Ren steps out of the restaurant, the sun is bright and harsh above him. As he walks away, he can't shake the image of Eva standing there, her eyes cast down, a mix of shame and surprise on her face.
Ahhh, Eva, he thinks, a smirk creeping onto his lips. The look on your face... This is just the start. I'm gonna go all the way with you until you repent, and then, I'll have you.
He takes a deep breath, the warm air filling his lungs. The revenge I have in mind for you is long, elongated.
With each step, he feels a sense of triumph, but slowly, that smirk fades.
But wait…
The mood starts to shift within him. The thrill he anticipated starts to feel muted. The revenge I've been wanting for so long, it's finally starting. But why does it feel so…
Empty?
He recalls the way Eva blushed when he leaned in, how her voice trembled when he asserted his power over her.
She tormented me for so long, without reason. It's just a little lesson taught. But the satisfaction I wanted… wasn't there. It's supposed to feel exciting. So why do I feel… empty?
As he walks, the midday sun beats down, and he feels the weight of his thoughts pressing on him. I should be reveling in this moment. This is my time! I'm the one in control now. Yet, as he approaches his apartment, a frown forms on his face.
He reaches his door, opens it, and steps inside. The familiar scent of his apartment greets him, but even that feels stale.
"Hey, Ren! You back?" Lina calls out, her voice cheerful and bright.
"Yaa," he replies absently, already heading toward his room.
He flops onto his bed, the cool sheets contrasting with the warmth outside.
What am I thinking? he wonders, staring at the ceiling. This is fun, it's exciting. I'm finally getting my revenge. But even as he tells himself this, his expression betrays his inner turmoil. The boredom lingers in his eyes, the thrill absent from his demeanor.
He closes his eyes, hoping to find some clarity in sleep. Maybe I just need to process this, he thinks. Revenge is just starting; perhaps the excitement will come later.
But even as he drifts off, the nagging feeling of emptiness follows him into slumber.
The evening sun dips below the horizon and Ren wakes up in his room. He stretches, feeling the tension release from his limbs, and rises from his bed. The scent of the apartment fills his senses as he exits his room, the quiet hum of the evening enveloping him.
In the hall, he spots Lina curled up on the couch, her eyes glued to the screen as a movie plays. The soft glow of the television casts dancing shadows around her.
"Hey, Lina," Ren calls out, walking to her.
She looks up, a smile breaking across her face. "Hey, Ren! You slept the entire afternoon. Feeling alright?"
"Yaa, I'm fine," he replies, settling into the space beside her. They chat idly about the movie, sharing laughter over the silly scenes. The warmth of companionship eases the lingering emptiness he felt earlier, and he finds comfort in their banter.
After a while, they make their way to the kitchen, where Lina prepares a simple meal. The smell of food wafts through the air, mixing with the evening's cool breeze. They eat together, the conversation flowing easily, filled with light-hearted teasing and occasional laughter.
As the sun slips further down, casting an orange glow through the window, they finish their meal.
"I think I'm going to head to bed," Lina announces, stifling a yawn. "Goodnight, Ren."
"Goodnight," he replies, but as she heads toward her room, Ren feels an unsettling restlessness within him.
He's not sleepy; in fact, the day's earlier events linger in his mind, stirring something deep inside.
Once Lina is out of sight, Ren heads back to his room. He retrieves his Incubi costume, the dark fabric feeling familiar and empowering against his skin.
With a quick motion, he dons the attire, slipping into the persona that grants him confidence and an edge. Standing by the window, he opens it wide, the night air refreshing against his face.
Taking a deep breath, he leaps out, soaring into the night sky. The wind rushes past him, filling him with exhilaration.
For a moment, he forgets the boredom that clouded his earlier thoughts. He glides through the air, enjoying the freedom that comes with flight.
But soon, the thrill of flying alone loses its charm. He looks down at the streets below, watching the dimly lit city come alive with flickering lights. It feels peaceful, yet something is still missing.
Suddenly, the distant sound of police sirens pierces the evening calm, followed by the unmistakable crack of gunfire. Intrigued, Ren glances toward the noise, feeling a surge of purpose bubble up within him.
Now, this could be interesting, he thinks, shifting his course toward the source.
As he descends, he spots two police cars in hot pursuit of a dark sedan weaving through the streets, its tires screeching against the pavement.
Adrenaline surges through Ren; he's tired of his mundane day, and this situation offers a chance for some fun.
Let's see what these guys are up to.
With renewed determination, Ren accelerates, flying close to the fleeing car. He glances at the people inside, even their looks are screaming criminals.
Ren, excited to have some fun, lightly taps on the mirror. "Hey, what are you guys..."
The criminals' faces twist in panic as they glance out. The thieves' reactions are instantaneous. Their eyes widen in shock as they take in the sight of a figure clad in black, a mask obscuring Ren's features, and the eerie smile that creeps across his lips. They weren't prepared for something like this today.
"What the fuck!" one of the thugs yells, his voice laced with fear.
The thugs fire, the gunshot echoing sharply through the night. Ren isn't guarded and barely has time to react, his instinct to evade kicking in.
But the bullet strikes him in the arm with a sharp, jarring pain. The sensation is unlike anything he's experienced before—intense and immediate.
"Aaaahhhhhh! Fuck!" Ren screams, instinctively pulling away from the car and flying backward.
His heart, which has been beating steadily throughout the day, now races wildly in his chest, a frantic drum echoing in his ears. The pain radiates from his arm, hot and searing, like fire coursing through his veins.
What the hell just happened? His thoughts are chaotic, panic mixing with anger as he fights against the sudden wave of nausea rising in his throat.
As he spirals through the air, he feels the warm trickle of blood spilling down his arm.
He quickly focuses his mind, pulling the bullet from his wound with a swift motion. The pain throbs, but he channels his energy, feeling the warm rush as the wound begins to mend.
Aahhhhh! Fuckkkkkk! I just wanted to have some fun! The annoyance mixes with the pain, igniting a fury within him. Do you want to play? Then let's play.
You picked the wrong guy to mess with, he thinks, the darkness fueling his anger.
After a minute, the pain subsides, replaced by a furious determination.
At least he Has something fun to do now. He was supposed to be having the most fun today, having his sweet revenge on Eva. But that felt empty.
But now, he finally has an exciting thing to do.
He locks onto the fleeing car, his eyes narrowing. Now it's time for a little game of my own.
With a powerful surge, he dives back toward the ground, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
Ren is ready for the hunt, for fun.