Do you believe in others? Do you trust them? If you do, then you've probably been living a happy life.
But trust is a fragile thing, easily broken by betrayal. After the worst tragedy hit our family, my dad's friend—someone he trusted deeply—betrayed him in a way that changed our lives forever.
Well, this is another story I will tell later, but you might imagine that we could bounce back like superheroes in a movie. But no, this was reality, and what happened next was something even God could not have imagined.
***
Six months had passed since the tragedy, and our lives had taken a turn for the worse.
My dad became an alcoholic, unable to cope with the overwhelming changes that had shaped our lives. We lost our connection with him months ago; we could only imagine that he was fine, but in reality, he was far from it. His mental state was deteriorating.
Dad's company had shut down after he failed to meet with the lawyers. If we had had the money at that time, we might have been able to salvage it, but we were drowning in debt. With hope lost, he gave up everything he had worked for.
In his desperation, he sought solutions everywhere, forging connections in a dark world that offered him nothing. Yet he was hungry for a solution that would change our lives for the better. He was drawn to dangerous paths, and while he might have regretted his choices later, in those moments, he didn't care. All he wanted was a way to fix the problems that seemed insurmountable.
And so it happened. One day, after months of absence, he returned. But everything had changed for the worse. He was no longer the kind dad I used to know; he had become someone we could hardly recognize.
He didn't come back alone; he was with a man we had never met before, but one thing was for sure: this man was the one who had changed my dad—father.
I stood near the door, watching as he and my dad enjoyed a bottle of wine on the sofa, laughing so loudly that I felt my ears could burst. My mind was filled with confusion, and my spine tingled with unease. I asked myself, "Is this man even human?" He felt like a devil hiding in human skin, waiting to prey on the innocent.
It was late at night, a time when almost everyone else was asleep. After a while, I thought I should return to my bed, but—
"Hmm? Oh, Ren! What are you doing there? Come greet him!"
My father spotted me, his eyes barely able to open wide in the dim light of the TV flickering in the dark room. His voice was rough and loud, sending a shiver down my spine, making me feel like I couldn't escape it.
"Y-yeah, Dad."
I walked toward them slowly, feeling unsteady. This wasn't like me; I used to be the liveliest child in the house, but now I felt like I was fading away. I was scared—so scared that it felt like a creepy voice was echoing in my head.
*Guff* "Ohh, how well you behave; you've taught your son well," the man said, raising his glass of wine with a smirk. He sat in a way that felt evil, and when I looked closer, I was shocked to see that this man, despite his handsome face, seemed truly wicked.
I couldn't believe it. I had always thought that evil people looked ugly, but this man proved me wrong. He showed me that appearances can be deceiving.
It had been three days since my dad had come back home, but he hadn't spoken to us at all. He was always with that man, and this was the first time I was actually talking with them.
"Ren, sit with us! And where is your mom?" my father asked, pointing to the sofa near them and looking around for her.
"S-she is sleeping." I replied as I took a seat.
"Tsk!Doesn't she know that when a guest comes, she needs to serve them?" My dad said, his voice rising with anger.
"Well, well, calm down. I don't mind, and I think your wife may be burdened with her own problems too," the man said, trying to soothe my father.
It looks like the man is good with controlling others; his black suit made him look more like an intelligent person. But I don't care; I declare him as my enemy. So strong foe don't matter anything
After that, both of them continued drinking until my father passed out, slumped over from the alcohol.
"*Whoops!* That was good! Hm, hey kid! What's your name? You don't look like an ordinary kid." the man said, downing another glass of wine. He glanced at my father, who was sleeping soundly beside him.
He stood up, stretched a little, and approached me. My body trembled with fear; I was terrified he would harm me, but instead, he crouched down to my height and said, "Should I say my name first? Well, my name is nothing. It doesn't matter to me; a name is just a mask for me."
At that moment, I didn't understand what he meant, but the way he stared at me was unsettling. He smiled beautifully, but it felt creepy, as if his eyes were drilling into me. I couldn't take it anymore; tears welled up in my eyes, a mix of fear and anger.
"Kid, you don't need to cry. If you're not going to tell me your name, that's fine. I'll just ask your dad," he said, standing up again and glancing at the bottle of wine. He poured himself another glass and took a sip, waiting for my response.
What? Did he not hear my dad calling my name? Was he deaf or just—
"Ren, I'm Ren Tanaka." I blurted out. I didn't know why I said my name; I was too scared to think clearly. I felt a strange sense of relief, but I wanted to scream. I feared he would devour me if I did.
As I spoke, the man turned to me, a wide grin spreading across his face that sent chills down my spine. "Oh, good name! I know for sure that you are different from the others. Little girls try to talk to me, and little boys just stare, but you… *Gasp... gasp...* you have a light that flickers so brightly. I like it. Will you be my *gasp... gasp...* my cute little slave?"
Slave? What did that even mean? What? What?!!
The man was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his face, but he wore that unsettling smile. The air felt thick and oppressive, and the room seemed to grow darker. I could feel his eyes all around me, his gaze shaped like a twisted smile.
*Gasp... gasp... gasp... gasp...*
"...M"
"...Mas..."
"...Master..."
Suddenly, my eyes flew open, and I gasped for breath, drenched in sweat. The nightmare clung to me like a heavy fog, making it hard to think clearly. I blinked quickly, trying to shake off the frightening images in my mind.
As I started to realize where I was, I noticed I was lying on a bench in the park, a cool breeze brushing against my skin. Suko was gently holding my head in her lap, her presence a comforting support in the midst of my confusion.
"Master, it appears you have had a troubling dream," she said softly.
"Yeah," pulling myself up from her soft lap to sit on the bench. I continued, "Why did you show that thing?"
"Hm?" she replied, tilting her head slightly.
"I mean, you were showing me my past!" I said, pressing my hand against my forehead, my elbow resting on my knees as I tried to control the overwhelming feelings I had experienced
"I do not; my role is merely to demonstrate the powers."
"Then explain why! Why did I see those things?" I looked up into her eyes as she continued.
"Master, I revealed to you visions that are intertwined with the events unfolding in the present."
"Yo—you mean my past is connected to this?"
She didn't say anything but simply nodded.
"Do you know—can you see those things?"
I was about to ask her about the man when a thought suddenly struck me: Could she have also seen the things I was seeing?
"Indeed, Master. I endeavored to uncover the truth about that man, but he is nowhere to be found."
"You using Google?"
"Nay, there exists a magic that permits us to locate any human who has ever lived upon this Earth. Yet, he remains elusive."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
"Perhaps he is an alien, or he hails from a dimension beyond our own."
What? Things were beyond my imagination. I couldn't handle this burden; it felt like I was trapped under a massive mountain, its weight pressing down on me and suffocating my thoughts. I sighed deeply, the sound escaping my lips like a whisper of despair, and leaned my head against the cool, hard bench.
Before me stretched an empty sky, vast and unyielding, with clouds drifting slowly like ghostly ships. The sky was painted in shades of orange and pink as the sun began to set, casting a warm glow that sharply contrasted with the turmoil inside me. The fading light seemed to mock my chaos, a beautiful sight I couldn't fully appreciate.
"Master, Master!" Suddenly, Suko called out, her voice cutting through my thoughts. When I turned to look at her, I saw her eyes wide with terror, as if she had witnessed something she wasn't meant to see.
I followed her gaze, and like her, I was struck with shock. In front of me stood a girl—not just because of her beauty, but because of the horrific act she was committing. She was killing police officers who were desperately trying to stop her. You might wonder why. Well, she was approaching us, her face smeared with red blood, and her hands dripped with the remnants of others' lives. With her fiery red hair and crimson eyes, she seemed to embody the very essence of the nightmare unfolding around us. Elders and children alike were fleeing in every direction, their screams echoing in the air, but our legs felt as if they were glued to the ground, paralyzed by fear.
"A-Aiko?" I stammered, my mouth feeling heavy as I struggled to form the words. In front of me stood Aiko, the girl known for her kind nature and sharp intelligence. Yet here she was, a figure of terror, taking lives without hesitation. In her eyes, there was no trace of fear—only a twisted excitement that sent chills down my spine.
What?! What happened to her?! Has she gone mad?!!!
"Haha... AHAHAHA!! I—I'm coming for you..."