Dust rose around him as the buildings rushed past on either side. He was running, not knowing why, all he knew was that if his feet stopped hitting the ground, it would be the last time they ever would.
He crashed into a cart, scattering vegetables across the ground. His knees scraped against the rough surface, leaving a dark liquid staining the stone. Before he could fully get used to the pain, claws dug into his shoulder, forcing him to ignore everything else and resume running. The voice in his head screamed louder, "Run! Run! Run!"
The time was either dusk or a stormy noon or was it during the eclipse? Yes, it must have been the eclipse.
His legs stumbled, his lungs betrayed him, and one of his shoes had been lost minutes.. no, hours ago. He couldn't tell anymore.
He heard his own mocking voice taunting him, "A gift? Hah! A divine gift?"
The divine gift, Theo.. that was his name.
After what felt like an eternity, he found himself in a dead-end alley. Climbing onto garbage bags, he hoisted himself up to the balcony of a first-floor building. As the sound of footsteps behind him grew louder, he flattened himself against the floor, holding his breath. Wide-eyed, he saw them six figures in black robes with massive hoods, accompanied by two huge black dogs.
He crawled backward in terror as one of them raised their head. But soon, their hushed voices faded into the distance. Once he was certain they had left, he stood, brushing off the dust, filth, and bird droppings from his clothes. As he prepared to jump down, the distance seemed insurmountable for his weakened, pitiful state. The adrenaline had drained away, leaving him dizzy, his vision warped, and his chest searing with pain.
He'd exhausted every ounce of his energy running. How had he even managed it? He'd never run in his life except in video games, where he would grumble if his mother sent him to buy groceries from the corner shop.
His body trembled and convulsed repeatedly, unsure if it was from fear or cold. The only thing worse than waking up in a nightmare was waking up in it wearing light pajamas a thin, short-sleeved, black-and-white striped shirt, gray cotton pants, and one shoe.
His eyes fell on the slightly ajar balcony door. Pushing it open cautiously, he stepped into a dim, filthy room thick with dust, cobwebs, and the stench of mildew. It was clear no one had been here in a long time.
Leaning against the doorframe, he entered, trying not to make a sound. He didn't know if this was merely an abandoned room or an entire abandoned house. The room was eerily white, the walls, floor, curtains, and wardrobe were all pale, except for a dark wooden desk covered in dust, cobwebs, and countless candles, and a dark green carpet matching the bed's mattress. The air, however, was black.. not from dust or shadows but from an oppressive aura. He could almost swear malevolent spirits with sharp fangs danced around him; he could feel their presence vividly.
He approached the wardrobe and opened it, immediately raising his hands to cover his mouth, suppressing a cough, a gag, and a terrified gasp. Maggots writhed and flies buzzed furiously around him. At the bottom of the wardrobe lay a decaying cat. The maggots weren't just devouring its flesh and organs, they had infested the folded and hanging clothes inside, which seemed to belong to a slender teenage boy, likely the same age as Theo.
Slamming the wardrobe shut, he kept his hands over his mouth, fighting the urge to vomit. He needed to expel the nauseating sights and smells from his mind. His scraped knees hit the floor as his black hair fell over his face. His back hunched, his watery eyes blurred, and he whimpered, "Where am I...?"
.
The door burst open with a crash, and a large figure charged in. Theo froze in terror, unable to react as his body was shoved onto the bed. A shard of glass pressed against his neck, accompanied by a hissed warning, "Don't make a sound."
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he whimpered. He felt a cold trickle of blood on his skin as he dared to look at the stranger، a young man of intimidating beauty.
With ash-gray hunter's eyes framed by thick lashes, a Greek nose, bloodied dark lips, and raven-black hair cascading over his shoulders, the man exuded an almost divine aura. His white shirt clung to his broad chest and toned abdomen, and his black trousers were secured by a silver belt adorned with a skull. He seemed like an angel peering into Theo's soul, not an angel of mercy or one with beautiful white wings, but a fallen angel, or perhaps a god of the underworld. Those haunting eyes made Theo question his own sexuality.
"Who are you? What are you doing in my brother's room?" His lips trembled, and he was about to reply when the other pressed the glass shard against his collarbone, forcing a whimper out of him.
"I... I don't know." The other pressed harder, causing him to shrink and plead, "Please, I don't know. There were men in black robes, terrifying dogs chasing me. I climbed and hid here... I think I'm dreaming. Yes, this is just a nightmare..."
He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, but instead of waking up, he was met with a strong punch to his jaw, tasting rust on his tongue. The hellish figure lifted him by his shirt, tearing the collar, and yelled, "This is definitely my nightmare!" He let him fall to the ground before sitting on the bed, resting his elbows on his thighs, his face buried in his hands, fingers tangled in his hair.
Theo stared at him in confusion, then turned to a mirror in the corner of the room. Approaching it, he noticed his brown eyes were deeper, his dark circles darker, and his skin paler. His medium-length black hair was messy and twisted, his clothes filthy, as if he hadn't bathed for months.. yet he had, just yesterday.
He had eaten, showered, and waited for his family to sleep before sitting at his computer for his nightly session with his online friends. He distinctly remembered crawling to his bed at dawn to sleep.
His thoughts were interrupted by a startled yell. "Why is there a rotting cat in the closet!?" He looked over in terror, only for the other to mirror his look before whispering harshly, "Damn it, they heard me."
The smaller man moved toward the balcony door, but before he could leave, the reflection of a blur crying girl appeared in the mirror. She reached out, pleading, "Save me. Please save me. They took my father. I'm at building 86, seventh floor, apartment 666." Before he could respond, the other yanked him onto the balcony, shouting, "Hurry! They're coming!"
.
"Building 60, 61... Damn, we're still far."
Theo glanced at the hand gripping his wrist roughly, his body lifting with each step. "You're hurting me," he whispered.
The taller man stopped abruptly, giving him a sharp look before pulling away. "Then hurry up and stop walking like a toddler, I don't even understand why you're so insistent on following a ghost's plea!"
Theo mumbled softly, "She might be in danger. It doesn't hurt to check the apartment."
The other grumbled in annoyance, "Fine."
A few meters away, they spotted one of the robed men exiting a building. They quickly hid in an alley, their fear palpable.
"Did he see us?"
"I think so. Run!"
They sprinted down the alley, emerging into another residential complex. Thunder roared, and Theo flinched, letting out a scream, only to receive a slap on the back of his head. He shrank further into himself as the gray-eyed man read the signs on the buildings.
"Eighty-four! This way," he said, motioning Theo to follow.
The building's gate stood wide open. The few steps leading to it were smeared with dark red liquid that trailed upward. A sign above the entrance read "86." Heart pounding, Theo tiptoed inside, sensing the larger man behind him. He entered the elevator, pressed the button for the seventh floor, and watched their reflection.
The taller man smirked. "What are you staring at, kiddo?"
Heat rose to Theo's face as he stammered, avoiding eye contact. "Don't call me a kiddo"
The man laughed loudly, extending his hand to tilt Theo's chin up. "How old are you? Your cheeks are flushed. You like me? "you have a crush on me, gay?" Weak boys always fall for strong ones like me. I'm more of a man than your father!"
Theo sighed in relief as the elevator doors opened. He stepped out first, but immediately regretted it when he saw a pool of blood in the middle of the floor, its coldness seeping through his shoes.
From nowhere, a girl with messy brown hair and doe green eyes appeared. Her outfit struck him as odd: a tight white long-sleeve shirt, white lace shorts, and a green leather belt around her waist that looked like a weapon holster. Pearls wrapped around her thigh with a pink ribbon, striped pink socks, and oversized black shoes completed her look. Stickers of stars adorned her legs and neck. It was the girl from the mirror.
She jumped at the taller man, hugging him tightly. "Erivan-san!" she exclaimed joyfully.
Erivan pushed her away irritably. "You're not in Japan. Stop talking like that. Were you the one asking for help, Seraphina?"
She looked confused, then turned to Theo. "My father is fine. They left. Come in. He's made dinner!"
Theo felt a shiver run down the length of his body, but when he saw Erivan follows her into the apartment, he followed as well. The scent of fried meat filled the old, messy apartment, as chaotic as the chains and white necklaces around Seraphina's neck. She led them to the kitchen, where her father sat eating, not even sparing them a glance.
He was hit with an intense chill and an overwhelming sense of unease. He turned to look at the corners, feeling as though he were being watched... perhaps it was just his imagination, or perhaps he was truly being observed by beings with non-material bodies.
He sat, staring at the oddly shaped plates and utensils. A pot shaped like a human heart, a plate shaped like a tongue, soup bowls sculpted to resemble eyes. At the center of the table was a vase with withered purple flowers, next to it a white cake adorned with pearls. Half of it had been cut, revealing a crimson, sticky liquid oozing from within. The atmosphere in the room made his stomach churn in warning. What was happening here?
Seraphina placed two pieces of meat before him and Erivan. When her eyes met his, she smiled softly and said, "Eat! My father makes the most delicious meat! It's fresh! Don't mind the shapes of the dishes; my father has creepy tastes."
With a trembling hand, he stabbed the fork into the meat, tearing off a piece and bringing it to his lips. He parted them and chewed, swallowing it down. Just then, Erivan screamed beside him, jumping back from his chair and knocking over his soup bowl. There were live insects in the soup... a long worm with countless legs.
Erivan lunged toward the trash can, vomiting, while the girl's father lifted a spoon holding a human eyeball to his mouth and swallowed it. Seraphina turned to Theo and said, "Don't be scared, Theo! My father's food is delicious! My father makes the tastiest meat! The freshest human meat!"
How did she know his name? What was the nature of this creature, anyway?
"Get down, gay!"
Without thinking, he knelt down as the other person threw the pot of hot soup at Seraphina and then grabbed him by his shirt, shouting, "Run! Run! Run!"
They ran out of the apartment in panic. Theo caught a glimpse of the number on the door of the apartment across from theirs "666" He rushed toward it, and fortunately, the door was open. They went inside, locking the door behind them. Theo sat on the floor, hugging himself, and then broke down in tears.
He couldn't catch his breath or process waking up in a strange place only to find himself being hunted by a cult whose members he wasn't even sure were human. Then there was the glass threat, rescuing the girl who had begged him for help through the mirror, discovering that she wasn't human, tasting human flesh and now, the worst part of it all: the screaming voices in his head. "You weak! You crybaby! Look at yourself! useless! You deserve to die! Why are you running in the first place? Give yourself up! You're not worthy of life; you deserve death!"
His sobs grew louder as he covered his face with his hands. Erivan knelt before him, trying to pull his hands away while muttering words that didn't register in Theo's mind. He tried to stop crying, tried to catch his breath, but he couldn't. He was having a full-blown panic attack, unable to return to himself.
"Hey... boy... please, look at me! Breathe, I'm begging you! Theo!"
Erivan shook him desperately, watching as Theo's pale skin turned blue. He slapped him repeatedly. "Theo... please... you can't die now. You can't die."
He cupped Theo's cheeks in his hands, looking into his eyes, trembling as he whispered, "Everything will be okay. It's just a nightmare! We can escape it. You'll be fine; we'll be fine. Please, Theo... you can't leave me here alone. I need you."
Theo's sobs subsided as oxygen returned to his lungs. The foggy vision cleared, and he released the grip his nails had on his shoulders. Slowly, he became aware of the warm hands on his cheeks, wiping away his tears. Dazed, he looked into Erivan's eyes, and embarrassment crept into his own cheeks. Damn it… I feel so ashamed. I broke down in front of a stranger, he thought.
The caring side of Erivan quickly vanished as he stood up, putting on a mask of anger as if he hadn't just been cradling Theo and begging him to stop crying.
Theo stood awkwardly, adjusting his hair to cover his eyes. His lips parted several times, intending to speak, but he was interrupted by a light knock on one of the doors. They exchanged glances before cautiously approaching the door. The knocking stopped, and they heard a faint, feminine voice, "Is anyone there?"
The door suddenly swung open, and Theo stepped back. Another Seraphina appeared, a dimmer version, her cheeks streaked with tears and dirt, her clothes covered in blood. The sleeves of her white shirt were a dark crimson, and behind her was a large collection of knives, glass shards, and sharp objects. She had been cutting her skin..
She looked at Erivan and said in a hoarse voice, "Erivan-san...?" Then, when her eyes fell on Theo, her expression widened in shock. "The boy from the mirror? You're real!"
Erivan approached her cautiously, glancing around her. "What happened?" he asked.
She covered her face with her bloody arm and began sobbing. "There was so much screaming, blood everywhere. We tried to escape, but they were taking everyone, killing anyone who resisted. It's Sacrifice Day! They took my father! They're going to kill him! They're going to sacrifice him to their god!"
Erivan stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Sera. Stop crying. Who took your father?"
Sniffling, she looked at him with wide eyes. "The Ethereal Cult!"
.
The room appeared bathed in a hazy pink hue. The floor was wooden, the walls painted light pink, with pale gray curtains and darker pink bedding. Posters of Nana, the Winx, lana del rey, Black Swan, and Victoria's Secret models adorned the walls, alongside lace, butterflies, and stars scattered in every corner. On the bed lay blood-stained tissues next to stuffed toys that hadn't escaped the stains either. In the corner of the room, two recently dead rabbits lay in an open cage.
Theo hugged himself tightly, watching as Seraphina pulled a jacket and a green backpack matching her belt -which held a dagger and a kitchen knife- from her wardrobe. She then spoke to them both: "Check my father's room. You might find clothes that fit. It's gotten so cold all of a sudden, and your clothes are too light, Theo. You'll definitely get sick!"
Erivan was the first to head into the room, opening the wardrobe and drawers, emptying their contents. He whistled when he spotted a black leather jacket and put it on, exclaiming, "I've never met your father, Sera, but I already know I'd like him!"
He continued rummaging through the clothes, then stood up, tossing a black wool sweater, dark blue military pants, and a belt toward Theo. "Put these on instead of your pajamas, kiddo!"
Theo muttered angrily, "Stop calling me a kiddo. I'm nineteen!"
"Oh yeah? Did you said something, kiddo?"
Theo clutched the clothes to his chest, cursing the taller man under his breath, glaring at him and waiting for him to leave. Erivan chuckled. "Seriously? You have what I have, definitely smaller!"
Turning his back on Erivan to ignore his boasting, Theo hesitantly removed his pants, replacing them with the new ones, then started changing his shirt. But before he could finish, Erivan's voice came softly: "Isn't the world cruel enough for you to be so hard on yourself, boy?"
Tears filled Theo's eyes as he hastily pulled on the sweater, loathing Erivan's gaze. He hated how his severe thinness exposed his ribs and the scars of his self-inflicted wounds, along with the fresh cuts on his arms.
Before he could leave, Erivan called out, handing him a black jacket. "Hey, wait. Put this on too.. it's cold outside." Theo extended his arms, taking the jacket tightly, internally pleading, Stop looking at me. Please stop. I know I'm pathetic...
Seraphina approached, handing them some knives. "Finally, my strange knife-collecting habit is paying off! Theo, come closer!"
She approached him and pressed her finger to his collarbone where Erivan had previously cut him with glass. Smiling brightly, she said, "Now it looks prettier!"
Theo stared at her in confusion, touching the star-shaped bandage she had placed on his wound. Warmth crept into his heart as he watched her twirl around, singing, "You drew stars around my scars, now I'm bleeding."
She then stopped abruptly and said, "We'll use the emergency staircase. Get ready." She led the way to the balcony door. "It's snowing!"
Theo and Erivan followed. Erivan, smiling widely, commented, "It's beautiful!"
Seraphina cut him off sharply. "No time for admiration! Lift me up!"
Erivan easily hoisted her onto the balcony railing. She crawled along its edge, hesitating before jumping onto the fire escape. She let out an involuntary scream, followed by a sigh, then began descending. "Come on! Hurry up!"
Erivan followed, extending his hand to Theo, who stood frozen by the balcony railing, refusing to climb. Theo was terrified of heights.. no, he dreaded them.
"Come on, Theo! Hurry before they come back!"
Theo looked down, feeling dizzy, and closed his eyes in terror. "I can't! It's too high!"
"Would you rather fall from the seventh floor or be tortured by strange creatures and sacrificed to a fake god?"
Theo groaned. "You're not making this any easier!"
Seraphina shouted from below. "Hurry up!"
Without warning, Erivan grabbed Theo by the arm, making his whole body sway back and forth as Theo screamed, he shouted, "Hold on, you idiot! The ladder will break!"
Erivan let go, forcing Theo to grab the ladder. Eyes shut tightly, Theo began descending. Finally, he reached the ground, where Seraphina helped him jump down, followed by Erivan. Theo sighed and looked up at the height they had descended, unable to believe he was still alive.
"One of them!"
They quickly hid behind some bushes and crawled. Once clear, they began running toward the end of the neighborhood. Erivan shouted, "Where are we going?"
Seraphina turned to him without slowing down. "The forest! I heard them talking about a meeting in the forest."
Erivan's heart raced as he yelled, "Are we running away from them only to go to their base!?"
Theo shouted back at him, "We have to save her father!"
.
Theo clung tightly to Erivan's jacket as he walked with agonizingly slow steps, his entire body trembling violently with fear, shuddering with each step he took on the snow-covered forest floor.
"Theo..."
He felt her warm fingers brushing against his trembling grip, prompting him to loosen it slightly before interlocking his fingers with hers. Her voice followed softly, "Thank you for choosing to save me... even though it all felt unreal." He hummed in response, unable to find words, settling for a faint smile that quickly faded when she added, "You're a good person, Theo. Don't be so hard on yourself." Am I really..?
His body collided with Erivan's back as the latter extended an arm, signaling them to halt. Erivan raised a finger to his lips, motioning for silence before gesturing for them to follow. They delved deeper into the trees, strange whispers echoing from every direction, followed by a human scream.
Theo gripped Seraphina's hand tighter as she began to sob. He whispered, "Don't worry... your father will be alright."
They resumed their cautious advance, drawn closer to the source of the cries. As they neared, the light intensified amidst the darkness until they reached their destination: cloaked figures in black huddled around a blazing fire, chanting incomprehensible words. Among them were captives bound and restrained.. Seraphina's father among them.
Before they could take another step closer, a dog's growl pierced the air, locking its gaze in their direction. Immediately, several of the cloaked figures stood, prompting Theo to shout, "Scatter!"
Each ran in a different direction, hoping to distract their pursuers, but every path led them back to one another. The forest's darkness, the falling snow, the howling wind, and their failing strength weighed heavily on them.
Theo let out a scream of pain when a dog's fangs sunk into his leg, causing him to collapse. As the beast lunged for his throat, he plunged the knife he'd taken from Seraphina into its skull. The pain in his leg was excruciating, and blood poured from the wound, but there was no time to process the pain as Seraphina's desperate screams echoed nearby.
Dragging himself to a tree for support, Theo gritted his teeth and limped toward her voice. He saw a man gripping Seraphina as she flailed wildly, her dagger causing minor scratches but failing to deter him.
The man was massive, and Theo, desperate to help, abandoned his knife and lifted a large rock. I just want to save Sera... not commit murder. With all his remaining strength, he struck the man at the base of his skull, sending him to his knees. Seraphina immediately slit his throat with her dagger.
She turned to Theo, trembling and crying, "I... I..."
Theo wiped the blood from her face and embraced her, his voice shaking. "It had to be done... it had to..."
Another man emerged from the shadows, wearing a raven-shaped mask. He lunged at Seraphina, slamming her into a tree, and turned his full attention to Theo, grabbing his throat and squeezing mercilessly.
Theo's vision blurred as he gasped for air, his attempts to fight back futile against the man's superior strength. In desperation, he yanked the mask from his attacker's face, and his eyes widened in shock.. it was his own face, but more mature, with a stronger build.
The doppelgänger's grip tightened as he leaned in, speaking with Theo's own voice: "In every path, you'll end up killing them. There's no escaping it. You can't save them. This is our eternal curse. You've been damned since birth, Theo."
Theo's strength faltered, his vision fading entirely. Just before he succumbed to unconsciousness, a sudden splash of warmth hit his face.. a knife embedded in the center of his double's forehead. The grip around his throat loosened, and the doppelgänger collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
"Are you alright?"
Erivan's hands shook his shoulders, and his gray eyes peered deeply into Theo's. Theo nodded weakly, barely registering the question. Erivan let out a relieved sigh, brushing stray hair from Theo's face with a gentle hand and murmuring softly, "You're as beautiful as blood on the snow."
Theo choked on his own breath, pushing Erivan's hand away. "Let's save Seraphina's father," he stammered, turning to help Sera to her feet. Her head was still spinning from the earlier impact. "I'm sorry..."
Erivan searched the corpse and retrieved a torn piece of parchment from the man's cloak. It was covered in strange symbols and writing in various languages. The only discernible phrases were "Hexagram Ritual," "66 victims," and "Uninterrupted sequence." Seraphina snatched the parchment, her other hand clutching her throbbing head. She pointed at one symbol. "Six cloaks... sixty-six victims. The ritual fails if the sequence is disrupted!"
"We've already dealt with three," Erivan said.
"Then let's move!"
They returned to the ritual site, where six cloaked figures stood at each hexagram corner, three corners now vacant. Within the star, captives lay bound, shivering in the cold.
As soon as they stepped out of the trees, one of the figures snarled, raising an arm to alert the others. Theo shouted, "It's over! You've already lost three of your men! and two dogs!"
The leader let out an inhuman screech, chanting words that made the ground quake. Theo's body was lifted into the air as Erivan yelled, "Take Seraphina's father and as many as you can! I'll cover you!"
Chaos ensued as captives scrambled out of the hexagram. Theo frantically cut their bindings, helping Seraphina's father stand. "Hurry!" he shouted to Erivan.
As Theo reached the trees, Seraphina screamed, "We need two! Two to disrupt the ritual!"
Before Theo could react, Erivan shoved one of the cloaked figures out of the circle. Seraphina leapt inside, shouting an incantation. A brilliant light erupted, consuming the hexagram and reducing the cloaked figures to ash.
The hexagram lifted into the sky, cracks of light spreading across Erivan and Seraphina's bodies. They embraced, then looked at Theo.
"You deserve to live, Theo. Be strong for us..."
"I love you."
Their final words echoed with the light that engulfed the forest. Theo fell, swallowed by the void.
..
"Wake up, Theo!"
He gasped sharply, sitting up in bed, pushing the strands of hair stuck to his face aside. He looked at his mother, who was watching him with a confused expression. She left the room and closed the door. His eyes shifted from her to his trembling hands. Forcing himself, he got out of bed and approached the mirror to look at his reflection.
His clothes clung to his body, damp with sweat, but he wasn't in a chaotic state.. no blood, no dirt, nothing else.
His eyes widened as he pulled his collar down to reveal a star-shaped mark on his collarbone. Panic took over, and he began stripping his clothes piece by piece, only to stand there staring at his bare body.
On the middle of his arm, there were bruised fingerprints, and behind his knee, the scar of a dog bite.
The glass cut, Serafina's sticker, Erivan's fingers forcing him down the stairs, and the bite from the cult's dog...
Was it not just a nightmare?
He changed his clothes, his steps heavy, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes, and an emptiness hollowing him out. He dragged himself out of his room into the living room, collapsing onto the couch beside his father.
"Good morning, lazybones. Did you stay up late playing video games again? You really need to stop wasting time and look for a job," his father said.
"There's some leftover breakfast on the table in the kitchen. Heat it up," his mother added as she taught his younger brother numbers while he watched TV.
"Can I use your computer?" his sister, just a year younger than him, asked.
"Mysterious deaths of two individuals, a male and a female, of unknown identity, found brutally torn apart in the middle of the forest and hung on a tree, with the words 'The Ethereal Cult' written in blood beneath them..."
A gasp. A collapse. A painful scream. Tightness in his chest. Cracks in the sky. It wasn't a hallucination. But it was. It was real, ethereal..
"It was real... It was real... It wasn't a dream... They died... because of me... for me..."
"you have a crush on me, gay?"
"Please, Theo... you can't leave me here alone. I need you."
"your clothes are too light, Theo. You'll definitely get sick!"
"Isn't the world cruel enough for you to be so hard on yourself, boy?"
"You drew stars around my scars, now I'm bleeding."
"You're a good person, Theo. Don't be so hard on yourself."
"You're as beautiful as blood on the snow."
"You deserve to live."
"Theo..."
"Live and be strong for us..."
"I love you."
"In every path, you'll end up killing them. There's no escaping it. You can't save them. This is our eternal curse. You've been damned since birth, Theo."