"Wait, did we turn at this corner... wait.. was there a fish shop when we passed by earlier on... arghh! DAmn Momo!" Ryoma cursed under his breath.
The street lights had just flickered on, attracting a multitudes of moth buzzing around the lights.
Ryoma tries to warm himself by rubbing his arms but to no avail. The weather forecast predicted that there will be thundery showers tonight and the temperature will fall drastically.
As Ryoma continue fumbling through the streets, the last of the sun rays have faded away and melted into the dark night sky. The gray clouds have finally arrived and its cousin could be heard roaring from a distant away. The people around him were scrambling in quick purposeful steps, hoping to reach their destination before the rain. At this point of time, Ryoma had lost his motivation to get home and decided to loiter around the streets instead. Not like he will enjoy being bombarded with questioning looks and insincere smiles back home anyways. He whipped up his phone and sent a one-liner text to inform Nanjiroh that he will not be coming home tonight. That settles everything. Now, where should he sleep tonight?
He walk through the emptying streets, restaurants closing, apartments lighting up and the 'tadeima!'s.
And finally, he found a nice tunnel near a deserted tennis court. Really the best spot out there, where he can enjoy a clear view of his beloved tennis court by himself and still be hidden and sheltered well. And just as if it was all planned, it started pouring the moment he crawled inside the tunnel. He placed his school bag by his side and made himself comfortable.
'Ah, what a nice place.' He thought to himself. What a good luck he have to be able to find this place. The mesmerizing and hypnotic sound of raindrops together with the dimly lit surroundings created a relaxing ambience. He stared blankly at the tunnel world and melt into nothingness. Never had he felt so peaceful before.
Suddenly, his phone rang. It was Nanjiroh
"Out with your new found friends?"
Tch.
"Yea."
"Stay safe and have fun!"
Ryoma stared at the glaring phone screen for a while before pressing onto the lock screen key, thus shutting off the phone completely.
'yea, I wont cause trouble outside... and you are welcome.' Ryoma thought in his head. At least he wont have to feel bad for burdening them tonight with his weird antics. Perhaps he should stay out more often.
Right at this moment, the streetlight fizzes out. The engulfing darkness consumed the boy.
"Where am I..." His pupils contracts. His heart beat rising.
"No... no... wait no, wait.. no..." He tries controlling his rapid breathing.
'Thump... thump... thump... thump... THUMP... THUMP.. THUMP.." like a wild animal, he starts to claw at the tunnel walls as he begins losing his mind.
"No... everything is fine.. don't worry, just calm down, everything is fine, EVERYTHING IS FINE!"
The lightning flash across the sky and for an instant, Ryoma saw a familiar shadow standing at the entrance of the tunnel. The man then slowly bends down and start crawling into the tunnel towards Ryoma, inch by inch.
"What you want... WHAT DO YOU WANT, GET AWAY FROM ME! GO AWAY!"
He punched and kicked desperately against the tunnel walls, trying to escape the clutch of the sadistic being. He thumped his head against the walls, trying to find his way out. He screamed his lungs out trying to seek help. He pushed away everything - the walls, air, the man - trying to isolate himself.
"DONT TOUCH ME, GO AWAY!"
"SAVE ME SOMEONE!"
He wails uncontrollably, trying to breath in between the hiccups.
"help m- 'cup, help..' cup... help... 'cup"
Fingernails dug deep, teeth sinking in flesh. Ugly red trail over the arms and feet.
The unrelenting rain continues to pour through the night and no sane humans will be out in the storm to hear his pleas. With each roar of the thunder, the young boy screams in painful memory of what happened 7 years ago. His fake arms, fake eyes, fake body, fake life, fake identity, fake tennis style, fake.. fake... they were all fake. Fake.
He slammed his body against the wall, wanting to be let out and be free. He stabs at his thighs with sharp twigs, feeling the warm blood running on his cold and dirty skin, wanting a release. He banged his head against the wall repeatedly, wanting an end.
"Dont touch... me... dont.. help me... someone... save.." The same words over and over again, each time the voice grow weaker and raspier, until his throat turns dry and his voice left him completely. Lying on his side, on a pile of vomit mixed with blood and tears, he continued mouthing his words uncontrollably, again and again and again and again.
It was 3 am in the morning when his eyes lost its light completely.
Eh... hope you like this? Please do review! And do not proceed to the next few chapters - they are my old works.