Chapter 7: A Theological World.
The faint hum of the overhead fan filled the room, blending with the muffled sounds of Velmora City beyond the window. Ren's eyes darted around the cramped space, his chest heavy with unease. The room seemed smaller than before, the walls closer, suffocating. Akane leaned against the far wall, her arms crossed, her sharp crimson eyes focused on him.
She looked like she belonged in a different world entirely—her yellow combat jacket slightly disheveled, her boots scuffed, and her long black hair cascading over her shoulder like a silken shadow. There was an air of calm around her, a calculated serenity that made Ren feel exposed, like she could see right through him.
Ren's shoulders sagged as he sat on the battered couch, the springs groaning under his weight. His hands clenched tightly in his lap, nails digging into his palms. It was all too much—the alley, the ghouls, his own transformation. Everything about his life felt foreign now, his identity slipping through his fingers like grains of sand.
"Velmora City has always harbored ghouls," Akane began, her voice slicing through the oppressive silence. "They've lived here for centuries, hidden in plain sight. They thrive in the shadows, feeding off the chaos of a bustling city like this one."
Ren flinched at her words. His mind flashed back to the grotesque grin of the ghoul he had seen in the alley the day before. The memory made his skin crawl. "But yesterday… When I went into that alley, I could see it. It wasn't just a feeling or a shadow—it was there, right in front of me. Does that mean I wasn't human all along?"
Akane's lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk. "Not necessarily. In this case, the ghoul wanted you to see it. Ghouls are cruel creatures. They don't just kill their prey—they savor the fear. They want you to feel helpless before they end you."
Her tone was almost clinical, detached, but the weight of her words made Ren's stomach churn. He stared down at his trembling hands, his voice barely audible. "So… all this time, there have been monsters—actual ghouls—living among us, and no one knew?"
Akane shook her head, pushing herself off the wall. She began to pace the room, her boots clicking softly against the worn wooden floor. "That's where you're wrong," she said bluntly. "The world's governments have known about ghouls for decades. Corporations, too. They've even discovered creatures far worse than ghouls. But that knowledge is classified—kept out of reach for the average person."
Ren's head snapped up, confusion and anger swirling in his eyes. "Why would they hide something like that? People are dying out there! Don't we have the right to know what's really going on?"
Akane stopped mid-step and turned to face him. Her expression was calm, but her voice carried a bitter edge. "Fear, Ren. Fear is deadlier than any ghoul. If the public knew about these creatures, society would collapse. Panic spreads faster than any infection. Governments would lose control, and chaos would reign."
Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He slumped back against the couch, his mind spinning. "But… people are dying. They need to know how to protect themselves."
Akane sighed, her gaze softening slightly. "Do you really think the average person could handle the truth? Most would rather pretend the monsters don't exist. Ignorance is safer. Comfortable. It's a luxury you don't have anymore."
The room seemed colder now, the air heavy with unspoken truths. Ren pressed his palms to his temples, his breathing uneven. The memory of the alley was still fresh in his mind—the ghoul's jagged claws, its eyes gleaming with malice, the sickening sound of flesh tearing.
"And what about me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been possessed by a ghoul. Is there… Is there no way back?"
Akane leaned against the desk, her crimson eyes locking onto his. For a moment, she said nothing, as if carefully considering her response. "Considering the type of ghoul that possessed you, there's no hope of you becoming fully human again."
The words felt like a death sentence. Ren's heart sank, his stomach twisting into knots. "What… What do you mean?"
Akane folded her arms, her expression unreadable. "Your transformation has only just begun. Right now, you're lucky. You still have your memories, your sense of self. Most fused ghouls lose that within seconds. The ghoul takes over completely, leaving the host's mind shattered. But you… You're different. Somehow, you inherited the ghoul's power without its consciousness. That's unheard of."
Ren blinked, his brow furrowing. "What does that mean? Am I safe?"
Akane's lips pressed into a thin line. "Safe? No. Full transformation doesn't just come from the ghoul's will—it comes from you. If you overuse those powers, if you lose control, or if you let despair consume you, the ghoul's essence could still take over."
Ren ran a hand through his hair, his fingers trembling. "I never asked for this. I didn't want any of this!"
Akane's gaze hardened. "It doesn't matter what you want. The powers are a part of you now. If you can't control them, they'll control you."
Ren looked up at her, desperation etched into his face. "So… What am I supposed to do?"
"That's not even your biggest problem," Akane continued, ignoring his question.
Ren felt a chill run down his spine. "What could possibly be worse than losing myself to this… thing?"
Akane's eyes narrowed. "Other ghouls will sense your power. They'll come looking for you—some to kill you, others to use you. And then there's the government."
Ren stiffened. "The government?"
"They're always looking for weapons," Akane said bitterly. "A human-ghoul hybrid with powers like yours? You'd be a prime target. Experiments, control, manipulation—you name it. If they find you, you'll wish the ghouls had killed you first."
The weight of her words pressed down on him like a vice. Ren buried his face in his hands, his body trembling. "How did it come to this? I just wanted to find Jia's backpack. That's all. I never wanted to be involved in any of this…"
For a moment, the room fell silent. The faint chirping of birds outside was the only sound, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside Ren's mind. Akane watched him quietly, her expression unreadable.
Then, a sharp chime echoed through the house—the sound of the doorbell, loud and clear.
Akane's body tensed immediately. Her hand hovered near the dagger strapped to her thigh as her gaze snapped toward the door.
"There," she said, her voice cold and steady. "We have an unwanted guest."
Ren's breath hitched. His heart pounded in his chest, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. He didn't need to ask what she meant. Whatever was waiting on the other side of that door, it wasn't friendly.
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