Chapter 32: Corrupted Influence

By now, Nightmare had manipulated, and even erased the minds of the weak-willed; Yoshikazu was only the first victim. The azure knight had just seized control of three more, at the same time. His use for them, wipe out the remaining villagers.

Kaori woke up later than usual. She immediately got ready, and went to get her brother up.

"We're running seriously late! Akira, wake up, it's nine already!"

Akira got up, groggily. "How so...? Can't be! Why didn't Mom wake me up?"

She went to their mother's room. "Mom...It's already nine...so we're off to school, ok?"

The woman simply twisted her head and said "I see..."

Living room,

Akira, "Geez, what's up with Mom not waking up, huh? Even though she's the one always yelling 'Wake up, wake up!' at me on top of her lungs!"

Kaori was in tears, "Akira...What should we do, Akira..."

Akira slammed his fist onto the table. "Dammit all! Damn that bitch Megumi! And that madman, Nightmare! Do they want to wipe every single one of us off the face of Earth?!"

Kaori suddenly remembered, it seemed like Megumi was trying to warn her. "No...Megumi...she's not responsible!"

Akira argued "She killed Natsuno...She killed our father...And now she's killing our mother on top of them?!" He then stood up, "Kaori! I'm going to the Mizo District!"

"Huh?"

"Are you retarded? We need to stock up on things like talismans and amulets from 'Hachima' again! And I'll go buy 'em!"

The only money they had left was their mom's.

Kaori, "But what about school? We're poor children who've just lost their father! They'll be willing to overlook our ditching classes!"

"Meanwhile you go to the storeroom and make stakes out of lumber you'll find there!"

"Wh-What's with you ordering me around? Aren't you biting off more than you can chew?"

"Because we're down to our last stand! And we won't go down without putting up one hell of a fight!"

Later,

Akira turned back due to hearing news of a shiki in the recently abandoned Itou Residence.

"Kaori! Are you finished with the stakes?!"

"Wh-What all of the sudden? I've only made a couple so far."

Akira grabbed one of them, "I'm taking it!"

"Wai-Akira?!"

"I'm through with relying on adults!"

Itou Residence:

Akira broke into the abandoned house, and on the side of the main room was a curtain.

Akira:

It's only a little past noon at the moment. I still have time. These things only come out at night.

Natsuno...please protect me if you can.

All the windows and doors are locked. And they're boarded up from the inside to boot. So that daylight couldn't reach inside, I guess. These things really are vampires.

DAAAAAAMN!

This is the house where that wierd woman, Ikumi Itou, used to live with her daughter. About ten days prior both of them died or disappeared. But this isn't a vacant house. There're signs that this place is being dwelt in. There must be someone here.

The windows are boarded up...and even sealed up airtight with putty, making the inside enshrouded in pitch-black darkness. But...there's no one here?

This isn't exactly a big house. There're only three usual rooms and this one with dirt floor.

Aside from boards and bags with plaster the only other oddity is...A curtain...a new one...

Yes, this heavy curtain unpenetrable to light is out of place here.

Akira pulled back the curtain, revealing a closet door.

"A closet? Why hang a curtain in front of a closet..."

As soon as he carefully opened the door, he was shocked at what was inside.

"It's that...Old Man Maeda!"

Akira stepped closer.

"Found you!"

He touched the man's skin; it was cold as ice. He pulled out the wooden stake and a hammer.

"I'm gonna finish off every single one of you!"

Akira:

They're murderers!

They killed Dad and Natsuno! That's why I don't consider what I'm about to do an atrocity!

I'll do it!

Suddenly, someone snuck up behind him, and knocked him unconscious.

Later,

When Akira came to, he was tied up and gagged. And Maeda woke up, turned his head toward Akira, and grinned.

Akira:

Mnn...What the hell happened...? I can't move...

It's five already?!

Mnnnnn! Mnnnn!

Kunihiro Residence:

Ritsuko answered the phone.

"Hello, Kunihiro listening."

"Ritsuko?"

"Oh, is it you, Kiyomi?"

"Help me...! There's someone here in my house trying to..."

Unknown intruder, "Offer your soul!"

The last thing Ritsuko heard on the other side, before the line went dead, was the sound of Kiyomi screaming.

"Wha...Hello?! Kiyomi?! Kiyomi!" Alarmed, she immediately contacted Dr. Ozaki.

"Doctor, is it you?! It's Ritsuko! I just received a call from Kiyomi, she was crying for help! I'm going to help her right now!"

Ozaki, "Wha...No, wait, Ritsuko!" She already hung up.

Ozaki Clinic:

Connor was working on the antidote when he heard the phone conversation. "What's going on?!"

Ozaki, "They got Kiyomi, and now Ritsuko is going to fall into their trap!"

Kiyomi's house:

Ritsuko saw what was left of Kiyomi; her body looked like the life had literally been sucked out of it.

"Oh god..."

When she moved into another room, she discovered Kiyomi's husband, his back bent too far. And on the wall, was a message written in the man's blood:

"Your sister is my eternal slave."

Ritsuko said the name out loud, "Nightmare?!"

Outside,

Her dog, Taro, was practically dragging her.

Suddenly, a truck rushed past her, leaving Ritsuko distracted long enough for Nightmare to startle her.

"Ritsuko..."

"Wh-Who are you?!"

Two men who were supposed to be dead came from behind him.

"Bite her."

Looks like Nightmare has the upperhand now.

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