A necklace lay abandoned on the ground, glimmering in the sunlight.
It was as if time had stood still as I gazed upon it, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity wash over me. Despite my eagerness to enter the store, I found myself drawn to the necklace, compelled to examine it more closely.
As soon as I picked up the delicate necklace, I knew it belonged to Mae. But where was she? I searched high and low, examining every nook and cranny of the store, but she was nowhere to be found.
The necklace seemed to hold a certain significance as if it were a precious keepsake.
As I stepped into the store, I scanned the area for someone who could help me. My gaze fell upon a young man who seemed to be on duty at the time.
I approached him, and with a polite smile, I asked for directions to Mae's location. He pointed me in the possible direction where he had last seen her, and I set off on my way, eager to see Mae once again.
~
~
As Mae lay there in the dark, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened to her body. She tried to move, but a deep weight held her arms and legs in place.
It was as if an invisible force was holding her down, preventing her from discovering what was wrong. She struggled against it, but it only seemed to tighten its grip. Mae was left with a deep sense of foreboding, wondering what could be causing this strange sensation.
As she slowly opened her eyes, she saw a strange human figure standing before her, busily preparing something with a fervent energy that seemed almost otherworldly.
Her heart skipped a beat as she tried to make sense of her surroundings, which were unfamiliar and disorienting. She had no idea how she had gotten here or what was happening, but the stranger's movements were so intentional and focused that it was clear he had a purpose.
As soon as Mae opened her eyes, the man sprang into action, rushing towards her with a sinister glint in his eyes. Mae froze, her heart racing as the man's gaze bore into her.
It was then that she noticed the object clamped tightly over her mouth, robbing her of her voice. The man slowly removed the object, his eyes never leaving Mae's face.
The silence was deafening as Mae struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. She knew that she had to act fast if she wanted to survive.
"W-who are you? What are you going to do with me?"
"Don't raise your voice highly, we will have some fun right now"
"W-what fun? S-somebody! H-Help!"
The man began to examine her body, leaving Mae feeling violated and helpless. She desperately tried to break free, but her efforts were fruitless. It was a moment that seemed to last a lifetime and one that Mae would never forget.
~
~
As I anxiously scoured the other side of the street, my heart raced with worry. I desperately searched for any sign of Mae, the only family I had left in this world.
My mother had entrusted her care to me, but at this moment, I felt utterly helpless. How could I fulfill my duty when I couldn't even locate her? The weight of my responsibility bore down upon me, threatening to suffocate me.
I knew I had to find her, and fast.
Just when I almost gave up, I suddenly heard a piercing scream that echoed through the street. My mind immediately went to Mae, my dear sister who had gone missing just hours ago.
Without a second thought, I bolted toward the direction of the scream, my heart pounding with fear and anticipation. Was it her? Was she in danger? As I pushed through the overgrowth, I couldn't help but wonder what horrors awaited me.
But I had to keep going, I had to find her.
When I arrived at the location, I discovered that it was abandoned and the gate was locked. I searched around and found a metal stick. I used it to force open the gate and successfully managed to destroy it.
I rushed inside, heart pounding with fear, only to find Mae struggling against the grip of a strange man.
As I watched the scene unfold before me, a fragment of memory suddenly appeared in my mind, transporting me back to the past.
In that memory, my mother was preparing to launch a fierce attack against the demon that had destroyed our yard.
I could see the determination etched on her face as she readied herself for battle. And then, unexpectedly, she turned to me and spoke, her voice filled with a sense of urgency that I had never heard before.
"Take care of Mae, Sean"
The memory was vivid and suddenly felt so real, as if I was right there, standing in the middle of our yard, watching my mother fight off the demon.
It was as if the past and present had collided, and I was left feeling confused and overwhelmed.
As my Mother's words woke me from reality, I knew I had to act quickly. The menacing figure had his hands on her, and I saw the fear in her eyes.
Without a second thought, I lunged at him with all my might, my fists connecting with his face. I didn't hesitate to knock the guy out, even if it meant killing him, just to save my sister.
At that moment, I knew that I would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
"What are you doing, if you touch my sister again I will kill you"
As I looked over at Mae, I couldn't help but notice that her clothes were torn and barely covering her body. Without hesitation, I removed my sleeves and used them to cover her exposed skin.
Suddenly, the man who had attacked us began to stir. I knew I couldn't let him get up and frighten Mae again. So, I bravely used myself as a decoy to distract him and hold him back.
It was a risky move, but I knew I had to protect Mae at all costs.
"MAE RUN NOW!"
"B-but what about you"
"HURRY I CAN'T HOLD THIS GUY ANY LONGER"
"But,"
"Don't worry, I'm not going to die easily"
Mae hesitated, her eyes flickering uncertainly as she regarded me. For a moment, I worried that she wouldn't comply, that she'd refuse to follow my lead.
But then, with a heavy sigh, she relented and fell into step behind me, her footsteps echoing softly on the pavement as she left the scene behind her.
Meanwhile, just when I thought I had him cornered, he broke free and launched a sudden, devastating counterattack.
The force of his blow was enough to send me hurtling through the air, my body tumbling and twisting as I struggled to regain my footing.
As I stumbled to my feet, gasping for breath, I knew that this fight was far from over.
"She, she escapes. This is your fault for interrupting our fun!"
As I held on until the end, the stranger's mask and clothes shattered, revealing his face. But what I saw was beyond anything I had ever imagined.
This guy looked nothing like a human. His skin was too smooth, his eyes were red and piercing, and more importantly, he had no shadow.
It was as if he was not bound by the natural laws of our world.
"So you're the guy that's been messing with our school huh? You demon."
"You know us? I can't even sense a divine aura from you."
"Naturally, I can't even forget what you guys demon did to my mother"
"I see, so your mother is a chosen one."
The fear was overwhelming, but I tried my best to stay calm. My grandfather's words echoed in my mind - we must never show our weakness in front of a demon.
He had warned me that one of the demon's abilities was to absorb negative emotions, causing the target to pass out.
I knew that I had to be strong, for my own sake and for those around me.
The air was thick with tension as I faced the demon, but I stood my ground, determined not to let it get the best of me.
"What are you guys doing here on Earth?"
"To find some offering to revive the demon god."
"Huh? And sacrificing a mortal is your way to do it?"
"Yes, what's wrong with that?"
As we were engrossed in conversation, Mae suddenly arrived at the scene with the professional officer in tow. I couldn't believe my eyes as they stormed towards us, their faces grim with determination.
"Enough of your question, looks like this girl came back you guys make a good couple HAHAHAHAHA"
"She's my sister."
"Eh, really? Then let me have some fun with her before I kill her."
"Don't even think of touching my sister or else you will regret it."
As I glanced at my cold gaze, the demon ignored my warning and launched a vicious attack, aimed directly at the place where my sister was standing.
I had tried to warn her, but it was too late. The air crackled with dark energy as the demon's magic raced toward its target, and my heart felt like it was about to burst with fear and desperation.
I could only hope that my sister was quick enough to escape the demon's wrath.
As I stood there, watching the demon's wrath, a sense of deja vu washed over me.
It was the same feeling I had experienced years ago when our mother disappeared without a trace. The same feeling of helplessness and confusion that had haunted me for weeks.
It was as if history was repeating itself, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
"Take care of Mae, Sea-"
My mother had entrusted her care to me, but I felt helpless in the face of the danger that surrounded us. After all, I had no power to protect her - especially not with my leg broken from the demon attack that had taken place earlier.
Losing one of my family again was not something I could bear to contemplate.
The mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine, and I knew that I had to find a way to keep my family safe - no matter what.
I knew what I needed to do. I need to save Mae, no matter the cost.
The memories of my past failures haunted me, but I couldn't let them stop me from doing what was right. I had to be brave, even if it meant putting myself in danger.
With a deep breath, I gathered my courage and set out to save Mae. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to do whatever it took. I couldn't let the past repeat itself, not when he had the power to make a difference.
"AGHHHH MOVE YOU DAMN FEET!!"
As I made my way through the dark streets, my heart raced with anticipation. I knew that danger lurked around, but I refused to let fear take hold.
I would save Mae, even if it meant sacrificing myself.
As I pushed myself beyond my limits, I could feel the numbness spreading through my leg. Despite the pain, I knew I had to protect Mae. It was the only thing that mattered. But as I struggled to keep going, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the price of my demon power.
Had I been foolish to think I could make it out of this alive?
With each passing moment, it became clear that my time was running out. I could feel the end drawing near, like a dark shadow creeping closer and closer.
Was this the end of my journey? Had I come this far only to meet my demise?
As my vision began to fade, I knew that I had given everything I had. I had fought until the very end, and for that, I had no regrets. And as I closed my eyes for the last time, I knew that my sacrifice had not been in vain.
"Brother!"
Mae's voice looks like she's alright.
~
~
As I opened my eyes, I was enveloped in an ethereal glow. I squinted, trying to make sense of the brightness.