Chereads / Eyes of destiny / Chapter 27 - Dream Part 2

Chapter 27 - Dream Part 2

"Got you!" he shouted, running to the pipe and grabbing the fabric.

"Damn it, again?! I thought this time I found the perfect hiding spot. I'm telling you, the one behind those pipes was flawless!" Yuki groaned, trying to pull his sweatshirt out of his friend's grip.

Edo laughed, watching the annoyed expression on Yuki's face. "Don't be stupid, Yuki! What good is a perfect hiding spot if half your hoodie was sticking out? Did you really think I wouldn't notice? Idiot!" he said with amusement, giving Yuki a smug glance.

Yuki furrowed his brow and crossed his arms, offended. "Damn you! Just wait—next time I'll find an even better hiding spot, and you won't have a chance of finding me!" he retorted fiercely.

Edo shook his head and snorted. "Yeah, yeah... You say that every time you lose. Ever since we started playing in this abandoned factory, it's been the same story. But I'll give you credit—your hiding spot this time was actually pretty good. I admit, it took me a while to find you."

Edo extended his hand toward his friend. "Now, come on. We should head home. Your parents are probably worried."

Yuki glanced at the outstretched hand and reluctantly took it. "What about your mom? Isn't she worried about you?" he asked curiously.

Edo shrugged and gazed off into the distance, as if lost in thought. "No, probably not. My mom's not the overprotective type. I think I'd have to vanish without a trace for her to actually start worrying. Haha!"

Yuki sighed softly, looking at his friend. For a moment, he said nothing, as if contemplating Edo's words. "Fine, let's go," he finally said, and started toward the exit of the room.

"Hey, Edo, can I ask you something?" Yuki began, glancing at his friend.

"Sure, Yuki. What is it?" Edo responded, raising an eyebrow and looking at him with curiosity.

Yuki stared into the distance for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Finally, he sighed and shook his head. "Never mind..." he muttered quietly, almost emotionlessly.

Edo frowned, looking at him with mild irritation. "Seriously? You start something and then just drop it? What's the point?" he said, sounding both annoyed and concerned.

Yuki just shrugged and quickened his pace, clearly wanting to avoid further conversation. The light streaming through the cracks in the walls grew brighter, and their footsteps echoed through the spacious interior of the building.

When they were almost at the exit, something went wrong. Edo had previously crossed a small hole in the floor—a trap forgotten over time, with water pooling at the bottom. He'd managed to avoid it earlier but, distracted by his thoughts and conversation, he hadn't warned Yuki about it.

Yuki, walking confidently behind him, suddenly felt the ground disappear beneath his feet. A loud splash echoed through the empty factory. Startled, Edo immediately turned toward the source of the noise.

The sight before him froze him in place. On the surface of the water, dimly lit by the fading light, floated the remains of his friend. Pieces of flesh and bone drifted on the ripples, grotesque evidence of the horrific accident.

"No... This can't be real..." Edo stammered, stepping back slowly. Each step felt heavier, as if the reality surrounding him was pressing down harder with every movement. Finally, he collapsed to his knees, clutching his head.

His thoughts spiraled into chaos. He wanted it all to end, to rewind time, or simply wake up from this nightmare. But reality was unyielding. Darkness began to creep into his consciousness.

The space around him began to fade until everything turned black. There was no factory, no water, not even his own body. There was only despair—overwhelming, suffocating, and endless.