Chapter 6: The Echo of Shadows
Silence settled after the escape of the spectral creatures. The black smoke slowly dissipated, leaving a heavy tension in the air. Raiden, panting, stared at Shin, frozen, his eyes lost.
"Are you sure it's over?" Raiden whispered, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Shin slowly turned his head towards him, a shiver running through him. He understood, but didn't respond.
"What? You mean... the quest isn't over?"
Raiden nodded, his eyes on the ground.
"I don't know," he muttered. "The system never lets go that easily. It's too easy."
Shin remained silent. Raiden's words echoed, but he wasn't ready to admit them.
"It's... a trial. That's all."
Raiden gave a nervous smile.
"You really think that?"
A dull noise was heard, followed by Takashi rushing in.
"What was that?"
Raiden turned to him, calm despite his worry.
"Nothing that concerns us... for now. But we need to stay alert."
Shin, standing beside him, felt a growing pressure. He had a feeling that something far worse was brewing.
"We need to move," he whispered.
"Shin... What just happened?"
Shin turned to Raiden, his gaze hard, a shiver running through his body. He knew this was just a pause, but he wasn't ready to say it.
"I... I don't know, Raiden. But it's not over."
Takashi, exhausted, shook his head.
"It wasn't... it wasn't normal. They seemed afraid of you."
Shin felt a cold chill. His fingers trembled. He knew he had touched something dangerous, a power he hadn't sought.
He looked away.
"It doesn't matter. It's not over yet."
The two exchanged a look. Shin wouldn't speak, but something had changed.
Madame Chisato arrived, breathless.
"You... you managed to push them back." She gave a faint smile, but her gratitude was clear. "Stay close to me. We must stick together."
Shin stared at Madame Chisato, a question flooding his mind. Why was she risking her life for them?
The voices, still present, whispered in his mind.
"You're not like them. Why fight for them?"
Shin clenched his fists. He turned to Raiden and Takashi.
"We need to leave now. There are more."
Raiden nodded.
"You're right. But where to?"
Shin looked at the walls of the orphanage, where the darkness seemed to tighten. Every shadow, every sound was suspicious. He felt a presence, an invisible force watching them.
"I don't know, but we need to get out of here. It's no longer a safe place."
They moved through the dark halls when suddenly, a distant scream echoed, followed by hurried footsteps.
"What's that?" Takashi asked.
Shin froze, a cold sensation flooding his heart. He saw a figure in the darkness.
"We have to leave, now! It's her. She's behind all of this!"
The children began to cry, but Shin silenced them with a gesture.
"Listen to me," he said, his voice firm. "We don't have time. We have to run. Raiden, protect them."
Raiden nodded, and Takashi guided the children, despite his hesitation.
Shin stood frozen for a moment before throwing himself into the darkness of the hallway. The shadow behind him was closing in, but this time, he was ready.
He wouldn't stop until this nightmare was over.