Some things exist only because no one sees them.
The world burned - not with fire but with something heavier and more sinister
The air trembled as if it were trying to tear itself apart. A figure stood of it all, shaped distorted, unstable like a glitch in reality itself.
Two crimson eyes flickered open.
Watching
Waiting
Then- for a moment everything shattered.
Shoei izu open his eyes.
" The same nightmare again"
He exhaled slowly, staring at the ceiling unmoving. Fragments of the dream still clung to him
The distortion
The silence
The presence
Shoei exhaled slowly, dragging his hand across his face.
" This is getting more and more frustrating "
He sat up, shoulder slightly tense.
" It's bad enough I have to go to school early today..."
His voice trailed off into a quiet sigh.
" and I didn't even get enough sleep now "
silence settled into the room. Shoei looked around his room, the familiar emptiness pressing in on him. The orphanage was always like this in the morning - still, quiet, almost empty. Too empty. Shoei swung his leg off the bed and stood. His usual routine. That was all his life had ever been.
A small room.
A quiet existence.
A life that moved forward ... without ever really changing
After a quick shower, Shoei got dressed in silence, grabbed his bag and headed out.
The morning air was cool.Shoei walked along the familiar street, hands in his pocket, gaze unfocused . People passed by. Car moved. Conversation blended into meaningless noise. Everything was just as it had always been. Then - everything went quiet. The morning breeze stopped. Not slowed, stopped. Leaves hung in mid air, frozen mid-fall. Cars stopped. People froze where they stood. Conversation died mid-sentences. It was as if time itself had paused.Shoei's breath caught.
" what is this ? "
The air shifted. Not violently, but subtly and almost unnatural. The space in front of him began to twist- like heat rasing from asphalt but more sharper. More ... unstable. A low hum filled the air. Shoei took a step back.
" This isn't normal "
The distortion expanded. Crack of light formed within it.
Flickering -
Breaking -
Collapsing in on itself
Then suddenly -
BOOM!!!
The violent burst of energy erupted outward. The ground shook. The air shattered. Shoei didn't even have time to react. The force slammed into him. Lifting him off the ground. Shoei feel like like he was spinning. Like his whole world are tearing apart, And everything went white.
- silence-
Shoei's finger twitched. A sharp ache ran slowly through his body as sensation slowly returned. The cold ground, heavy air and gentle breeze. a faint ringing in his ears.
Shoei forced his eyes open while the world around him came back in fragments. Blurred shapes, distorted outlines.
" Where ?... "
He was still on the street. Everything look the same yet felt completely different. Shoei pushed himself up slowly.
" What just happened ? "
No one answered.
Then - He saw it. Something moved at the edge of his vision. Shoei froze.
"What ... is that??"
Floating and drifting. A strange figure hovered a few meters away. It's form shifted slightly, like it didn't fully belong in this world. Shoei's breath hitced.
" Am i still dreaming"
The thing tilted it head looking at Shoei then slowly it fly away. Shoei stumbled back. He turned his head and to his surprises he saw more. They were everywhere. Some perched on rooftops. Some drifting across the street. Some standing right beside other people - unnoticed and completely unseen by others. A figure passed through a man walking by. No reaction. No awareness. Nothing at all. Shoei's heartbeat quickened.
" This isn't real .." he muttered in a trembling voice
" You can see them, Can't you ? "
Shoei flinched and turned sharply. A girl stood a few steps away. Watching him. Beside her - something stood. More solid, more real. A larged, horned figure with an imposing presence. Its gaze meet Shoei's and it smirked.
" Well, Well .. Looks like he can really see me "
" It talked "
Shoei froze.
The girl sighed softly.
" Of couse he noticed you first Maru "
She stepped forward slightly
" Relax. we're here not to hurt you."
Shoei instinctively stepped back.
" Stay away ! " Shoei exclaimed
The horned figure chuckled.
" he's got spirit. I like him "
" Maru " , the girl said, slightly annoyed.
" Not helping ..."
Shoei's mind race. Nothing made sense for him. His chest thigtened.
" What are you ? " He asked in a trembling voice
Maru crossed his arm smirking
" Lets skip the gentle part. He already saw too much. "
Shoei swallowed. " Saw what ? " he asked in a trembling voice.
" The world you weren't supposed to see " The girl replied.
Silence feel. Shoei's eyes widened slightly. He took a step back, then another. He turn and then took off without hesitation. The girl frowned slightly.
" Wait! " She shouted.
But shoei didn't stop. His footsteps echoed loudly against the pavement as he pushed forward. Breath growing uneven. He clenched his teeth, running faster and faster. Suddenly he notice a black figure darting towards him. He flinched for a second and the figure ran past him. He stumbled, nearly falling. The girl's voice keep getting closer. Shoei turned his head slightly - just for a second. But it was a big mistake.
The world distorted again. Violently. It shook the ground beneath him.The distortion widened violently. Then the figure that ran past him earlier become more vivid. Shoei can see it clearly now. A twisted figure. Dark and unstable. It's body flickered like broken reality. When suddenly it vanished right in front of his eyes.
" Ran away from here now !" Shoei hear the girl voice from a distance but he couldn't see her. He looked around but could not find a single trace of the girl. He hesitate for a moment but fearing something might happen to him he decided to continue running. His footstep slammed against the pavement, uneven and desperate. He didn't look back and keep running. Slowly the world is coming back to him. Familiar streets filled with car and people. Shoei keep running without slowing down even for a second.
Slowly the orphanage gate come to view. His leg felt heavy but he forced them forward. He slammed through the gate and ran inside. Down the hallway and went straight to his room.
BANG!! -
He shut the door behind him. Shoei stood there, frozen. His breathing heavily, hands trembling and leg shaking almost giving up. He backed away slowly and dropped to his bed.
" ...What .... was that ? something's wrong with me " He whispered.
His eyes darted around the room. Everything look normal. Too normal.
Then - something moved. Shoei froze. A faint shape lingered near the corner of the ceiling. Another shape near the door and another by the window.
" They followed me..? "
Shoei sat frozen on his bed. Terrified and trembling as the world he knew was gone,