The teacher gets ready to speak, the class is willing to digest every word that comes out, the truth about why they are locked up like animals kept in cages of confined walls, and why is the outside so dangerous.
"Shadows, that's the reason for all our problems"
'Those creatures we heard about all the time, that was kinda obvious, we all were told about this at a young age by the director, so why is everyone in shock and fear of this word?'
Yuto knowing all of this information beforehand didn't make this a big deal as the rest of the class, It's almost like it was another school day which won't be remembered anyway.
'The director is something else for telling us this type of information so early in our lives, surprised none of us tried to run away from the orphanage after that, the only person I remember willing to run was Kenzo'
Yuto smiled at this distant memory which flooded into his mind, completely ignoring what the teacher was talking about. He's in a world of memories until slowly... Everything turns black.
Around 6 hours later...
"uh, what time is it?"
Falling asleep in class caused him to skip a whole important lesson about shadows and why they were kept in here, this doesn't concern Yuto at all as he knows his journey will lead towards a new realm.
'I better get home before curfew'
Yuto runs out of the school into the streets while trying to avoid the military patrols and sneaks back into the orphanage where he knows they couldn't find him, He tries going through the usual alleyway where only the most elite of street rats would know about, this time he isn't there alone.
"Yuto took you long enough, thought I would have to enter there and wake you up myself"
The young boy stood there while his black hair rattled around in the air, his eyes as endless as a void with just specks of colour, the skinny and starved body barely fitting into the clothes he was wearing, they both had the same clothes, to begin with, brownish dark ragged and torn clothes were the only thing the director had to offer him at the orphanage since they have better ways to be managing resources, the pale white skin and white smile both hid one another as if there was no mouth, to begin with.
"Kenzo you shouldn't be here anyway, go home already I don't need your help"
Kenzo smirked knowing this was what the usual response would be when he tried offering a helping hand to someone like Yuto, instant rejection doesn't affect him anyway, he experienced it from the toughest already, Yuto was just a soft version of the past, He knew Yuto would agree after some time anyway as it has happened various other times in the same situations like these.
"Ya ya I heard this what, 1, 2 or 3 times, I don't care to be honest with you, It's not like you know where you are going anyway, just following my footsteps or what you have seen others attempt by following me, I'm the one who knows the streets more than the last twenty of your generations have"
Yuto knew this was true but giving up now would be a direct hit to his ego and that is what Yuto seems to value a lot in his personal life, despite this he had to decide between what he was going to do
'Find my way home or go with Kenzo who knows the way home, The answer would be to go with him but there is just something that makes me want to reject him, I don't think it's personal but I never really liked the guy to begin with, he follows me and thinks were buddies so I won't indulge his fantasy anymore'
"I choose to go alone, Do not try to stop me or attempt to snitch on me, I won't be afraid to use fists if you want to"
Kenzo, shocked at the defiance of Yuto this time for going by himself was beyond his thoughts, He knew that maybe this was the time Yuto would just give in but got the opposite response.
"So be it, I won't snitch on you for today but you will owe me one,"
*tsk*
Yuto's mouth escaped a sound, He wasn't in the business of owning favours but he knew his hands were tied, either go with Kenzo or owe him a favour, He couldn't back down at this point as this cowardness would definitely be spread by Kenzo despite the nice act he brings up.
They both walk off in their directions, Making their way towards whatever it may be out of the hidden street next to the school, Yuto continues his journey towards the intersection which might hold a military patrol as it's the main path to basically every destination.
"ARGH"
'Screams towards the intersection at this time!? but that's impossible, it's curfew right now which means there shouldn't be anyone out right now
Crawling through an old narrow alleyway, Yuto despite the fear of what is there and what might happen if he gets caught decided to risk everything to find out, his curiosity overwhelmed his logical side and he didn't bother trying to resort back to being logical.
"make it stop!"
Yuto got to the end of the alleyway which had a view towards the three-way intersection, at the middle of the intersection stood a lady who looked distressed and fearful of something, he wanted to help the lady but his instincts were urging him to stay back, One wrong move and there won't be a second one. He takes a good look at the lady who spins in distress.
'Why is she... Why is she... her hand is dark, beyond recognition, what the fuk happened to her, does she see me? Does she hear me?'
At that moment, the thoughts of death entered his mind,
'Should I run? Do I stay? I need to live, This can't be the end, she knows I'm here, there is no doubt about it, Those eyes, dark eyes with a red iris, THAT ISN'T HUMAN'