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Date: 12/10/2017
In this world, humans and ghouls coexist.
Every ghoul is born with a curse—
a power bound to a specific body part or internal organ.
When that power awakens, both eyes burn crimson red.
Most people live their entire lives praying they never see that glow.
---
Kai Akio was sixteen years old.
He lived in a quiet house at the edge of town with his grandfather—the only family he had left. The old man was seventy-nine, slow in his movements, but sharp in his eyes. To Kai, he was safety. Home.
That evening felt normal.
Too normal.
After spending time with his friends, Kai returned home, ate dinner, and retreated to his room. The ceiling fan hummed softly above him as he lay on his bed, staring into the darkness.
Tomorrow… school again, he thought.
His eyelids grew heavy.
Then—
THUD.
A sharp noise echoed from downstairs.
Kai's eyes snapped open.
Another sound followed. Glass. Breaking.
His heart began to pound.
"Grandpa…?" he whispered.
No reply.
Slowly, quietly, Kai slipped out of bed and opened his door. From the staircase, he saw shadows moving across the living room floor.
Five men.
Strangers.
One of them laughed.
"Old man's tougher than he looks."
Kai's breath caught.
---
His grandfather stood in the living room, gripping a sword.
The blade trembled in his hands—but his stance was firm.
"You should've stayed away from this house," the old man said.
The first man lunged.
Steel flashed.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
One fell. Then another.
The third screamed before collapsing.
Kai watched in frozen horror as his grandfather—his fragile, gentle grandfather—fought like a warrior possessed.
But the old man was bleeding.
Breathing hard.
Then—
A man with pink hair stepped forward.
He smiled.
Slowly, deliberately, his eyes began to glow red.
Kai's blood ran cold.
"Enough," the man said.
His hand twisted unnaturally, bones cracking as flesh reshaped itself into a massive, vicious claw.
One strike.
The sword shattered.
The next—
The claw pierced straight through the old man's chest.
"GRANDPA!"
The body fell.
The house went silent.
Kai ran.
A sudden blow struck the back of his head.
Darkness swallowed everything.
---
Kai woke up screaming.
Rough rope burned against his wrists.
A tree at his back.
Firelight danced in front of him.
A crowd surrounded him—faces twisted with fear, hatred, and disgust.
"Burn him!"
"Don't let it live!"
Kai shook his head desperately. "I'm human! Please—please!"
Someone threw a torch.
The flames rose.
Heat scorched his skin. Tears streamed down his face.
I don't want to die.
Something stirred inside him.
A pressure behind his eye.
A pulse.
Pain.
Suddenly—
One of Kai's eyes began to glow red.
The fire crackled.
The crowd fell silent.
Fear replaced rage.
Moments later, sirens cut through the night.
Officers surrounded the scene, weapons raised. They looked at Kai, then at the ropes, the fire, the terrified crowd.
After a long silence, a decision was made.
Kai would not be executed.
He would be watched.
Controlled.
Feared.
And thus—
His nightmare truly began.
....