The sun never truly rose that day.
It struggled against the black clouds, painting the ruins in shades of grey — as if the world had forgotten what light looked like.
Kai and Aiko moved cautiously through the wreckage of an old subway line.
The walls were covered in claw marks, the air thick with dust and echoes.
Aiko whispered, "Do you even know where we're going?"
Kai didn't look back. "Of course. Somewhere that's not here."
"That's not a plan," she muttered.
"It's a survival strategy. Plans get people killed."
Aiko huffed. "You sound like my brother."
"Smart guy," Kai said.
"He died."
"…Oh."
Kai scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Guess not that smart, then."
Aiko gave him a look that could kill a man faster than any monster.
"Wow. You're terrible at comfort."
"I'm great at fighting and bad at feelings," Kai replied. "Balance."
Before Aiko could answer, the tunnel lights above them flickered once… twice… then went dark.
The sound came next — low, throaty laughter, echoing from every direction.
Not human. Not animal. Just wrong.
Aiko gripped Kai's sleeve. "Tell me that was you."
Kai whispered, "If I ever laugh like that, kill me."
The air thickened. Something moved in the darkness — fast, dragging chains along the ground.
Kai drew his sword; the locket around his neck pulsed faintly, casting a cold blue glow.
From the shadows emerged a creature unlike the rest — taller, its body stitched together like patchwork.
Its cracked mouth curled into something close to a smile.
"You smell… awake," it hissed, voice dripping with hunger.
Kai stepped forward, blade raised. "Sorry, I already had breakfast."
The creature's grin widened. "Then I'll take the girl."
Aiko flinched. "No, thanks. I'm not on the menu!"
The monster lunged. Kai moved faster — steel flashing through the dark — but it caught the blade mid-swing with its claws.
Sparks flew.
It laughed again, that same broken sound that echoed through the tunnel walls.
Kai pushed harder, teeth gritted. "You think that's funny?"
The monster leaned closer. "Everything dies funny."
"Then laugh at this!"
Kai slammed his locketed hand against the blade — blue light exploded outward, searing through the monster's chest.
It screeched, stumbling back, half its body dissolving into smoke.
Aiko yelled, "You got it!"
Kai shook his head. "No, I—"
Before he could finish, the smoke twisted, reforming — and this time, it laughed louder.
Aiko's voice trembled. "It's getting stronger…"
Kai frowned. "No. It's getting used to the light."
He turned toward her. "Run."
"What about you?!"
"I'll catch up. Go!"
Aiko hesitated — then ran, clutching her frying pan like a holy relic.
Kai faced the shadow again, heart pounding. The creature lunged once more — but before it reached him, a bullet tore through its skull.
The laughter stopped. The monster fell still.
Kai turned sharply — and saw a man standing at the far end of the tunnel, holding a smoking pistol.
He wore a tattered black coat, his face half-hidden by a cracked mask.
A faint blue glow ran beneath his skin, like veins of light.
He spoke casually.
"You looked like you needed help."
Kai frowned. "Who the hell are you?"
The man smirked. "Ryo. Part-time monster, full-time legend."
Kai blinked. "…You're kidding."
"Wish I was," Ryo said, holstering the pistol. "By the way, nice sword swing. You almost made that thing laugh itself to death."
Aiko peeked from behind a wall, panting. "Who's that?"
Kai sighed. "No idea. But I think we just found trouble with good aim."
Ryo grinned beneath his mask. "And you just found your new teammate."
Kai frowned. "I work alone."
Ryo shrugged. "You say that now, hero boy. Wait till you see what's coming."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "What is coming?"
Ryo looked toward the black horizon beyond the tunnel — where faint screams echoed through the city.
"Nightfall," he said quietly. "And this time, it's laughing."