The house was no longer safe.
Danny could feel it.
Not just fear, not just danger.
Something deeper.
Like the air itself had turned against him.
"…Abby," he said quietly, his voice tighter than before, "whatever's out there…"
A pause.
"…it's different, isn't it?"
Abby didn't answer immediately.
That alone was enough to confirm it.
Her eyes were locked on the front door now, her expression no longer playful, no longer teasing.
Just focused.
Serious.
"…Yeah," she said finally.
A beat.
"That's not a Rift Spawn."
Danny's stomach dropped.
"…Then what is it?"
The house creaked.
Slow.
Heavy.
Like something massive had just stepped onto the ground outside.
Abby's aura flared slightly crimson energy flickering around her like a warning.
"…Something that shouldn't be here yet."
Those words hit harder than anything else.
Shouldn't be here yet.
Meaning It wasn't just stronger.
It wasn't just different.
It was wrong.
---
A shadow passed the window.
Not fast.
Not sneaky.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Like it wanted them to see it.
Danny's breath caught.
"…It knows we're here."
Abby's lips curved slightly.
But there was no humor in it.
"Of course it does."
The lights flickered again then died completely.
Darkness swallowed the room.
For a moment Nothing moved.
Nothing breathed.
Then—
THUD.
Something hit the front door.
Not hard.
Just enough.
Like a knock.
Danny froze.
"…Did it just…"
THUD.
Again.
Louder this time.
The wood cracked slightly.
Abby didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Her eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"Don't open it."
"…I wasn't planning to!"
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
The knocks became heavier.
More aggressive.
The door began to bend inward.
Splinters forming.
Danny's pulse pounded in his ears.
"…It's going to break in."
Abby exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Then She stepped forward.
Crimson energy surged around her body, stronger than before, the pressure in the room spiking instantly.
The ground beneath her feet cracked.
Her wings flickered into existence behind her—
Not fully visible.
But enough.
Enough to feel.
Danger.
Power.
Something inhuman.
Danny felt it hit him like a wave.
"…Abby…"
She didn't look back.
Didn't hesitate.
"Stay behind me."
The door stopped moving.
Suddenly.
Silence.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
Danny blinked.
"…Did it stop?"
Abby's eyes narrowed.
"…No."
A whisper.
Barely audible.
"It's smiling."
Danny's blood ran cold.
"…What?"
The door Didn't break.
It didn't explode.
It didn't shatter.
Instead It opened.
Slowly.
Creeeeak.
Like someone on the other side…
Was being polite.
Darkness poured in from outside.
Thick.
Almost alive.
And then It stepped in.
Tall.
Too tall.
Its body barely fitting through the doorway, limbs elongated, joints bending in ways that didn't make sense. Its surface flickered like unstable shadows, but parts of it looked… solid.
Real.
Its face—
If it could be called that—
Was blank.
No eyes.
No mouth.
And yet—
Danny felt it staring directly at him.
A pressure slammed into his chest.
His body locked.
"…I can't move—!"
Abby stepped forward instantly.
Placing herself between him and the thing.
Her aura flared violently—
Crimson light clashing against the darkness.
For the first time—
The creature reacted.
It tilted its head.
Slowly.
Curiously.
As if observing her.
Then—
It spoke.
A voice that didn't come from a mouth.
Didn't come from anywhere.
It just—
Existed.
"….Shunku…."
Abby froze.
Danny's eyes widened.
"…It knows your name…?"
The creature took a step forward.
The floor cracked under its weight.
"….Return…."
The word echoed unnaturally, distorting the air itself.
Abby's expression darkened.
"…So that's it," she muttered.
Her aura intensified.
Violent.
Unstable.
"You're not here to hunt…"
She lifted her hand slowly.
Crimson energy gathering.
Condensing.
Dangerous.
"You're here to take me back."
The creature didn't respond.
Didn't need to.
It moved.
Faster than anything before it.
A blur of darkness Straight toward her.
Danny's body reacted instinctively.
"ABBY—!"
But she was already moving.
Crimson met darkness—
BOOM.
The entire house shook violently as their powers collided, the impact sending shockwaves through the walls, cracking everything around them.
For a moment Neither side moved.
Power against power.
Force against force.
Danny struggled to breathe.
"…What… is that thing…?"
Abby's voice cut through the chaos.
Cold.
Certain.
For the first time—
Dead serious.
"Something that can kill me."
Silence.
One second.
Two.
Then—
Her eyes sharpened.
A dangerous smile forming.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
But something far more terrifying.
"Which means…"
Crimson energy exploded outward.
The room trembled violently.
"This might actually be fun."
The creature's presence surged in response.
Darker.
Heavier.
Stronger.
And outside—
More shadows gathered.
Watching.
Waiting.
As if this moment…
Was only the beginning.
---
To Be Continued.