Another Saturday had come and Raynare was on her way to meet her friends from the PIS.
For them Saturday was the day they went for paranormal investigations. Or as they called it, hunting.
They were to meet in Kuoh plaza were they would take the bus, which will take them to their destination.
When she arrived she found them there waiting for her. When she came closer they spoke.
" Ohh, Yumi. A little late aren't we?" asked Kasumi sarcastically.
" I am sorry for that. I thought I had forgotten the sink at home open, so I had to go back and check." apologized Raynare.
" And was it open?" asked Manami with curiosity.
" Nope. It wasn't. I must had closed it without me taking notice."
" Well then, better be safe than sorry. Am I right?" said Hiroshi.
Raynare noticed that Hiroshi and Manami were standing closer than previous times. And they both had huge smiles on their faces.
' She must have told him about the pregnancy.' she thought to herself.
And by the looks of it, he was happy with it.
He then puts his hand around her waist, bringing her closer to him. A move which surprised her.
" By the way Yumi." said Kasumi " Did you know that Manami and Hiroshi were a couple? How dare they didn't say anything to us."
" Calm down Kasumi. We told you right after we figured it out ourselves." Manami reassured her.
Raynare knew that this was a lie, and by what she gathered she was certain that they knew nothing of the pregnancy either. It is their life after all, they decide who they are going to tell about it.
She looks at the two of them and speaks.
" Congratulations." she said with a remark.
They both laughed.
Right at that moment the bus arrived and they went in.
Kasumi and Yoshiro sat in the front. When Raynare and the two love birds sat in the back.
Manami looks at her and she speaks.
" Thank you Yumi."
" Why are you thanking me?"
" For what you did the previous day. You gave me the courage I needed to do the right thing."
" Don't worry about it. Even if I hadn't told you anything you would have come to the same conclusion." answered Raynare.
" But still, thank you. From both of us.". They both look at her with happiness written all over their face.
Raynare is happy too. Happy for finally doing something good for another person in her life.
" So have you decided how you are going to name it?" she asks.
Manami looks down to her belly. She crabs it for a moment and then she speaks.
" We were thinking, that if it is a boy we will name it Kouki. And if it is a girl Sachiko."
" Both are very beautiful names."
" So how about your parents? Have you told them anything?" asks Raynare.
" Not yet. I am planning to. But we need a little more time to get used to it ourselves. I also have to introduce them to Hiroshi first." she answered while holding her chin and looking up.
The trip was quick and in a matter of minutes they arrived in the industrial part of kuoh.
It was night, so all factories had closed. The one however, that they were going to, had been closed for years.
It was a huge building; the places they had been before were nothing compared to it. It was as big as at least two football fields. And 20 meters tall. It was made out of marble, supported by steel. The marble had darkened, probably by the factories gashes. Bad idea putting marble in a factory, she thought. The steel was a little rusty but still in fairly good condition.
Raynare looks at Yoshiro, with a smirk in her face she asks.
" So. What's the deal with today's building?"
" Well then. This used to be a car factory. Founded by a British businessman in 1966. It was called
William Industries. It had a huge success in its prime, which continued for years. That is until the owner died. With no heirs to take up the business, the factory had to close. Both Japan and England tried to take the rights to the ownership, but with the negotiations going nowhere they went to court.
Because of different laws and constitution, along with the trial actually costing more money, they both agreed to leave it as it is. There are still some old cars, mostly parts, along with other junk in there. But no one tries to take them. They are heavy and it would attract to much attention. So watch where you are stepping. And don't touch anything that seems about to fall."
" OK YOSHIRO! We asked you for some information. Not to write a whole essay about this factory's history. We get it. Don't touch anything and watch where you are going." Spoke Kasumi, surprising everyone, especially Yoshiro.
" If you didn't want to know you shouldn't have asked!"
Raynare looks at them with a uncomfortable smile. She was the one who asked.
" So, enough of the introductions. Here take these.". He gave them the same equipment as last times.
" I am starting to question if that is all our arsenal." Raynare pointed out. " And what happened to the quantity this time? Why only three flashlights and two cameras?"
" This time we are not splitting. It is safer if we are together. I told you this place is dangerous. So three people will focus on the environment around us, while the other two will be taking the pictures. Understood?"
" Sir yes sir." Said Raynare with a sarcastic tune.
Manami, Hiroshi and Yoshiro were on the flashlights, where Raynare and Kasumi were on the cameras.
With that out of their way they headed inside.
The place seemed even bigger in the inside. It was dark, they could see the walls cause of the moon light, but anything outside of its range was in complete darkness. The flashlights barely did any work. Only allowing them to see a very small area in front of them.
The place was full of tall steel colons and steel storage platforms where cars and other equipment
used to be. Now they are rusty, ready to crumble. On the floor there are scattered many items. From rusty pipes, to entire pieces of glass. It looks more like a dump than a car factory.
They preside further into the building. Along the way they sometimes stopped to take pictures, with no results however.
Raynare was getting the chills. She somehow knew that something bad was about to happen. But, why couldn't she sense anything. Was her mind playing tricks on her again? She pushes her doubts aside. If there really is anything here, she must be on full attention. She has to protect four other people. No. she thought to herself. Five people. With new determination and attention, she moved forward.
The factory had walls. Separating the different sections. Most of them ended to dead ends, where the machinery used to be. That, which happened often, really creeped Raynare. If there was really something there, and when they had reached the dead end and went back, how was she sure that it wouldn't block the exit. She was ready to fight to the death, but if she had no means to save them, it would have all been for nothing.
She was thankful that they did not talk much. Beyond attracting attention, it ruined her concentration. Which was something she really needed now.
Time passed by. Most of the factory had already been explored. No paranormal activities had been seen. She was relieved by that. They had almost finished and nothing had happened.
The silence however was broken by Manami.
" Hey guys. You might wanna see this." she said, sounding a bit scared.
Everyone went immediately. They looked at the wall Manami was facing. They couldn't see clearly.
It looked like a shadow. But it was too far away and too dark to make out what it was. The only thing they could hear was a faint wet kind of sound. Like water dropping from something.
Rynare, now completely stiff, was trying to make out the sound. It seemed familiar to her. Somehow. After some thought she finally realized what it was. Something that made her blood freeze. Her expression darkened, not by anger, but from disgust and fear. The aura she was feeling finally made sense. The weird smell on the air, she had thought was rust. She wanted to scream to them to run! That sound... was chewing.
Before she could say or do anything, Yoshiro opens his flashlight. Pointing it to the weird figure in front of him.
What he saw made him drop it from shock. He stumbled backwards. His hand covering his mouth, stopping himself from puking.
The flashlight, now on the ground, lighted the shadow, completely reviling its horrific nature.
It was some kind of hairless dog. Big, but thin. So thin that they could see its bones sticking out of its waist, chest, back, legs. Its skin looked like it was just pilled of. Completely red and bloody. Its face was long, with a big mouth almost double that of its body.
On the floor in front of it were the remains of its food. A red, bloody mass. They couldn't tell what it was anymore. They knew it was some kind of living organism. It had livers, guts and things like that. But nothing to make it recognizable.
The dog was feasting on them, with rabies. Blood falling from the side of its mouth, making a wet sound when hitting the floor.
They all look in fear.
Kasumi is the one to speak first.
" Wha... what is that?" she said barely making out the words.
" I don't know." answered Yoshiro, still holding his hand in front of his mouth.
Raynare can only look in shock at the view. What was that? It had a very familiar aura. And a very evil one.
She looks one more time at it. More closely this time.
It came to her only seconds after. It was a stray devil of some short. It was wicked, evil. Pure death.
With no time to react, or to say anything, the dog leaves its food and turns towards them.
Its eyes were black. While Its pupils were the deepest red. A creature taken right out of the deepest parts of hell. Was the only way to describe it.
It showed its teeth to them, covered in blood, by opening its giant jaw. It then starts moving closer to them making small, decisive steps. With each step it was getting bigger and bigger. Until it reached five meters high.
Raynare knows that this creature is by no means friendly. She can't run though. There is no way they can outrun this thing. She looks one more time to the people next to her. If she steps in now, she is probably going to lose them forever. Going to lose the normal life she had obtained. But if she doesn't, they are going to die. She can't let that happen. She promised to herself, that she was going to protect these people, even if it was the last thing she would do.
She takes a deep breath and steps forward. Right between the creature and her friends.
" Yumi! What are you doing?!" Kasumi shouts at her.
Raynare turns her head a little. Without letting eye contact with the creature.
" Run."she says blankly. " Run as far as you can. This place is not safe."
" What are you saying?! You say it like you are not coming! We can't leave you here. I won't let it."
Raynare sighs at her friend's words.
" Don't worry. I can handle it. I am not who you think I am."
She turns to the thing infront of her. Violet energy envelopes her. Wings come out of her back, tearing her clothes on that spot. She grows taller. Her characteristics mature, her hair getting longer.
They all look at her in shock. She turns to them and shouts.
" Didn't I tell you to leave! Now hurry up, will you?" her voice now changed.
They take one look at her and then at the thing in front of her. They quickly turn around and start running.
With them safe now she can go all out. She raises her hand to the air. Two light spears form at both sides of her head.
She presses it down and the spears fly out, onto the dog. But with quick movements it manages to avoid them and attacks her.
It lunches itself to her. With its teeth showing through its open jaw.
Raynare makes another spear, holding it she takes a defensive position.
The dog clashes with the spear, throwing her back. She hits a wall and falls on the floor.
The dog charges after her. She rolls to the side, barely avoiding its attack. It head smashing on the wall. Completely destroying it and passing through it.
Dust is in the air around the area of the impact. But it soon fades by its second charge.
Raynare this time flies up, letting it pass below her. She then creates another spear. This one landing on the beasts back.
It makes some loud, horrifying sounds. Blood spills from its wound and onto the floor. It looks at her with anger. It then looks at its back. During the battle they had changed positions. With it now having its back towards the exit and her to the wall.
It quickly runs away from there. It is going after the others she thought to herself, quickly going after it.
As she is about to turn the corner, a giant mouth appears on her left. Completely open, with the teeth showing of some dark red liquid along with saliva. Before she can react, it bites her. Her entire left side is now in its mouth. Her arm, torso, leg.
It then starts chewing her. She screams from the pain. She desperately tries to free herself by punching it on its mouth, with no success. Her eyes darken, her senses fading. Her other arm falls. She closes her eyes, waiting for the sweat release of death.
But then images start flashing in her mind. Images of her friends, Issei's, Yumi's. Her times spend with everyone. She isn't going to give up now.
Her eyes burst open, still screaming she raises her free hand, making a light spear that passes throw the creature's head.
It opens its mouth and it drops dead, relishing her left side, as she falls along with it.
She breaths heavily. But despite what happened, she feels no pain to her left side. She slowly turns to see it. Afraid of what she might witness, but she is fine.
No wound, not anything. Not even a scratch. But the exhaustion still remains. She feels like she can barely move it. She tries to, but it is numb for the moment.
The twilight healing must have activated itself during her outburst. And fixed whatever damage she had taken.
She was lucky this time. She thought to herself. But she can't say the same thing for her clothes, which were almost completely torn apart from her battle with the creature.
Light envelopes her once again. When it fades away she is back into wearing her old S&M outfit. She doesn't like that outfit. It reminds her of her past. But why did she keep it? She thought. Maybe she was still into these kind of things. Old habits are difficult to let go. The only thing left from her old attire was the keyhole necklace that Issei had given her.
Her mind then goes to her friends. They must had been really scared. This was their first actual contact with the supernatural after all. And their friend just turned into a crow-woman and fought a giant hairless dog. And now she wears a S&M outfit. Ohh boy. It will be difficult to explain all that. But she has to try. She is sure they will understand. Probably.
She gets herself up from the floor and runs back at the exit where they came from.
Moments earlier in the same building.
Manami's pov.
Manami and the rest were all running away. A huge, monstrous hairless dog had just attacked them.
Their friend stayed behind to fight it. She was of course not going to let something like this happen. But when she transformed in a weird crow-like creature, she wasn't so sure about it anymore.
" Is it ok to leave Yumi behind like this?" she asked the rest of the group that were also running. Her worried look, easily readable.
" Didn't you see her transform? Or was it just my imagination?" Yoshiro replied, clearly sarcastically.
" Yes but... didn't you see that creature? It was huge and scary."
" She said she could handle it. Don't you trust her?"
" I do Hiroshi. I really do. But."
" There is no but. She is our friend. No matter what happens."
But Manami isn't convinced yet. She looks at the ground and then back at where they came from.
" I am worried about her too. But I can't do anything." the one who talked was Kasumi. " I want to go back. To help her. Or at least be by her side. But I am going to put her above my consciousness and respect her decision. No matter how painful it is." she said that while she clinches her fist.
They end their conversation there. More talking would affect their running.
After some time.
" There I see the exit." Hiroshi shouted.
But as they were running towards it another equally large dog appeared in their path. Blocking the exit.
They stop dead in their path. They can only stare at it. Its saliva dropping from its mouth. Where huge, sharp teeth could be seen. It looks at them. Hunger written all over its face. It makes slow steady steps, towards them. They stumble backwards.
Then Hiroshi speaks, in a very low voice.
" You three. Run."
They all look at him in silence.
" I will create a diversion. This shall give you enough time to run. Run towards the other exit, in the back."
" What are you saying Hiroshi?! Stop trying to be a hero. It will kill you in an instant." Manami outbursts.
" I know. But I also know, that if I don't do anything. Then, it is going to kill everyone." he says, his voice trembling. She can't see his face, but she knows he is almost crying. Trying to stand up to the rest of them.
" Yumi, is fighting right now. She is risking her life, so we can escape. I can't let her sacrifice be in vain. If I have to give up my life, for the rest of you to survive... I will gladly take up that task."
Manami can't say anything to that. He is right. If they are all going to die. It is better for one of them to sacrifice himself, so the rest can live. She knows that, she knows it but still.
" Why does it have to be you?! Why?! You have a child to raise! How can you leave us alone?!"
He looks back at her. Tears running in his eyes.
" Because, if I don't do it... how will I be able to sleep at night? How will I be able to live my life, knowing that I live, because someone else died for me? How will I ever be suited to raise a child, when I couldn't even save the people closer to me? How will I ever accept that I had the chance to save someone and I didn't. Because I was scared for my own life. I won't live forever. So, I want to have as little regrets as I can. And this is a regret, I will never be able to let go."
Manmi can only look at him in tears. She understands him. She does. But it is too painful to accept.
Kasumi takes her arm and drags her towards the opposite way.
Manami fights back with no result. Kasumi's crab is too hard.
" Don't let his sacrifice be in vain. We must move on." she said with a cold voice. Which behind, hid a huge pain. She was biting her lip. So hard that blood was coming out.
Manami saw that. She got her balance and started running, along with the other two. Tears falling like rain. She looks behind her, one more time. The father of her child. Standing there. Like a guardian. Protecting her and everyone else. A guardian, who was about to meet his end.
She looks down at her belly. At her unborn child. The one, she must protect. No matter the cost.
She continues running. Her heart being ripped apart, with each step.
When they get far enough, Hiroshi turns to the monster in front of him. It had been waiting so far. Watching the scene unfold in front of it. It had something that looked like a grin. An evil smile.
" So you have some intelligence, ehh?"
He walks to the side. Picks up a broken, rusty car exhaust. It points it at the monster.
His hand is unsteady and he is crying. He is afraid of death.
But he closes his eyes. He calms himself down. Reminding himself what he is fighting for. He then speaks.
" This is it. Watch closely and see how amazing your papa is Kouki. Or Sachiko."
With that he charges at the beast.
Manami can't hear anything from behind her. Her breathing is to loud to hear anything else. She is completely exhausted. She is at her limits both mentally and physically. No, she has by far passed them. But she must go on. For the sake of those who stayed behind, she must go on.
They haven't even made half the distance, when another of these creatures comes in display.
" Darn it! Another one!" Kasumi shouts in anger.
It comes closer to them. Its eyes locked on to them.
Yoshiro is trembling. His teeth are hitting. He is consumed by despair. Another one appeared. And this time, no one was going to sacrifice themselves for him. He was gonna be next.
He looks at the beast and screams, pleading.
" PLEASE! Don't eat me! Get her!" he says will pushing Manami right at the beast.
She loses balance and falls right in front of its giant paw. It looks at her with saliva dropping from its mouth.
Yoshiro then runs of at the opposite side, as fast as he could.
But the beast has no interest in Manami. It much prefers the running Yoshiro. It charges past her and hunts the young boy.
Before he can realize anything the beast has already caught him.
It bites his right side crushing him under its powerful jaws. It then picks him up in the air. Throwing him up and then catching him again. The light has already left his eyes. All that remains is a bloody rag doll for the dog to play with.
Kasumi doesn't speak. She just runs at Manami helping her stand up, and then she forces her to run again. They run at the exit not giving a single look at their dead 'friend'.
The exit is at the end of the hallway. They can see the lights from the street lamps outside. They continue running towards it. Only to be stopped by a very familiar site. Another of this god forsaken dogs. This one came from right around the corner next to them. If they had been only seconds faster, it wouldn't have caught them.
It looks at both of them. Changing its target from the one to the other. They have some distance between them. With Manami being the one closer to the exit.
It finally locks on to Manami. It eyes saw hunger and malice. Ready to attack her it is met by a rock in the side of its head. It turns to see who did it. And it finds Kasumi holding many rocks in her hands.
Kasumi looks at Manami. She puts on a warm smile as she speaks.
" Go. The exit is right there. You should save yourself."
Manami tries to argue but Kasumi stops her.
" I am the leader of this group and this is an order. Don't think only about yourself. You have something you must protect at any cost. Right? Now go!"
Manami can't speak. She can't. The only thing she can do is run without looking back.
The beast turns to her only to be hit by another rock.
Kasumi has a grin in her face as she throws another one.
The beast lunches itself to her. Devouring her instantly.
Manami hears her friends painful scream, before she goes silent.
She manages to reach the door. Running outside and onto the street. She takes one last look behind her. Complete darkness. She tends to run along the road. Maybe to find someone that can help her.
But what she meets in front of her is absolute despair. She falls on her knees. Unable to accept what's in front of her. Another one of these darn beasts. But this one is different. It has a huge smile on its face. A sadistic, cruel smile.
It comes directly above her. But she can't move. The despair she is feeling doesn't allow her to move.
" I am sorry everyone. You did everything for me to escape and I failed you. I wasted your sacrifices. I wasted your deaths." she is crying. While touching her right arm, so hard that blood comes out.
She then touches her belly and speaks.
" But most of all, I am sorry for you. I never even gave you the chance to live. I failed you as your mother. Because of my stupidity. You will suffer. I AM SORRY!" She screams.
The dog, with a cruel smile, charges at the defenseless mother.
Raynare pov.
" Ahh. Finally,. My left hand is back in action." Raynare was talking to herself as she was walking towards the front exit.
She was thinking how she was going to explain everything to her friends. She wanted to tell them everything. She wasn't going to hid anything this time around. She wasn't going to make the same mistakes as with Yumi.
Without any trouble mid way she easily reaches the exit. But finds noone there.
" They must be waiting outside. Poor things. They must had been really scared." she says and laughs at her own joke.
But as she is about to go outside, with the edge of her sight she picks up some strange pile deep inside on of the corridors of the factory.
Having caught her interest, she goes closer to inspect it. What she sees makes her freeze from shock. She brings her hand to her mouth. That huge pile,was a pile of bones, blood, guts and other things like that. But this one was clearly human. She could make out humanoid characteristics. But that wasn't here when they arrived. And the only people that came here were.
She freezes. The idea that just passed her head. She was worried now! She started shouting their names.
" Manami! Hiroshi! Kasumi! Yoshiro! Someone!"
But no answer.
She then hears something dripping. The worst comes to her mind and she quickly turns around.
But this... this was far from the worst case scenario she could imagine.
The being she had fought earlier, was right in front of her. Now multiplied by three. With each and every one of them with bloody mouths. Some had limbs and other stuff sticking out. It wasn't the same beast. She knew it. But she didn't want to accept it. She didn't want to accept that she had send her friends to their death.
" Hey. You didn't happen to see four people come by here, did you?" who was she trying to deceive.
She knew the answer already but she didn't want to accept it.
Please some one! Tell me this is a lie. Please tell me this is a dream and let me wake up! She screamed in her head.
Then another dog comes out of the shadows. This one has something in its mouth.
Raynare falls to the ground.
" Manami?" her voice trailing of.
The upper body of Manami was hanging on its jaws. Held only by its teeth.
It opens its mouth. Spitting her in front of Ryanre. She makes an attempt to catch her midair. But fails. She hits the floor with a loud " SPLASH ". Blood spattered all over the floor.
Her bottom half is missing. What's left is only her torso. Raynare picks her up in her hands. Putting her head on her lambs. She pushes her hair away, covering her lifeless eyes. She looks at her face. Tears start falling on it.
" Manami... everyone... I am so sorry. I couldn't save you. I promised you. I promised you, but... I couldn't...i"
Memories appear right in front of her eyes. The time spent together with everyone. The laughs they had. The adventures they went through.
They were all gone. In an instant.
She had thought that she was never going to feel a bigger pain than when she lost Yumi. But this. This was far beyond that. There was no pain. There was no sadness. Even her tears had stopped.
No. What she was feeling right now was absolute despair. Everything inside of her, was being ripped apart.
One of the beasts tried to attack her. Only to be met with dozens of light spears in its body. It fell back. Dead.
Then hundreds maybe even thousands of spears were created in the air above them.
The beasts wondering what they were looking at, couldn't do anything against the light shower that came their way.
In an instant, they were wiped out of existence.
The room filled with their blood. Staining every bit of it.
Raynare stood in the middle. With her dead friend in her hands. Looking down at her. Not knowing what to do.
She was dead and she couldn't do anything about it.
Lost in her despair, she failed to hear the noises coming from outside.
Until she was under someone's shadow. She turned her gaze to see a shocked and disgusted young boy.
She didn't think the words. They came out by themselves.
" Issei."
