Chapter 2
A few days prior
"Huh?"
Blinking his eyes, Hide was sat in a booth of a completely blue room. On the opposite side of him, sat on the other booth was a long-nosed man and a woman with pure white hair, much like his own, and yellow eyes. Between them was also a table.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room." The long-nosed man said. "This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. My name is Igor. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." The long-nosed man, Igor, then gestured to the woman sat beside him. "This is an attendant, Frederica."
"Pleasure." Frederica bowed her head slightly as she spoke with a British accent.
Hide continued to sit in a stunned silence.
Glancing around this 'Velvet Room', Hide noticed a window on his right. Looking out it, Hide saw he was inside of a train. He couldn't see much else because everything outside was hidden by a dense mist.
"This is a room only those bound by a contract may enter." Igor said, getting the attention of Hide once again. "Now, why don't you introduce yourself?"
Present day
Having ripped off his mask, a figure appeared next to Hide, glowing a faint blue as it levitated slightly off the ground. The figure looked much like a viking, holding a large double sided axe as his weapon.
"Go forth!" Vidarr spoke. "Enact your vengeance! Use my power as you see fit!"
"Right!"
Brandishing a sword with his new attire, Hide looked to Kazuto as he backed away into the corner, terrified. Taking a step towards him, the two shadow men blocked Hide's path, giving Kazuto the chance to run.
Glaring at them, the two shadow men suddenly burst into black goo. From the goo came forth a Pixie and an Incubus.
With his sword by his side, Hide took his stance.
"You're gonna wish you never came here, kid!" The Incubus growled.
Rushing Hide, the Incubus tried to slash him but it was easily deflected by Hide's sword. The Pixie tried to help, but Hide summoned Vidarr to block her.
Pushing the incubus on the defensive, Hide broke through its guard, slashing its neck. Turning into black ash and vanishing, Hide turned his attention to the pixie. With a single command, Vidarr swung his hand, sending out a ball of ice towards the pixie, killing it instantly.
With the two shadow creatures defeated, Vidarr returned to Hide in the form of his mask. Once he did, Hide sheathed his weapon on his back as he turned to face Aiko, who was sitting on the floor.
Approaching her, Hide extended his right hand.
"You okay, Aiko?" He asked, pulling her out of her slight daze.
"Y-yeah." She said as she accepted the help up. "What the hell was that just now?"
Hide shrugged.
"I'm not entirely sure myself." He told her honestly. "Lucky it happened when it did, though."
"Even your clothes changed." She added.
Hide looked down at his current attire. He couldn't help but smirk.
"You like it?"
"What's not to like?" Hide replied with a shrug. "C'mon. Let's figure a way outta here before Kazuto comes back with more of those shadow... things."
Stepping out of the dressing room, Hide took the lead as Aiko kept close behind. Keeping a hand on his weapon, the two cautiously made their way through the theater.
Ducking behind cover every now and then to avoid the shadow creatures, the two soon made it back to the entrance of the theater. But, before they could leave, a scream echoed from somewhere in the theater.
"Did you hear that?" Aiko asked Hide.
Hide hesitated at the door before answering.
"Yeah, I did."
"Are we just gonna leave?" Aiko asked, glancing back into the theater.
Hide shook his head.
"No."
A few minutes later
With the screams getting louder as the two ventured further in, Hide never once lowered his guard. It seemed that the further they walked, the more shadow creatures appeared.
"This is getting dangerous." Hide whispered to Aiko as the two snuck through the massive theater. "It's like they're on high alert. We need to get outta here."
"We can't just leave!" Aiko whisper shouted. "C'mon, Hide. You know I'm right."
Hide let out a sigh through clenched teeth.
Approaching a corner, Hide pressed his back against it, peering around to see if it were clear. Aiko laid on her side by his feet, looking down the hall as well.
"Alright. C'mon." Hide began to walk down the hall, his hand still on his weapon.
"You seem like you've done this kinda thing before." Aiko said, having observed Hide this entire time.
"Not personally." Hide told her.
"What?"
Hide waved his hand at her.
"Later." He whispered. "For now... let's focus on one thing at a time, agreed?"
Aiko nodded.
"Agreed."
Hide looked back down the hall. "Good. Now-"
"Halt!"
Turning to the new voice, a shadow guard came rushing towards the two. Quickly pulling Aiko behind him, Hide drew his sword and blocked the strike from the guard. Glaring at the creature, it burst into black goo before a knight, sitting atop a horse, emerged.
"You're trespassing on Lord Kazuto's property!" The creature shouted. "The punishment is death."
"Is every crime in this place punishable by death?" Hide asked as he took a defensive stance.
Without another word, the knight attacked Hide with a long spear. Deflecting the strike, Hide ripped off his mask.
"Persona!"
With Vidarr appearing beside him, the knight switched targets. Going to attack Hide's persona, Vidarr grabbed the spear, yanking the knight off his horse and allowing Hide an easy finisher.
Plunging his blade into the knight's chest, Vidarr defeated the knight's horse.
Sheathing his blade as his mask appeared back on his face, Hide looked to Aiko to see if she was alright. Once confirmed she was, the two continued down the hall and closer to the screams.
A few minutes later
Coming across a room, Hide entered with Aiko right behind him. However, this room was unlike any of the others. It seemed to distort between, what looked to be, a warehouse storage room and a prop room inside a theater. Boxes lined the walls with outfits and props sticking out of them as well as a couch on the opposite side of the door. A table was in the center of the room with a few chairs around it.
"The hell?" Aiko said as she took a look around.
"No clue." Hide had also begun to take a glance about.
Hearing a yawn from Aiko, Hide looked over to her.
"Wanna rest a bit?" Hide asked.
Aiko rubbed her neck.
"I don't think we have that luxury." She stated. "We gotta find the source of those screams."
"We will." Hide assured her. "But lets take a breather first, yeah?"
Aiko yawned again as she nodded.
"Okay."
Sitting atop the table, Aiko crossed her legs, propping her arm against her leg as she rested her head on her fist. As for Hide, he took a seat in one of the chairs, resting one arm on his leg and the other on the table.
"Ten minutes, then we get back to it." Hide said.
"Sure thing."
End of chapter 2