Chapter 2:
The moon hung faintly in the sky, casting pale light over the world below. Shadows stretched long behind the school building, where silence reigned. Only the soft rustle of wind disturbed the eerie calm.
The three boys met at the front gate of the school.
"Are you both ready?" Kenta asked, his voice low.
"Yeah, let's go," Kazuo replied.
"I still think this isn't right…" Aiko said nervously, his hands shaking slightly.
"Shut up, bug. Just follow us quietly. And remember—no noise," Mika said coldly, casting a scathing look at him.
They moved slowly toward the path behind the school, the air growing colder with each step. The silence felt unnatural, pressing in on them. Even the wind whispered like voices from the void. It was as if the shadows were watching.
"It's late… I snuck out without telling anyone. If they find out I'm not home… I'm dead," Kazuo whispered, his eyes darting around.
"Same. I didn't tell anyone either. Let's find it quick and get the hell out," Kenta replied.
Every footstep felt too loud, their hearts pounding louder than their steps as they crept through the darkness.
"Do you guys really think this is okay…?" Aiko asked again, his voice trembling.
"Aiko, say that one more time and I swear, I'll leave you here," Kenta snapped, his temper fraying.
"Relax, Mika. We're almost there," Kazuo said, trying to calm the rising tension.
They finally spotted the old back gate—rust-covered and ancient, barely hanging on its hinges.
"There it is. We just have to reach it without making a sound," Kenta instructed.
"Yeah. Aiko, keep watch and make sure no one's coming," Kazuo added.
"No one ever comes by here at night anyway… I heard rumors..." Aiko muttered, glancing behind him.
Kenta and Kazuo slowly pushed the gate open. It groaned with a long, eerie creak.
"Come on. In, quick," Kenta whispered.
They slipped through and shut it behind them. Beyond the gate, the path disappeared into pitch-blackness.
"Alright… Let's move," Kazuo said.
They crept deeper into the overgrown schoolyard. The air was thick and musty, and each footstep echoed too loudly—unnaturally.
"Mika, where's the corner?" Kazuo asked.
"Come forward. It's to the left, inside the school. I checked the structure map at the library," Kenta explained.
"Both of you, follow me. I know the layout."
They turned down the left corridor. Just as they were about to continue, Mika suddenly froze.
"What's wrong? Why'd you stop?" Kazuo asked.
"This is the place. The box should be here. Search!" Kenta commanded.
They began searching frantically, overturning debris, peering into cracks. Minutes turned into an hour.
"Damn… We've been looking forever," Kazuo muttered in frustration.
"Yeah… It's too late. Let's just leave," Kenta agreed.
Kazuo glanced at his wristwatch. "It's been hours."
Just as they turned to go, Kazuo stumbled—his foot striking something hard.
"Wait… I just hit something," he said.
He bent down and brushed away the dirt to reveal a metal chain bolted to the floor.
"Mika! Check this out—it's chained into the ground!" Kazuo called.
"Move. Let me see," Kenta said, pushing forward.
They all gathered around the embedded chain.
"It's stuck to something underneath. Let's pull together!" Kenta ordered.
They braced themselves and pulled. With effort, the chain budged, and suddenly—a hidden panel creaked open beneath them. They stumbled back in shock.
"Come here… look!" Kenta said.
Buried beneath layers of dust was an old, weathered box. It looked ancient, sealed tightly, with a strange parchment laid across the top.
"Let's dig it out!" Kazuo urged.
They carefully lifted the box free. The parchment covering it was filled with symbols—strange, arcane writing they couldn't understand.
"Kazuo, you open it," Kenta said.
"Hell no! You do it," Kazuo shot back.
Kenta didn't argue. He tore off the parchment and slowly opened the box.
Inside was something so horrifying, they all stumbled back in fear.
"It's… an eye. Let's get out of here!" Kenta shouted.
Panic gripped them. They turned and bolted, but in the chaos, Kazuo tripped and fell.
When the others turned to help, they froze—paralyzed by the sight before them.
"Wh–what the hell!? Kazuo… he's been split in two!" Kenta screamed, collapsing to the ground in a flood of tears.
"Shut up! Or we'll die too!" Aiko hissed, his voice shaking with terror.
Then, suddenly, Kenta went silent.
Aiko's heart dropped.
Why did he suddenly go quiet…? he thought, dread crawling up his spine.
His eyes turned toward Mika—then widened in horror.
A gaping hole had opened in Kenta's chest. Mika collapsed. Aiko fainted.
Darkness swallowed everything.
---
Two Years Later – 2023
Morning came to a dusty city street.
Ryan walked alone, headed toward a convenience store.
"It's hot today. My clothes are in tatters, and today's my birthday. I thought I'd buy a fan and some new clothes with my paycheck… but after rent and the electricity bill, there's nothing left," he muttered to himself.
He entered the store.
The owner glared at him. "Do you even know what time it is? You're late again!"
"I'm sorry, sir. I was really tired. I'll be on time starting tomorrow," Ryan said quickly.
"No more chances. Be on time or don't come back. I'm stepping out—watch the shop. Everything better be perfect when I return," the owner snapped before storming out.
"Yes, sir."
Soon after, a man walked in. Ryan gave him a polite greeting.
"Hello, sir. What do you need?"
The man didn't reply. Instead, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at Ryan.
"Give me all the money you've got," he demanded.
"I… I don't understand," Ryan stammered.
"Don't play dumb. Empty the register, or I'll shoot."
"Sir, I really don't have—"
The gunman struck Ryan with the butt of his weapon. Blood trickled from his head as the man robbed the register. Sirens howled outside, and the thief bolted out the door.
The owner returned moments later.
"What the hell happened to my shop?!"
"A thief—he had a gun. He hit me and ran with the money!" Ryan explained, still dazed.
"And you let him go?!"
"He had a gun… What could I do?"
"No excuses! You're fired. Get out!"
"Please don't do this… This job was all I had. I have no money, no food—"
"I said get out!"
The owner shoved him out onto the street. Tears streamed down Ryan's cheeks as he walked into the empty city, his stomach growling.
---
Night – A Dark Alley
The night was quiet, broken streetlamps flickering weakly. Rain threatened overhead.
Ryan trudged through a narrow alley on his way home. Up ahead, he heard voices—shouting.
The thief from earlier was there with a gang, harassing an elderly man.
No. Not again, Ryan thought, stepping forward.
"Let him go," Ryan said, firm and clear.
The head thief turned with a laugh. "Who the hell are you, kid?"
"Boss, that's the kid from the shop I robbed!" the shop thief pointed out.
"Ohh, it's you. Get lost, or you'll end up like the geezer," the head thief sneered.
"I said. Let. Him. Go," Ryan repeated.
The shop thief pulled a knife. "I'll take care of him."
He lunged forward. But Ryan moved with supernatural speed—sidestepping and catching the blade between two fingers.
"Big mistake," Ryan said calmly.
With a snap, he broke the blade, grabbed the thief by the collar, and hurled him into the rest of the gang.
The thugs fled, terrified.
The old man stared up in awe. "Thank you, son… You saved my life. What's your name?"
Ryan didn't answer. He turned and walked into the night.
The shadows swallowed his silhouette.
---
Stormy Night – Ryan's Apartment
Thunder cracked across the sky.
Ryan sat alone in his tiny apartment.
"What did I do to deserve this? Why on my birthday?" he muttered, falling to his knees.
"Today I turned 21… and they took my mom and dad from me."
Memories flooded back—the crash, the blinding light, the wreckage.
"I was six. We were driving through the forest… then that light fell from the sky."
The light obliterated the trees. The force crushed their car.
Ryan survived.
His parents did not.
---
The Next Morning
Ryan wandered through a local mall, hearing a nearby TV broadcast.
"Breaking News: Mysterious Death of Notorious Gang and Their Leader."
He stared in disbelief.
"That's… the same gang from last night. What the hell happened to them?"
A sleek black car pulled up outside.
A young man and woman stepped out, both dressed in black and about Ryan's age.
They walked straight up to him.
"My name is Mahi. I'm from U.G.I.S.," the woman said.
"U… what?" Ryan asked, blinking.
"Underground Government Investigation Specialist," said the man—Kaito. He held out a photo.
"Do you know anything about this person?" Kaito asked.
Ryan hesitated. "Yes… but I can't say."
"Why not?" Mahi asked.
"Because I'm really hungry," Ryan said, rubbing his stomach.
The two agents exchanged looks.
Moments later, they were seated in a nearby restaurant.
"What would you like to order?" the waiter asked.
"Eat whatever you want. But talk," Kaito said.
"This guy's a thief. He robbed the shop I worked at. Hit me on the head. Because of him, I lost my job," Ryan explained.
"Do you think… you hunted him down and did this?" Mahi asked, trying to piece it together.
"I hurt him, yeah. But I didn't kill him!" Ryan insisted.
"So… something else happened?" she said slowly.
"Yes. That's me…"
Before he could explain further, Kaito's phone rang. He answered, then stood abruptly.
"We have to go. Ryan—take my number. If anything else happens, call me."
"I don't have a phone…" Ryan admitted.
Kaito turned to Mahi. "Let's go."
They left.
Ryan remained seated in the booth, alone.
His world… beginning to unravel.
___
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