As the plane touched down in Florida, Carmen Fujioka, standing at an imposing 6'3", scanned the bustling crowd at the airport.
Carmen, the fraternal older twin of Eula Fujioka, was a towering figure with a muscular build, his brunette hair inherited from their father. As he waited for his sister, his eyes darted through the sea of passengers disembarking.
From the throng emerged Eula, her figure distinct in a crisp blouse and wide-leg pants that swayed with each step.
"Eula!" Carmen called out, waving as he made his way towards her. He moved in for a hug, but Eula's hands shot up, halting him in his tracks.
"You're just the same as ever," Carmen chuckled, masking his disappointment.
"I just don't like hugs," Eula replied curtly, shoving her luggage into his hands.
Carmen took the bags with a resigned smile. "Mom and Dad say hi. Dad's got a meeting, and Mom's at her friend's birthday, so they couldn't come."
Eula paused, her expression unreadable. "I didn't ask," she replied coldly.
Carmen sighed, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, Eula. Don't tell me you're still mad at them."
Eula turned to face him, her gaze sharp. "Shouldn't I be?" Without waiting for a response, she strode toward the exit, leaving Carmen to follow.
They arrived at Eula's new rental house, and as Carmen unloaded her luggage, he couldn't help but ask, "Why are you renting? Why not come home?"
Eula unlocked the door and stepped inside. "It's more convenient," she said, pointing to a building across the street. "My workplace is right there."
Carmen lugged the bags inside. "Still, it's been what, ten years?"
"Fifteen," Eula corrected, setting her phone down.
Carmen shook his head as he locked the door behind him. "Your room's the same. They've kept it just as you left it."
"They're probably too lazy to clean it out," Eula replied, her attention drifting back to her phone.
Carmen sat down across from her. "That's not true. They missed you, you know."
Eula's gaze hardened. "I don't care. Anyway, you can go now. Your job's done."
Carmen frowned. "I can't just leave; we just got here."
But Eula was already pushing him towards the door. "Leave. I need to unpack and get ready for work tomorrow."
"But I—" Carmen's protest was cut short as the door shut in his face. He sighed, shaking his head, before heading back to his car.
Inside, Eula began unpacking, her movements methodical and precise. The two-bedroom house was more spacious than she'd expected, a pleasant surprise given the photos she had seen. As she stretched her back, she glanced at the clock—4:45 PM. Deciding to familiarize herself with the area, she stepped outside for a walk.
The neighborhood was lively, with a nearby shopping plaza and the enticing scent of food wafting from various restaurants.
People strolled about, some exercising, others simply enjoying the evening. Eula felt a twinge of satisfaction; she had chosen well. Despite her parents' pleas to return home, she had rented this place to avoid them. Her return to Florida was due only to her grandfather's relentless pressure, not any desire to mend her fractured family.
Lost in thought, Eula suddenly collided with someone exiting a bakery. As the stranger stumbled, Eula instinctively caught him. "Are you okay?" she asked.
The stranger, surprised but unharmed, nodded. "I am, thank you."
As they both straightened, Eula offered a quick apology. "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you."
"No, it's my fault. I should've watched where I was going," the stranger replied with a smile, extending his hand. "I'm Nathan Calliwell."
Eula glanced at his outstretched hand but didn't take it. "Eula Fujioka," she said, before turning and heading back to her apartment. Nathan watched her retreating figure, slowly lowering his hand.
When Eula reached her door, she hesitated, a strange sensation prickling at the edge of her awareness. Something felt off, different from when she first arrived. Cautiously, she entered, her eyes sweeping the room. Everything appeared normal, yet the feeling of being watched lingered.
She moved quietly toward the kitchen, which was partially obscured by a wall separating it from the living room. As she turned to head towards her bedroom, a shadow shifted in the hallway. Eula's heart skipped a beat. She dropped low, hiding behind the kitchen counter, holding her breath as the shadow drew closer.
Peering out, she saw it—a creature with an unnaturally long, serpentine neck that twisted and coiled like a snake. Its skin was pale and mottled, almost translucent, with pulsing veins beneath the surface. The elongated neck stretched on, allowing the creature to peer around corners, its bulging eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. The creature's mouth was a grotesque maw filled with jagged teeth, too large for its malformed head, and from it, a sickly green mist seeped out, carrying the foul stench of decay.
Its hunched, muscular body moved with disturbing agility, long clawed arms dragging on the floor, each finger ending in a curved talon. The creature was covered in patches of coarse hair and scales, giving it a hideous, patchwork appearance.
Eula ducked back behind the counter, her mind racing. What in the world was this thing? She needed her katana, which lay on the table near the couch. Slowly, she began to crawl towards it, praying the creature wouldn't notice her.
As she reached for the katana, the creature's head snapped in her direction, alerted by the faint sound of her movement. In one swift motion, Eula grabbed the weapon and ducked behind the counter again. The creature lunged at her, and with a sharp movement, Eula unwrapped the katana, biting her finger and smearing her blood across the blade.
The sword gleamed with a bright light as Eula stood, just as the creature crashed into her hiding spot. She dodged its attack, slicing across its shoulder as she passed. The creature shrieked, its roar echoing through the room as it lunged at her again. Eula slid beneath its next attack, her katana slicing into its underbelly. But the creature only grew more enraged, its eyes flashing a fiery red as it swung its massive arms at her.
Eula was slammed into the wall, her body crumpling under the impact. The creature, its breath releasing smoky tendrils into the air, advanced on her.
Just then, a dagger-like weapon pierced its eye. The creature howled in agony, but the figure wielding the weapon pressed the attack, forcing the blade deeper. Light began to pour from the creature's body as it screamed, then disintegrated into ash.
From the shadows stepped a man, dressed in dark clothing, his face unreadable.
Eula, struggling to catch her breath, managed to ask, "Who are you? And what was that thing?"
The door creaked open behind them, revealing a girl sitting in a wheelchair.
As Eula sat in the aftermath of the chaos, the sound of wheels against the wooden floor reached her ears. She turned to see Rayen, calmly rolling her wheelchair into the room, a soft, almost knowing smile playing on her lips.
Rayen calmly introduced herself.
"Rayen..." Eula murmured, still reeling from the recent events.
Rayen's smile widened, a strange mix of reassurance and something more elusive in her expression. Eula's gaze shifted back to the scene of destruction—the shattered furniture, the splintered walls. But as she watched in disbelief, everything began to mend itself, as if time were reversing before her eyes. The broken pieces lifted, reassembled, and returned to their original state, leaving no trace of the violent encounter.
"What is this?" Eula stammered, her voice rising as she whipped back to face Rayen. "What are you?"
Leonce, ever the calm presence, set down two cups of water on the table—one for Rayen and one for Eula. As Eula reached for her drink, Rayen's smile remained unchanged.
"You must have a lot of questions," Rayen said, her tone gentle but layered with hidden depths.
Eula's voice trembled slightly as she asked, "What was that thing? The creature that attacked me?"
Rayen's expression darkened slightly, but the smile never left her face. "That was a Vorathrakus, an ancient demon."
"Vorathrakus?" Eula repeated, the name sounding foreign and terrifying on her tongue. "Why is it here? Why did it attack me?"
Rayen leaned forward slightly, her gaze piercing. "The Vorathrakus was created by Zygnaroth, a being of immense power. It escaped from the depths of Nyalkabia, a place forbidden even in the underworld. It came for you, Eula."
Eula's brow furrowed in confusion. "Me? Why?"
"Because of your unique ability," Rayen explained, her eyes briefly flicking towards a shadowed corner where Maki was half-hidden, trembling. "An ability that many would covet. I think you know what I'm referring to."
Eula followed Rayen's gaze and spotted Maki. The young woman's heart sank as realization dawned. "Why does it want my ability?"
"Because it's precious to them," Rayen replied, her tone disturbingly casual. "It can increase their power in ways you can't even begin to imagine."
A heavy silence settled over the room. Eula stared down at the table, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty. Finally, she looked back at Rayen. "Thank you for your help, but now that it's gone, you should leave too."
Rayen's smile faltered slightly. "You don't believe me?"
Eula stood, her posture tense. "It's not that I don't believe you. I just don't want to be involved in whatever this is. You showing up right when that creature attacked me... you knew this would happen, didn't you? You've done your research on me. But I'm just an ordinary human, and all I want is peace."
Rayen's eyes hardened, though her voice remained calm. "You can't escape your destiny, Eula. Vorathrakus is not the only one that has escaped. There are more."
Eula turned back to Rayen, her expression a mix of determination and defiance.
Leonce gently pushed Rayen's wheelchair towards the door, but not before Rayen added, "My business card is on the table. Call me when you change your mind. Only you can help me stop this from spiraling out of control. Those creatures will keep appearing."
As the door closed behind them, Eula sank back into her chair with a heavy sigh, her eyes drifting to the business card Rayen had left behind.
Maki cautiously approached, his voice small and filled with regret. "Eula?"
Eula glanced at him, her expression softening. "What she said... is it true?"
Maki's shoulders slumped as he looked down. "I'm only 344 years old, but... I've heard that name before."
"Vorathrakus?" Eula asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Maki nodded, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you earlier. I tried, but... that thing was too strong. I was scared. I'm so sorry."
Eula reached out, gently stroking Maki's hair with a sad smile. "You did good." Her eyes fell to the card in her hand, the weight of Rayen's words pressing down on her like a heavy burden.