Chapter 3 - Shadow beings

Flashback

As much as it didn't seem sensible to leave the place without checking the source of the noise, it was already obvious that going into a dark hallway at the back of a department store was not a good idea, especially with the numerous warnings indicating that something was wrong with the shadows. Even without understanding the real meaning behind the graffiti, it was clear as day that taking further risks was not a good choice. Without thinking much, Yuna returns to her car, starts it, and drives away.

As she accelerated, Yuna saw the third and last piece of graffiti.

"The voices lie."

Yuna: "...? What the hell is that supposed to mean? How hard is it to write a complete sentence?"

Said the girl, confused by the continuous graffiti, which seemed to get more and more absurd.

Even though the situation was terrifying, Yuna tried to keep her composure, even though she was on the verge of collapsing. Her mind remained clouded, unchanged, even after everything that happened. In na attempt to push the "dirt" under the rug, she tried to keep her mind occupied, thinking exclusively about her survival and immediate needs. It was obvious that this couldn't be sustained for long, no matter how hard she tried; no one could act naturally in such a situation for long, no matter how much they tried to lie to themselves to believe that everything was fine. Although she tried to view the situation as a spectator, everything has a consequence.

While driving, Yuna reflected on the graffiti and its possible meanings. As essential as it seemed, her "hallucinations" and the graffiti were somehow connected. Following simple logic, everything that happened that day was somehow interconnected. From the announcement on the trail to the monsters that appeared and the graffiti in the city. Although different, they all happened on the same day. Even though the girl didn't know the origin of the creatures, if she met someone, she might get some information. Leaving that city seemed like the simplest way to achieve this.

Keeping this in mind, she quickly accelerated the car, heading towards the road that led out of the city.

End of the second chapter.

Start of the third chapter

Or at least, that's what she tried...

Although the car was working perfectly before, moments after Yuna made her decision, it started to show signs of malfunction, slowly decelerating.

Yuna: "...?"

Before the girl could understand the situation, the vehicle finally stopped moving, confusing her even more. Even without understanding the situation, Yuna tried to start it again, believing it to be a coincidence. However, even after numerous attempts, it remained unresponsive.

Yuna: "Damn it...!"

Exclaimed Yuna, slowly starting to panic.

Yuna: "Come on...!"

Said the girl, trying to restart it.

After numerous failed attempts, the girl finally gave up, accepting that her efforts were futile.

With no other options, Yuna sighed, resting her head on the steering wheel. Even without having a good grasp of what was happening in that city, she knew she couldn't stay there until nightfall. And if she did, she would end up regretting it.

Keeping her head on the steering wheel, Yuna began to reflect on recent events: the death of her friends, the forest, the city, and even her car, in the present.

"What the hell did I do to deserve this...?"

Thought the girl, trying to hold back her tears.

Until the previous day, her life was normal; however, suddenly, everything turned into hell: all her friends "died," and now she was alone. Event after event, everything seemed like a big circus, of which she was the main attraction.

Unable to bear her pain, tears began to stream down Yuna's face as she slowly succumbed to the events. After repressing her emotions for so long, her anguish was finally being released, tear by tear. No matter how hard she tried to stay strong, who could remain indifferent in the face of so many life-and-death situations?

Everything began to come back all at once, like a blow: fear, anxiety, pain, regret, and frustration mixed, forming a whirlwind of feelings that always brought back the sense of loss and, consequently, reminded her of the lack of a shoulder to cry on.

After long minutes marked by intense pain and resentment, the girl finally began to regain her composure. Remembering that lamenting the situation would do no good, after all, if she didn't save herself, who would?

With no alternatives, Yuna sighed as she tried to calm down. As difficult as the situation was, she needed to stay strong. A single mistake on her part could result in her premature death.

After partially regaining her composure, Yuna got out of the vehicle. Even though she was unmotivated, the constant sense of danger forced her to stay strong in the face of the situation. Outside the vehicle, the girl looked around for a moment, searching for something that could help her in the situation. However, as expected, there was nothing around except na empty street and countless houses. With no way out, the girl turned back to the car, which remained on, even if stationary. Although she still had hopes for the miraculous return of its functionality, it was clear that this would not happen.

After finally breaking down and releasing everything she felt, the girl's body was light, even if gravely weakened. Given the situation, she couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness, no matter how hard she tried to ignore it. Even discouraged, she knew she couldn't give in. The walk would be long, and she needed to find a place to spend the night. Even if she were lucky enough to find a vehicle on the road, it was extremely unlikely that it would be unlocked.

With the end of a brief reflection, the girl begins to walk along the road, alert to her surroundings.

As she walked down the road, Yuna slowly returned to lamenting her bad luck. Even as she tried to keep her mind clear, she continued reflecting on everything that had happened, something that probably wouldn't yield effective results, or so she thought. As she delved deeper into the events, small gaps left behind began to appear, forming even more doubts and questions:

"What was happening in the forest, and how did I manage to survive for so long, even while unconscious?"

"Who did the graffiti, and why?"

These were some of the questions that arose in the girl's mind. Although she sought a possible explanation, it was clear that she couldn't come to a conclusion with the limited information she had, no matter how hard she tried.

When she was about to give up, a thought crossed her mind:

"Maybe... Something was guiding me here...?"

Even though it seemed inconceivable at first, this theory explained her survival despite all the challenges she faced.

However, even though it was plausible, Yuna immediately dismissed this theory right after formulating it. After all, "Why the hell would someone guide me to a 'deserted' city surrounded by weirdness...?" or at least that's what the girl thought after a brief reflection.

During her walk, moments after entering one of the deserted streets of the city, Yuna, though initially lost in thought, had her attention drawn to one of the buildings by na unmistakable sound: the crash of a door being violently slammed shut.

After the sound of the impact, the girl froze, carefully observing the buildings. Unable to locate the source of the noise, she began trying to explain what caused it in na attempt to calm herself.

"Maybe... The wind...?"

Although it was a silly theory, Yuna ended up accepting it, trying to reassure herself.

Right after making her decision, she resumed walking on the sidewalk. However, as expected, the situation didn't resolve so easily. As she continued, something could be seen following her through the buildings. Although subtle, this movement was noticed by the girl, who, even terrified, decided to keep going, believing that nothing would happen if whatever was moving didn't notice that she had seen it.

However, the further she walked, the more abrupt the movements became. At this point, Yuna began to believe that whatever was following her had a clear intention of making her notice its presence, even if indirectly.

With no other options, the girl ended up giving in and took the bait, turning towards the buildings. However, contrary to her expectations, absolutely nothing happened; the movement ceased.

Yuna: "...?"

Confused, Yuna kept watching the buildings. However, even after a long wait, the building remained unchanged: no movements, no sounds, nothing. After a few seconds, unable to understand the intention of the thing that was moving, the girl sighed, deciding to continue walking.

Even trying to ignore the situation, Yuna knew she couldn't go on like this for long. With no other alternatives, she couldn't help but come up with theories: "A monster?", "A person?" Even though she couldn't figure out what it was, she didn't have the courage to go and check.

After a few seconds, along with the strange movements, a sound began to emerge, albeit faintly: whispers. However, although they initially seemed human, after a brief analysis, it was clear that it was something different. Both the tone and the language were unfamiliar to Yuna.

Gradually, the girl again gave in to her instincts, looking back at the building, now walking. As expected, both sounds stopped as soon as she tried to discover their origins. It was clear that something was trying to scare her, or at least signal its presence. No matter how much she observed the buildings, nothing seemed to happen, or so she thought. After a few meters, the whispers returned, this time, more distant. Given the situation, the girl no longer knew what to feel: anger or terror. Just as before, something seemed to be trying to entertain itself with her reactions.

Her options were extremely limited. Even if she tried to flee, the chance of success was tiny. Confronted by the circumstances, Yuna couldn't help but feel vulnerable.

As she walked, Yuna, distracted by her own thoughts and the noises, ended up approaching a lamppost. Not noticing its presence, after a few seconds, she collided with it and fell to the ground.

Yuna: "Ugh, who the hell put this post here!?"

She shouted, holding her nose.

Moments after colliding with the lamppost, a nauseating silence stopped all the noises around her, but it was soon replaced by the sound of distant laughter.

Embarrassed, Yuna remained motionless on the ground for a few seconds before finally letting out a groan.

Yuna: "Damn it...! Even ghosts are laughing at me now..."

Still embarrassed, she tried to get up, but with her balance impaired by the impact, she fell again. The laughter intensified with the fall.

Moments after standing up, in a peak of anger, Yuna, tired of the mockery, shouted:

Yuna: "Fuck you, instead of laughing, why don't you come here!?"

However, contrary to her expectations, this provoked na unexpected reaction. The laughter stopped, and the silence returned.

Realizing what she had done, Yuna immediately regretted it, fearing what would happen next. Moments after the silence returned, a loud crash was heard from the second floor of the building in front of her. Startled by the sound, she took a step back before looking at the building.

To her surprise, instead of seeing na empty building again, something was different; two small spheres were glowing near the window.

In front of the sight, Yuna couldn't help but be terrified.

"Shit...!" was her first thought before taking another step back, panicking.

Paralyzed with fear, she remained still in the same spot, staring at the window with a look of astonishment.

After a few seconds, terrified, Yuna rubbed her eyes, hoping it was her mind playing tricks on her. However, even after looking at the building again, the spheres were still there, this time even closer to the window.

Looking more closely, a strange silhouette seemed to surround them. Though she was confused, as she began to identify the strange figure staring at her through the window, a chill ran down her spine.

"Fuck...!" Yuna thought, recalling the events that had occurred at the diner.

Although at first glance, both entities seemed similar, the bright eyes of the figure eliminated the possibility of it being another illusion.

As she watched the figure, she slowly began to panic, fearing losing sight of it.

Terrified, Yuna slowly began to back away, never taking her eyes off the window. However, even with her constant gaze, the figure continued to approach the window. With each movement, the silhouette grew closer. After about five steps, something resembling a hand touched the glass.

Stunned, Yuna stopped her retreat, paralyzed once more. She swallowed hard, watching closely to see what would happen next. However, before she could comprehend the situation, the window began to crack, signaling the immense pressure being applied to it.

Although she was still in a trance, the sound of cracking glass forced her back to reality in a panic.

Yuna: "Shit-"

Before she could finish her sentence, the glass shattered, falling onto the street.

With a look of terror, Yuna remained frozen, horrified by the sight. However, this didn't last long; a few seconds after the glass shattered, the silhouette began to move again, indicating it would soon jump towards the street.

With no other options, she tried to draw her knife. However, before completing the movement, she realized she had forgotten everything she had taken from the dinner in the car. Her eyes widened as she looked back at the figure, ready to jump. Now unarmed, Yuna panicked and quickly fled.

To her surprise, seconds after starting to run, she noticed a familiar environment. Although she hadn't initially realized it, she had accidentally returned to the street where the department store was located. Upon realizing this, Yuna changed her plans and ran towards it.

However, moments before entering the store, the sound of na object hitting the ground was evident. Without looking back, the girl quickly entered the establishment, desperately fleeing towards the corridor at the back of the store. Even though the place was mostly dark, it still seemed like a better option compared to facing the entity head-on.

After entering the darkness of the passage, Yuna collided with one of the walls. Despite being terrified, she tried to orient herself, sliding her hands along the surface, which turned out to be a door. With no time to think, she heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. In a desperate move, she opened the door, throwing herself into the "room" and quickly locking the door from the inside. In despair, Yuna positioned herself, planning to prevent the door from being opened.

However, seconds after locking the door, contrary to her expectations, the sound of footsteps ceased, and the environment returned to its original state, while na uncomfortable silence settled in the air.

Though confused, the girl remained on guard, holding the door with all her strength. However, even after a long wait, nothing happened; the silence remained untouched, as if nothing had occurred.

After enduring so much stress, against her will, her body collapsed under its own weight, forcing her to fall to her knees on the floor, panting.

"What the hell was that...?" thought the girl as she tried to catch her breath.

After a few seconds, believing herself to be safe, Yuna turned around, leaning her back against the door and sitting down. Tears welled up in her eyes, but this time, out of relief. Even though she didn't seem to be in immediate danger, her heart was pounding in her chest.

Moments after calming down, the girl noticed the darkness filling the room. Absolutely nothing was visible; she couldn't even see herself.

Though she hadn't expected a well-lit place when she entered, the girl remained cautious about the darkness. After all, even though she was in danger, she had broken the only rule imposed by the graffiti.

After catching her breath, Yuna stood up, intending to find a way out of the room. Although temporarily safe, she knew she couldn't stay there much longer. Now standing, the girl tried to identify where she was, sliding her hands along the wall. Upon feeling the smooth surface, she began walking around the room, still with her hands on the surface. However, contrary to her expectations, after only 4 steps, she reached the limit of the space.

Yuna: "...?"

Although slightly confused, she quickly realized that the door was probably closer to one wall than the other. Keeping this in mind, Yuna proceeded cautiously, returning to the door in a few steps and quickly heading towards the other wall. However, once again, to her surprise, she took 4 steps before reaching the other end of the "room." This confused her for a moment, but she quickly realized what it could be.

"A corridor...?" After a brief reflection, this theory seemed to be true. With this in mind, the girl followed the change in direction of the wall, beginning to walk again.

One... Two... Three steps forward. Even though she was in a confined space, the darkness and silence of the room slowly began to suffocate her. The atmosphere of the environment was heavy, and although she had barely started her brief walk, Yuna began to feel uncomfortable.

However, even though she was being cautious, after about 15 steps, the girl felt a sudden change in the floor of the room, which appeared to have ended.

"...?" Confused, Yuna paused for a moment before finally hypothesizing.

"Maybe... stairs?" After making sense of her question, the girl tried to verify its accuracy by extending her foot over the gap. To her surprise, her theory turned out to be true; her foot reached one of the steps of the stairs. Although she was uncertain about the staircase's destination, with no other options, Yuna slowly began to descend the steps, or at least she tried. After trying to step on the second step, contrary to her expectations, she ended up taking a misstep.

Yuna: "Sh-Shit!"

The girl shouted before her body lost balance.

In a quick movement, Yuna tried to hold onto one of the walls of the place, but all of them were smooth, without any space to support herself. With no other options, the girl was forced to protect herself, placing her hands in front of her head, hoping not to hit it against the ground.

However, her efforts were in vain. With the impact of the fall, Yuna once again lost consciousness.

Minutes after Yuna fainted

Two unknown men walk down the corridor. One of them, tall with gray hair, wields a flashlight, while the other, of medium build with black hair, stays a step behind, following on the left.

???: "I think the noise came from here..." muttered the man with gray hair, gesturing towards the other.

???: "Damn it, why do you always drag me along with you...? What if it's one of those things?" questioned the guy with black hair.

???: "For someone who only survives because of me, you talk too much..." said one of them, slightly annoyed by the other's reluctance to follow him.

???: "... Eh..."

After a short walk, the duo spots a silhouette amidst the darkness of the corridor. Both pause for a moment, trying to identify the strange figure.

???: "...? A... Woman?" asked the man with gray hair.

???: "Kaito, we can still go back, man. Let whatever that thing is there be. It might be one of their tricks; it doesn't even make sense how she could have gotten in here. I'm almost sure I locked the door..."

Kaito: "Damn it, stop being so scared. How do you plan to survive if something happens to me? Are you just going to sit there until you starve?"

Although slightly frustrated and resentful of Kaito's words, the man decides to remain silent.

Shortly after the brief lecture, Kaito shines the flashlight on the woman lying at the foot of the stairs.

Kaito: "Yuto... Are you sure you locked the door?"

Yuto: "Uh... I'm almost sure I did, I remember locking it when we entered."

Kaito: "Almost...? Are you kidding me? So she only got in here because of you? Wasn't it enough that you knocked over a glass bottle while we were checking the door?"

Upon being questioned, Yuto is momentarily speechless. With no other options, he simply accepts the mistake and hangs his head.

Kaito: Sigh "Okay... I guess it doesn't matter now. We need to check if she's alive. While I do that, check if the door is locked again. I don't want the same problem happening."

Yuto: "Alright...!"

After the brief exchange, Yuto heads towards the stairs, quickly ascending them. In contrast, Kaito approaches Yuna, kneeling down and checking her pulse and breathing.

Kaito: "Hm... So she's still alive..." said the man as he observed the unconscious girl.

After the fall, Yuna's pre-existing injuries had worsened. New bruises and cuts stood out among the old ones. Even though Kaito didn't know the girl's story, it was clear she had been through tough times.

Moments after the man reached this conclusion, Yuto returns, having checked the door.

Kaito observes him approaching, wearing na expression of indifference.

Yuto: "Looks like the door is really locked."

Kaito: "...? Then how the hell did she get in?"

Yuto: "... Look, I didn't want to say anything, but don't you find this a little suspicious? We barely managed to survive, and out of nowhere, a girl appears in our 'base,' unconscious. Not only is that strange enough, but she managed to get in here even though the door was locked..."

Kaito: "Hm... I don't think she's one of them. If those things really wanted to, they could easily get in here."

Yuto: "That doesn't change anything. Maybe they're just playing with us; you should already know that, after all, we've only survived for so long because of that...!"

Kaito: Sigh "Look, even if that's the case, we can't just leave her here. Sooner or later, she'll wake up..."

Yuto: "Uh... Well, we could... You know..."

The man said, sliding his thumb across his neck.

Kaito looks at his companion with disbelief, unable to believe that he was actually considering that possibility.

Kaito: "Have you lost your mind? What if your suspicions are wrong? Are you planning to kill na innocent person? I can't believe you're actually planning to murder someone just because of where they're from..."

Yuto: "Then what do you plan to do? What if I'm actually right? What if it's a trap?"

Kaito: "That's not the point...! Even if you're right, we can't just kill someone based on a suspicion..."

After much reluctance, Yuto ultimately concedes to Kaito's decision, even though he's still unsure about the girl's origins.

Kaito: Sigh "Fine... Can you help me carry her to the 'base'?"

Yuto: "Damn it... Why do I have to help you carry her there too? It's you who wants to carry her all the way there..."

Kaito: "Can you stop arguing for a moment? Arguing right now won't help at all...!"

Yuto: "Tsk... Fine."

After the brief argument, Yuto joins Kaito, carrying Yuna to the place where they were based.

After a short walk, they see a sturdy steel door. Though old, it was clear it was resilient.

Kaito: "We're almost there...!" exclaimed the man, just over a meter and a half from the door.

Having come close enough, both men place the girl on the ground. Shortly after, Kaito opens the door, revealing the interior: a living room. Despite its formidable exterior, the inside of the complex appeared cozy; a couch, a wooden coffee table, and some plastic plants were the first things visible inside the room. On its walls, three doors made of a wood-like material indicated there were other rooms within the place. Upon closer inspection, the place seemed to have been specifically designed to resemble a simple house.

Kaito: "Okay, we just need to put her on the couch now."

Yuto: "...? Aren't we going to tie her up or something?"

Kaito: "What? Why the hell would we do that???"

Yuto: "???... Isn't it obvious? Haven't you understood the risks of leaving her loose, even after I mentioned all that? We don't know what she's capable of, who's to say she's not some criminal or something? What if she tries to attack us after waking up?"

Kaito: "Uh... Well... Okay, I guess you're right this time. Anyway, help me put her on the couch."

Yuto: "About that... Wouldn't it be better to put her in the bedroom...?"

Kaito: "...? And where the hell are we going to sleep? On the floor?"

Yuto: "Well, I think it's a matter of logic; in the bedroom, we can tie her to the bedpost using a rope. But on the couch... Besides, if we put her here, we'll have no place to escape to if she wakes up and turns out to be dangerous."

Kaito: "Hm... Maybe you're right. You should use your brain more often; you do have good ideas sometimes."

With the end of the brief dialogue, both men return to their positions. Kaito grabs Yuna's arms while Yuto takes her legs. They then carry her into the bedroom, connected to the living room through the door on the left side.

The bedroom was spacious, with three beds occupying its area: a double bed in the center and two singles on the sides. Although mostly empty, it featured a bathroom and seemed comfortable. Its white paint gave it a neutral impression, neither too plain nor too detailed.

Upon arriving in the bedroom, they lay Yuna down on the double bed, positioning her in the center.

Kaito: "Alright...! Now we just need to tie her up. I think there's a rope somewhere in the storage; can you get it?"

Yuto: "Uh... I think so. Be careful, though; we don't know when she might wake up."

The man said before quickly returning to the living room, crossing it and heading towards the storage room, located behind a door on the right side of the room.

As Yuto left the room, Kaito turned his attention back to Yuna, examining her from head to toe.

Kaito: "Hm..."

Though unconscious, her wounds were visible, giving her a desolate appearance. Upon closer inspection, her eyes also appeared slightly swollen, suggesting that despite surviving, she had been through a difficult time, both physically and emotionally.

Yuna wore a calm expression even though she was injured. Her beautiful white hair, though slightly dusty and dirty, gleamed under the room's lamp light.

After a few minutes, Yuto finally returned, holding a rope in his hands.

Yuto: "Here, took me a while to find it."

Said the man as he approached Kaito.

Kaito: "Alright...! I guess now we just need to tie her up."

Yuto: "Uh-huh. Do you want to do it, or should I?"

Kaito: "Go ahead."

Yuto: "Okay..."

After the brief exchange, Yuto approached Yuna, joining her hands and securely tying them to the bedpost.

Yuto: "There. I don't think she'll be able to get loose even if she tries."

Kaito: "Well, anyway, do you plan to do something about her injuries?"

Yuto: "I don't know. I don't think that's my decision to make. After all, you're the one who chose to bring her here."

After Yuto's remark, Kaito turned his gaze back to Yuna, briefly contemplating whether to treat her or not.

After a few seconds, Yuto slowly starts to become restless. Despite waiting for a quick response from Kaito, he hadn't answered yet and continued to stare at Yuna.

Yuto: "...? So, what now?"

Kaito: "I think it's best to leave her like this, at least for now. Like you said yourself, we don't know what she's capable of."

The man said, even though he was slightly unsure of his own words.

Yuto: "Hm... Well, if you say so..."

Kaito: "Anyway, I think we should check if there's another entrance. If she got in here, there's no guarantee someone else won't."

Yuto: "...? That doesn't make sense; she must have found a way to get in through the door even though it was locked."

Kaito: "That would only make sense if you left it unlocked... Hm, now that I think about it, how can you be sure you actually locked the door? Maybe you left it unlocked and she locked it when she came in..."

Yuto: "That doesn't make sense; who locks themselves in a dark hallway without knowing what's inside?"

Kaito: "Well... I don't know, maybe she was running away?"

Yuto: "Hm... It's a possibility."

Kaito: "Well, anyway, what do we do now?"

Yuto: "...? Why are you asking me that? I don't think there's much to do; did you manage to contact anyone?"

Kaito: "No, no one answered on the radio."

Yuto: Sighs "At this rate, we'll end up dying before we get rescued... Do you think this only happened here?"

The man said, slightly frustrated with the situation.

Kaito: "I think it's unlikely... Why our town specifically? It's not like we did something to deserve this..."

After the brief dialogue, both men reach a consensus and return to their original positions. Kaito heads to the living room, quickly crossing it and entering another room, this time a room dedicated to machinery: radios, batteries, heating and ventilation systems, and finally, tools. Although most equipment was turned off, the radio emitted a strange static.

Inside the room, Kaito approaches the radio, sitting in front of it. Though disheartened, he begins to scan different frequencies in na attempt to establish contact with survivors or nearby cities.

As the day draws to a close, they couldn't predict what would happen now that the shadows would once again be free.

While Kaito heads to the machinery room, Yuto stays in the bedroom. Slightly uneasy with Yuna's presence, nightfall is approaching; if his suspicions prove true, something terrible will happen. For a moment, he considers taking advantage of Kaito's absence to get rid of her, but quickly dismisses the idea, unsure of the consequences if he did.

With no other options, he sighs, looking one last time at Yuna before heading towards the living room.

Though still uneasy, Yuto decides to try to ignore the girl's presence, occupying his mind with other things.

Even though there wasn't much to do in a place without TV and internet signal, he could still watch pre-recorded programs. Keeping that in mind, he quickly sits on the couch, intending to forget recent events for a moment, or at least try...

While both men try to keep themselves busy, Yuna remains unconscious. Although her initial demeanor seemed calm, it slowly began to change, conveying fear and anguish.

End of the third chapter