"G-GUAH!"
Rynan's body twitched violently on the bed, his throat burning as invisible hands squeezed tighter. His vision blurred at the edges, darkness creeping in like spilled ink. By the time he opened his eyes, he realized with terror that something was choking him.
"S-STO...P..!"
The moonlight crept slowly through the window, casting pale light on the dark figure above him. Rynan's pupils widened in pure horror as recognition hit him like a punch to the gut. It was the man―the same man he had killed a week ago, his face now skinned and raw.
"N-NO..! S-STOP!"
<-<-<-<-<-<-༒︎->->->->->->
Rynan's head shot up like a spring, sweat pouring down his face as panic gripped his chest. He looked around wildly, his hands immediately going to his neck, touching and pressing to make sure it was real. His fingers traced over unmarked skin, confirming what his racing heart hoped to be true.
He curled up into a tight ball, tucking his head between his knees and squeezing his eyes shut. His whole body trembled as the images from the dream replayed in his mind. The feel of those skeletal fingers around his throat still lingered like a phantom touch.
"F-fuck..."
Rynan smacked his forehead as hard as he could, the sharp pain turning his skin bright red. He let out a long, shaky sigh that seemed to carry all his stress with it. His hands ran through his messy hair as he tried to push the nightmare away.
―'Killing someone is easier than you think.' My ass...
He rolled out of bed with a crumpled expression, his legs feeling weak and unsteady. Each step toward the door felt heavy, like he was dragging weights behind him. His reflection in the window showed a boy who looked far older than his years.
For someone who had just killed another person, the weight was crushing. A child becoming a murderer, a child whose brain wasn't even fully grown yet―it was more traumatic than anyone could imagine. The guilt ate at him from the inside, making every quiet moment filled with horrible memories.
The wooden stairs creaked softly under his feet as he made his way down each step. At the bottom, he could see Emi still busy in the kitchen, and this time the smell wasn't her usual vegetable soup. The rich aroma made his empty stomach growl, reminding him that life had to go on somehow.
―Haah. I should just forget about it. At least Emi is here with me―that's what matters most.
―I wonder what she's cooking..?
"Morning, Emi."
―Oh? He's up already? Pretty early for him―is it because of me?
Emi's face lit up with a mischievous grin as the thought crossed her mind. The idea made her smile without meaning to, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. She felt her cheeks heat up slightly as she imagined Rynan waking up early just to spend time with her.
Emi turned her head to watch Rynan walking down the stairs toward her. Her eyes followed his every movement, taking in his messy hair and sleepy expression. Despite everything, seeing him safe and sound made her heart feel lighter.
"Good morning to you too!"
She flashed him a bright smile before turning back to her cooking. A happy little tune escaped her lips as she worked, the melody bouncing around the cozy kitchen. Her whole body seemed to sway gently with the rhythm, showing just how good her mood was.
Rynan walked over to stand beside Emi, positioning himself to her left. His curious eyes studied the pan, trying to figure out what smelled so amazing. The sizzling sounds and rich aroma made his mouth water, completely washing away the lingering fear from his nightmare.
"Hm? What's that? Smells delicious!"
Rynan's voice was full of genuine excitement, the horrible dream already fading from his mind. It was almost unsettling how quickly he could switch from terror to curiosity. What a strange child he was, able to bounce back from nightmares like nothing happened.
"It's a new recipe of mine!" Emi replied with sparkling eyes, her voice bubbling with pride. She paused for just a moment, her expression suddenly turning uncertain. "Its name is... uhh... gagahujakopahsusjsjs..."
She mumbled the nonsense words under her breath, her face turning bright red with embarrassment. The realization that she hadn't actually named her creation hit her like a brick wall. She quickly looked back at the pan, hoping Rynan hadn't noticed her flustered state.
"Hm―"
Before Rynan could ask any more questions, Emi cut him off with nervous energy. Her hands moved quickly, trying to distract from her earlier slip-up. The kitchen suddenly felt much warmer, and not just from the cooking.
"T-the food's ready!"
Emi moved with lightning speed, transferring the perfectly cooked steak onto a plain white plate. Her movements were so precise and graceful that it looked like she'd been doing this for years. The meat landed exactly in the center, not a drop of juice spilled anywhere.
―That was really cool.
Rynan found himself genuinely impressed, watching her skills with admiration. Her confidence in the kitchen was something he'd always found amazing. Even when she got embarrassed, she could still handle cooking like a true professional.
"'DAT WASH SHO COEL!' Is what you're probably thinking, aren't you?"
Emi turned to face him with a teasing grin, her earlier embarrassment replaced by playful confidence. She winked at him dramatically, clearly enjoying the chance to show off her skills. Her whole posture radiated pride and mischief, like she'd just pulled off the world's greatest magic trick.
"..!"
"RYNAN, WATCH OUT!"
Emi's expression changed in an instant, her eyes going wide with terror. Her pupils shrank to pinpoints as she spotted something behind him that made her blood run cold. Without hesitation, she launched herself forward, tackling Rynan with all her strength and sending them both crashing to the ground.
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"E-EMI!"
Panic filled Rynan as he saw Emi suddenly tackle him to the ground. This had to be an emergency―she would never do something like this without a good reason. He quickly looked around and his gaze landed on something that made his blood run cold: a dagger embedded in the wall where his head had been just moments before.
The blade gleamed with a sickly green coating that seemed to bubble and hiss. It was poison, the kind that could kill someone in seconds by melting their organs from the inside. If Emi hadn't pushed him out of the way, he would already be dead.
He quickly rolled Emi over, checking her body for any cuts or injuries from the attack. His hands shook as he searched for wounds, terrified that the poison might have touched her skin. Relief flooded through him when he found nothing―she was completely unharmed.
―An assassin!? Why is someone targeting me..!?
His mind raced as he tried to understand what was happening. This wasn't some random attack―someone had sent a killer specifically for him. But who would want him dead, and why now?
"I'm okay! Hide under the table!"
Emi's voice was steady despite the danger, her eyes already scanning the room for threats. She pointed toward the heavy wooden table that could provide some cover. The broken window near the cupboards told them exactly where their attacker had come from.
"Okay!"
Rynan quickly crawled under the table, pulling Emi with him as glass crunched under their knees. The solid wood above them felt like their only protection against whatever was coming next. He could hear footsteps moving around outside, circling the house like a predator.
Rynan peeked his head out from under the table, using the wooden chair to his right as a shield. He could see shadows moving past the broken window, but couldn't make out how many attackers there were. The silence was almost worse than hearing them―at least then he'd know where they were.
He quickly pulled his head back and held Emi tighter against him. No matter what happened, he had to keep her safe―that was the only thing that mattered right now. His own life meant nothing if something happened to her.
―Emi's safety comes first.
Rynan let out a shaky breath, trying to calm his racing heart. But the fear kept building inside him like a storm. He'd never felt so helpless in his entire life.
"Rynan! I can defend myself―I'll protect you!"
"DON'T BE SUCH AN IDIOT, EMI! YOU CAN'T DIE! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE IF YOU DO!?"
"I CAN'T LOSE YOU. NO MATTER WHAT..."
Rynan grabbed Emi by the shoulders, his eyes burning with desperate intensity. He needed her to understand how serious this was―how much she meant to him. His whole world would collapse if anything happened to her.
"Emi."
"Y-yes?"
Emi wiped the tears from her face, trying to pull herself together after his outburst. It was strange being lectured by someone two years younger than her, especially someone she cared about so deeply. But she could see the fear and love in his eyes, and it made her heart ache.
"Emi, I'm probably the one this guy is targeting."
"You're going to run to that window near the sink, break it, and jump out. After that, you need to find Xhan―the guy I told you about yesterday."
"I'll use my magic to protect you while you escape!"
"..."
Emi hesitated, her heart torn between following his plan and staying to fight beside him. The thought of leaving him alone with an assassin made her stomach twist with fear. What if she never saw him again?
"Don't worry. I won't die―I'll survive, and so will you."
"You better live, you reckless idiot!"
Emi threw her arms around Rynan, hugging him as tightly as she could. Fresh tears streamed down her face as she tried to memorize the feeling of holding him. This might be the last time she ever got the chance.
"Okay. Ready? Three. Two. One. GO!"
Rynan burst out from under the table, positioning himself between Emi and the broken window. He raised his left hand, feeling the familiar surge of magical power building inside him. The same magic that had once leveled an entire landscape―but this time he had to hold back.
―Control it... don't go overboard...
Emi ran toward the sink, grabbing a fork from the counter as she climbed up. She smashed the window with all her strength, sending glass flying everywhere. Without looking back, she squeezed through the opening and dropped to the ground outside.
"..!"
The moment Rynan turned to check if Emi had escaped safely, the assassin struck. In that split second of distraction, a figure in black appeared right in front of him. The killer had been waiting for exactly this moment.
"SHI―"
Before Rynan could finish the word or even react, the assassin's blade sliced through his left wrist. His severed hand flew upward, hitting the ceiling so hard that chunks of wood and plaster rained down. Blood sprayed across the kitchen walls like red paint.
"RYNAN!!!"
"RUN, EMI! RUN!"
"DON'T LOOK BACK! KEEP RUNNING!"
Emi's legs carried her forward even as tears blurred her vision and sobs tore from her throat. Glass shards from the window had cut her arms and legs, making every step painful. But she ignored the burning pain and kept running, just like Rynan had told her to.
...
...
"DEMOLISH."