Chapter 4: Shadows Within.
Ren questioned his intuition as he stood frozen at the mouth of the cave. A young girl with crystal blue eyes sat weeping at the entrance, her slender form trembling as sobs wracked her body. She wore a simple jumpsuit, though it hung loosely on her, emphasizing her fragility. Her knees were tucked to her chest as she cried, her tear-streaked face tilted toward the ominous darkness of the cave.
There was something about her expression that pierced through the air—fear, anguish, and, beyond all that, hope. It was a glimmer that seemed to be keeping her tethered to this world, as if her entire reason for living was now buried deep inside that cavernous void.
"Help me," she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling like a faint echo in a hollow room. She clutched at her chest as though the emotional pain was physically tearing her apart.
Ren felt compelled to reach out to her, to comfort her somehow. But he hesitated. He didn't understand what was happening or why he was here. Hadn't this place been obliterated yesterday? Was this all just some twisted echo of his memory?
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the familiar sound of wind crackling with energy—lightning. He turned his head sharply toward the cave. A violent surge of energy was building within its depths, moving rapidly toward the girl at the entrance.
"Move!" Ren screamed, but his voice didn't carry. It was as if he were a ghost, trapped between moments. He ran toward the girl, desperate to pull her out of harm's way. But no matter how fast he moved, he couldn't reach her in time.
---
Huff, huff.
Ren jolted awake, his breath heavy and uneven. His heart pounded against his ribcage as daylight streamed into the room, piercing his eyes and forcing him to squint. He wiped at his face, which was damp with sweat, as he tried to orient himself. The flowery wallpaper and the soft chirping of birds outside felt surreal in contrast to the dark intensity of his nightmare.
For a moment, he sat still, inspecting himself. To his shock, every injury, every bruise, and every burn from the previous night had vanished without a trace. Even more perplexing, his vision was clear—crystal clear. He didn't need his glasses.
"What the hell…?" he muttered, his voice thick with disbelief. "How is this possible?"
He clenched and unclenched his fists, studying his unblemished skin. Was this some kind of miracle? Or had the events of last night been nothing but a fevered dream?
A faint humming from outside the room pulled him from his thoughts. He swung his legs off the bed and padded toward the door, opening it cautiously. The hallway beyond was dark and reeked of incense, its oppressive scent prickling at his senses.
As he moved forward, the sound of humming grew louder—a tuneless rendition of Ten Wicked Stars. Ren cringed. The singer's voice was horrendous, but there was something oddly reassuring about it. At least it suggested he wasn't alone in this strange place.
Driven by curiosity, he approached the door from which the noise originated. Without thinking, he pushed it open.
What greeted him was the sight of Akira, standing in the middle of the room in nothing but her underwear. Her long black hair spilled over her shoulders, framing her slender figure. The light in the room caught her curves just right, highlighting the toned lines of her legs and the soft elegance of her form. Her crimson eyes widened in shock as they locked onto Ren's stunned gaze.
"You… you pervert!" she screamed, her voice echoing in the small room.
Ren didn't have time to apologize before she launched herself at him, delivering a kick so swift and powerful it sent him flying back into the hallway. He collided with the wall with a thud, groaning as he slid to the floor.
"Why do I keep getting myself into these situations?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
---
As if the kick weren't enough, Ren's clumsiness struck again as he stumbled down a flight of stairs. He landed face-first on a worn carpet at the bottom, groaning in frustration.
Peeling himself off the floor, he looked around. The room he had fallen into was dimly lit, its windows shrouded in heavy black curtains. Talismans were plastered over every surface, their inscriptions glowing faintly. Strange symbols were scrawled on the walls, pulsating with an eerie light that made Ren's stomach churn.
The air felt heavy, oppressive. Each breath burned in his chest, as though the very atmosphere were rejecting him. Ren clutched at his chest, his vision swimming as pain radiated through his body.
"What… is this?" he gasped.
A voice cut through the haze, sharp and accusing. "You… You're a ghoul, aren't you?"
Ren turned his head toward the sound and found Akane sprawled on a couch, her crimson eyes boring into him.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, his confusion and fear evident in his voice.
Akane sat up slowly, her gaze never leaving him. She pulled a glowing purple talisman from her pocket and flicked it toward him. It adhered to his forehead instantly, sending a jolt of searing pain through his body. Ren screamed, writhing on the floor as the talisman began to glow brighter.
"A Spirit Finder Talisman," Akane said coldly. "It reacts to spiritual energy. Usually, it's sluggish, but with you, it activated immediately. You're a symbiotic host."
Her expression darkened as she knelt beside him, her voice low and threatening. "Now, tell me—are you an ally of that bitch who destroyed the alleyway?"