Chapter - 2 : Reawakened

Chapter - 2 : Reawakened

The night had settled in, casting a silvery glow through the windows of the Hitotsuki household. After finishing dinner, the family members went to their respective rooms, bidding each other goodnight. The house gradually fell silent, save for the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards.

Ishida lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered back to the edge of the forest, the moonlight, and Ichiro's cryptic words. He sighed, turning onto his side, trying to find a comfortable position. Just as sleep began to take him, a faint, eerie sound reached his ears.

At first, he dismissed it as a figment of his imagination, but the noise grew louder and more distinct. It was the sound of screaming—desperate, blood-curdling screams that sent chills down his spine. Ishida sat up, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Is that...?" He whispered to himself, straining to hear more clearly. The screams continued, mingled with sounds of struggle and chaos. Panic surged through him. He couldn't just ignore it.

Throwing off his blanket, Ishida rushed to his door and flung it open. The hallway was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as he made his way towards the source of the noise. He reached the top of the stairs and froze, his blood running cold.

Downstairs, the scene was one of utter carnage. His family lay lifeless, their bodies torn apart, blood pooling on the floor. Standing amidst the massacre was a dark, menacing figure—a demon, its eyes glowing with a sinister light.

"NO!" Ishida screamed, his voice breaking with anguish. Without thinking, he charged down the stairs, his fists clenched in fury. "I'll kill you!"

The demon turned to face him, a cruel smile playing on its lips. "Another one? How delightful."

Ishida lunged at the demon, throwing punches with all his might. But his efforts were futile; the demon easily dodged his attacks, its movements swift and effortless. It struck back, sending Ishida crashing into the wall.

Pain seared through his body, but he forced himself to stand, his vision blurred. "I won't let you get away with this," he growled, his voice filled with determination.

The demon sneered. "You humans are all the same—weak and pathetic."

With a roar of rage, Ishida launched himself at the demon once more, his strikes fueled by desperation and sorrow. The demon toyed with him, batting him aside as if he were nothing more than an insect.

Finally, the demon grew bored of the game. It grabbed Ishida by the throat, lifting him off the ground. "Time to end this," it hissed, tightening its grip.

Ishida struggled, gasping for breath, his vision darkening. In his final moments, his thoughts turned to his family—their smiles, their laughter, their love. A single tear slipped down his cheek as he whispered, "I'm sorry..."

With a brutal twist, the demon snapped Ishida's neck, and his lifeless body fell to the floor. The house, once filled with warmth and life, was now silent, consumed by darkness and death.