ã€ŠDark Bonds: The Demon Withinã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Jay hated mornings. Not because he was tired or dreaded schoolwork, but because the walk to school was always a reminder of how different he was. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional car or bird chirping. Yet for Jay, they were never empty. Ghosts lingered everywhere¡ªon street corners, in alleyways, even floating above the rooftops.

    He pulled his hoodie tighter around his head and quickened his pace, trying to ignore the spectral figures. Most of them were harmless, like the old man who always sat on the same bench, feeding pigeons that weren''t there. Others were more unsettling¡ªa woman with half her body missing, dragging herself along the sidewalk, or the floating head of a child that zipped through the air like a balloon. And then there were the orbs, glowing spheres of light that hovered silently, watching.

    "I hate this," Jay muttered under his breath.

    He''d had this ability for as long as he could remember. At first, he thought everyone could see the ghosts. But when he mentioned the man standing in the corner of his kindergarten classroom or the lady crying in the grocery store aisle, the confused and concerned looks from adults told him otherwise. Over time, people started to avoid him. Parents whispered behind his back, and kids kept their distance.

    By the time he reached middle school, the teasing began.

    "Hey, Jay, who are you talking to?" a boy had sneered one day as Jay tried to explain to a ghost that he couldn''t help them.

    "It''s his imaginary friends," another chimed in. "Freak."

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    Now, as a high school sophomore, the bullying had only gotten worse. "Weirdo," "ghost boy," and "freak" were hurled at him almost daily. He''d learned to keep his head down, to avoid talking to anyone¡ªliving or dead¡ªwhen others were around. But it didn''t help. People still noticed when he flinched at something they couldn''t see or when his eyes followed a figure that wasn''t there.

    Today was no different. As he turned the corner onto the main road leading to school, a ghostly figure appeared out of nowhere. It was a young man, his face pale and eyes sunken. He staggered toward Jay, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to speak. Jay clenched his fists and looked straight ahead, pretending not to notice.

    "You can see me," the ghost rasped, his voice barely audible over the sound of Jay''s footsteps.

    Jay quickened his pace. "Not now," he muttered under his breath. "Not here."

    The ghost followed for a few more steps before vanishing into thin air. Jay let out a shaky breath. This was his life: an endless parade of the dead, each one wanting something from him. And no one else could see it. No one else understood.

    As he approached the school gates, a group of classmates loitered nearby. Jay kept his eyes on the ground, hoping to slip past unnoticed.

    "Hey, ghost boy!" one of them called out.

    Jay''s stomach sank. He ignored them and kept walking.

    "Who are you gonna talk to today, huh?" another taunt. "Maybe Casper?"

    Laughter erupted behind him, but Jay didn''t stop. He''d learned long ago that responding only made it worse.

    By the time he reached his locker, the knot in his stomach had tightened into a painful ball. He hated this ability. He hated the ghosts, the bullies, and the constant feeling of being an outsider. Most of all, he hated that there was no escape. The ghosts were always there, and so was the loneliness.

    As the first bell rang, Jay slammed his locker shut and headed to class, his shoulders hunched and his face set in a grim mask. Another day to survive. Another day in a life he wished he could change.

 Chapter 2

    Math class was the worst. Not because Jay was bad at it¡ªhe was actually pretty good with numbers¡ªbut because it was the one class he shared with Nick. Nick was the kind of bully who made it his mission to ruin Jay¡¯s day. Today was no exception.

    As the teacher scribbled equations on the board, Jay felt something hit the back of his head. He turned slightly and saw a crumpled piece of paper land on his desk. He glanced behind him, and there was Nick, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Another paper chunk sailed through the air, bouncing off Jay¡¯s shoulder.

    Jay turned fully this time, glaring at Nick.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Nick sneered, loud enough for the students nearby to hear. ¡°You gonna cry to your imaginary friends?¡±

    Laughter rippled through the classroom. Jay clenched his jaw and turned back to face the front, his hands gripping the edges of his desk.

    To the audience, Jay explained silently, Nick has been the number one bully in my life for years. Back in middle school, he carved insults into my desk, words like ¡®loser¡¯ and ¡®freak.¡¯ He even started a game where everyone pretended to build invisible barriers to block my so-called stupidity.

    The memory of one particular incident made Jay¡¯s stomach churn. One day, when I had clean-up duty in the gym, Nick locked me in the equipment room. I was stuck there for hours until the janitor found me.

    Another paper chunk hit the side of his head, snapping Jay out of his thoughts. He tightened his grip on the desk, forcing himself to stay calm. The teacher, oblivious to what was happening, continued writing on the board.

    Jay knew he couldn¡¯t retaliate. Nick thrived on reactions, and any outburst would only make things worse. Instead, he took a deep breath and stared at the board, willing the class to end. He¡¯d survived Nick before. He¡¯d survive him again.

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    But as the laughter continued, Jay couldn¡¯t shake the sinking feeling that this would never end.

    When the lunch bell rang, Jay grabbed his bag and headed into the hallway, eager to escape the classroom¡¯s suffocating atmosphere. He was weaving through the crowded corridors when someone called his name.

    ¡°Jay!¡±

    He stopped, startled. Turning, he saw Katie standing a few feet away. She was one of the prettiest girls in school, with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Jay blinked, unsure if she was actually talking to him.

    ¡°Hey,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°I just wanted to tell you something.¡±

    Jay¡¯s heart raced. No one ever talked to him unless it was to tease or bully him. ¡°Uh, what is it?¡± he asked cautiously.

    Katie stepped closer, her smile widening. ¡°I like you, Jay.¡±

    For a moment, Jay was too stunned to respond. His face flushed, and he felt a strange mix of confusion and happiness. No one had ever said anything like that to him. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time someone even treated him kindly.

    But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement. Two heads peeked out from behind a corner, grinning and whispering to each other. Jay¡¯s stomach dropped. A wave of d¨¦j¨¤ vu hit him like a punch to the gut.

    This happened before, he thought bitterly. Twice in middle school, girls had confessed to him, only for it to turn out to be a cruel prank. Blinded by joy, he had said yes, only to be humiliated moments later when they laughed and revealed it was a dare.

    Jay¡¯s expression hardened. He wasn¡¯t going to fall for it again.

    ¡°Sorry, Katie,¡± he said, his voice steady but cold. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡±

    Katie¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡± She stepped back, looking surprised.

    Without another word, Jay turned and walked away, his heart pounding. He could feel the eyes of her hidden friends on him, but he didn¡¯t care. He wasn¡¯t going to let them get the satisfaction of seeing him hurt.

    As he reached the cafeteria, Jay sighed and found an empty table in the corner. The happiness he¡¯d felt for that brief moment had evaporated, replaced by a familiar ache of loneliness. But at least this time, he hadn¡¯t let them win.

 Chapter 3

    The school day had finally ended, and Jay couldn¡¯t wait to get home. The halls were still buzzing with students, but he kept his head down, weaving through the crowd until he reached the exit. Once outside, he took a deep breath, relishing the fresh air and the thought of leaving the day behind.

    As he started down the familiar path home, he spotted Nick and his group of friends loitering on the street ahead. Jay¡¯s stomach twisted. The last thing he wanted was another run-in with them. Deciding it wasn¡¯t worth the risk, he turned down a side street, taking a detour.

    The alternate route was quieter, with fewer houses and more overgrown trees lining the sidewalk. Jay walked for a few minutes, the sound of his sneakers scuffing against the pavement the only noise. He was lost in thought when he heard it: a faint, muffled sound. He stopped, straining to listen. It was crying¡ªa soft, heart-wrenching sob coming from somewhere nearby.

    Jay¡¯s pulse quickened. He looked around, trying to pinpoint the source. Then he saw her.

    A little girl stood at the edge of the sidewalk, partially hidden by the shadow of a large oak tree. She wore a vintage dress, the kind you¡¯d see in old photographs, and clutched a worn teddy bear to her chest. Tears streamed down her face, her small frame trembling as she cried.

    Jay hesitated. He wasn¡¯t great with people¡ªliving or dead. Most of his interactions were limited to avoiding bullies or ignoring ghosts. But something about the girl¡¯s distress tugged at him.

    ¡°Hi there,¡± he said cautiously, stepping closer.

    The girl didn¡¯t respond, her sobs continuing unabated. Jay scratched the back of his neck, unsure of what to do. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he tried again.

    Still no answer. Jay¡¯s panic began to rise. He wasn¡¯t used to comforting anyone, let alone a crying child. He glanced around, hoping someone else might appear to help, but the street was empty.

    Finally, the girl seemed to notice him. She looked up, her tear-streaked face full of surprise. ¡°You can see me?¡± she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Jay¡¯s breath caught. He should¡¯ve known. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, his voice soft. ¡°I can see you.¡±

    Before he could react, the girl dropped her teddy bear and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Jay froze, unsure of what to do. Her small body felt cold against his, a chilling reminder that she wasn¡¯t like him.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, her voice muffled against his hoodie. ¡°Thank you for noticing me.¡±

    Jay gently pulled back, looking down at her. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Ellie,¡± she replied, wiping her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been walking around for so long, asking for help, but no one could see me. No one could hear me.¡± Her lip quivered, and fresh tears welled up in her eyes.

    Jay¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°I¡¯m here now,¡± he said, trying to sound reassuring. ¡°The name is Jay. I can help. What do you need?¡±

    Ellie sniffled, clutching her teddy bear once more. ¡°He¡¯s chasing me,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling.

    Jay frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s chasing you?¡±

    Before Ellie could answer, a shadow loomed over them. Jay turned, his blood running cold. Emerging from around the corner of a nearby building was a figure unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen.

    It was tall¡ªeasily as tall as a two-story house¡ªand its elongated limbs ended in sharp, claw-like fingers. Its body was pitch black, as if it absorbed all light, and its face was an empty void, save for two glowing red eyes that burned like embers. The air around it seemed to ripple with malice, and a low, guttural growl emanated from its chest.

    Jay¡¯s heart pounded in his ears. He¡¯d seen plenty of ghosts in his life, but this¡­ this was something else entirely. Something far more terrifying.

    Ellie screamed, clutching Jay¡¯s arm. ¡°That¡¯s him! That¡¯s the one!¡±

    The creature took a step closer, its claws scraping against the pavement with a sound that made Jay¡¯s skin crawl. He didn¡¯t know what to do. Run? Fight? How could he possibly fight something like that?

    ¡°Stay behind me,¡± he said to Ellie, his voice shaking. He didn¡¯t know where the words came from, but they felt right. He couldn¡¯t let this thing hurt her, ghost or not.

    Without thinking, Jay scooped Ellie into his arms and started running. His legs pumped furiously as he turned corner after corner, hoping to shake the figure off. But no matter how many twists and turns he took, the creature remained behind them, its towering form relentless.

    They finally burst onto a main street, where people were milling about, chatting and walking their dogs. Jay¡¯s chest heaved as he slowed, hoping the presence of others might scare the dark figure away. But to his horror, the creature strode straight through the crowd, its massive legs passing through people as if they weren¡¯t even there. Nobody noticed. They didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t scream, didn¡¯t even glance up.

    Ellie clung to Jay¡¯s hoodie, her tiny fingers digging into the fabric. ¡°It¡¯s still coming,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

    Jay gritted his teeth and kept running. His arms ached from carrying Ellie, and his legs felt like they were on fire. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his vision blurred from exhaustion. But he couldn¡¯t stop. Not now.

    He turned another corner, desperate to lose the creature, only to find himself facing a dead end. A high brick wall loomed before him, cutting off any chance of escape. Jay¡¯s heart sank as he stumbled to a stop, his body screaming in protest.

    He set Ellie down gently, his back against the wall as he turned to face the approaching figure. The creature¡¯s glowing eyes bore into him, and its guttural growl reverberated through the air. Jay¡¯s hands balled into fists, though he had no idea what he could possibly do against something so monstrous.

    The creature reached out with its long, pointy fingers, and Jay¡¯s breath hitched. This was it. His life was over. He closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

    Suddenly, a piercing cry of pain echoed through the alley. Jay¡¯s eyes flew open, expecting to see Ellie hurt, but instead, the sound had come from the creature. A spear had appeared out of nowhere, impaling the creature¡¯s arm. Black, oily blood oozed from the wound, dripping onto the ground with a hiss.

    Jay watched in stunned silence as the spear detached itself from the creature¡¯s arm, causing it to howl in agony. The spear flew through the air, guided by some unseen force, and returned to the hand of a woman who had just stepped into view.

    She was dressed in a traditional Japanese hakama, her long black hair tied back in a simple braid. Her expression was calm but focused, her eyes locked on the creature. The spear floated beside her, seemingly moving of its own accord.

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    The creature roared again, its claws swiping at the air as the spear shot forward once more. This time, it pierced the creature¡¯s torso, eliciting another ear-splitting scream. More of the black, tar-like blood spilled from the wound, pooling on the ground.

    Jay stared in disbelief. Who was this woman? And how was the spear floating like that? Was it controlled by a ghost? But how? He thought he could see all ghosts.

    The woman stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. ¡°Stay back,¡± she said firmly, her voice cutting through the chaos. Jay didn¡¯t need to be told twice. He pulled Ellie closer, shielding her as best he could, and watched as the mysterious woman prepared to strike again.

    The spear floating beside the woman shimmered, its shape shifting before Jay¡¯s astonished eyes. In seconds, it transformed into a man-sized axe, the kind he¡¯d only seen in fantasy games. The woman grabbed the axe with both hands, her movements swift and purposeful.

    Without hesitation, she charged at the dark figure. The creature swung its massive arms toward her, but she dodged each attack with an agility that seemed almost supernatural. The axe gleamed in the dim light as she closed the distance, and with one powerful swing, she sliced through the creature¡¯s arm.

    The figure let out another deafening cry, its severed limb falling to the ground with a sickening thud. Black, tar-like blood spurted from the wound, pooling around its feet. The woman didn¡¯t flinch at the creature¡¯s pained howls. Instead, she pressed forward, her expression cold and determined.

    With another swing of her axe, she severed the creature¡¯s head. The massive body collapsed, hitting the ground with a tremor that shook the alley. The head rolled a few feet away before dissolving into a black mist that quickly dissipated into the air.

    Jay felt his knees go weak with relief. Was it over? He could barely process what he¡¯d just witnessed.

    The woman turned, her axe shrinking back into the shape of a spear before floating beside her once more. She approached Jay and Ellie, her expression softening slightly. ¡°You two alright?¡± she asked.

    Jay nodded shakily, his arms still protectively around Ellie. ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡± he managed to stammer.

    ¡°I¡¯m Chiaki,¡± she said casually, as if what had just happened was an everyday occurrence. ¡°A shrine maiden and exorcist. For fun.¡±

    Jay blinked, unsure if he¡¯d heard her correctly. ¡°Exorcist?¡± he repeated.

    Chiaki nodded. ¡°Yep. You know, exorcising evil spirits and all that.¡±

    ¡°Evil spirits?¡± Jay¡¯s voice was tinged with disbelief. ¡°So that thing was an evil spirit?¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Chiaki confirmed, resting her spear on her shoulder. ¡°And lately, more of them have been showing up. Evil spirits are nasty business. They cause all kinds of havoc¡ªsickness, accidents, even possession. They turn people into murderers or drive them to¡­ darker places. My job is to get rid of them before they do too much damage.¡±

    Jay¡¯s mind reeled. He¡¯d seen ghosts his whole life, but nothing like the creature Chiaki had just defeated. ¡°And that weapon?¡± he asked, gesturing to the spear.

    ¡°This sweet thing?¡± Chiaki grinned, spinning the spear in the air. ¡°It¡¯s my special ability. I can change its form into any weapon I can think of. Plus, I can control it without touching it. Cool, right?¡±

    Jay watched in awe as the spear transformed again, this time into a scythe, then into twin blades, and finally into a massive bat. Chiaki twirled each weapon with ease before returning it to its original spear form.

    But before Jay could ask more questions, a low growl interrupted them. His blood ran cold as he turned to see the dark figure¡¯s remains shifting. Black mist swirled around the body, and in moments, it split into two smaller figures. Both were human-sized but no less menacing, their glowing red eyes locked onto the trio.

    Chiaki¡¯s playful grin faded, replaced by a look of grim determination. ¡°Looks like the fun¡¯s not over yet,¡± she muttered, gripping her spear tightly.

    Jay¡¯s heart pounded as the new creatures stepped forward, their claws glinting in the dim light. Ellie clung to his side, her small frame trembling with fear.

    ¡°Stay back,¡± Chiaki ordered, her voice firm. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this.¡±

    Jay nodded, pulling Ellie further behind him. His eyes stayed fixed on Chiaki as she prepared to face the new threat, her spear glowing faintly in the growing darkness.

    For the first time in his life, Jay felt something other than fear when facing the supernatural. He felt hope.

    The two figures wasted no time and charged at the trio with unnerving speed. Chiaki raised her spear, ready to face them, but she had underestimated how fast they were. She managed to block one, deflecting its claws with a swift spin of her weapon. However, the second figure darted past her and headed straight for Jay and Ellie.

    Jay¡¯s heart stopped as the creature closed in on them. Just as it was about to reach them, a dagger flew through the air, piercing the figure¡¯s torso and making it stumble. ¡°Run away!¡± Chiaki yelled, her voice sharp with urgency.

    Without hesitation, Jay scooped Ellie into his arms and bolted. The figure snarled, pulling the dagger from its body as black ichor dripped from the wound. It turned its glowing red eyes toward Jay and Ellie and resumed its pursuit, moving with an almost animalistic ferocity.

    Chiaki gritted her teeth, preparing to chase after it, but the first figure stepped in front of her, blocking her path. ¡°Not so fast,¡± she muttered, switching her weapon to twin blades. One blade floated into the air, following the figure chasing Jay, while she wielded the other to fight the creature in front of her.

    Jay¡¯s legs burned as he sprinted through narrow streets and twisted alleyways, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. The figure was relentless, crawling along building walls and leaping from one to the next like a demonic predator. Ellie clung to him tightly, her face buried in his chest, her small hands trembling.

    Jay turned another corner, his mind racing for a plan, when his foot caught on a loose stone. He stumbled and fell hard, Ellie tumbling out of his arms. Pain shot through his knees and elbows as he hit the ground. Ellie scrambled to his side, her eyes wide with fear.

    The figure, sensing its chance, leaped from a nearby wall, its claws outstretched and aimed directly at them. Jay braced himself, shielding Ellie as best he could, but the figure vanished just a meter away from him.

    Confused, Jay looked around, searching for any sign of the creature. His breath caught as an overwhelming sense of dread washed over him. His body froze, and he felt an invisible force grip him. Slowly, his gaze was drawn upward, his neck craning unnaturally as he stared at the sky. Then, without warning, he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing violently.

    ¡°Jay! What¡¯s happening?¡± Ellie cried, tears streaming down her face as she shook his shoulder.

    Jay¡¯s body twitched and spasmed as if he were having a seizure. His hair began to change, shifting from black to a fiery red. His dark brown irises turned blood red, and his nails elongated into sharp claws. Horns sprouted from his forehead, curling upward like those of a demon.

    ¡°Hate,¡± Jay mumbled, his voice low and guttural. ¡°Hate. I hate them all.¡±

    Ellie recoiled, her small hands trembling as she watched the transformation in horror. ¡°Jay? What happened to you?¡± she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Jay¡¯s blood-red eyes locked onto Ellie, and his lips curled into a snarl. ¡°Hate. Hate. I hate them all,¡± he growled, stepping closer to her with slow, deliberate movements.

    Ellie backed away, her heart pounding. ¡°Jay, stop! It¡¯s me, Ellie!¡± she pleaded, her voice breaking.

    Before Jay could get any closer, a liquid splashed across his face and chest, making him stumble backward and scream in agony. Smoke rose from his skin as he writhed, clutching his face.

    Chiaki appeared from the shadows, holding a small vial. ¡°Holy water,¡± she said, her voice calm but firm. She stepped forward and quickly created a circle around Jay using a pouch of white sand. ¡°Salt. Known to prevent evil spirits from passing through.¡±

    Jay roared, slamming his fists against an invisible barrier as he tried to break free. ¡°Hate! Hate!¡± he continued to growl, his voice like that of a wild beast.

    Chiaki knelt just outside the circle, her hands pressed together in a prayer-like position. She began chanting in a language Ellie didn¡¯t recognize, her voice steady and unwavering. The air around them seemed to hum with energy as the circle glowed faintly.

    Jay¡¯s movements slowed, his growls turning into low murmurs. His body trembled as his demonic features began to fade. The red in his hair and eyes dulled, his claws retracted, and the horns on his forehead disappeared. Finally, he collapsed to his knees, his breathing shallow and uneven.

    Chiaki finished her chant and stood, brushing her hands off. ¡°That should do it,¡± she said, her voice calm again. She glanced at Ellie, who was still trembling. ¡°He¡¯s back to normal now.¡±

    Ellie hesitated before approaching Jay, her small hand reaching out to touch his shoulder. ¡°Jay?¡± she whispered.

    Jay lifted his head slowly, his eyes meeting hers. They were back to their normal dark brown, but they were filled with confusion and exhaustion. ¡°Ellie?¡± he croaked, his voice weak. Then he fainted.

 Chapter 4

    Jay¡¯s eyes fluttered open, his body aching as if he¡¯d been hit by a truck. The first thing he noticed was the dim glow of streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. The sky above was a deep indigo, signaling the early evening. He groaned, sitting up slowly, and realized he was still on the street where everything had happened.

    To his side, Ellie knelt, her small frame trembling as tears streamed down her face. When she saw him stir, her expression shifted from worry to overwhelming relief. She threw her arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably. ¡°You¡¯re okay!¡± she cried, her voice muffled against his chest.

    Jay gently patted her back, unsure of what to say. His mind was still foggy, fragments of what had happened swirling in his memory like a bad dream.

    ¡°Look who¡¯s alive,¡± a voice called out. Jay turned to see Chiaki leaning casually against a wall, her arms crossed and her spear resting beside her. She smirked, but her eyes held a trace of concern.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Jay asked, his voice hoarse. ¡°Why was I lying on the floor?¡±

    ¡°You were possessed,¡± Chiaki replied matter-of-factly, pushing off the wall and walking toward him.

    Jay¡¯s stomach sank. ¡°Possessed? How?¡±

    Chiaki crouched down, meeting his gaze. ¡°That thing we fought? It took hold of your body. Turned you into something¡­ evil. You scared poor little Ellie here.¡±

    Jay¡¯s heart twisted at the thought. He turned to Ellie, who was still clutching his arm. Guilt washed over him like a tidal wave. He got down on his knees, bowing his head low. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Ellie,¡± he said, his voice trembling. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you. I¡­ I couldn¡¯t control it.¡±

    Ellie wiped her tears with the back of her hand and hugged him tightly. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said, her voice small but sincere. ¡°You¡¯re back now. That¡¯s all that matters.¡±

    Chiaki watched the scene unfold, her expression softening. ¡°So, you can see them too? The ghosts and evil spirits?¡± she asked, breaking the silence.

    Jay hesitated before nodding. ¡°Yes. But I wish I didn¡¯t. Adults avoid me, and my classmates make fun of me. I hate this ability,¡± he admitted, tears welling up in his eyes.

    Ellie¡¯s grip on him tightened. ¡°Please don¡¯t say that,¡± she said, looking up at him with wide, earnest eyes. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for your ability, you would never have saved me. I felt so lonely that no one could see me. I thought I was going to die. That the ¡®man¡¯ would eventually get me. But then you came along.¡±

    Jay¡¯s tears spilled over as Ellie¡¯s words sank in. He had always seen his ability as a curse, but for the first time, he realized it had given him the power to help someone.

    Chiaki crossed her arms, looking down at the two of them. ¡°Look, Jay, was it? You shouldn¡¯t hate your ability. So what if people can¡¯t see what you see? That just makes you special. And you¡¯re not alone. There are more people like you.¡±

    Jay¡¯s head shot up. ¡°Who?¡±

    Chiaki pointed to herself with a grin. ¡°Me. And plenty of others in my exorcist team. You should meet them sometime.¡±

    Jay¡¯s eyes widened. The idea that there were others like him¡ªpeople who understood what he was going through¡ªwas both comforting and exciting.

    Chiaki glanced at a large clock hanging on a nearby building and her expression shifted to one of panic. ¡°Oh crap, is that the time?¡± she exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯ve got to get home. I need to make dinner for my daughter!¡±

    She grabbed her spear, slinging it over her shoulder, and started jogging away. ¡°I¡¯ll see you next time!¡± she called over her shoulder, waving goodbye.

    Jay and Ellie watched her disappear into the distance. For a moment, the street was silent except for the faint hum of the streetlights.

    <hr>

    Jay was lying down on the street, his eyes wide open. He could hear the figure growling near him, its guttural noises reverberating in his ears. He wanted to move, to get up and run, but his body refused to obey. Suddenly, he felt fingers clutching his shoulders, shaking him violently. Ellie¡¯s tear-streaked face appeared in his view, her voice frantic. ¡°Wake up, Jay! Please, wake up!¡±

    Jay gasped, his body jolting upright. But instead of the dark street, he found himself in his room, the familiar surroundings bathed in the soft morning light. Ellie was floating above his bed, her expression full of worry. ¡°Jay! This creature is making some weird noise!¡± she exclaimed, pointing at his phone.

    Jay turned his head to see his phone vibrating and blaring its alarm on his nightstand. Reaching over, he slid the X button to the right on the screen, silencing the noise. ¡°It¡¯s not a creature,¡± he assured her, rubbing his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a smartphone.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a smartphone?¡± Ellie asked, tilting her head in confusion.

    Her question caught Jay off guard. Then, noticing her vintage clothes, he realized she might be from an era before smartphones¡ªor even telephones¡ªexisted. ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± he said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. ¡°Right now, I need to get ready for school.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± Ellie said, descending onto the bed and sitting cross-legged, watching him expectantly.

    Jay hesitated, scratching the back of his head. ¡°What I meant is that I need to change in my room. So, I need you to leave.¡±

    ¡°What? Why?¡± Ellie questioned, her brows furrowing.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want you to see me with no clothes on,¡± Jay replied, his cheeks flushing red as he gently pushed her toward the door. Once she was out, he quickly locked it behind her, leaning against the door with a sigh. ¡°This is going to be a long day,¡± he muttered to himself before heading to his closet to get dressed.

    <hr>

    Jay was walking his way to school, Ellie holding onto his hoodie as she floated alongside him. He thought she was quite clingy, but then remembered the dark twin creatures and all the time she¡¯d spent running from the giant ¡®man.¡¯ It made sense she¡¯d want to stick close. Still, questions began to swirl in his mind. Where were her parents? What had happened to them?

    ¡°Ellie? Where are your parents?¡± he asked out loud.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she replied, her voice trembling. His question seemed to trigger something in her, as tears began to run down her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve lost them somewhere. I¡¯ve been running away from the ¡®man.¡¯¡±

    Jay wished he¡¯d never asked. Now, he had to cheer her up in the middle of the street, where, from other people¡¯s point of view, it looked like he was trying to comfort nobody.

    Looking at her tattered clothes, he realized she might have been running for years. Who knows how long she¡¯d been alone?

    ¡°Tell you what,¡± Jay said, trying to sound upbeat. ¡°How about I help you find your parents?¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Ellie asked, her eyes lighting up with hope.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Of course!¡± he said convincingly. Although, deep down, he knew it was a broken promise. He didn¡¯t even know where to begin. But seeing her wide smile and hearing her softly humming as they walked, he knew he had to start somewhere.

    <hr>

    Jay arrived at school, his shoulders slumping as he stepped through the gates. He didn¡¯t even make it to the main building before he ran into Nick and his crew. The moment they saw him, the hurtful jokes began.

    ¡°Watch out! Mr. Weirdo is coming. Better hold your barriers¡ªhis stupidity is contagious!¡± Nick called out, his voice dripping with mockery.

    Jay clenched his fists but didn¡¯t respond. He walked past them, keeping his eyes forward.

    ¡°What a freak,¡± he heard one of Nick¡¯s friends mutter behind him, followed by their snickers.

    ¡°Why are they being so mean?¡± Ellie asked, her voice filled with concern.

    ¡°I told you,¡± Jay said under his breath. ¡°People see me as an outsider. I¡¯m the only one who sees ghosts, so they make fun of it.¡±

    Ellie¡¯s expression darkened, and before Jay could stop her, she floated away from him, heading straight for Nick and his crew. In one swift motion, she yanked down their pants, leaving them standing in their underwear for the entire school to see. The hallway erupted in laughter as students pointed and doubled over, while Nick and his friends scrambled to pull their pants back up, their faces red with humiliation.

    Jay froze, his jaw dropping as Ellie floated back to him, sticking her tongue out playfully. He couldn¡¯t help the small smirk that tugged at his lips.

    <hr>

    Katie was already seated in her classroom, her chin resting on her hand as she stared out the window. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what had happened yesterday. Jay¡¯s rejection had caught her completely off guard. No boy had ever turned her down before¡ªnot once in her entire life.

    She always held herself in high regard. Boys would gawk at her as she walked down the hallways, their conversations often filled with whispers about her beauty. Girls envied her, wishing they could be as captivating as she was. Sometimes, she¡¯d overhear boys daring each other to ask her out, and she loved every second of it. She basked in the attention, her confidence bolstered by her ability to attract anyone with her dazzling aura.

    But then there was Jay.

    For some reason, her aura had no effect on him. It was as if he was immune, and that infuriated her. At the same time, she found herself intrigued. Why didn¡¯t it work on him? What made him different?

    Her gaze shifted to the classroom door as Jay walked in. Her eyes followed him as he made his way to his desk, her curiosity growing with each step he took. He sat down, seemingly unaware of her intense stare. Katie bit her lip, her mind racing with thoughts about the boy who had managed to defy her charm.

    <hr>

    Jay wasn¡¯t really paying attention in class as he kept watching Ellie, who was curiously floating around the room. ¡°What are these devices on everyone¡¯s desk?¡± she asked, hovering above a female classmate. She was referring to the laptops.

    ¡°A laptop,¡± Jay said quietly, trying not to let anyone notice him talking.

    ¡°What does a laptop do?¡± Ellie asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a helpful tool that a lot of people use. It helps with work and school stuff. People can go on the internet to find stuff, watch videos, or keep in touch with people. Now, would you please sit down?¡±

    But she wasn¡¯t listening. She floated straight to the teacher and saw that the board had colored letters. She touched a letter and felt it had a different texture than she remembered. Back in her school days, she¡¯d written on chalkboards, the texture solid and rough. This one was smooth and liquid.

    ¡°Jay? What are these letters made out of?¡± she asked. ¡°It feels liquidy.¡±

    ¡°That''s a whiteboard marker,¡± Jay replied.

    A crumpled paper ball hit Jay on the back of his head. He turned to see Nick sneering at him. ¡°Stop talking to yourself, freak,¡± Nick said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you hate that guy?¡± said a voice. Jay froze, startled. The voice didn¡¯t come from anyone around him¡ªit came from his own mind. It sounded dark and menacing, almost demonic.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Jay whispered, confused.

    ¡°Can you sound even more pathetic?¡± the voice sneered. ¡°¡®Hello?¡¯¡± It mocked. ¡°What do you expect me to say? ¡®Nobody¡¯s home¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Who are you? Why are you in my head? How did you get in my head?¡± Jay demanded internally.

    ¡°Geez, so many questions. Who the hell cares? Just like him. Nick. He doesn¡¯t care about you. The way he treats you, tortures you. Don¡¯t you just want to kill him?¡±

    The voice¡¯s words were strangely compelling. Jay nodded slightly. He had often wished Nick wasn¡¯t in his life. His world would have been brighter without him. He glanced at Nick with pure anger and hatred. Nick, oblivious, was grinning at his laptop.

    ¡°Just look at him, laughing at his laptop,¡± the voice said. ¡°Acting so freely. Not giving a damn about the world. I say we should put an end to this. We¡­¡±

    The voice was interrupted by Ellie appearing centimeters away from Jay, startling him. ¡°Did you hear me?¡± Ellie asked.

    ¡°What?¡± Jay replied, shaking off the voice¡¯s influence.

    ¡°Can I look around the school?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Sure.¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡± she yelled, floating up in joy. Then she flew out of the classroom.

    <hr>

    While Jay was working on his laptop, Katie convinced herself that she would talk to him after this class. Although she had no clue what she would talk about, it wouldn¡¯t matter. She was the prettiest, and Jay would just gaze at her and listen to her no matter what she said. Alright, she had made up her mind.

    The bell rang. She rushed to Jay in the hallway. ¡°Jay!¡± she yelled out. Students were already turning their heads. Other students were mumbling to each other, ¡°Is she walking to that freak?¡± they said. ¡°This is going to be interesting.¡±

    Katie stood in front of Jay, flipping her blonde hair in the air and moving her hips a little from side to side.

    ¡°Well. Well. What a beauty,¡± the voice appeared again. ¡°Look at her silky blonde hair. That smooth white skin. Those blue eyes like the sky and her kissable lips. Just my type of girl. Too bad she¡¯s way out of your league. A loner and the most popular girl? That will never fit. But who cares, how about we just ra¡ª¡±

    ¡°How about you just shut up?¡± Jay said, interrupting. For some reason, Jay knew what the voice was about to say. He knew it was something terrible, something that could land him in jail. However, he did have thoughts of doing it but was too weak to act on them.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Katie said, surprised.

    Jay froze, not realizing he had spoken out loud.

    ¡°Did he tell her to shut up?¡± a student said. ¡°How dare he!¡±

    Jay knew this was bad, so he just ran away. Katie tried to run after him but fell to the ground. For some reason, her shoelaces were tied together. Apparently, Ellie had been walking around the hallway looking for Jay but saw him with another girl. She got jealous. Taking advantage of her being a ghost, she played a small prank by tying Katie¡¯s shoelaces together. So whenever Katie tried to walk, she would fall.

    <hr>

    Jay was walking back home with Ellie floating beside him, arms crossed, and an angry pout on her face. She had been acting like this all day, even during class, glaring at him with her puffed cheeks.

    "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Jay finally asked, unable to take the silence anymore.

    Ellie just turned her head away with a little "Hmmf."

    Now they were walking down the street, and she was still giving him the same treatment. "Ellie, would you please talk to me?" Jay pleaded.

    "No!" she moaned.

    "Why not?"

    "Because I don''t want to."

    "But why not?"

    Jay¡¯s persistence was getting on Ellie¡¯s nerves. Finally, she decided to spill the beans. "You were with a girl," she said softly.

    "What did you say?" Jay asked, leaning closer.

    "I said you were with a girl!" she yelled, loud enough for the whole street to hear¡ªeven though no one else could see or hear her.

    "What girl?" he asked, genuinely confused.

    "That blonde girl," Ellie clarified, her tone accusatory.

    "Ooh, Katie," Jay remembered.

    "Is she your girlfriend? What were you two talking about?"

    "She''s not my girlfriend, and I wasn¡¯t talking to her."

    "Liar, liar, pants on fire," Ellie accused, narrowing her eyes.

    "No, seriously, I wasn¡¯t," Jay insisted, which was technically true since he had been more preoccupied with the voice in his head than Katie.

    Before Ellie could argue further, they heard loud noises coming from around the corner of a building. It sounded like an animal rampaging through trash cans.

    "Probably a raccoon," Jay muttered, turning the corner to investigate. But it wasn¡¯t a raccoon. Standing amid the scattered trash was another black figure, but this time it had the head of a wolf. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Jay¡¯s, and it let out a low, menacing growl.

    Jay froze. The figure¡¯s gaze was intense and unrelenting.

    The creature snarled before charging at them.

    "You must be kidding me. Not this again," Jay said, bracing himself for another nightmare encounter.

 Chapter 5

    Jay was running down the dimly lit streets, Ellie clutched tightly in his arms. The wolf-faced creature was relentless, its claws scraping the pavement as it pursued them. Jay turned corner after corner, his breath ragged and chest burning, but no matter how many sharp turns he took, the creature stayed right on his heels.

    ¡°Coward! The hell are you running for?¡± the voice in his head sneered.

    ¡°You must be joking, right?¡± Jay panted. ¡°Did you see that thing? It has teeth that could break my skull and claws sharp enough to slice me in half. What do you expect me to do?¡±

    ¡°Wimp. Running will get you nowhere. To get rid of it, you need to face it head-on. Dumb ass!¡±

    Jay risked a glance over his shoulder. The creature¡¯s glowing red eyes locked onto his, its mouth drooling with hunger.

    ¡°Nope. Like hell I¡¯m fighting that thing,¡± Jay muttered, his voice trembling.

    The creature¡¯s growl deepened as it surged forward. In one swift motion, it lunged and gripped Jay¡¯s ankle with its massive clawed hand. With terrifying strength, it swung him into the air and hurled him against a brick wall. Jay¡¯s body crumpled to the ground, pain radiating through every inch of him. He gasped for air, his vision blurry. Ellie tumbled out of his arms, landing a few feet away.

    ¡°Ellie, run!¡± Jay shouted hoarsely. His voice was desperate, but Ellie stayed rooted in place, her eyes wide with fear.

    ¡°No! I won¡¯t leave you!¡± she cried.

    Jay gritted his teeth. ¡°You have to. I can¡¯t move. Just go!¡±

    He hoped the creature would focus on him, the wounded prey. But to his horror, it turned its attention to Ellie. Its glowing eyes narrowed as it stalked toward her, growling low in its throat.

    ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± the voice in his head taunted. ¡°The creature¡¯s going to get to her soon.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I have to get to her somehow,¡± Jay groaned, trying to push himself up. His ankle throbbed with excruciating pain, refusing to bear his weight.

    ¡°How? With that twisted ankle?¡± the voice mocked. ¡°Look. I can help you out.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Jay demanded, desperation lacing his words.

    ¡°You can use my powers. With my strength, we can defeat that thing and save the girl.¡±

    Jay hesitated. The voice sounded demonic, and a gnawing feeling in his gut warned him not to trust it. But Ellie¡ªshe was helpless, trembling as the creature loomed closer. He couldn¡¯t let her die. He wouldn¡¯t.

    ¡°So, what do you say?¡± the voice pressed. ¡°Deny my offer and let the girl die, or accept my power and save her. Better hurry. Time¡¯s ticking.¡±

    Jay¡¯s mind raced. He knew there would be consequences. Whatever this voice was, it wasn¡¯t offering help out of kindness. But Ellie¡¯s life was on the line, and he couldn¡¯t stand by and watch her be torn apart.

    ¡°Alright! Lend me your power!¡± Jay shouted.

    The voice chuckled darkly, its tone dripping with satisfaction. ¡°Good choice.¡±

    A searing pain shot through Jay¡¯s body as if molten lava was coursing through his veins. His vision blurred, and his screams echoed through the empty streets. His fingernails lengthened into claws, his teeth sharpened, and a red aura began to radiate from his body. His hair and eyes turned a glowing crimson. Horns sprouted from his forehead, curling menacingly. Ellie¡¯s eyes widened in horror. She had seen this transformation before¡ªwhen Jay was possessed by the twin figures.

    The creature turned its attention back to Jay, sensing the sudden surge of power. It growled, its hackles rising, but Jay was no longer afraid. He bared his newly-formed fangs and growled back, the sound feral and primal.

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    ¡°Let¡¯s see who the real predator is,¡± Jay snarled, his voice now laced with the same demonic tone as the voice in his head. He launched himself at the creature, claws slashing through the air.

    Jay¡¯s attacks were wild, his claws missing by mere centimeters as the creature dodged. The wolf-faced beast countered, swiping its claws across Jay¡¯s face. Three deep gashes opened on his cheek, blood dripping down his skin. The pain only fueled Jay¡¯s rage. He let out a guttural roar, his eyes burning brighter.

    The creature lunged again, but this time Jay caught its arm mid-swing. His claws pierced deep into the creature¡¯s flesh, black tar-like blood oozing from the wounds. The creature howled in agony, thrashing to break free, but Jay¡¯s grip was unyielding. With his other hand, he drove his claws into its torso, tearing through its dark form. The creature let out a final, ear-splitting scream as its body began to dissolve into black mist.

    Jay lifted the creature over his head and hurled it against a brick wall. Before it could recover, he charged, slashing and ripping into it with relentless fury. The black mist thickened, swirling around the creature before it disappeared entirely, leaving only silence.

    Ellie stood frozen, her hands trembling. The boy she had trusted, her bright and shining protector, now stood before her as a terrifying demon. His chest heaved, his claws dripping with the creature¡¯s tar-like blood. He turned to her, his crimson eyes locking onto hers.

    Blood from the wolf creature dripped from his claws, and his chest heaved with each breath. Ellie¡¯s heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back.

    ¡°Jay! Please stop! It¡¯s me, Ellie!¡± she cried, her voice trembling. ¡°You have to come back!¡±

    Jay¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He kept walking toward her, his steps slow and deliberate, his face twisted into a predatory grin. Ellie¡¯s mind raced. She didn¡¯t know if her words were reaching him, but she kept trying.

    ¡°Please, Jay! Snap out of it!¡± she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. But he didn¡¯t stop.

    Just as Jay raised a clawed hand, a spear landed in front of him, piercing the ground with a sharp clang. The spearhead stood upright, glowing faintly. Before Jay could react, the spear floated off the ground and swung at him. Jay parried it with his claws, sparks flying from the impact. He jumped back, hissing.

    Chiaki appeared, stepping between Jay and Ellie. She held her hand out, and the spear returned to her grip. Her eyes narrowed as she studied Jay.

    ¡°Well, hello, mamacita,¡± Jay said, his voice dripping with mockery. His grin widened. ¡°Look at those big boobs and juicy thighs. Oh, how I wish to touch them.¡±

    ¡°Sorry to disappoint,¡± Chiaki replied sarcastically, her voice calm but firm. ¡°But these are for eyes only. My man has the exclusive rights.¡±

    ¡°Poo, you¡¯re no fun.¡±

    Chiaki¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Tell me, how are you still in this boy¡¯s body? I thought I exorcised you.¡±

    ¡°It was easy, really,¡± the demon-controlled Jay said with a smirk. ¡°I knew you¡¯d try to exorcise me as soon as I possessed him. So, when you threw that holy water, I left a piece of myself in that teddy bear the girl¡¯s holding.¡±

    Ellie clutched her teddy bear tighter, her eyes wide with realization.

    ¡°And once you left to check on your sweet daughter,¡± the demon continued, ¡°I jumped back into the boy¡¯s body. From there, it was only a matter of time before I reached his heart.¡±

    Chiaki¡¯s eyes widened in alarm. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re at his heart.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I am,¡± the demon replied, his grin widening. ¡°And you know what that means. The only way to get rid of me now is to destroy his heart. Killing him in the process.¡±

    Chiaki¡¯s grip tightened on her spear. She knew he was right. Her sensei had warned her about this¡ªthe heart was the most vital organ, and once an evil spirit claimed it, the host could no longer be saved.

    Her mind raced. Jay reminded her of herself¡ªlonely and misunderstood. She saw a glimmer of hope in him, a potential for redemption. But now, that hope was slipping away. Tears welled in her eyes as she raised her spear.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, kiddo,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling. ¡°I wish it didn¡¯t have to be this way.¡±

    Jay lunged at her, but Chiaki was faster. She threw two white orbs at his feet. They burst on impact, releasing a spray of holy water. Jay hissed in pain, jumping back, but Chiaki didn¡¯t let up. She transformed her spear into a massive hammer and swung it with all her strength, slamming Jay into a brick wall. As he slumped to the ground, she shifted her weapon into twin blades and hurled them at him. One blade pierced his chest, and the other pinned his arm.

    Jay groaned, his body limp and motionless. Chiaki approached cautiously, her spear reforming in her hand. She pointed it at his heart, her hands shaking.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said again, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I wish you could¡¯ve joined my team.¡±

    She imagined a different future¡ªa future where Jay was free, smiling, and surrounded by friends. And her being his exorcist sensei. Teaching him all the things her sensei taught her. But that future was gone. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for what she had to do.

 Chapter 6

    "Wait, no!" Ellie yelled, throwing herself between Chiaki and Jay. Her arms spread wide, shielding his unconscious body.

    "Get out of my way," Chiaki commanded, her voice firm and unyielding.

    "No, I won''t. Please don''t kill him!" Ellie pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.

    "I have to," Chiaki insisted, her spear unwavering. "If I don''t pierce his heart, he''ll stay like this forever. He could cause massive destruction to the city. I''m sorry, Ellie. As much as I hate it, this is the only option."

    "I still won''t allow it!" Ellie shouted, her voice filled with determination. "I will change him back. I know I can."

    Chiaki hesitated, her grip on the spear tightening. "Ellie... this isn¡¯t a game. If you¡¯re wrong, countless lives will be at risk."

    Ellie didn¡¯t move. "Then I¡¯ll take that risk. He¡¯s my friend, and I won¡¯t let him die."

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Jay found himself in a dark, crimson world. The ground beneath him shimmered with ankle-deep water, reflecting the blood-red sky above. He could hear faint murmurs, indistinct and eerie, echoing all around him. Suddenly, a guttural growl reverberated through the air.

    A towering black figure emerged from the watery expanse, its glowing red eyes piercing through the darkness. Its jagged mouth opened, revealing razor-sharp teeth.

    "I''ll be taking you out of your body," the figure declared in a deep, demonic voice.

    "What are you talking about?" Jay asked, his voice shaky.

    "Since I¡¯ve claimed your heart, all that remains is to destroy your soul. And that is you," the figure growled, its words dripping with malice.

    Jay¡¯s stomach dropped. He realized the gravity of his mistake¡ªaccepting the demon''s power had come at a devastating price. If he lost his soul, he would cease to exist, and the demon would have complete control over his body. He couldn''t let that happen.

    Without hesitation, Jay turned and ran. The figure¡¯s massive hands clawed at him, but his speed kept him just out of reach. His heart pounded as the ground splashed beneath his feet.

    "Running won¡¯t save you," the demon sneered, its voice echoing in his mind.

    Jay didn¡¯t reply. He was too focused on escaping. But then, faintly, he heard something else¡ªa voice calling his name. It was soft at first, almost drowned out by the demon¡¯s taunts, but it grew louder and more distinct.

    "Jay! Please come back!" Ellie¡¯s voice cried, filled with anguish.

    Jay¡¯s steps faltered as a vision of Ellie appeared in his mind. She was hunched over his body, tears streaming down her face, her hands gripping his shoulders. Her tears dripped onto his cheeks as she begged him to wake up.

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    "Ellie..." Jay whispered. The thought of her gave him strength. She was the first person who had ever cared for him, ghost or not. She was his friend, and he had promised her they would find her parents together. He couldn¡¯t let her down.

    The demon took advantage of Jay¡¯s distraction, slamming him with a massive hand. Jay was thrown into the air, landing with a painful thud in the water. He groaned, his body aching, but Ellie¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, grounding him.

    He forced himself to stand, despite the pain. "How am I going to defeat this thing?" he muttered to himself. "I need power!"

    Suddenly, a searing heat coursed through his body. The red aura returned, swirling around him like flames. His nails lengthened into claws, his hair and eyes turned crimson, and his horns reappeared. But this time, something was different. Jay felt in control. The power wasn¡¯t overwhelming him¡ªit was his to command.

    He flexed his claws, a smirk forming on his lips. "Oh, hell yeah," he said, his voice carrying a demonic edge. ¡°Damn, I sound scary... but badass.¡±

    The demon was stunned. "How the hell did you get my powers? No! This is impossible!" it roared, its voice filled with disbelief.

    Jay didn¡¯t waste time. He dashed forward, his speed unmatched, and ran up the demon¡¯s massive arm. The creature swung wildly, trying to swat him away like an insect, but Jay was too fast. He reached its shoulder and leapt toward its face, aiming for its glowing red eyes.

    <hr>

    Back in the real world, Ellie remained by Jay¡¯s side, tears streaming down her face. His body lay motionless, still in its demonic form. She hunched over him, clutching his hand tightly.

    "Jay, please," she whispered. "Come back to me."

    A sudden red aura surrounded them, making Ellie gasp. Chiaki, who had been watching silently, gripped her spear, ready for any sign of danger. But then, to her astonishment, Jay¡¯s horns began to shrink. His claws retracted, and his crimson hair faded back to black.

    Ellie¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. "Jay!" she cried, her voice breaking with relief. She threw her arms around him as his body returned to normal.

    Chiaki lowered her spear, her face a mixture of confusion and amazement. "Well, I¡¯ll be damned," she muttered. "He actually turned back."

    Ellie looked up at her, tears of joy streaming down her face. "See? I told you! He¡¯s back!"

    <hr>

    Jay woke up to find bandages wrapped around his chest and arms. He looked around the room, realizing he wasn¡¯t in his own bedroom. The walls, ceiling, and floor were made out of wood. Ellie was lying on his legs, and Jay felt a wave of relief wash over him. The only reason he had the courage to fight the huge creature was because of her. Jay smiled softly.

    Ellie stirred awake, smiling back at him. She quickly gave him a hug.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Jay asked.

    ¡°We¡¯re in a shrine, where Chiaki works,¡± Ellie replied.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Jay said sincerely.

    Ellie tilted her head, confused by the gratitude, but she didn¡¯t care. She continued to hug him. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Jay decided to explore. He gently slid open the paper door, revealing a hallway. At the end was a large, empty room filled with a group of people.

    Jay saw three guys¡ªone adult and two teenagers¡ªand three teenage girls. They were gathered around what appeared to be a fight between a teenage boy and an adult man. But this wasn¡¯t just an ordinary fight. Two huge arms extended from a glowing, floating circle behind the teenage boy. Meanwhile, the man stood calmly in a fighting stance. Jay noticed the man¡¯s unwavering confidence and lack of fear.

    The arms lunged for the man, but he deflected them without touching them. Again and again, the arms reached out, only to be stopped by some invisible force. Jay stared at the scene, awestruck.

    Another paper door slid open, and Chiaki stepped into the room. Beside her was a small, bald old man with a white beard.

 Chapter 7

    Chiaki and the old man entered the room, their presence unnoticed by the group, all of whom were engrossed in the ongoing fight. The old man¡¯s sharp voice broke the tension.

    ¡°Alright, everyone listen up!¡± he shouted.

    No one turned to acknowledge him.

    ¡°I said listen up!¡± the old man bellowed furiously, striking his cane against the ground. A sudden, intense gravitational force pulled everyone to their knees, pinning them to the floor.

    ¡°I hate repeating myself for the third time,¡± he said, his voice booming. ¡°What is all this ruckus about?¡±

    The force dissipated, and a girl with short black hair, wearing judo attire, stood and dusted herself off. ¡°Just another battle over who likes Chiaki the most,¡± she explained. ¡°They were arguing about her features and personality. Bill says it¡¯s her face, while Alex claims it¡¯s her personality.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Alex, the teenage boy from the fight, exclaimed as he stood. ¡°Her personality is kind and patient. Even when she¡¯s serious or angry, she¡¯s still attractive.¡±

    ¡°No, dude,¡± Bill, the adult man, retorted. ¡°It¡¯s her face¡ªher lips, her blush, her eyes, and that long, silky black hair. Natural beauty, man!¡±

    ¡°She wears makeup,¡± the girl interjected.

    ¡°But only a little!¡± Bill shot back.

    ¡°You idiots!¡± the old man barked, whacking both Alex and Bill with his cane. His face reddened, and a sly grin crept across his lips. ¡°It¡¯s her body. Those huge¡ª¡±

    Chiaki cut him off with a swift blow to the head. ¡°Don¡¯t get any dirty ideas, you perv,¡± she scolded, her glare sharp. ¡°I want all of you to quiet down. Our new recruit is resting in the guest room.¡±

    Her eyes scanned the room, landing on Jay and Ellie in the crowd. ¡°Never mind. He¡¯s already here. Everyone, please welcome Jay.¡±

    The group turned their attention to Jay, their gazes a mix of surprise and curiosity. Jay, unsure of how to react, opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

    ¡°Oh my gosh! She¡¯s so cute!¡± squealed a brunette girl in a school uniform, startling Jay. He glanced down to see Ellie clinging to his legs, her face buried in his thighs. She trembled slightly, overwhelmed by the sudden attention.

    ¡°So cute!¡± the girls chorused, surrounding her.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the brunette asked gently, kneeling to Ellie¡¯s level.

    Ellie stayed silent, gripping Jay¡¯s pants tightly.

    ¡°Her name is Ellie,¡± Jay said, stepping in.

    ¡°Hi, Ellie. It¡¯s nice to meet you. I¡¯m Lily,¡± the brunette said with a warm smile.

    While the girls tried to coax Ellie out of her shell, a teenage boy approached Jay. ¡°You¡¯re the guy who fought off possession, right?¡± he asked. ¡°That¡¯s impressive. I¡¯ve never heard of anyone managing that. How did you do it?¡±

    Jay recounted his battle as a soul against the towering figure in his heart. He described the dark red space, the water at his feet, and how he managed to steal the demon¡¯s power.

    The sensei listened intently, his expression shifting from curiosity to deep contemplation. ¡°Stealing a demon¡¯s power¡­¡± he murmured, his tone heavy with thought.

    Without warning, the sensei moved. In the blink of an eye, he was behind Ellie, striking her at the back of her head with his cane. She crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Chiaki shouted, rushing forward, but the sensei struck her in the stomach with his cane, sending her flying several feet away.

    The room fell silent, everyone staring in shock. The sensei slammed his cane to the ground, releasing another wave of force. This time, everyone was pinned to the floor¡ªeveryone except Jay.

    Jay¡¯s heart pounded as he locked eyes with the sensei. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he demanded, his fists clenched.

    The sensei¡¯s gaze was unreadable, his voice calm yet commanding. ¡°So, this girl,¡± sensei said, referring to Ellie in his arms. ¡°How much do you care about her?¡±

    ¡°A lot,¡± Jay said. ¡°She was the only person that would ever talk to me.¡±

    ¡°You know she¡¯s a ghost? And ghosts are meant to be exorcised.¡±

    ¡°But she isn¡¯t an evil spirit.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. She¡¯s a child spirit and without any parental guidance, she would turn evil.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be her guardian!¡±

    ¡°Really!?

    ¡°How can you protect her? When an old man could snag her within seconds.¡±

    ¡°You just caught me off guard. I wasn¡¯t expecting this. And besides you¡¯re no ordinary old man.¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t judge a book by its cover.¡± The old man dropped Ellie to the floor and started enchanting words.

    ¡°Wait! I promised her that I would help find her parents. She can¡¯t go just yet.¡± But it was no use. The old man was still enchanting.

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    Jay¡¯s breath hitched. He didn¡¯t know what the sensei was planning, but he could feel the weight of the challenge. He knew he had to stop the old man from enchanting. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the old man.

    But the old man had already foreseen this. He thrust his cane into Jay¡¯s stomach, sending him flying backward while still chanting his enchantment.

    Gritting his teeth, Jay forced himself up and charged again. This time, he dodged the initial attack, but the old man spun his cane, striking Jay in the chest and launching him back once more.

    "What the hell are you doing?" an irritated voice echoed in Jay¡¯s mind.

    "I''m trying to stop this old man from enchanting," Jay growled back.

    "How? By running at him like a brainless idiot? Clearly, this old geezer is no ordinary old man. So, running at him like a madman will be no use."

    <hr>

    If you''re wondering why this voice was still in Jay¡¯s head, let¡¯s rewind.

    Back when Jay defeated the giant demon inside the dark red room with the water-covered floor, something unusual happened. After stealing the demon¡¯s power, Jay slashed its eyes with his long, sharp nails, causing the beast to let out a furious, agonized wail. The creature swiped at Jay, but he was too fast.

    He pressed the attack, slashing at its massive arms. Another cry of pain erupted from the demon. Jay continued his relentless assault until the colossal figure finally collapsed.

    But then, something unexpected occurred. The demon''s body shrank, its monstrous form dwindling down until it stood at Jay¡¯s exact height.

    Jay froze.

    The being before him was a mirror image¡ªhis doppelganger. It had pale skin, wild red hair, and glowing crimson eyes.

    ¡°How the hell do you look like me?¡± the demon snarled, baring its razor-sharp teeth.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Jay admitted, still catching his breath.

    The demon¡¯s expression twisted into fury. It didn¡¯t like that answer.

    Jay¡¯s mind raced. ¡°How are you still here? I thought I finished you off by defeating that giant. Don¡¯t tell me I have to fight you again?¡±

    The demon grinned wickedly. ¡°Try as much as you want! I¡¯ll always reappear. The only way to get rid of me is if someone pierces your heart.¡±

    Jay narrowed his eyes. He didn¡¯t believe that for a second. Without hesitation, he raised his claws and slashed at the demon¡¯s chest, slicing it apart.

    The demon didn¡¯t even flinch. It simply stood there, smiling.

    Its body faded into darkness¡ªthen reformed seconds later.

    ¡°I told you so,¡± the demon said smugly.

    Jay¡¯s stomach twisted.

    The demon leaned in closer, a devilish smirk curling on its lips.

    ¡°You¡¯re stuck with me.¡±

    <hr>

    Back to the present.

    ¡°Look, the only way to save your precious Ellie is to use my ability,¡± the demon¡¯s voice echoed in Jay¡¯s head.

    ¡°No! I won¡¯t use your ability. I don¡¯t trust you. What if I lose control again?¡± Jay refused.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not forcing you,¡± the demon scoffed. ¡°Charge at him without using my ability. It¡¯s not like I care. But you better hurry¡ªthe old geezer could finish his enchantment any second now, and Ellie will be gone.¡±

    Jay¡¯s heart pounded as he saw the old man standing over Ellie, one hand flat, palm facing down toward her unconscious body. His spell was nearly complete.

    Jay bolted forward, desperate to stop him. But just as he got close, the old man¡¯s cane struck him again, sending him crashing back. Gritting his teeth, Jay stood and rushed again, determined not to fail.

    This time, he focused not on the old man but on the cane itself. He watched its movements, studying its swings. As soon as he saw it arc toward his stomach, he dodged left. The second swing came¡ªhe ducked, barely avoiding the strike.

    A spark of pride flickered inside him. He had dodged both swings. But before he could celebrate, the old man twisted the cane, sweeping Jay¡¯s legs out from under him. A final strike to his gut sent him flying once more.

    The old man changed his stance, bringing both palms together in a prayer-like position.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t look good,¡± the demon murmured. ¡°He could finish any second now. She¡¯ll be gone, and you¡¯ll be back to being alone.¡±

    The word alone struck deep.

    Alone.

    Would Ellie be alone in the afterlife? Was there even an afterlife? Would she find her parents, or would she just disappear into nothingness?

    Jay knew the weight of loneliness too well. But an unsettling thought crept in¡ªwas he really trying to save Ellie for her sake? Or was it just because he didn¡¯t want to be alone again?

    If it weren¡¯t for Ellie, he would¡¯ve been lost in his darkness. Forever.

    ¡°Any second now¡­¡± the demon taunted.

    Jay clenched his fists. His mind was made up.

    Even if he hated himself for this choice, he knew¡ªhe was weak.

    ¡°Fine. Lend me your strength,¡± Jay said through gritted teeth.

    ¡°Great choice.¡±

    Jay¡¯s body began to shift. His black hair turned crimson, horns sprouted from his forehead, his eyes burned red, and his fingers elongated into razor-sharp claws.

    Gasps filled the room. Those still pinned to the floor by the old man¡¯s ability stared in horror at Jay¡¯s transformation.

    The old man¡¯s eyes widened slightly before he let out a small, knowing grin.

    Jay charged, his speed far greater than before.

    The old man swung his cane, but Jay dodged with ease. Another swing¡ªthis time, Jay caught the cane midair, his claws gripping it tightly. He smirked.

    But the old man didn¡¯t flinch.

    Instead, he released the cane willingly and thrust both palms onto Jay¡¯s stomach, sending him skidding back once more.

    Jay scrambled to his feet, realization dawning¡ªthis time, the old man had no cane.

    He was hunched forward, seemingly struggling to stand.

    Now¡¯s my chance, Jay thought.

    He lunged, slashing his claws toward the old man¡¯s chest.

    But the old man reacted instantly, deflecting every attack with nothing but his bare hands.

    Jay growled, frustration mounting. His demon instincts pushed him forward, attacking relentlessly. But no matter how fast or how fierce his strikes were, the old man¡¯s reflexes were sharper.

    The battle raged until, in one swift motion, the old man slipped behind Jay, locking his right arm in an unbreakable hold.

    Jay struggled, thrashing wildly.

    The old man began chanting again, drawing an invisible circle on Jay¡¯s back.

    A strange sensation overtook him.

    Jay¡¯s breath hitched as his body started to change back.

    His demon form fought against it.

    ¡°Wait! What did you do?! Why am I turning back? Something¡¯s forcing me to stop!¡± the demon Jay roared, his voice desperate.

    The old man simply exhaled. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough.¡±

    The transformation faded.

    Jay collapsed to his knees, panting.

    The old man released his grip and stepped back. His gaze, sharp yet unreadable, studied Jay carefully.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen what I needed to see.¡±

 Chapter 8

    The old man walked towards his cane, picked it up, and stomped it on the ground. A faint pulse of energy rippled outward, and suddenly, everyone who had been pinned down slowly regained control of their bodies. Groans filled the air as they struggled to their feet.

    Jay wasted no time. He sprinted toward Ellie, who was now awake, her wide eyes scanning the surroundings in confusion. He knelt beside her, his hands gently gripping her shoulders. "Ellie! Are you okay?"

    "I... I think so," she murmured, her voice uncertain.

    Jay turned his head sharply as he sensed movement. The old man was approaching. Immediately, Jay stepped in front of Ellie, fists clenched, ready for another fight.

    To his surprise, the old man stopped a few feet away and bowed deeply.

    "I would like to apologize," the old man said. "I was merely testing you¡ªto see what your ability was."

    "My abilities?" Jay asked, his expression hardening.

    The old man nodded. "Every exorcist has their own unique ability to combat demons and protect themselves. Chiaki and I devised this test to uncover yours."

    Jay frowned. "Wait... hold on. Chiaki knew about this?"

    His gaze darted toward her. Chiaki winced, already bowing her head repeatedly in apology. "I¡¯m so sorry, Jay! I didn¡¯t want to, but Sensei insisted. I had no choice! Please forgive me!"

    Jay exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead. "Unbelievable¡­"

    "But to my surprise," the old man continued, "I saw something unexpected¡ªyour demon form. That is not an exorcist ability." His sharp eyes bore into Jay. "Don¡¯t you have a unique ability of your own?"

    Jay shook his head. "I don¡¯t know what my ability is."

    The old man hummed in thought before nodding. "Then we shall find out. In fact, this will be good training for Chiaki as well. We will perform a ritual to help you uncover your ability by guiding your chakra flow."

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    He instructed Jay and Chiaki to sit cross-legged across from each other. Then, he handed them a red string, ordering them to tie it around one another¡¯s fingers. Once the bond was secured, he drew a salt circle around them.

    "The reason Chiaki is assisting," the old man explained, "is that she will help guide you. Rookies often struggle to find their abilities without proper direction."

    Jay sighed. "So, what do I do?"

    Chiaki smiled reassuringly. "Just close your eyes and focus. Chakra is energy flowing through your body. Try to visualize it as a stream of electricity. Most abilities manifest in either the heart or the stomach, so focus there."

    Jay obeyed, shutting his eyes. He concentrated, trying to picture energy coursing through him, but nothing happened. No matter how hard he tried, he saw nothing. Frustration grew inside him. He tried again¡ªstill nothing.

    Whack!

    Jay¡¯s eyes shot open as a sharp pain struck his back. He spun around to see the old man holding his cane, looking unimpressed.

    "Ouch! What was that for?!" Jay snapped.

    The old man sighed. "Are you meditating or trying to take a dump? Stop scrunching your face like that and actually focus."

    Jay glared. "I am trying! But I don¡¯t see anything!"

    Chiaki cleared her throat. "Alright, let¡¯s try another method. Close your eyes again. This time, imagine holding a baseball in one of your hands."

    Jay followed her instructions. "Alright, I see it."

    "Good. Now imagine the ball is filled with electricity."

    Jay pictured the sphere crackling with energy.

    "Now, create a pathway connecting the ball in your right hand to your left hand. Picture the electricity traveling between them."

    Jay envisioned a thin, transparent cable forming, allowing the energy to pass through.

    "Great! Now extend that connection to your head. And now your chest."

    As soon as the energy reached his chest, it turned red. Chiaki stiffened slightly.

    The aura felt... overwhelming. Dark. Demonic. This was likely where the entity inside Jay resided. She felt the sheer power radiating from it, making her skin crawl.

    "Let''s continue down to your stomach," she instructed.

    The red glow faded, returning to a clear blue current. Everything seemed normal again. But something felt... off.

    Chiaki frowned. Just to be sure, she had Jay go through the process twice, checking every flow point in his body.

    Her suspicions were confirmed.

    She opened her eyes abruptly. "Sensei... we have a problem."

    The old man, who had been observing silently, raised a brow. "What is it?"

    "Jay doesn¡¯t seem to have a unique ability."

    The old man¡¯s expression hardened. "What? That¡¯s impossible. Every exorcist has an ability. Are you certain?"

    Chiaki nodded. "I checked his chest and stomach twice. I even examined his entire body to be sure. The only thing I detected was the demon residing in his heart."

    A heavy silence fell over them.

    Jay furrowed his brows. "Wait... are you saying that before the demon, I was actually powerless?"

 Chapter 9

    Jay walked down the street towards school, his mind swirling with the revelation from the previous day. No ability? How could that be? Every exorcist was supposed to have a unique power. It was a fundamental rule, a certainty. But when he had undergone the ritual, there was nothing¡ªjust the demon lurking in his heart. He recalled the old man¡¯s words:

    ¡°There¡¯s no way that this kid has no ability,¡± the old man muttered, rubbing his chin. ¡°I have never heard of an exorcist without any ability.¡±

    Jay shook his head. He couldn¡¯t afford to think about this now. He had school, and if he let himself get too distracted, he¡¯d end up lost in his thoughts for the whole day. He needed to stay focused.

    <hr>

    English class was dull as always until the teacher introduced a new student.

    ¡°Everyone, we have a new transfer student today. Please welcome Luna.¡±

    Luna was striking. Her deep red hair cascaded over her shoulders, contrasting starkly against her pale skin. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks. She wore thick black eyeliner and lipstick, adding to her dark, gothic aesthetic. Jay couldn''t help but be intrigued.

    ¡°She looks scary,¡± Ellie whispered beside him, hugging her teddy bear tightly.

    Jay didn''t answer. He was too busy studying Luna. It wasn¡¯t just her appearance that stood out¡ªit was something else, something he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. Was it the way she carried herself? Or maybe it was the way her eyes locked onto him the moment she sat down at the desk next to him.

    ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow.

    Jay snapped out of his daze. ¡°S-sorry, nothing.¡± He turned his gaze away awkwardly.

    Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something strange outside the window facing the school¡¯s soccer field. There, standing alone on the grass, was a figure. The person wore a female school uniform¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t the uniform from their school. It was an old-fashioned design, white with blue stripes, and it had red stains on it¡­ stains that looked like blood.

    Her long black hair covered her face, but Jay could feel her gaze fixed on him.

    A chill ran down his spine.

    ¡°Jay?¡± Luna¡¯s voice snapped him back. She was holding out her hand. ¡°Can I borrow a pen? I forgot my pencil case.¡±

    Jay hesitated. No one ever asked him for anything in class. He wordlessly handed her a pen.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said with a small smile before turning back to her notebook.

    Jay glanced back toward the soccer field¡ªbut the figure was gone.

    Behind him, Katie sat fuming. Her eyes locked onto Luna with quiet fury.

    <hr>

    During lunch, Jay found a spot alone in the cafeteria as usual. But today was different.

    Luna approached his table and sat down across from him.

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    ¡°Is this seat taken?¡± she asked, though she was already sitting before he could answer.

    Jay blinked at her in confusion. No one ever wanted to sit with him.

    Luna wasted no time in starting a conversation. ¡°So, I had an interesting encounter earlier.¡±

    Jay raised an eyebrow. ¡°With who?¡±

    ¡°A girl named Katie. She stopped me in the hallway and told me to stay away from you.¡±

    Jay felt his stomach drop.

    ¡°She said you were a weirdo who talks to imaginary spirits and that I should stay away before I catch your ¡®craziness,¡¯¡± Luna continued.

    Jay tensed. He knew how people saw him. He was used to it. He expected Luna to laugh at him, maybe even leave.

    Instead, she grinned.

    ¡°That¡¯s so cool!¡± Her eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity. ¡°How interesting!¡±

    Jay felt heat rise to his face. He wasn¡¯t used to people reacting like that.

    Luna leaned in. ¡°Are there any ghosts in this school?¡±

    Jay hesitated before answering. ¡°Not really. But there are some on the streets.¡±

    Luna¡¯s fascination only grew. Jay had never met someone so eager to hear about spirits. It felt¡­ nice.

    A few tables away, Katie glared at them. She clenched her fists. How was Luna getting Jay¡¯s attention so easily? Jay barely acknowledged her existence, and yet here he was, talking and smiling with this new girl.

    <hr>

    PE class was dodgeball, and Jay wasn¡¯t thrilled. He wasn¡¯t exactly an athletic person. If given a choice, he¡¯d rather be inside playing video games or reading. But for some reason, he decided to give it a try today.

    Ellie hovered over the gym court, watching curiously. ¡°What kind of game is this?¡± she asked.

    Jay was mid-explanation when a voice shouted, ¡°Heads up, weirdo!¡±

    Before he could react, a dodgeball slammed into the side of his head. His vision went black.

    <hr>

    Jay woke up in the school infirmary. His head was throbbing, and he had a strange dream. He saw Luna¡ªbut she looked different. She wasn¡¯t wearing any dark makeup. She was laughing with another girl¡ªone with dark hair and pale white skin. They both wore the same uniform as the figure Jay had seen earlier on the soccer field.

    Was it her?

    Jay couldn¡¯t be sure.

    Ellie sat beside him, gripping her teddy bear tightly. ¡°You¡¯re awake! I tried to beat Nick up, but¡­¡±

    The curtain pulled back, revealing Chiaki standing there with crossed arms.

    ¡°Ellie did try to beat him up,¡± Chiaki confirmed. ¡°But, well¡­ you know.¡±

    Jay groaned. ¡°What are you doing here? And why are you in a nurse robe?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be working here,¡± she replied. ¡° And besides, the old man sent me here. He wants me to stay close to you. You know, in case you lose control again. He also found a way to train you with your demon ability.¡±

    Jay¡¯s stomach twisted. The last thing he wanted was more training. But he knew he had no choice.

    <hr>

    Jay left the infirmary, walking through the quiet hallway towards the changing rooms.

    Then, suddenly¡ª

    Everything changed.

    The fluorescent lights flickered, then dimmed. The walls, once clean and bright, darkened and became covered in graffiti. The air grew thick, suffocating. The hallway stretched unnaturally long, twisting in a way that defied logic.

    The world had turned red.

    Jay froze. He knew this feeling. This was no ordinary illusion. This was something else¡ªsomething powerful.

    A faint, distorted voice whispered through the hallway.

    ¡°You¡­ see¡­ me?¡±

    Jay turned slowly.

    At the far end of the hallway stood the same girl from the soccer field.

    Her uniform was covered in blood. Her long black hair still hid her face, but this time, Jay could see the faint glow of two red eyes peering through the strands.

    His heart pounded.

    This wasn¡¯t just a spirit.

    This was something far, far worse.

 Chapter 10

    Jay took Ellie by the hand and started running. Ellie asked who that person was, but Jay didn¡¯t know either. They ran and turned corners, their footsteps echoing through the dark, eerie hallway. The person¡¯s demonic laugh reverberated through the space, sending chills down Jay¡¯s spine. He looked back several times and saw that the shadowy figure was still chasing them, her dark hair obscuring her face. Just as panic began to grip him, a door appeared in front of them. Jay grabbed the handle and flung it open, stepping inside.

    Inside the room, he found himself in an ordinary classroom filled with students in the same school uniform he was wearing. The teacher stood at the front of the class, looking equally surprised. The students'' eyes locked onto Jay, whispers quickly spreading through the room.

    ¡°It¡¯s that freak,¡± someone muttered.

    Jay barely heard them. He turned back toward the hallway, expecting the nightmarish figure to come through, but instead, he saw the brightly lit school corridor. The walls were clean, the windows weren¡¯t shattered, and there was no sign of the dark, decayed version of the school he had just seen. His breath was heavy as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

    <hr>

    After school, Jay was about to exit through the school gates when Luna stopped him. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t forget, I wanted to show you something important,¡± she said.

    Jay suddenly remembered their lunchtime conversation. Luna had told him about a place she believed was haunted, and she had asked for his help in communicating with the spirits. He hesitated for a moment, thinking about the strange hallucination he had experienced earlier. But his curiosity got the better of him, and he nodded.

    As they walked, Luna provided some background. ¡°The place we¡¯re going to used to be an all-girls school. It¡¯s abandoned now,¡± she explained. ¡°I used to go there. I loved it there. I had great friends. And I had a best friend, Iris.¡±

    As she described Iris¡ªher pale skin, dark hair, and the uniform she wore¡ªJay¡¯s stomach dropped. It was the same girl he had seen in his dream. And the same figure that had chased him in the school hallway. He quickly composed himself before Luna could notice his reaction.

    Luna¡¯s voice grew somber. ¡°Iris had a rough life. Her dad was an abusive alcoholic, and her mom worked long hours. She was afraid to tell anyone what was happening at home because her father threatened her. But one day, she showed me her bruises.¡±

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    Jay listened intently, his grip tightening slightly.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t stay silent,¡± Luna continued, her voice trembling. ¡°I told a teacher. Her parents were called in. Her mom finally found out the truth, and they got divorced. I thought things would get better for her after that.¡±

    A pause.

    ¡°But a few weeks later, she stopped coming to school. Then, one day, I got a text message from her. It said: ¡®Thank you for being the best friend I could have ever asked for. But I guess it¡¯s time to say goodbye.¡¯¡±

    Luna took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand what she meant. But then there was a loud thud.¡±

    Jay¡¯s heartbeat quickened. He already knew where this was going.

    ¡°Everyone looked out the window,¡± Luna whispered. ¡°Iris had jumped from the school roof. She was gone.¡±

    Tears welled in Luna¡¯s eyes. Jay hesitated before awkwardly pulling her into a hug. She clung to him, sobbing. ¡°I just¡­ I never got to say goodbye,¡± she choked out. ¡°That¡¯s why I brought you here. I want to know if she¡¯s still here¡­ if she¡¯s okay.¡±

    Jay nodded. ¡°You want me to communicate with Iris,¡± he said softly.

    Luna wiped her tears and nodded.

    Meanwhile, Ellie stood nearby, her cheeks puffed up in jealousy. She crossed her arms, glaring at Luna.

    When they arrived at the abandoned school, it was in ruins. The exterior walls were covered in graffiti, and shattered windows lined the sides of the building. It looked lifeless and forgotten.

    ¡°As soon as Iris died, the school started to lose students,¡± Luna said. ¡°Parents didn¡¯t want to send their kids here. Eventually, they shut it down.¡±

    Jay stepped inside, an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia washing over him. The dark hallways, the graffiti, the broken windows¡ªeverything looked exactly like the nightmare he had experienced in his school. His breathing grew uneven.

    ¡°So? Do you see her?¡± Luna asked eagerly.

    Jay scanned the empty corridor. ¡°No. This place looks abandoned.¡±

    They wandered the school, searching for any signs of Iris¡¯s presence. As they turned a corner, Jay suddenly felt a force push against him. He stumbled back, expecting to see someone, but the hallway had transformed.

    The graffiti was gone. The windows were intact. The air smelled of fresh paper and chalk instead of dust and decay. The hall was filled with students in pristine uniforms, walking and talking as if this were a normal school day. It was like stepping into the past.

    Jay¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Luna¡­ do you see this?¡±

 Chapter 11

    Jay took a deep breath as he stood frozen in the middle of the darkened school hallway, watching the past unfold before him. Luna stood beside him, gripping her arms nervously. "What do you see now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Jay''s eyes darted around the now-crowded hallway. "The whole place is filled with students," he murmured, unable to tear his gaze away from the surreal sight. "It¡¯s like¡­ I¡¯m watching the school when it was still open."

    Luna furrowed her brows. "I don¡¯t see anything. Are you sure?" She looked around, seeing nothing but empty space and the abandoned ruins of the school.

    Jay nodded, his attention shifting to a lone figure standing apart from the lively students. The girl had long, dark hair that cascaded over her face, pale skin, and a melancholic air about her. His breath hitched. "I see her."

    Luna¡¯s eyes widened. "Iris? Can you talk to her?"

    Jay hesitated before stepping forward. He reached out a hand. "Iris? Can you hear me?"

    She gave no response, no indication that she even knew he was there. Instead, she turned and walked away, entering a classroom. Jay quickly followed, Luna trailing behind him.

    "What is she doing now?" Luna asked, her voice laced with anticipation.

    Jay peered inside the room. "She¡¯s sitting at a desk. She looks¡­ sad."

    Luna let out a quiet sigh. "That was always her spot," she murmured.

    As Jay continued watching, a familiar voice cut through the silence. "Are you alright?"

    Jay turned in surprise. Another Luna, much younger, was now sitting beside Iris, her expression one of concern and kindness.

    Luna¡¯s eyes widened in realization. "This is¡­ the past. This is the first time I spoke to her."

    Jay remained transfixed. "You¡¯re introducing yourself to her. She looks really shy."

    Luna swallowed. "She was. Iris didn¡¯t know how to talk to people, but over time, we got close. We talked about everything¡ªhobbies, books, even silly celebrity crushes."

    Just as she finished speaking, the scene before them flickered, and Iris and Luna vanished. Jay looked around, confused. "They¡¯re gone."

    Before Luna could respond, distant voices echoed from the hallway. Jay turned and hurried towards the sound, Luna close behind. The vision reappeared before them, now inside another room. Jay¡¯s eyes widened as he saw Iris revealing her bruised arms to Luna, her voice trembling as she spoke about her abusive father.

    Luna gasped. "I remember this... This is when I took her to the teachers."

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    The younger Luna grabbed Iris¡¯s hand and stormed out of the room. Jay and Luna followed as the memory led them into the head teacher¡¯s office. Without hesitation, Luna pulled up Iris¡¯s sleeves, revealing the bruises. The teachers gasped, immediately calling in Iris¡¯s parents.

    The moment faded, and another scene took its place. The school playground appeared, with young Luna and Iris sitting near the swings.

    "Thank you," Iris said softly, smiling at Luna. "For everything."

    Luna blinked back tears as she watched. "That was the last time she truly smiled."

    Jay noticed something in Iris¡¯s eyes, a hesitation, a nervousness that suggested she had something more to say. And then, she did.

    "Luna..." Iris shifted uncomfortably. "I like you. I mean, I love you."

    Luna¡¯s past self¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "Iris... I¡ª" She hesitated. "I don¡¯t see you that way. I like guys. I¡¯m so sorry."

    The moment turned painfully awkward. Iris forced a smile and walked away.

    Luna clutched her arms. "I hurt her¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to, but I hurt her."

    The scene shifted once again, this time to the school gate. Jay felt a sinking feeling in his chest as he saw Iris standing frozen in fear. A man stood before her¡ªher father. He spoke to her with a twisted smile, claiming he wanted to be in her life again.

    Iris, for the first time, stood her ground. "Stay away from me!" she shouted. "You¡¯re not my father!"

    The man¡¯s face contorted in fury, and in an instant, he struck her across the face.

    "No!" Luna screamed as she heard it from Jay, her hands trembling in anger.

    The vision faded, and they found themselves on the rooftop. Jay felt his stomach drop. He knew what was coming.

    Iris stood on the edge, phone in hand, her fingers trembling as she sent a final message to Luna. Tears streamed down her face. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and jumped.

    Luna collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. "I should have been there. I should have done more..."

    The air around them grew heavy. Jay¡¯s head snapped up as a presence reappeared on the rooftop¡¯s edge.

    Iris stood before them once more, but this time, her uniform was stained with blood. Her hair covered her face, concealing her empty eyes. The ghostly presence filled the air with sorrow.

    Jay took a deep breath. "Iris..."

    Luna lifted her head, her voice barely audible. "Iris¡­ I¡¯m so sorry. I should¡¯ve been a better friend."

    For the first time, the spirit responded. "You were the best friend I ever had."

    Luna¡¯s breath hitched. "Then why¡­ Why did you do it?"

    Iris sighed. "It wasn¡¯t your fault. It was him. He wouldn¡¯t leave me alone. He ruined everything."

    Luna swallowed hard. "Can you move on now?"

    Iris shook her head. "Not yet. There are still things I regret¡­ things I wish I could¡¯ve done."

    Luna reached out as if to touch her, but her hand passed through Iris¡¯s form. "Then what do we do? How do we help you?"

    The ghost smiled faintly. "I don¡¯t know."

    Jay clenched his fists. "Then we¡¯ll figure it out. We¡¯ll find a way."

    Iris looked at him for a long moment before nodding. "Thank you¡­ for listening."

    The air shifted, and slowly, Iris faded into the wind, leaving behind nothing but the weight of her sorrow.

    Luna wiped her tears. "She¡¯s still here¡­ isn¡¯t she?"

    Jay nodded. "Yeah. But we¡¯ll find a way to help her. I promise."

    As the night settled over the abandoned school, Jay, Luna, and Ellie walked away, knowing their journey with Iris wasn¡¯t over yet.

 Chapter 12

    The next day at school, Luna approached Jay with a bright smile. "Thanks for helping me communicate with Iris. It really means a lot," she said.

    Jay gave her a nod, but he could tell from the way she hesitated that she had more to say.

    "So¡­something weird happened last night," Luna continued. "Apparently, Iris followed me home."

    Jay blinked. "She did?"

    Luna nodded. "At first, I could just feel her presence. So, I tried different ways to talk to her. I started with the knocking method¡ªyou know, two knocks for yes, one for no. But it only worked for simple questions. And¡­it annoyed my parents a lot." She giggled, then continued, "So I asked her if she could lift something. And, oh my God, Jay, she lifted a chair! I almost screamed."

    Jay¡¯s eyes widened. "She lifted a whole chair?"

    "Yeah! But it wasn¡¯t helpful for actual conversations. So, we finally came up with the best method¡ªpen and paper. I¡¯d ask something, and she¡¯d write the answer. It was¡­amazing." Luna¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.

    Just then, Iris materialized beside her. She crossed her arms and glared at Jay. "Look, I¡¯m grateful that you helped Luna talk to me, but no offense¡ªI hate men. And you, a perv who has a little girl as his girlfriend, better stay away from my Luna."

    Jay¡¯s face flushed with shock. "She¡¯s not my girlfriend!"

    Ellie, who had been floating near Jay¡¯s shoulder, chimed in. "I¡¯m not his girlfriend. I¡¯m his wife."

    "How dare you make a little girl your wife!" Iris hissed. "You¡¯re disgusting! Stay away from my Luna!"

    Luna, who couldn¡¯t hear Iris, was confused. "Who¡¯s not your girlfriend?"

    Jay sighed. "It¡¯s¡­a long story."

    Jay took a deep breath and began explaining. "I found Ellie all alone. She had nowhere to go, and I couldn¡¯t just leave her. She said she lost her parents. So, know I''m trying to help her parents." He deliberately left out the terrifying details¡ªthe tall, eerie figure and the wolf-like demon that lurked in the shadows. He wasn¡¯t sure how Luna would react to that part of the story.

    "Hi there," Luna said, waving in the wrong direction.

    Jay raised an eyebrow. "Ellie is on the other side."

    Luna gasped and spun around. "Oops, sorry. Hi, Ellie."

    Ellie huffed and looked away, arms crossed.

    "So, what did she say?" Luna asked.

    Jay scratched the back of his head. "Uh, nothing really. I think she¡¯s just shy."

    From a distance, Katie was watching with fury in her eyes. She had been holding back for too long. Seeing Luna and Jay together, smiling and laughing, made her blood boil. This time, she was going to act.

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    Without thinking, she stormed toward Jay¡¯s desk and slammed her hands down. "Jay!"

    Jay jumped. It was the second time the prettiest girl in school had spoken to him directly. He stared at Katie, wide-eyed.

    Katie opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was nervous. Why was she nervous? She had spoken to so many boys before, yet now, in front of Jay, she was speechless. She hadn¡¯t thought this through. Her entire plan was just to walk up to him, but now that she was here, she didn¡¯t know what to say.

    Before she could say anything, the teacher entered the room. "Everyone, sit down."

    Katie reluctantly walked away, her face burning in embarrassment.

    Nick, who had been watching from across the room, clenched his fists. Jealousy coursed through his veins. He had done everything to get Katie¡¯s attention. He built muscle, kept himself well-groomed, showed off his athleticism, and asked her out multiple times. But she ignored him. And now, she was approaching this loser?

    No. He wasn¡¯t going to let this slide.

    During the break, Nick cornered Jay in the hallway. "Hey, freak!"

    Jay stopped in his tracks as the hallway fell silent. Students turned to watch the confrontation.

    Nick¡¯s face twisted with rage. "Stay away from Katie."

    Luna, who had been walking beside Jay, stepped forward. "I''m sorry but you need to calm down."

    Nick sneered at her. "And what are you, his goth girlfriend? What¡¯s with the freaky makeup? Trying to look like a Halloween decoration?"

    Before Jay could react, Iris appeared. Her eyes glowed red, and her hair floated wildly around her as if caught in a storm. "This is why I hate men," she growled.

    Jay¡¯s instincts screamed that something bad was about to happen.

    Before things could escalate, a sharp voice cut through the tension. "Enough."

    Chiaki appeared in her nurse¡¯s coat, her arms crossed. "All of you, get back to class. Jay, stay. I need to talk to you."

    Nick scoffed but backed off. The crowd dispersed, leaving Jay alone with Chiaki.

    "What was that about?" Chiaki asked as they walked down the hallway.

    Jay sighed. "Nick¡¯s been bullying me since childhood. Back then, he locked me in the gym equipment room for hours. That¡¯s when he started calling me ¡®freak.¡¯ He made sure the entire school picked up on it. No one questioned it¡ªthey just went along with it."

    Chiaki nodded. "And the ghost girl?"

    Jay hesitated before explaining everything about Iris¡ªthe abandoned school, her friendship with Luna, and how she was still lingering as a spirit.

    Chiaki narrowed her eyes. "And you¡¯re sure she doesn¡¯t need to be exorcised?"

    Jay shook his head. "No, she¡¯s not evil. She¡¯s just¡­protective of Luna."

    Chiaki sighed. "Alright. Just be careful. Speaking of which, the old man wants you at the shrine after school."

    Jay groaned. "Exorcism training again?"

    Chiaki smirked. "Yep."

    After school, Jay was about to leave when Luna approached him. "Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to grab a drink at this new cafe¡ª"

    Jay turned as he saw Chiaki waiting at the school gate. "Sorry, I have to go. Maybe tomorrow?"

    Luna tried to hide her disappointment. "Yeah¡­sure. Tomorrow."

    At the shrine, the old man stood with his arms crossed. "Your training today is simple: Take the red belt off my waist."

    Jay raised an eyebrow. "That¡¯s it?"

    "If it¡¯s so easy, then do it," the old man challenged.

    Jay smirked. He lunged for the belt¡ªbut the moment his fingers brushed it, the old man moved so fast he seemed to vanish. Jay stumbled forward, completely missing his target.

    "Try again," the old man said, appearing behind him.

    Jay spun around and made another grab, only for the old man to sidestep effortlessly. Jay tried again. And again. And again. But no matter how fast he moved, the old man was always quicker.

    Panting, Jay fell to his knees. "This¡­is impossible."

 Chapter 13

    Late in the evening, a father entered his son''s room to give him a goodnight kiss. The boy, nestled under his blanket, looked up at his father with wide, fearful eyes. "Dad, I keep hearing something moving under my bed."

    His father chuckled softly, brushing his son¡¯s hair back. "There''s nothing under your bed, kiddo. Just your imagination."

    The boy clutched his blanket tightly. "Please, Dad. Can you check?"

    The father sighed, kneeling beside the bed. "Alright, buddy. But after I check, you have to promise me you''ll go to sleep, okay?"

    The boy nodded. The father took a deep breath and lifted the covers, peeking underneath the bed. What he saw made his blood run cold. Lying under the bed was another version of his son¡ªidentical in every way, except for the horrifying red eyes and sharp, gleaming teeth.

    The creature under the bed grinned. "Dad¡­ there¡¯s someone on my bed."

    A scream echoed through the house.

    <hr>

    The next morning, the family''s maid, Sofia Patterson, arrived for her daily duties. As soon as she stepped into the house, she froze in horror. Giant scratches marred the walls, as if something with massive claws had torn through them. Shattered furniture, broken mirrors, and scattered china lay across the floor in disarray.

    Heart pounding, she called out, "Mr. and Mrs. Thompson? Steven? Are you home?"

    No answer.

    She hesitantly made her way toward the kitchen. Unlike the rest of the house, it was eerily clean, as if someone had meticulously wiped away any sign of disturbance.

    Confused, she returned to the living room, stepping cautiously up the stairs. As she reached the top, her breath caught in her throat. There, lying motionless, was Mrs. Thompson. Her lifeless body was torn open, her insides mangled beyond recognition, as if an animal had been feeding on her.

    Tears welled in Sofia¡¯s eyes as she stifled a scream. But there was more. A thick trail of blood led further down the hall.

    Dread settling into her bones, she followed the crimson path to the son''s bedroom. With trembling hands, she pushed open the door.

    Mr. Thompson lay sprawled on the floor, his face mutilated beyond recognition, the flesh torn from his skull.

    Sofia gasped, her eyes darting to the small figure on the bed. Steven was there, dressed in his bloodied pajamas. His chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths.

    A cry escaped Sofia¡¯s lips as she rushed to the boy¡¯s side. But as she reached him, his eyes fluttered open. He stared at her, confused and frightened.

    <hr>

    The police were called immediately. By the time the authorities arrived, the house was sealed off with yellow tape, and officers swarmed the scene.

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    Detective Samuel Reid stepped out of his car, his sharp eyes scanning the house. His partner, Detective Lisa Carter, met him at the entrance.

    "What''s the situation?" Reid asked.

    Lisa sighed. "The maid, Sofia Patterson, came in to do her work this morning. Found the house completely trashed, called for the family, but got no answer. She went upstairs, found the mother dead at the top of the stairs, followed the blood trail to the son¡¯s room, found the father dead, and the boy alive but covered in blood."

    Reid frowned. "The boy?"

    "Steven Thompson. Eight years old."

    Reid entered the house, stepping carefully through the wreckage. In the boy''s room, Steven sat on the edge of his bed, a blanket wrapped around him. His small frame shook as he stared at the floor, lost in a daze.

    Reid crouched beside him. "Hey, buddy. My name is Samuel. I just want to ask you a few questions, okay?"

    Steven gave a small nod.

    Reid''s voice remained gentle. "Do you know what happened last night?"

    Steven¡¯s lips trembled. "I¡­ I don''t know."

    "Did someone break in? A burglar, maybe?"

    "I don''t know."

    "Did your parents have problems with anyone? An argument? A fight?"

    "I don''t know."

    Reid tried a different approach. "Did you see anything strange? Hear anything?"

    Steven¡¯s eyes darted around the room before settling on Reid. "I don''t know."

    Every question received the same response. Reid exchanged a glance with Lisa, who shook her head.

    Something wasn¡¯t right.

    <hr>

    At the shrine, Chiaki stood in the courtyard, gripping her spear. Before her, a young male student, Sota, stood ready, his stance low and steady.

    With a swift motion, Chiaki lunged forward, her spear transforming into a naginata. Sota barely dodged, rolling to the side as the blade sliced through the air.

    Chiaki smirked. "Good reflexes. Let¡¯s see if you can keep up."

    She spun, changing the naginata into a chain whip, lashing it toward him. Sota leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the deadly coils. He had trained under Chiaki for months now, and while he was no match for her skill, he had learned how to anticipate her attacks.

    He landed, preparing to counter, but Chiaki was already in motion. The chain whip retracted, reforming into a katana. She closed the distance in an instant, her blade stopping just short of his throat.

    "Dead." Chiaki grinned.

    Sota groaned, lowering his hands. "You really don¡¯t hold back, do you?"

    Chiaki chuckled, retracting her weapon. "If I did, you wouldn¡¯t learn a thing. Again."

    Sota wiped the sweat from his forehead and got back into position. He was about to strike when the shrine doors slid open.

    Detective Reid stepped inside, his eyes scanning the interior.

    Chiaki raised an eyebrow. "Didn¡¯t expect to see you here."

    Reid approached. "It''s great to see you too Chiaki."

    "If you''re here that means there was crime that can''t be explained."

    Reid¡¯s expression was grim. "I need your expertise. There¡¯s been an incident. A family was slaughtered, and the only survivor is an eight-year-old boy who doesn¡¯t seem to remember anything. But something about this¡­ feels wrong."

    Chiaki¡¯s eyes darkened. "What do you mean?"

    Reid hesitated. "The crime scene. The way the bodies were torn apart. It wasn¡¯t just murder. It was¡­ something else."

    Chiaki exchanged a glance with Sota. She already had a bad feeling about this.

    "Alright, detective. Tell me everything."

 Chapter 14

    The detective laid out the photos on the low wooden table in the shrine¡¯s training hall. The images displayed the gruesome aftermath of the Thompson household massacre¡ªdeep claw marks ran along the walls, furniture lay in shambles, and the blood-streaked stairs led to the mangled body of the mother. One of the photos showed the father''s face, gruesomely ripped apart, the flesh torn with unnatural precision, as if something inhuman had done it. The final photo showed the young boy, Steven Thompson, in his bloodstained pajamas, staring blankly at the camera.

    Chiaki and Sota studied the images carefully, their expressions grave.

    "These are definitely no ordinary killings," Chiaki murmured, tracing a finger over the claw marks in the photograph.

    "A demon has definitely done this," Sota agreed. "I mean, look at those scratches. No human or animal could have done that."

    The detective nodded. "And that¡¯s why I came to you. The police department will have a hard time solving this one. I bet they¡¯ll rule it out as an animal attack."

    Chiaki frowned. "How? You mentioned that the doors were locked and the windows were closed. Did they have any pets?"

    "No, they didn¡¯t. But if the crime isn¡¯t solved in a few months, the department will literally make up a story to close the case."

    Sota scoffed. "Typical. They don¡¯t want the public to panic."

    Chiaki folded her arms. "So, what do you want from us?"

    "To track the demon. If it¡¯s still inside the child or if it¡¯s travelling from person to person."

    "Well, you came at the right moment," Chiaki said, glancing at Sota. "We have the right person."

    Sota sighed, already knowing what she meant. "I¡¯m guessing you need my ability."

    Chiaki smirked. "You¡¯re our best bet."

    The detective exhaled. "So, where are we going first?"

    "Let¡¯s start at the crime scene," Chiaki said.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, Jay sat in class, but his mind wasn¡¯t on the lesson. His thoughts drifted back to his training with the old man at the shrine.

    Jay stood before the old man, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his face. He had been trying to grab the red belt from the old man''s waist for what felt like hours. Every time he lunged, the old man moved with impossible speed, sidestepping, ducking, or simply flicking Jay¡¯s hands away as if he were a child.

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    Jay grit his teeth in frustration. "I need a break."

    The old man scoffed. "You don¡¯t need a break. You need patience."

    Jay clenched his fists. "I¡¯ve been at this forever! You¡¯re too fast."

    "Then get faster."

    Jay¡¯s frustration boiled over. He lunged again, but the old man easily deflected him. That¡¯s when something inside Jay snapped. His vision darkened for a moment, and when he came to, his demon form had surfaced. His hands sharpened into claws, his eyes burned red, and his body tensed with unnatural strength.

    Now, it wasn¡¯t training¡ªit was a real fight.

    Jay rushed at the old man, swiping at his head. But the old man was still quicker. He ducked, dodged, and stepped aside with effortless grace. Jay slashed again and again, faster and more violently, but he never even grazed him.

    Then, in a blink, the old man grabbed Jay¡¯s arm, twisted it behind his back, and slammed him to the ground. Before Jay could react, the old man traced an invisible sigil into the air and murmured a few ancient words. The demon form evaporated, leaving Jay panting and human once again.

    The old man crouched beside him. "Never let anger control you. If you lose your temper, you lose the fight. Stay calm. Always."

    Jay groaned, staring up at the sky. "Yeah, yeah."

    <hr>

    Jay snapped out of his thoughts as Luna shook his shoulder. "Jay!"

    He blinked and turned to her. "Huh?"

    "I¡¯ve been calling your name forever! What¡¯s wrong? You were just staring off into space."

    "Oh." Jay rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. Just¡­ daydreaming."

    Iris floated beside them, raising an eyebrow. "You were daydreaming with your eyes open. That¡¯s weird."

    Jay sighed but didn¡¯t bother explaining.

    "Come on," Luna said. "It¡¯s lunchtime."

    The group headed toward the cafeteria, but unbeknownst to them, Katie was trailing behind. Her heart pounded in her chest as she convinced herself¡ªno, forced herself¡ªto approach Jay¡¯s table. She wasn¡¯t even sure why. Maybe it was the way he seemed so different from the other boys. Maybe it was curiosity. Or maybe it was something else entirely.

    As soon as Jay, Luna, Iris, and Ellie sat down, Katie slid into the seat beside Luna. The entire group froze, eyes widening in shock.

    "What the hell?" Iris grumbled, glaring at her. "She¡¯s sitting too close to Luna. Oh no. Nobody¡¯s taking my girl."

    Ellie¡¯s expression darkened as well. "Too many girls are sitting at Jay¡¯s table. This is unacceptable."

    Katie felt the heat of their stares. Her palms were sweaty, but she swallowed her nerves and forced herself to speak. "You two get along really well. Are you dating?"

    "No, we¡¯re not!" Jay and Luna said at the same time, then immediately blushed.

    "Hell no, they aren¡¯t!" Iris snapped, arms crossed.

    Katie raised an eyebrow at their reactions. "Huh."

    A few tables away, Nick sat seething. His fists were clenched, his knuckles white. This was the second time Katie had approached Jay. That scrawny loser. He had been working so hard to get Katie¡¯s attention, and now she was sitting with him?

    Nick gritted his teeth. This time, he wasn¡¯t going to let it slide.