What is this smell…? It's suffocating… heavy.
Where am I…? Where am I, let someone tell me.
What are these sounds…? Rustling.
Who are these men…? What are they talking about?
Why can't I move my body…?
One of them looked at me.
I felt his gaze pierce through my chest.
Don't come near me…
No…
Don't come near…
Stop…
Please… stop…
But his steps continued.
Step…
Step…
Step…
He was getting closer. He was getting closer to me.
I choked on my own breath. Air no longer reached my lungs.
My heartbeat raced violently until I felt it would tear my chest apart.
Sweat began to pour from my body like rain.
Fear… was no longer just a feeling… it had become an entity that wrapped around me.
Then he reached me.
I felt him. He was so close. So close that the heat of his breath touched my ear.
It was hot… terrifying in a horrifying way.
Then he whispered…
Why are you afraid? Don't worry… you just… will die.
No… no… please… don't kill me… please…
They all laughed.
A twisted… terrifying laugh.
No… no… no no no no no no—
[24 HOURS BEFORE THE INCIDENT]
The city of "Malisura."
They say it is the city of opportunities, but to me, it seemed like the perfect place to run away. I didn't leave my city just to escape bullying, but to escape the "feeling" that followed me… that feeling of loneliness despite everyone being around me.
I stood in front of my new home, an old building that smelled of burnt paper. It wasn't just a house inherited from my family, it made me feel like I had another place in this world.
"I must find a job immediately; my wallet is empty and the city shows no mercy," I muttered as I looked at the strange scratches on the street wall… as if a monster had passed by here.
I entered my house. I was exhausted, so I threw myself on the bed. I couldn't feel my body from sheer fatigue. I fell into a deep sleep… I slept.
The sun rose, and its light touched my face through the window.
"Ah… ah… what time is it? Ah… I'm late! Today is my first day at school… school, or rather… the word school irritates me."
I got up and prepared myself.
"Ah… seems I'm late. Well, I'll have breakfast at school," Hidara whispered as he walked down the street.
"What's with this city? I remember hearing an explosion yesterday… Well, anyway, it doesn't matter to me."
He stopped.
"What about that boy standing at the school gate? He's wearing the same uniform as me."
Hidara whispered: "Hello, you, why don't you come in?"
Neil looked at him with a blank expression.
"We're late. They won't allow us in."
Hidara muttered to himself: "Then it doesn't matter."
Then he looked at him: "How about having breakfast with me at the nearest restaurant?"
Neil looked at him with his blank gaze.
"Okay."
At the restaurant…
Hidara whispered: "Looks like I'll spend the rest of my money… well, it doesn't matter."
Neil looked at him and said: "Don't worry, I'll pay my share."
Hidara replied: "I'm saved."
A group of thugs entered the restaurant. Everyone in the restaurant was afraid of them.
Reggie looked at Neil, approached him, and put his hand on his shoulder:
"Hello, you miserable! I see you're having lunch with a stranger. Tell me, who is he? No, wait… did your mother pack your food, little boy?"
Reggie's men burst out laughing.
Hidara muttered to himself: "And he keeps eating… is he being bullied?"
Neil looked at the food coldly.
Reggie said: "Open your mouth… aaah…"
They laughed loudly.
Neil slapped Reggie's hand, and the plate fell to the ground.
Reggie turned angrily, looked at Neil, then picked up the food from the floor:
"Open your mouth, you sad one!"
Neil looked at Reggie with a mocking gaze.
Reggie whispered: "You provoke me."
He reached out to force the food into Neil's mouth.
Suddenly, Hidara's anger flared, his veins bulging, and he looked at Reggie with a terrifying glare.
Reggie whispered: "Hey… wait… you… your gaze scares me."
Hidara whispered: "Step back."
Reggie said: "Or what?"
He suddenly raised his hand.
Neil, with a swift motion, punched Reggie hard in the face; he fell to the ground.
Someone behind Neil grabbed a wooden stick to hit him. Hidara noticed it quickly.
He jumped over the table, spun in the air, and delivered a strong kick to the man's neck; he fell to the ground.
Hidara smiled: "Seems like you need me."
Neil smiled at him.
They stood.
"So, let's teach them a lesson they won't forget."
Reggie stood: "How dare you!"
He ordered all his dogs: "Take them down!"
Hidara and Neil smiled.
They knocked down man after man.
Only one remained.
Hidara approached him with a terrifying look, and Neil advanced with the same fear.
Reggie sighed: "Please… have mercy… forgive us…"
Hidara whispered: "I'll give you three seconds. You and your dogs run."
"One… two… three."
They ran away.
The restaurant owner looked at them angrily: "You're kicked out of the restaurant!"
Hidara whispered to Neil: "The most important thing is that I've filled my stomach."
Neil laughed sarcastically: "You fool."
While they were walking on one of the green hills beside Malisura Lake…
Neil said: "Tell me, Hidara, why did you help me back then?"
Hidara looked at him and smiled: "I was bullied in my old city, so I acted without thinking."
Neil looked at him: "Really? Thank you… you've been a help."
Hidara looked at him: "Don't worry."
"So, tell me, why did you leave your city?"
Hidara whispered: "To rest."
Neil burst out laughing.
"I've never seen a fool like you run to hell to rest."
Hidara looked at him: "What do you mean?"
"You'll find out then."
Neil stopped: "Okay, I'll invite you to dinner. It'll be on me tonight."
Hidara replied quickly: "Agreed!"
While they were walking down the street…
A huge explosion shook the area. Buildings trembled from it.
Hidara was terrified, sweat pouring from him, while Neil remained calm.
Neil whispered: "You'll have to get used to these explosions."
Hidara looked at him: "This is Malisura."
"What?!"
At the restaurant…
"Please, bring me some alcohol."
"Yes, sir."
Hidara whispered: "You drink alcohol?"
"I think… that's none of your business."
Hidara raised his juice glass: "I know… but for you, you shouldn't do it… alone. You should bring me some of it."
Neil laughed: "Alright… add another glass."
"Tell me, what do you want? You want to rest? Don't make me laugh. You're in Malisura… the world of forbidden energy users."
Hidara looked at him mockingly: "Forbidden energy? What do you mean?"
"You'll find out."
He stood: "I'll go home… I don't seem well. I drank too much."
"Go home. Okay… Malisura is dangerous at night… or rather, at all times, it is dangerous."
He laughed a hysterical, terrifying laugh.
He stopped at the door.
He looked at Hidara: "Don't follow me."
He left the restaurant.
Hidara laughed: "Are you crazy? I won't follow you… and leave all this food."
He looked at the food.
"Ah… I'll finish my meal alone… and I'll take Neil's share too."
"I wonder… what does he mean by forbidden energy?"
Hidara entered the house late.
"It's late… I must sleep."
"Ah… today I'll make Neil tell me everything."
"I'm ready… where's my umbrella? The rain is heavy today."
At that moment…
An unknown car stopped at the end of the street.
He went out of the house with his umbrella.
The car moved quickly toward Hidara.
It stopped beside him.
Men got out of it.
Suddenly, unknown men attacked him.
He tried to resist, but they covered his face.
He lost consciousness.
Hidara: "Ah… what? I can't see… I can't breathe… these men… help… I think I'm losing consciousness…"
Hidara lost consciousness.
The phone rang.
On the phone: "Yes, sir… the mission is complete. The boy is with us."
Response: "Good. Bring him to the place."