"Yuka!"
Yuka jolted back to reality as Anderson shook him, pulling him from the depths of his swirling thoughts. Anderson's face was a mask of concern, but Yuka couldn't feel anything but fear—the dread of the Ryoka he had witnessed earlier still clung to him like a shadow.
Anderson's words came through faintly, muffled and distant, as though they were being spoken underwater. For the first time, Yuka looked at Anderson and felt nothing—no connection, no clarity—only the paralyzing terror of the vision that had taken root inside him.
*'What do I do?'* Yuka's mind raced as panic swelled inside him.
"Where's the barn?" The question tumbled from his lips before he could stop it. His mind was a chaotic whirl, urging him to call for help, to get the authorities involved. But he knew, deep down, that by the time anyone arrived, the two people he'd seen in his vision would be beyond saving.
"It's... beside the house, but why—?"
Yuka didn't let Anderson finish. Without a second thought, he shot to his feet, his body moving on instinct. Every fiber of his being screamed for action, his mind trailing behind as his legs took over. Ignoring the puzzled cries from Anderson, he sprinted through the house, expertly weaving through the crowd of people gathered inside.
"Yuka! Where the hell are you going?!" Anderson shouted after him, but Yuka didn't stop to explain.
His thin frame darted past clusters of people, his feet moving swiftly despite his weakened legs. It felt like he was running on pure adrenaline, his breath ragged as he pushed himself harder. All that mattered was getting to the barn—before it was too late.
Bursting through the front door, Yuka was greeted by the cold embrace of the night. The darkness outside was thick and unwelcoming, but his eyes quickly locked onto the barn, its silhouette barely visible in the faint moonlight. Why hadn't he noticed it earlier? It was right there—yet somehow, it had eluded him.
Ignoring the burning in his legs, Yuka sprinted towards the barn, his mind a whirlwind of doubt and fear. *What if it wasn't real? What if this vision was just my imagination?* But as he ran, the weight of the memory pressed down on him. *No... it was real. The man, the Ryoka—everything I saw was real.*
Yuka didn't know why he had these strange abilities or what purpose they served, but none of that mattered now. He just had to make it in time.
---
Inside the barn, Beatrix's head felt heavy, her thoughts sluggish and disjointed. She blinked slowly, trying to focus, but the air felt thick, and the strange substance she had inhaled earlier was clouding her mind.
Ted, sitting beside her, took another deep breath, his eyes half-closed as he relaxed. "Let's take another hit," he muttered, his voice distant. "Ten seconds this time."
Beatrix nodded absentmindedly, her mind too foggy to process what he was saying. "Y-yeah... sure," she stammered, her words slow and garbled.
But then a voice cut through the fog, cold and sharp, yanking her back to reality.
"That's enough."
Both Ted and Beatrix snapped their heads toward the sound. Standing in the shadowy corner of the barn was a man, his tall frame partially obscured by darkness. He wore a long black coat, his face hidden, but there was something about his presence—an unsettling aura that made Beatrix's skin crawl.
Ted, his bravado undiminished by the haze in his mind, scoffed. "Who are you, old man? Get out of here before I throw you out myself!"
The man remained still, his lips curling into a sinister smirk. "A big mouth for such a small fry," he said quietly. "But you'll do just fine."
There was something off about his voice, something that made Beatrix's heart race. She watched as his eyes moved toward her, scanning her from head to toe with a predatory glint.
Ted, unfazed by the growing tension, took a step forward, his fists clenched. "You're insane. You need to leave. Now."
Before Ted could get any closer, a sudden movement emerged from behind the man. From the shadows, a monstrous figure lurched forward—its body tall and lean, with sharp, glowing eyes that pierced through the darkness. In an instant, the creature's clawed hand wrapped around Ted's waist and lifted him off the ground with a terrifying strength.
"Arrrgh!" Ted's scream filled the barn as the creature held him high, its jaws opening wide.
Beatrix froze, her entire body trembling as the beast's teeth clamped down on Ted. The sickening crunch of bone echoed through the barn as blood splattered across the floor. Ted's lifeless body dropped to the ground, his eyes wide with shock.
Beatrix gasped, her breath catching in her throat as her legs gave out beneath her. She crumpled to the ground, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Her mind couldn't process what had just happened. It felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
The creature, its hulking form now fully visible, let out a low growl, its gaze turning to her. Its glowing eyes were filled with hunger, and Beatrix knew she was next.
The man in the coat chuckled, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "That was quick. But don't worry, we'll take our time with you."
Beatrix whimpered, tears streaming down her face as she tried to crawl backward, her limbs refusing to cooperate. There was no way out. No escape. This was the end.
"Please... please!" she cried, her voice weak and broken, but the man paid her no mind. He raised a hand, and the creature snarled in response, ready to finish the job.
Just as the creature lunged toward her, ready to strike, a voice rang out from the entrance of the barn.
"STOP!"
The command was sharp, filled with authority. The creature hesitated, its head snapping toward the doorway.
Yuka stood there, panting, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He didn't know how he was going to stop this, but he couldn't let it happen. His eyes locked onto the man in the coat.
"Let her go," Yuka demanded, his voice steadier than he felt.
The man in the coat smiled again, but this time it was different—amused, almost. "Interesting... I didn't expect company." He stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with something Yuka couldn't quite place. "But no matter. You're just in time."
The creature growled again, but Yuka held his ground. He had no idea what he was dealing with, but he wasn't about to let Beatrix die here.
"Get away from her," Yuka warned, his voice filled with a courage he didn't know he had.
The man's smile faded, replaced by a look of mild curiosity. "And what are you going to do about it, boy?"
Yuka swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no plan, no weapons, but he wasn't backing down.
Not tonight.