Amai Shi
Chapter 11: The Loss Ablaze
Written By AnimayWriteY0
[At Shibumi Residence, 7:45 A.M.]
The sun eerily rises as the rays begin to travel towards the Shibumi residential hitting at Himiko's room window shining her bed, thus causing her to wake up. She proceeds to get up off and check up on her brother whether he came back home after his stay with one of his friends places. She goes to his room and sees that there's no one inside, not even the sheets her grandmother folded neatly were disturbed giving the idea that her brother must have stayed for the night. Himiko shrugged it off and continues to walk through 2nd floor noticing the door at the end of the hallway is slightly opened. Ryumo is sleeping there and to Himiko she feels so lucky to have her boyfriend staying for the night at her family's home. She gives a quick call for him and in return she heard him responding. "Morning Himiko." She immediately comes in with her cheerful smile as usual to check up on him.
Ryumo is currently doing his morning pushups and sit ups to keep his physique in check. Himiko's cheeks burst into an intensive shade of red after witnessing him being shirtless examining his slight muscular build. "Oh, sorry I didn't mean to ignore ya...I just need to do this every time I wake up." He counts until he finally glances at her mesmerized expression, finally came to a conclusion that she's taking in all what she sees from his body. He abruptly got up and puts his t-shirt back on. "I'm so sorry Himiko!" She shook her head knowing full well she enjoyed what she witnessed.
He scratches his head while laughing sheepishly. "It must have been important to you to stay fit huh?" Himiko finally broke out of her entrancement and back to her usual self. Ryumo nods as the young man stretches out the sore spots from his body from the work out, he did. "It's a mandatory thing for me, I need to stay in shape for umm...safety purposes." He coughs subtly about his true reason since he doesn't want his girlfriend to assume that he's a former street brawler.
"Um, Ryumo?" Himiko places her hand on Ryumo's shoulder and noticeably making the grip firm, this took Ryumo by surprise as he turns his full attention to his brunette girlfriend. "Jeez Himiko that was a little tight..." Ryumo blurted out with broad pained reaction after feeling that. "I'm sorry but I have something to ask about my Onii chan Ryumo..." She spoke with a concerning look. This is where things got alot harder to conceal this from Himiko. At this point her suspicions become apparent after she checked up on her brother's room realizing he's still not home. Ryumo figured that both siblings are inseparable from their lives being just the two of them, so of course Himiko would become anxious about what her brother's been doing without letting her know by phone call.
"This isn't like my Onii chan Ryumo, he always calls to give me updates on what he's been up to... he's just having you tell me about it since he has my phone." Ryumo cautiously gets up without a sense of alert, Ryumo curses himself mentally for how bad he's continuing to lie but he doesn't want her to feel heartbroken if she found out that her brother is close to dying.
"Sanada's just shy speaking with you when he's flustered with Kei, he kinda figured you'll tease him for being embarrassed when finally got himself a girlfriend." He pushes on this façade as he forces out a smile. Himiko tilts her head and leans forward closer near Ryumo's face while he stood there not budging a leery motion that could confirm Himiko's worry. For a good 30 seconds she finally backs off and smiles. "Oh alright, I never knew my Onii-Chan could be such a shy person, but I can see why because he finally found someone who he likes! I bet him and Kei are cute together!" She twirls around Ryumo and places her hands on her boyfriend's shoulders as she gives him a soft warm hug. "Pretty much like us, right?" Ryumo gulps and sweats a little to keep himself calm. "Y-Yeah right..." With that Himiko turns around and exits the guest room proceeding to go downstairs helping her grandmother make breakfast. Ryumo finally took a deep sigh of relief managing to keep the secret from Himiko. But he just couldn't handle this much longer and later on she'll slowly lose her patience.
[At Kyoto Main Hospital 10:20 A.M.]
Back at Kyoto Main Hospital two individuals exited the facility with one holding the other with precise care. Kei trying her best to keep the sallow Sanada in balance. "Doctor must have been understanding of your situation when it comes to your need of being out and about huh Sanada?" Kei carefully takes slow steps in order to have them safely arrive to their vehicle. "It sucks that you have to do the heavy lifting, if I'd been on my toes during those few extra hours of recovery you wouldn't have to deal with this bull crap." Sanada cursing himself for being so hopeless. This is the sort of thing that makes the stern eyed detective so upset because he's more than suited to work well on his own without the help of others. He couldn't bear to watch someone do the hard work for him especially someone like Kei. "Come on big guy let me know what you want to eat since well... you laid on your bed for too long for your taste right?" Kei chuckles while assisting Sanada to sit properly on the passenger seat. "Urgh...thanks Kei.." Sanada still feeling nauseous due to his fatigued body.
Kei smiles worryingly as she starts up the car. "What will it be Sanada?" A simple question for Sanada, he sat up straight and coughs to find his voice. "First I like for you to take me back to my home, Himiko may have already been wary of my long absence." Kei nods agreeing to where Sanada is coming from. "You want to make sure that she sees you so that she wouldn't catch on of your condition?" Kei explains.
Sanada nods with a hint of guilt shown on his saddened expression. "I just have to keep her from letting herself go loose out in the open without any protection. If one misstep were to form in front of Himiko, her curiosity and need-to-know cognition may drive her to be in a position where those creeps would seize that chance..." He glances at Kei. "Once we do get to my home, I need you to help confirm my story that I stayed at your place." This in turn took Kei completely by surprise but was able to steer clear on the road without causing an accident.
"Y-You what?! I-I….S-S-Sanada well…." Obvious to Sanada that Kei is being hot and bothered due to the excuse he'll use to cover up his actual reason. "Kei please calm yourself this is important; I need you to do these specific steps once we get there..."
As the two coupling detectives are out getting ready for their plan, somewhere at Hoshogaki Tower a bunch of mysterious groups in dark attired suits are converging within the towers VIP room to discuss a few setbacks from their original plan to capture their prime target. Taizo being the head contributor to this assemblage crosses his arms and look around the surrounding area to see if no other outsiders are attempting to eavesdrop this conversation. Seeing that the other patrons are minding their business and paying no mind on the group, Taizo is the first to speak.
"So, from where we are now...it looks like those dreaded Division 3 amateurs were able to confirm the perpetrator, they figured out it's our mistress who's behind this...now they're prepping themselves to investigate further." The muscular commanding officer took notice of his mistress chuckling. "Ahhh but if it not for Sanada being here, I would have already taken control over his pretty little sister of his..." She whirls her glass full of wine while she expresses her joy menacingly as the other officers who conspired to join this twisted entourage began to nod excessively out of fear and self-preservation.
Miyazu took a few sips of her wine as Taizo carried on with his plan on how they will draw out Himiko and kill their primary obstacle Sanada without having witnesses take notice and break their cover. "Hmm ah here is one idea that may certainly work." Miyazu immediately took a glance at Taizo pointing at the map of Kyoto and sees that he's pointing at a familiar spot. "The Shinito Shrine? Why there of all places, what could you hope to do with our now useless hiding spot. That damned abomination may still be alive in there..." Miyazu narrows her eyes on Taizo to try and get some pointers. Taizo further explain his choice to his men and mistress.
"We do know what happened there and how it all went down, but the plan here is to lure one of their top officers mainly Sanada to investigate our intended location and see through our old hideout." Before Taizo could finish his trap planning, Miyazu is the first to take notice to where this is going. "So, you're saying..." Taizo immediately nods. "That way we can infiltrate his residence and "question" his known relatives to his unfortunate end. That's when we can finally have your quarry on our side without any interference, rest of Division 3 wouldn't do a damn thing just like the other cases." Thus, having Miyazu liking the outcome. "Oh, so big yet so clever...how can a girl be this lucky to have someone watching my back."
Her uneasy seductive smile began to quiver the group except Taizo as he and Miyazu took their usual time to embrace. This was something in which made the rest of the officers who first chose to take this route of life having second thoughts of doing such a distasteful, insane, and malicious path of murder. The fact that their own chief captain is making love with a dead teenage living corpse in front of them.
[In front of Shibumi Residence, 11:35 A.M.]
At around early afternoon, Kei and Sanada finally arrived back to the Shibumi residence. Once parked Kei helps her tired-out comrade out of the car while carrying him on her shoulder to add the extra support. Before they could reach the door, Sanada reminds Kei of what she'll say to his sister if she asks some important predictive questions regarding her brothers' long absence. "You ready?" Sanada prepping himself while Kei took one big breath before she presses the front doorbell button.
Moments ago, Ryumo and Himiko are done finishing up their breakfast while Sajime presume to pick up the dirty dishes and washes them. For a short minute Himiko broke the silence by the same question she asked Ryumo to her grandmother. "Grandma, will Onii-Chan come back from his friends place? Ryumo had told me that he's currently still at his girlfriend's place. Seeing that he hasn't come home at this time really worries me." Her tone of voice became frantic the more she begins to feel something's definitely wrong.
Himiko even notices her grandmother pausing for a second or two while continuing to wash the dishes after the pause. Ryumo bit his bottom lip while gripping both of his hands tight to sustain his incoming sweats that is about to appear. Sajime spoke briefly to her granddaughter. "Sweetie I believe Sanada may have decided to spend some more time with his lady friend for a while before coming home." Himiko wasn't buying this, something is going on with her big brother given the fact that she knows him more than anyone. He should have given her a call at least once a day but now it's been nearly two days of being left in the dark. Added to her boyfriends and grandmothers' odd behavior to subtly answer her questions vaguely is another red flag. It's as if they're hiding something from her but why? She didn't want to beat around the bush but it's obviously clear that something serious has happened. Himiko without hesitation began her hard press questions until they hear bell ringing from the front.
Sajime took the opportunity to diffuse the heated conversation by being the one to check out who's behind the front door. "Grandmother it's me Sanada." A tired Sanada greets in a casual manner. Sajime sighs in overwhelming relief that Sanada has arrived home before things escalated with Himiko. Sajime immediately opens the door for Sanada and gave her grandson a heartfelt hug while looking at Kei with a grateful smile. "You must be Kei...I thank you for bringing my grandson back home safely."
Kei nodded and continues to help Sanada enter the home while Sajime calls out for Himiko that Sanada has finally come home. Himiko instantly got up and rushes towards the entrance way to see them and saw Sanada being held by both Kei and her grandmother. "What happened to him?!" Himiko in a state of panic she tries to figure out Sanada's condition until she felt a gentle press from her left shoulder. "Sanada just had too much alcoholic drink during his stay at my place, I set up a party and invited my close friends to add the fun." Kei informs Himiko based upon Sanada's request. "Himiko no need to worry I um...I kinda went overboard on the drinks." Sanada posing as a clumsy drunk while Kei keeps him from falling over. "Onii-Chan! Oh, not again! How many times did I tell you to lay off the drinks! I mean yeah it helps relieve stress but look at you!"
Himiko helps Kei by holding onto Sanada's left arm while escorting him upstairs to his room while the two girls gently place him on his bed. Sanada turns his head to look at Himiko asking her a few things. "Himiko can you please make some coffee and breakfast? Once you're done bring them to my room?" Himiko happily nods while giving her drowsy brother a gentle hug. "Of course, I'll get right to it immediately."
While Himiko is cooking food for her brother at the kitchen, Ryumo, Kei, and Sajime are gathered within the living room detailing the things that happened between the prime suspect and Sanada's origin of the disease. Kei proceeded to ask the elderly Shibumi of the things that transpired. "Mrs. Shibumi given the amount of evidence that was presented to Division 3 thanks to Sanada San we came to the conclusion that Himiko's new friend Miyazu may be behind the missing persons turned murder cases. We were left in the dark for so long thanks to the intervention of Division 5." She changes the subject to talk about Sanada's sickness.
"I...umm...also want to know how Sanada contracted the FFI virus and his life, that is if you're not comfortable of sharing your stories within your family especially your daughter then I can understand that you don't have to bring up the past." After the request coming from Kei, Sajime hesitantly informs her that she'll be sharing it knowing full well that her intentions are pure of heart. She saw Kei as someone who genuinely cares, even loves Sanada. As for the suspect Sajime wanted to know why this Miyazu person is the likely suspect given how Himiko describes her as being a kind-hearten person.
"Well, the incident happened when Sanada left home to go somewhere right?" Sajime with a snap of thought did indeed saw Sanada rushing out of the house in a hurry. "Yes! He did run off...then that's when the disease finally broke out…." Kei then brought up a theory of Sanada's predicament. "He must have been pushed his limits knowing that the very person who informed Himiko to come was actually the murderer of the lost girls who went missing, victims taken dating back to the late 20th century.
This brought both Ryumo and Sajime a back from this sort of detail. "That long?! So, this had happened way back before Ai went missing!?" Ryumo just couldn't take in this realization. "For now, all we know is that Himiko Chan is the intended target and whoever is behind the murders are already developing a plan to capture her." Sajime grips her hands clamp tight shaken visibly scared for her granddaughter's safety. "Right now, it's best to have Sanada stay home for the rest of the week. Division 3 will try our hardest to keep Himiko safe by having patrols scourer around your surrounding neighborhood during evening to nights. I also suggest a curfew for her to be home before night falls." Ryumo brought up his role into this since he has become more involved with Himiko than any other person Himiko knows.
Kei smiles the moment she sees Ryumo taking responsibility to look after Sanada's sister for him. "Right well good news Ryumo Chan, turns out Sanada wanted you to be the tenant for the Shibumi residence guest room." Ryumo wide eyed while placing his hands on the coffee table with his mouth open. "What?! R-Really?!" Kei smiles as she looks up at Sanada's room. "Yes, he wanted you to take over the vacant room right next to Himiko's. That is if Mrs Shibumi allows it." Ryumo took a quick glance at the elderly Shibumi as she smirks. "Why it will be a pleasure to have Ekijo San be a part of the Shibumi family. That is if you can handle some of the chores and paying for rent." Ryumo sat on the ground and bows to Mrs. Shibumi. "Yes! I will do exactly that, and I'll try my hardest to stay out of trouble I promise!" The lively elderly woman claps her hands together and gets up. "Alright then I have some paperwork to do." Before she could go and meet her estate agent Kei then brought up her curiosity of the FFI virus within Sanada and his life. Sajime stopped and sat back down with a solemn expression as she looks directly at Kei. "Are you going to be okay hearing what I'm about to tell you?" Ready to what she'll hear she nods. Sajime sat still as she closes her eyes and took a deep breath. This is where she visualizes the story told about her grandson and her daughter Suko.
[Summer 1996]
Sanada was at the age of 3 when his parents were in a middle of a heated argument. One was his mother who loves him so much that she would do anything to look after him, the other was the complete opposite, his father. The man who wishes nothing from Sanada, a young father saw him as a complete waste of space and a hindrance for taking away his freedom of going out to play music with his band. Suko being the more emotionally attached parent wanted her son to be loved and looked after like all parents should. Before Sanada was conceived Suko and Sanada's father were in love due to their fascination of art. Suko wishes to improve her skills as an artist and bring joy to those who appreciates and inspire other artists to perform their own art. She believes it's satisfying to learn the meaning of art by expressing through emotions. Her work was loved by many of her colleagues, friends, and others who finds her art impressive and inspiring. Suko wished to develop this art in a form of manga. She loves the effort put on the books which she idolized. It has been her dream to express her work through her story, life, and experience through a couple of drawn paper sheets combined.
As for Sanada's father his love for music is what brought him to work with a band he contributed from his friends. He loves working through different notes and genres of the music to challenge himself. He and Suko met at the same class that teaches art appreciation. This is where both become acquainted and come to learn of their different views of art. This brought the two to fall for each other. Three years being together, both have achieved their goals of earning themselves the degree they wanted. That is until Suko came to an apprehension that her work was not seen as acceptable to the publishers who looked into it believing that her hard work isn't something that's worth their time. This brought Suko in a state of hopelessness and heart shattering. What made matters worse is that her husband's band have start to decline due to their involvement of many scandals that ruined their reputation. This left Sanada's father a bitter man who would leave home to gamble and sleep with other women.
By the time of Sanada's birth Suko committed herself to take care of Sanada the best she could which became her only reason to live. This however enrages his father due to how much attention he got from Suko. But also, the fact that he's unable to deal with the girls as they left him due to his involvement of having a baby. The last straw for his father is when he found out that Suko was pregnant again. Wishing no hardship in his life anymore the father of Sanada decided to leave Suko behind. With that Sanada's father left Suko forever, this is when her families inherent disease began to surface and draining Suko's life slowly because of the overwhelming grief of losing her chance of her dream, abandonment of her husband, and being the only one to look after her children without ample support. Thus began the events that happened during 1998 when Himiko was born, and their mother had passed on the same day leaving Sanada to commit in looking after his sister, his growth, and his eventual fate of obtaining the FFI virus himself.
[Spring 1999]
Sanada's life with his newborn sister at such a young age was the toughest to deal with because they didn't have a home to stay let alone the required resources a baby should have until they reach premature stage. Sanada had to scrap by while asking people from their homes to see if they have anything they don't need so that way Sanada can care for Himiko, luckily a few of the people were willing to offer them a place to stay for one night even offered him food for the baby. There were days that brought Sanada close to giving up but he put his sister first than his own, so he pushes on without the care for his own wellbeing. That's until he met a young woman who looked to be at her early thirties and offered them a place to stay. This woman is the owner of the Hikiyo Foster Home, Mrs. Hizugami the lady who took in the two siblings as new members.
By that time Sanada has gained the resilience to push himself further as he worked hard for the sake of his sister and benefiting the foster home by being one of the guides to take care of the other children.
Once Sanada had reached his adolescent years, he began his career of law enforcement and forensics. With whatever extra money he had after feeding Himiko he used the leftovers to pay off his classes required for him to do in order to take on Law Enforcement Programs. He continued his education and cared for his sister without rest. Thus sleeping 3 hours per day, Sanada had nearly succumbed the effects of insomnia and gradual loss of weight adding the fuel to his disease becoming active until he finally got accepted by the Police Bureau of California. This lifted all the heavy weights off his shoulders where he finally got to relax at the age of 19. He has spent two years working through cases not a lot of other police officers were able to crack. Sanada was one of those detectives who have cracked them and saved many lives due to his honest and harsh work ethics he puts in his work.
This is where the FFI subsided until that day when he realized that his once old home, Hikiyo Foster Home went ablaze in fire done by an enraged arson that burned the home to rubble. This was the biggest news back at that time, having to lose one of the most well-respected orphanage to look after abandoned and lost children impacted the public especially those who needed a home to stay and families who lost their loved ones by the fire. This became personal for Sanada; he was hell bent on searching the person who caused all of this destruction and pain at the place he treasured gone. He worked without stopping to search for clues, evidence, and tips that can help him get close to the bastard who had done it. Once he found out that one of his companions have caught the suspect, to his shock and horror the man responsible for the many deaths and destruction of Hikiyo was none other than his own father. As it turned out he was hunting down Sanada and Himiko attempting to kill them for being the remnants of his ex-wife for taking away the life he once had. This is the final nail to Sanada's hatred towards his father and one of the prime motivators to move back to Japan in hopes to keep Himiko safe from him.
"Sanada had dealt with the worst thing possible during his time growing up. Having to realize your own parent is out there trying to murder you over something so trivial can tell how traumatic it can be. Even though Sanada may have succeeded on taking care of Himiko while finally having that sense of ease in his life. He was met with a reminder that the past will always come to haunt you even though you set it aside for something more important..." Sajime finally ending her small story of Sanada's life and her daughters' fate.
This brought both Ryumo and Kei in an astonished silence having learned what kind of person Sanada was back then. "I...I can't even imagine a life that screwed up.." Ryumo broke his silence while shaking his head. "And despite all of what had just happened, Sanada was able to overcome them on his own..." Kei looked down in sadness. That is until she hears her phone ringing.
She checked the number of the caller and it's from HQ. She answered her call as Sasiki is the one on the other line speaking to her. "Kei it's me Sasiki, it looks like you and I are tasked to look into this location given from our commanding chief, he needs you to come back so we can further analyze this case." Kei nodded while looking at Sanada's room. "Sure thing, but what about Sanada?" Sasiki informs Kei that Sanada needs his rest and believes that this task will be for them to handle. "Alright, I'm on my way there." With that Kei hung up the phone and glances at Sajime. "I understand, I'll let Sanada know you'll be working now, and I'll be sure to have him rest." Sajime pats Kei by the shoulder giving her a motherly smile. "Do be careful, okay?" Kei gives her own earnest smile. "I will, thank you Mrs. Shibumi. Bye Ryumo." With that Kei is off driving back to Division 3 HQ.
Once Kei arrived back at her workplace and meeting the others at the main office, she's been greeted with Sasiki showing her the recording from Sanada's office phone placed on the center point of the planning table. Sasiki presses the button while Kei listens to the recording the voice sounding light and eerily quiet, but Kei is able to hear the words coming from the person. "Hello?...I am hiding behind the bushes from Shinito Shrine and I'm seeing a couple of strange people in black suits entering one of the stoned tombs...if you are getting this, please have Detective Sanada come check that out…." With that the recording ends leaving Kei confused to this tip. "So, what do you think Kei? Is it worth a look?" Sasiki asks his female friend of this lead. "I don't know but the fact this person is specifically wanting Sanada to investigate Shinito is a little odd..." Kei narrows her eyes on the recorder rubbing her chin to think if this is some sort of prank or something that can actually get them closer to their prime suspect.
Commander Juji stood up and agrees to Kei's uneasiness. "Officer Kei may be right, something about this is definitely strange….this anonymous caller had given an order to have Sanada investigate...and we all know he's incapable to work due to his condition. So, by your choice will you and Sasiki take part in checking out the location?" Kei answers. "Yes sir, whatever its could have some valuable source of information." Sasiki nods while getting his nine-millimeter pistol loaded in case of any danger that may surface within the shrine. "Alright, Shinito Shrine here we go." Before the two are off Commander Juji informs them to make sure to send in reports of their findings. "We'll be sure to let you know about what we find there." Kei states with confidence. The two have left and drove straight to their destination.
[At Shibumi Residence, 6:30 P.M.]
Back at Shibumi Residence, it is 6:30 pm. the day had already become dark. This droves Sanada to fall back into a deep sleep due to his exhaustion of spending time chatting with Himiko. It was nice to finally see that Himiko doesn't need to feel insecure knowing that she's elated that her boyfriend is staying with them from now on. Having himself back home also made Sanada glad that his sister didn't catch on with what was happening and he's grateful that he showed up right on time before Himiko was getting too suspicious with Ryumo and Sajime. So, he places his head softly on his fluffy and comforting pillow. Once that happened, he's met with a high pitch scream thus bringing him to wake up. To his right he sees a strange girl with tear driven eyes standing beside him. Sanada got up slowly and knows this girl. She is one of the victims who appeared during his last hallucination. "You're Nanase…correct?" Given the fact that he had met all of the victims who showed up in his previous dreams he became acquainted with the girls through their...gruesome experience and painful memories before their deaths. "Detective….your friends are in danger! My lover…he's gone far from being himself…" The young pink haired girl plead the stern eyed detective. Sanada tries to figure out what she meant. "They…..They turned him into a monster…a monster he was forced to become...after my death..."
Sanada closes his eyes again to find something from Nanase's memories then to his shock an image of a long-haired male being tied to a chair while being forced to watch Nanase being stabbed through different places on her body the same exact areas the other girls were stabbed by different bladed items. Another image of the same man being taunted by another girl who's holding a dead corpse and placed it down right in front of the long-haired captive. Sanada examines the corpse and sees the expression of the man giving the assumption that this is his close friend who tried to save him and Nanase. Then the next image was the darkest of them all...Sanada sees the long haired main completely thin and gray devouring the very corpse that was presented to him. In an instant, Sanada broke free from his current hallucination as hurried himself to his phone to call Division 3 headquarters. For a few seconds Commander Juji is the one to pick up. "Hello, oh Sanada how are you?" Sanada cuts off the greeting and asks his commander about anything. "Sirs are there anyone who are currently tasked with something at this time?!" This type of paranoia coming from Sanada worries Juji. "Y-Yes I've sent Sasiki and Kei to a location called Shinito Shrine described by an anonymous tipper what's more the messenger also wanted you to investigate but I have the two take your place." This troubles Sanada greatly and demands Commander Juji to send Yakimori to pick him up immediately. Sanada gets himself suited and goes off in a rush at his chosen spot to meet Yakimori. Luckily for him Ryumo, Himiko, and Sajime are doing their celebration by watching a movie in Kimiko theaters.
[At Shinito Shrine near the Shikugami Forest, 7:45 P.M.]
Sasiki and Kei have arrived at the destination and scans the surrounding area of Shinito Shrine for any clues, the two headed into the same building the trespassers went in to investigate. After entering, the whole place is pitched black and extremely hard to see, Kei brought out two LED lights and places them on their shoulder harness. After getting ample sight they notice that the opened tomb has stairways going below. "Should we?" Sasiki asks Kei with a hint of fear shown from his expression. "I...I don't know but whoever is here…may have something to do with this entrance way. We don't have a choice..." The two of them took slow, careful steps in order to not alert anyone who may be down there. The more they go down the more ominous the interior of the hidden passageway became, there were noticeable scratch markings from the walls along with bits of dried blood covering some of the steps. Just before Sasiki could say anything something blew behind the two of them causing both Sasiki and Kei to crash down on the sandy patched floor.
Disorientated from the blow Kei and Sasiki regained their footing and to their shock the stairway leading to the exit had been blown from within as tons of rubble have enveloped the staircase. They're trapped, Kei then saw what looks like a trigger line that has been pulled. To her horror she believes that the whole lead was all a trap specifically for Sanada. "What?! So, we fell right into the enemies trap?!" Kei got up and picked up her gun while dusting herself off. "Looks like it...damn it...I should've not allowed us to go this far.." Sasiki checks his phone and to make matters worse, they can't get any good reception from below. "No..No! NOO!..." Sasiki threw his phone to the ground out of frustration. This however caused a blood curdling growl from afar within the catacombs. Kei and Sasiki stood close together not allowing each other to separate. "What the hell was that?!" Sasiki shudders as he points his LED light ahead of them. For what they saw is something that stopped their hearts in a split second. An image of a tall gray human standing 8 feet tall staring straight at them with menacing blood red eyes with teeth as sharp as knives and limbs so thin and torn apart that it's bones are shown. Out of panic both Kei and Sasiki began to shoot down the creature with all the bullets they have.
The beast went down after taking the assault but for a brief second it immediately got up and twitches its entire body as its dry skin pushes back the bullets. They all fall on the ground showing that this creature can't be killed by regular ballistic firearms. Sasiki and Kei out of fear couldn't think at this time but suddenly Sasiki saw another passageway beside them. In a split second the two of them ran like hell away from whatever that thing is. "Sasiki what the hell is that thing!?"
Sasiki responds without a thought. "I don't know but we got to keep moving!" As the two kept running through the linear pathway they can hear the creature chasing after them as it screams out the one word that instilled fear within their souls. "FOOD!" The creature screeching in a disembodied humanistic roar gradually gets closer towards the two frightened Division 3 officers. That is until Sasiki immediately saw a SPAS-12 pump action shotgun lying beside a dead corpse ahead as he immediate grabs it is checking the chamber. It has four bullets left inside. With this he took a risky opportunity to slow down the creature down as Kei stops and calls for Sasiki. "What are you doing!? We have to get out of here!" Sasiki waiting for the twisted monster so he can blast it. "Keep going! I'll hold this thing off!" Kei is left dumbfounded. "W-What?! But you'll die!" Sasiki orders Kei to go. "Just go damn it!"
Having no other options Kei went off without Sasiki. With that he slowly looked forward waiting for the creature to strike. "Alright...your gray anorexic bastard come on!" Sasiki pumps the shotgun and points it at the thing's direction. In a split second the creature lunges at Sasiki but he pressed the trigger on time which sent the monster flying back for a good 20 feet away from him. This gives Sasiki enough time to run.
Kei having a head start could hear the loud bang behind her, her eyes riddled with tears of fright and potential loss of a good friend as she came to a huge dead end. A room full of equipment similar to the torture chamber from the other location. "Another one?!…" Kei without a second thought tries her best to search for any openings for this room to get the hell out of this hell pit. But to no avail, her panicked cries, fright, and hopelessness grew as she could hear slow footsteps coming ever closer to her. Then to her relief Sasiki have managed to outpace the monster. "Kei!..." Sasiki ran to her and stood beside her. "Where are we?…" Noticing his tone of voice torn tells that there's no chance of surviving this. "A-Another….hideout..." Kei response with the most damaged and helpless voice given.
The two now saw the creature lurking through the shadowy passage as it's devilish red piercing eyes are locked right at Kei. Sasiki rushes at the creature only to be thrown like a rag doll right at the cluttered table from the left. Kei in absolute fear places herself further back on the rocky wall closing her eyes. As the creature comes ever closer to her, before it could lay a finger on Kei the rocky ceiling blew from behind them then out of the cloud of dust showed Sanada landing hard on the ground and shot the creature with a flare from his flare gun which engulfs the creature with streams of fire all around its entire body as the creature howls in agony. Now the burnt humanoid creature falls to the ground completely burned to a crisp, dead.
Sanada went down on one knee while Kei ran over to him and hugged him without letting go. "Sanada!….thank god you came!" Her overwhelming fear finally went away as she feels Sanada stroking her hair gently. "Shhh…Shhh…it's okay…it's okay...I'm just so glad you're still alive..!"
Sasiki got up and stood beside Sanada looking down on the now crisp corpse of the creature…." Sanada what is it?" Having heard that question Sanada lets Kei go and tries his hardest to get up and simply responds. "That was Hiyaze...Nanase's significant other..."
To Be Continued.