Chapter 4

The plan had sounded crazy. The chances that it worked were extremely low but they decided to do it anyway. Hiroto had absolutely nothing to lose while Kazuya wanted this to end more than anything. The preparations had needed more than just a couple of days. They didn't need to build anything but those years were necessary. It took four years. The boys would meet by the river once per week and sometimes twice.

During the years, Kazuya seemed to drift away from reality, or maybe his sanity was draining with his innocence. His mother had been extremely worried about this but he'd reassure her and insisted with the fact that he was fine. A bit after he turned 13, his dreams had slowly changed during the years. He switched from dreams of being chased and being killed to dreams where he killed and enjoyed it. Each time it happened (each night, actually), he'd put his hands on his head and shake it violently once he was awaken, wondering why he had those dreams. One day, even Hiroto noticed he changed too much. Kazuya had told him what happened. He told the adult about his dreams, the constant black void in his mind and those random killing desires he had lately.

Hiroto told him about another survivor of the mansion. A survivor that everyone had preferred to forget. He had survived the second year. He was 8 years old too when he got in the mansion. He had barely made it out of there but when he was found, he was completely mad. The fresh blood on him wasn't his; it was mostly other's blood. People tried to know what happened to him but they had never been able to get anything from him; he was often rambling about things that didn't make sense, he was constantly seeing corpses and the beast since he kept talking about them or screaming and trying to run away from something, he tried to kill one of the doctors who took care of him and bit one of the nurses on the forearm until she was seriously bleeding from the bite. He ended up killing himself by hitting his head on the wall until he died from it. Rumors said he laughed while doing so.

Hiroto told him that it was thanks to Hiroshi that Kazuya didn't end up like that. He also said that he had been in a phase where he was beginning to lose it too but he got out of it by thinking of Arata and the next chosen ones who could get out. He told Kazuya to hold on to something until he would have passed it.

So he held onto the fact Hiroshi saved him another time, he held onto Hiroto who wouldn't like to see another chosen one end up like that poor boy years ago, he held onto his parents who wanted to keep their only child left safe and sound and he held onto the fact this demon would be gone soon. Still, he lost contact with almost all of his friends. He felt like they were there more out of pity than friendship. It was true that he was in another world most of the time; they did not see what he saw and they did not know what he knew. Girls seemed to like it. They liked the fact it was making him look mysterious and dark. Kazuya didn't really care at all; he'd care once this was all over. Besides, which girl would like a boyfriend who couldn't even smile? This wasn't a movie; they wouldn't be able to make him smile again just like that.

Then, the big day finally came. It was time to execute the plan. Kazuya and Hiroto needed to do one last thing. They watched the naming of the chosen ones and walked to the building. There were only two persons from this town who had been chosen. Kazuya had to talk to the girl while Hiroto would go speak to the boy. They separated and went to their designed chosen ones. The girl seemed familiar to Kazuya even though he perfectly knew they never spoke to each other. It's when he saw her again that he realized she actually spoke to him once. She came in front of him and asked him if he could smile. He didn't recognize her at first because a couple of other girls did this too. He noticed she was crying. She looked up when he closed the door behind him. They stared at each other silently for a couple of seconds until she looked down at the floor.

"I know, I was bad and I deserve it," she said, "Scowl at me, I don't care anymore!"

Kazuya took out his notepad and wrote down something on it before showing it to the girl.

We have a plan.

She looked up at him, wonder easily seen in her eyes. He wrote down something else and tore the page to give it to her.

We need you all to stick together in one room. Wait in the first phase; we're going to come and get you. Tell this to the others and show the page if they want a proof.

She looked at him, not sure if she should believe him or not. Kazuya wrote down something else.

Trust us.

When she looked up from the paper, she met with a very reassuring smile. The girl lost control of herself and hugged the teen. He lightly blushed since it was the first time in years he was getting such an affection gesture from a stranger. He hesitantly put his hands around her and then pulled away so she could see her family before she would go in that train.

Kazuya waited for Hiroto at the entrance of the building. He arrived a couple of minutes later.

I thought you'd be faster than me since you can talk.

Yes, Kazuya just said that in sign language and Hiroto understood all of it. The adult had decided to learn sign language; he guessed it would be useful while doing the plan and just faster while speaking every day.

"I had to wait for the family to get out first."

The young teen nodded and they headed to Hiroto's house. They quickly grabbed their things and got back to the building from behind. There, they looked at the two chosen ones entering the train. When the old-looking man closed the door behind them and got back in the building. The boys ran to the back of the train and got on the platform at the back when the train started. Kazuya started to feel sick and it wasn't because of the train.

Are you sure we can make it? The plan is really crazy…

"It's only now that you start doubting!? What else can we possibly do? You… You could have told me a year ago and we would've thought about something else."

It's just that…

The teen looked away for a moment and turned back with tears that he tried to keep in his eyes.

I don't want anyone to die there. If we fail because the plan wasn't thought well, this will continue forever.

Hiroto couldn't find anything to say. He wasn't sure about this plan either but no matter how hard he tried to find something better, his mind would go completely blank. This was the only plan he had been able to think about.

After a while, the train stopped. Hiroto led Kazuya to the back of the house without being seen by the few policemen there. The young teen recognized the well where he got out six years ago. For a split-second, he saw Hiroshi leaned against the bricked side with his stomach full of blood soaking his clothes. Kazuya stopped walking and stared at the spot for a couple of seconds. It's only when he heard Hiroto's voice that he came back to reality. He looked down in the well and suddenly felt pulled inside. He backed away before he'd fall and took a couple of breaths to calm himself down.

"You're sure you'll be okay?" asked Hiroto.

The teen nodded but at the back of his head, he was shouting no and I want to go home. Of course, he didn't say it. It was now or never; no time to act like a coward. Kazuya decided to go first and climbed down the ladder.

Hm... There's not a lot of chapters left... Oh well! Every story has to be finished one day!
So, please leave a review and see you next time!