and into his skin, but Kou hardly noticed. All he could do was breathe, shallow and ragged, as the world shattered around him.

Eventually, a hand touched his side and Kou screamed, jumping to his feet as he moved away. It took him a moment to notice it was Vi, who slowly stood up from where they had knelt to touch him. The demon was covered in a dark substance, but from what Kou could tell, there wasn’t a scratch on Vi this time. 

“Are you hurt, Kou? I can smell blood.” Vi’s voice made Kou look down and he noticed for the first time, he had managed to tear his pants when he fell and scraped his leg. It wasn’t bad and it was only once he saw it that he felt the sharp throb of pain. 

“I… I’m fine,” Kou shook his head, glancing around the farm. From what Adele… the monster had said, Frye left with the twins before she changed, and Kou’s heart twisted as he remembered the monsters Vi had been summoned to kill. Monster Nrome had said no one seemed to know were there. “I… still need–”

“You need to get away from here.” Vi insisted, and Kou shook his head as the demon stepped closer. “You’re breathing is rapid, and you–”

“I still need supplies!” Kou screamed, his panic making him shake as he stared up into the demon’s empty sockets. “I still need to leave! I can’t… I can’t just…”

Kou fell back to his knees, sobbing as he threw the bag of useless glass away. He pressed his forehead to the dirt, shaking so violently his teeth rattled in his skull, the pain in his shin growing as he ignored it. He heard as Vi moved closer again, once again kneeling in front of him as the demon waited.

“I can’t stay. I can’t. I need the supplies so I can leave.” Kou managed through sobs, his shoulders heaving under the weight of everything crashing down on him. His voice cracked, small and thin compared to the terror clawing at the inside of his ribs. “I can’t stay. I can’t stay.”

Vi remained silent, but Kou felt as the hand touched him again, gently resting on the back of his head. They didn’t offer hollow reassurances or try to lift him, didn’t even tell him he was “strange”. They simply sat, close enough that Kou could feel the heat of their body, grounding him without force, without expectation.