The Demon Within (Part 1)
Chapter 1: Like Demons in the Night
Takeshi Akira was only five when it happened. They came for her in the night. One moment she was sleeping peacefully in her large bed filled with stuffed animals, and the next she was jerked awake by rough hands snatching her from her blankets. She tried to scream but large hands smothered her, muffling her voice into a soft, inaudible whimper. She tried to squirm free, but her body went rigid when she felt the sharp, cold pressure of a kunai pressed against her throat. Even at such a young age, she understood the threat clear enough.
Suddenly, there was a sharp pain on the back of her head. The pain didn't last long though, for her vision began to fade and she was pulled into the nothingness of unconsciousness.
Akira awoke to complete darkness. She couldn't tell whether her eyes were open or closed. A shiver of fear swept through her body; she wasn't afraid of the overwhelming blackness, but rather what was concealed within it. As if on cue, a loud scream pierced the unending black and Akira shuddered, listening carefully for any threats. She heard quiet whimpers surrounding her from all sides. On occasion she heard a child's terrified voice call out for their parents.
Akira remained silent, choosing to conceal herself in the darkness instead of broadcasting her location to the others in the room. After what felt like an eternity to the young girl, Akira's apprehension slowly faded and only then did she realise the putrid stench that lingered in the air like a thick fog that couldn't be dissipated. It smelt of feces and rotting flesh, and the scent clung to her nostrils.
Slowly, Akira's eyes begun to adjust to the dark environment. The room was still a stifling black, but she was able to see movement that transpired within a short distance from her. To her left was a rectangle outlined in light which Akira believed to be a door. Her theory was proven correct when, after an immeasurable amount of time, it opened to reveal an unrecognisable, due to the light streaming in behind, figure who stood in the doorway.
The light from beyond the door infiltrated the room to reveal at least two dozen children scattered throughout the room. Akira was able to make out the fear on the faces of the ones nearest her. Her attention was captured by the figure at the door when they raised one arm and threw something into the room. A dull thump was heard, and then movement was seen across the room as over half of the children scrambled towards the discarded object.
Akira remained where she was and simply observed as a vicious scuffle took place over what she now realised was a loaf of bread. The kids hit, kicked, and bit each other in order to successful retrieve the loaf. The bread was quickly torn to shreds as each kid tried to break off a big piece and shove it into their mouths. The stronger children, the ones who victoriously acquired most of the bread, quickly scurried away after the loaf disappeared; leaving the losers to fight over the measly crumbs that littered the floor.
After the commotion died down, the figure chuckled and turned, shutting the door and once again plunging the room into complete darkness. A few whimpers were heard from the kids who were injured when fighting over the bread, but after a while the noise died down into a silence that was as heavy as the blackness.