Thud.
The boy's knees scrape the pavement as he sinks to the ground.
[W-why?]
Hinozu: [Why would he leave?]
[I-I'm sure something's happened... between him and Jenneah.]
He looks over his shoulder, eyes widened as he sniffs.
Kanna: [Let's...]
Ayumu: [Let's ask her.]
Kanna nods, approaching Hinozu before offering her hand. The boy stands up as he brushes dirt off his knees.
Ayumu holds the entrance door open as they enter.
Walking over to Jenneah's office, Kanna knocks on the door.
[Come in.]
A muffled voice.
She opens the door, entering the illuminated office with Ayumu and Hinozu. Jenneah seems to be sitting behind her desk, a rough look on her face.
Kanna: [We saw Friedrich leave. What happened?]
Jenneah: [Just... An argument. I got carried away.]
[Sorry, Hinozu... This must be confusing for you.]
Jenneah: [I'll call him. So he comes back.]
Hinozu nods.
Ayumu: [Why?]
Jenneah: [Well... I'm sure Hinozu wants to talk to him about staying in the Center.]
Ayumu: [But I thought...]
The old woman shakes her head.
Jenneah: [First things come first, Ayumu.]
Ayumu leans against the wall, losing all interest in the situation. Kanna slaps his shoulder, straightening him up.
Jenneah grabs her phone, dialing a number.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep, Beep, Beep.
[No answer.]
Jenneah: [That man... He's really stubborn sometimes. I'll call him back in an hour, alright? You can stay around in the meantime.]
Hinozu: [Yeah. Alright.]
Ayumu grabs Hinozu by the hand, rushing out.
Ayumu: [Yeah! Let's play, Hinozu!]
Kanna closes the door.
Jenneah: [Do you need anything else?]
She raises an eyebrow. Kanna stares at her for a long while before finally blinking.
Kanna: [It's nothing.]
Grabbing the handle, she leaves, closing the door softly behind.
Walking through the corridor, she enters the library, searching around. After finding something that interests her, she opens the book and starts reading.
After some pages, she walks to the entrance. Ayumu sits on the couch.
Kanna: [Where's Hinozu?]
Ayumu: [Upstairs. He said he wanted to rest.]
Kanna: [Oh, okay. Then...]
Ayumu's face lights up as he jumps off the couch.
Ayumu: [Let's cook something!]
Kanna: [Yeah!]
——
A dark room. A figure sits down on the small table.
[Listen... Sayaka's dead.]
Drumming on the table, black eyes following each finger.
[I know.]
The figure stands up abruptly.
[Let's take you to the Center then.]
[What for?]
It leans in closer, the only feature recognizable its gray eyes.
[To leave you.]
A loud gasp.
Heavy breaths.
The boy sits on the ground, wrapping his arms around his knees.
Knock. A voice from the other side of the door.
Ayumu: [Hinozu? We've made some cake for you. Do you want to try it?]
Hinozu: [...Later. Thanks.]
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Ayumu: [Okay, rest well then.]
Silence. One that makes his ears ring.
[I'm going off to work, alright?]
Hinozu: [You said...]
[You'd come back.]
[You didn't.]
[It'll be alright, Hinozu. I promise.]
Hinozu: [You said...]
[You'd find me a place to live.]
[You did.]
Hinozu: [Is that why...]
[Why you left me?]
Hinozu: [Is that why...]
[You don't need me anymore?]
[Hinozu!]
Kanna opens the door, dragging him downstairs.
Hinozu: [Wait! What's wrong?]
Kanna: [I-it's... J-Jenneah will explain...!]
They rush outside, running towards a black sedan parked nearby. Kanna opens the door, shoving Hinozu inside before sitting herself.
Jenneah: [Put on your seat belts.]
Hinozu: [What's happened?]
She starts the car once the three children have fastened their seat belts. Driving off, she sighs.
[Friedrich.]
[He's had an accident. They've... hospitalized him.]
The car falls silent. Ayumu stares ahead, while Kanna twiddles her thumbs.
[Hinozu?]
[Yeah?]
The same table. No drumming.
No figure.
No gray eyes.
[I'm dead.]
[No you aren't.]
A shift. The scraping of a chair.
[At least...]
[Not yet.]
Jenneah: [He'll be alright. I'm sure. He'll be.]
She whispers, barely audible. Though concern is not the expression present.
Guilt. Surfacing like a beach ball under water.
Upon arriving, they all rush to the hospital. Jenneah runs to the reception.
Jenneah: [Friedrich Bax. Where is he?]
[Second floor, Room 124. Are—]
Jenneah: [Thanks!]
The lift ascends, hearts heavy.
[Room 124.]
[Mrs. Alabaster... He's...]
[What do you mean?]
[A few hours...]
...
[Okay.]
Hinozu sits, Ayumu to his left, Kanna to his right. Jenneah's talking to the doctor.
Ayumu: [Don't worry. He'll be safe.]
Kanna: [How do you know that?]
...
[I don't.]
Silence.
2 hours.
Kanna: [I've heard they're operating him.]
Ayumu: [He'll be fine.]
[You still don't know that.]
[I don't.]
4 hours.
Ayumu: [Hinozu? Do you need anything?]
Kanna: [You've been quiet.]
He shakes his head, blinking several times. He's been staring too much. At white. White walls. Chairs. Curtains. Coats.
Why?
Hinozu: [I'm fine.]
5 hours.
Kanna and Ayumu fall asleep.
10 PM.
[...make sure to be asleep before 10:00 PM.]
It's 10 o`clock already... I wanted to watch a bit more...
[Hinozu.]
A voice from behind. Or, rather, from inside. A shadow, looming behind. Or rather, above.
[If you had slept before 10:00...]
[All this wouldn't have happened.]
[How do you know that?]
[I don't.]
7 hours.
A gurney wheels past. A light flickers. Someone down the hall starts crying, then stops.
Midnight.
Crickets.
Wheels.
Cries.
Stillness.
White.
[I'm dead.]
[Maybe.]
8 hours. The doctor approaches, and speaks with someone. Oh, right.
Jenneah was there.
Doctor: [He's survived.]
Relief.
Relief?
Not quite. Jenneah enters the room.
[Friedrich...]
The man lays down on the mattress. Bandaged arms. Bandaged legs. Torso. Head.
The old woman sits down next to him.
Silence.
[Fried—]
[I've got nothing to do with you.]
Her eyes widen.
[All this time... From inside... I've been blaming myself. Hating myself.]
[Killing myself.]
A scoff. Muffled by bandages.
[You always blamed me. For their deaths. But...]
[Wasn't it you who encouraged them?]
Jenneah stands up abruptly, trembling.
Jenneah: [W-what...?]
Friedrich: [They died. Instead of feeling guilty yourself... You made me feel guilty.]
[Because I was the only one who tried to do something.]
The beeping of the monitor quickens.
[Leave.]
[Friedrich... I...]
[Take care of Hinozu. That's all I need you for.]
She stumbles to the ground, but stands up shortly after.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
Door.
Jenneah: [Hinozu wanted to talk with you.]
Her voice comes in as ghastly.
[Send him in.]
The old woman approaches Hinozu. Her somber expression doesn't soften a bit as she speaks.
[Friedrich's inside.]
The boy stands up, entering the room. He stands in front of Friedrich, a few meters apart.
Hinozu: [Are you okay?]
Friedrich: [I wanted to talk to you.]
[Listen, Hinozu.]
Friedrich: [I've lied.]
[What?]
The curtains graze with the cool wind.
Friedrich: [Well... I haven't told you the full truth.]
[Sayaka died by a demon.]
[No she didn't.]
[Huh?]
Hinozu's eyes widen. A loud ringing resounds in his ears.
Rain.
Friedrich walks around cautiously on the pavement. A nearby Isothe spotted a few hours ago. He slithers through the streets, searching around for the creature. A small parking lot, surrounded by the bricked walls of nearby apartments. A strange sound makes him approach, hiding behind a wall.
There.
An Isothe, no taller than the average human. His form resembles a human's, but his head is more the stump after cutting off a leg. Visceral, pulsing red meat coats his white bones, as a dark crimson liquid pours from his body.
He's crouching down, bony legs a strange contrast to thick arms.
Bite.
Crunch.
The sound of a carcass being eaten sends shivers down Friedrich's spine. He takes a better look.
Small antennas, No Sarchis. 2nd Circle.
This should be easy.
Friedrich condenses the air around, crushing the Isothe slowly. A loud shriek pierces his ears, stunning him.
The demon escapes. Friedrich runs towards it, losing sight after a short while.
Friedrich: [Fuck! He went... Left!]
The man runs on the direction, heavy steps hitting against the ruined pavement, overlapped by the sound of rain. Determination flashes across his features. It's my chance. He spots movement in the corner of his eyes. To make things right.
For once.
Steps fall short as he sees the demon. And someone else.
A young woman. Liliana?
No.
Someone else.
The Isothe's arm impales the girl as she looks back, eyes widened in shock.
Friedrich steps forward before stumbling back.
The demon slashes her in half with a swift motion.
Not a sound comes out of her. Then...
It feasts.
Muscle.
Organs.
Blood.
And leaves the bones. Along with the skin.
He feels his stomach churn. Liliana...
It's not her.
He waits for the Isothe to finish. The demon leaves the scene.
Coward.
Friedrich approaches the remains, trembling. A wallet. As he opens it, guilt claws on his heart.
The photo wets as raindrops fall on it. It depicts the girl, with her sable eyes, smiling as she hugs a small child with dark eyes. As dark as night.
Along with it, a letter. Or rather, a few sheets of paper, folded neatly.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Hinozu's eyes widen further, threatening to fall out. The ringing of his ears comes to a sudden stop.
[...]
Friedrich: [You'll find the letter in my house. In my room.]
[Bring her back.]
Friedrich: [What?]
[Bring her back, Friedrich.]
[Bring Sis back.]
[Bring Sayaka back.]
Beep.
Beep.
[I can't do that.]
Beep.
[Die. Friedrich.]
The barking of a dog is heard from afar. Hinozu stands still, his face blank as tears roll down his cheeks.
[If you die, she'll come back.]
