In the year 2042 on the current timeline, my name is Sean Elrod and I am 16 years old. I was born on Earth and my mother was taken away by a spirit as she was a chosen one. As for my father, I have never met him and my mother never spoke about him to us.
I also have a younger sister who is 12 years old.
Five years ago, something unexpected happened that traumatized us and formed our fear of demons.
Unfortunately, on that day, our mother also suddenly disappeared.
She disappeared without a single trace after her fight with the demon, leaving behind only her last word.
"Take care of Mae, Sean"
We were petrified and didn't dare move as our mother battled the demon on our behalf.
A minute had passed after their battle had ended when our grandfather on mother's side arrived at our house. But it was already too late. Since that day, my sister and I have been under our grandparents' care.
Going back to the current timeline, upon waking up, I realized that my eyes were dry and it felt like they were sweating.
Did I have that dream again? I'm not even sure what I was dreaming about. But I have a feeling that it's somehow connected to our mother because the last time I cried was when she suddenly disappeared.
Dreaming aside I heard grandmother yelling something; I left my nest wondering what that was.
"Sean! Wake Mae up! You guys are going to be late at school!"
I checked the time and realized that my grandmother was right. I rushed to Mae's room to wake her up, but to my surprise, her room was a mess.
There were clothes strewn all over the floor, and I couldn't tell what most of them were. Her underwear was also scattered around, and because of her sleeping disorder, I could see almost her entire body.
"Hey, Mae! Wake up, we're going to be late!"
I manage to wake her up seconds later but she looks really angry.
"H-Hey! Bro can you be gentle when waking up a girl"
I quickly apologized to my sister, knowing that this was not the time for a sibling war. However, just as I was trying to calm things down, our grandmother started yelling again, announcing that breakfast was ready.
We always obeyed my grandmother's orders without any hesitation. The thought of disobeying her filled us with fear and anxiety.
I knew that something terrible would happen if we failed to follow her wishes, and we didn't want to take any chances. So, we quickly did what she asked us to do, hoping that everything would be alright.
After we finished eating, Mae and I got ready to go to school. We hugged our grandmother and said our goodbyes before heading out the door.
~
~
As we step into the schoolyard, our eyes search for familiar faces. Amidst the sea of students, we spot our childhood friend waiting for us. With a quick stride, he approaches us and greets us with a warm smile.
"Hey! Sean! Mae! Over here!"
That friend stood outside the gates of the school, waving frantically like an idiot. Despite the throngs of people gathered before him, he seemed completely oblivious to the spectacle he was creating.
"Good morning Rainer"
"Morning"
As Rainer gazed into my eyes, he could sense the icy demeanor that surrounded me.
He knew that he had to do something to break the chill in the air. With a quick wit and a charming smile, he found a way to lighten the mood and bring a glimmer of warmth to my demeanor.
"Morning you two, did the news about this school reach your house?"
"News? What is it? A ghost again?"
"Nope, never heard of it"
With a deep breath, Rainer began to speak, his voice steady and clear.
As he spoke, Mae and I listened in rapt attention, the weight of his words sinking in. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.
"There have been reports of a few students who have been missing since last week. What's strange is that they all disappeared in the middle of the night. Recently, a witness came forward and reported that they saw the culprit. The person was dressed in heavy clothing and had a mask on. However, what the witness said next shocked the investigators. The witness claimed that the person had no shadow."
As Rainer's words echoed through our ears, a sudden chill ran down my spine. His statement that the human had no shadow left Mae and I stunned, for we both knew what that meant.
The culprit was most likely a "Demon".
As I was lost in the maze of my thoughts, a sudden memory from five years ago appeared in my mind. It was a strange one, yet it felt familiar.
In that fleeting memory, I remember seeing the demon that had been destroying our yard without a shadow. It was a powerful and ominous creature, and its shadowless presence only confirmed its sinister nature.
My mind raced as I concluded that this was no ordinary demon, but one of immense power and evil.
But what are demons doing in our world? For what reasons? And why the students?
As the lunch break approached, I couldn't wait to talk to Mae about the rumors that were circulating in our school.
With a quick glance at my watch, I knew it was time to head to the rooftop where we usually meet.
The rooftop was our little sanctuary, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded cafeteria. As I made my way up the stairs, I could feel the anticipation building inside me.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I saw Mae waiting for me. Her eyes were fixed on the school courtyard, lost in thought. Without saying a word, I sat down beside her and waited for her to speak.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she turned to me and whispered,
"Brother, do you think it's them?"
As she spoke, my heart raced with excitement and fear. Could it be true? Was our school really in danger?
"Most likely yes, but if this is their doing for what purpose are they doing this for? Is it to replenish their strength? But grandfather said demons rely on their pure strength instead of aura."
As our conversation unfolded, Mae's fear was palpable. She stood frozen, unable to take even a single step. Without hesitation, I moved closer to her, wrapping her in a comforting embrace.
At that moment, I could feel her tense body relax against mine. It was as if my arms were a shield, protecting her from the world.
"Don't worry, whatever demons are up for they will never achieve it I will not let it happen, not on my watch!"
We discussed the rumors for what felt like hours, trying to make sense of everything. The more we talked, the more confused we became.
Finally, as the bell rang signaling the end of the lunch break, we parted ways, both lost in our thoughts. I couldn't wait to get home and research everything we had heard. Something big was happening in our school, and I was determined to find out what it was.
~
~
As the final bell of the day rang, signaling the end of another school day, I gathered my things and prepared to head home.
But just as I was about to leave the classroom, my friend Rainer called me.
"Something's come up," he said,
His voice hurried. "I have to go."
Without another word, he hurried out of the room.
I was left standing there, slightly bewildered and wondering what could have happened. But I didn't have time to dwell on it for too long, as I had promised to wait for my little sister outside the school gate.
She was always the last to leave, and I didn't want her to have to walk home alone.
So I stood behind our school gate, watching as my classmates filed out of the building one by one. I checked my phone, hoping for a message from Rainer explaining what had happened, but there was nothing.
As the minutes ticked by, I started to worry that something serious had happened.
Finally, I saw my sister emerge from the school gate, her backpack slung over one shoulder.
"Hey," she said, grinning up at me.
"Ready to go home?"
I smiled back at her, relieved that she was safe.
"Yeah," I said, and together we made our way home.
As Mae and I trudged along, our feet sore from the long walk home, we suddenly heard a loud growling noise. Looking at each other, we realized it was Mae's stomach - she was famished.
Just when we thought we couldn't go on any longer, we spotted a convenience store. It was like a beacon of hope, promising to satiate her hunger pangs.
"Bro, wait for me here I will buy some snacks over there"
"Buy me some too"
As Mae reached for her purse to pay the bill, she caught a glimpse of a figure lurking in the corner, dressed in thick clothes and wearing a mask.
Her heart racing, she tried to keep her cool and pretended not to notice him. With trembling hands, she hastily left the store, hoping to put some distance between herself and the mysterious stranger.
Mae's heart was pounding as she made her way towards the exit. She had a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Suddenly, the stranger appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her arms, covering her mouth with an unusual object. Mae struggled to break free, but the man was too strong. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she managed to let out a muffled cry for help.
As I impatiently waited for Mae to emerge from the store, something peculiar caught my eye.
A necklace lay abandoned on the ground, glimmering in the sunlight.