Chapter 2: slaughter the dead

The first thing that happened was the lizard lunged at me, seemingly having gotten so used to controlling the corpse that he did not have to put his full attention to it, leaving it to do whatever it was raised to. It bit into the wall, taking out a decent sized chunk. It flung it away, the spot where it used to be now smoldering and slowly rotting. It lunged at me again as I dodged, managing to get a light cut on it. The wound was then set aflame, burning it and seemingly purifying it, a trait I did not think to be owned by a demon. However the thought could not have my attention much longer as the lizard attacked again, grazing my leg. I looked down to see the wound and surroundings beginning to turn black. I then struck the lizard again. My blade cutting off the tail. The Lizard began turning frantic, as the corpse of my teacher now quickly lunged at me. I swiftly turned to the side and cut off the left arm. The arm blazed as nothing remained but ash, the wound emanating black smoke. The corpse was now twitching in rage, it being amplified by the magic of the demonic lizard, or so Ming told me.

I then began feeling the spirit of Ming in my blade communicating with her. "Ming, lend me your power!" I said to her, "Yes!" she said as the blade glowed orange, flames now covering the blade in its entirety. I then aim my blade at the corpse as the lizard was distracted due to my blow earlier. "Ming, may thy flames burn thy cage and set him free- Burning Pyre!" I shouted as flames flowed from my sword and burned the body corrupted by the demonic magic. His body now ash at my feet as I see his spirit before me. He looked at me, smiling in a release sort of way. I smiled back, shaking his hand as he always did with students and he then disappeared. I wondered If I should feel sad. I mean he was easy going and was not hard on his students like me but we were not close unlike Ms.Otaka. I new her, my family knew her. I then was distracted from my thoughts as I saw the lizard with his tail back, and a corpse nearby with a small wound now turning to dust.

"Ming, how did it grow back?" I asked her. "Well by absorbing the energy of a target they can heal their injuries and gain strength" she told me as her description proved what I saw. I can see it looked stronger, its now drooling mouth now slightly weakening the floor. I ready my blade, its tip glowing with heat as embers now flow from it. I then tighten my grip and dash towards the lizard and strike down with my blade. It dodged and began re-animating two more corpses. The little fragments of lifeforce it absorbed seemed to have enhanced it by a few times. The re-animated corpses lunge at me, their bony hands stretched out to grab me. I stepped aside as they settled near the stairwell leading up. Their strength now enhanced began tearing up the metal and began hurling towards me with their 'weapons'. My body dodged quickly, keeping up with them due to my new form. I kept dodging until I had an opening. I struck my blade in the abdomens and they went up in flames. Their spirits now heading up into an unknown location.

I then coat my blade in fire and chase after the lizard again. I began slashing wildly, keeping the lizard occupied so it could not raise another corpse. As it neared a certain spot in the area near the entrance, Ms.Otaka with one of the torn pieces of railing in hand smacked the demon into a wall. This blow made it temporarily dazed, enough for me to kill it. I raise my blade and pierce its head. The flames then burn it up from the inside, killing it for good. I then see fragments of its essence manifest in wisps. Ming appeared on my shoulder and ate these wisps, her flames momentarily turning black. I stared at her as her eyes met mine. "What was that?" I asked her as her form was changed. The flame of her body now is darker, tinged with a shadowy look. I looked at her, my gaze filled with curiosity, waiting to see whether or not she would answer. "I will tell you when it is necessary," she told me. I wanted to interrogate her but I decided I wanted to exit the building as quickly as possible. "Miss, you okay?" I asked her. Ms.Otaka was silent just for a bit. After a while she replied "I am fine". She got up from her spot, dusting off the dirt from her skirt. "Well are you ready to leave?" I asked her. She nodded her head yes as she adjusted herself firmly and we exited the front doors of the building.

()

It was a sunny day in class today, the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves being heard all-throughout the building. My class room was big enough to accommodate around 25 students. The board had fresh chalk bought this morning, my desk neat and tidy from finished graded tests and a tiny little flower sitting on it. I walked up to the board, chalk in hand as I began preparing for today's lessons. I had sat down to get my books as well as preparing what I called my throwing balls. They were small plastic ping-pong balls I used to gain the attention of students on their phones and those asleep during the lesson. I then hear the first few students coming for the first hour of the day. I hear the chatter of many topics, some more school appropriate and others more concerning than what I was comfortable with. I then hear the ringing of the bell signaling the beginning of the day.

I signaled one of my students to begin morning attendance. After that was finished I began our english language class. "Okay class, what is the english word for the capital of the US?" I asked them. I scanned the room, seeing not one hand being raised. I of course prepared to hunt victims to answer the question. I scanned the room with my eyes and spotted a girl sleeping in class. "Ms.Nakahara, can you answer this question?" I asked her, jolting her from her sleep. I could see her troubling her brain for an answer, but seemingly came up empty. "I don't know" said Ms.Nakahara.

"Well Ms.Nakahara, the english word is Washington D.C." I told her as she sat down at her seat. I then began writing down different vowels and double vows, lecturing them on it deeply. This was the major spot of trouble for them as while Japanese has only five vowel sounds, English has 20 vowel sounds. As I began to delve deeper into the topic the sound of the bell was heard. "Okay class, remember your assingment is to write 20 words, with all of them using single vowels and double vowles in their sentences!" I told them as they left the class. I sat down and began reading 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne. 'Man this book is getting dry' I though as I forced myself to continue.

The only reason I did so was I heard english students in the us read this, so I am reading it to immerse myself in this language. I then see my next class come in as this cycle seemingly continues throughout the day. It was long and was very slow as many usually are. I myself was staying extra like I usually did grading tests I handed out, planning for my next lesson and such. I was drinking the bitter coffee to stay awake to finish what I needed. However, I seemingly noticed a shift in the air as if something dangerous was going to happen.

When the sky became red and flames began to burn the land surrounding us, I began to scream. I quickly grabbed what I needed to make it out of there, but when I saw the carnage outside I was scared. The fear it struck me with made me hide in my room. This room felt like the only safe space if the door is closed. I hid in the room for a while until I heard the sliding of the door as the face of my student is now upon me.