Shiki's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he was disoriented, unsure of where he was. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar, and the bed he lay in felt softer than his own. As the remnants of sleep cleared from his mind, the events of the previous night came rushing back—Ciel's concerned voice, her warm touch, and the bitter cold that had seeped into his bones after… No, don't think about it, he scolded himself, forcing the memories down.
He bolted upright, a wave of panic washing over him. "What time is it?" His voice was frantic, the remnants of anxiety clinging to his words. His eyes darted around the room, searching for a clock or any indication of the hour.
The sound of the door creaking open made him whip his head around. Ciel stood in the doorway, a gentle smile on her face. "Good morning, Tohno-kun. You're finally awake."
Shiki let out a sigh of relief, but his heart was still racing. "I-I need to get home! Akiha is going to kill me for staying out all night without telling her!"
Ciel chuckled softly, stepping into the room. "Relax, Tohno-kun. I already had Arihiko call your sister. He told her you were staying over at his place because you weren't feeling well. So you don't have to worry about Akiha-san being too upset."
Shiki blinked, surprised by her foresight. "You… You thought of everything, didn't you?"
Ciel shrugged, her smile widening. "I try. I didn't want you to stress about it after everything that happened yesterday."
A wave of gratitude washed over him, easing some of the tension in his chest. He offered her a sheepish grin. "Thanks, Ciel-senpai. You really saved me."
Her expression softened, and for a moment, there was a silence between them, comfortable yet heavy with unspoken words. "You're welcome, Tohno-kun. I'm just glad you're feeling better."
Shiki nodded, but as he climbed out of bed and began to gather his belongings, his thoughts started to spiral. The images of the previous day flashed before his eyes—the cold steel of the knife in his hand, the horrifying realization of what he had done, and the blood, so much blood. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the memories, but they clung to him like shadows.
"I need to get going," he said, more to himself than to Ciel. "I… I have to face what I did."
Ciel watched him with a concerned gaze, sensing the turmoil within him. "Tohno-kun… are you sure you're ready?"
He paused, his hand lingering on the doorframe as he turned back to her. "No," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't have a choice. I have to atone for what I've done."
She stepped closer, her eyes searching his. "Whatever happens, remember that you're not alone, Tohno-kun. If you ever need someone to talk to… I'm here."
Shiki nodded, feeling a strange comfort in her words. "Thank you, Ciel-senpai. That means a lot."
With that, he left Ciel's apartment, the weight of his sins pressing down on him with every step. As he walked through the early morning streets, his mind raced, replaying the events of the previous day over and over. What have I done? The question gnawed at him, consuming his thoughts. He had killed someone, and no matter how much he wanted to deny it, the truth was inescapable. His hands were stained with blood, and there was no going back.
Maybe the police are already waiting for me, he thought grimly. Maybe they've already found the body… He swallowed hard, trying to steel himself for the inevitable. Whatever happened, he knew he had to face it. Running away wouldn't change anything. He had to take responsibility for his actions, no matter how terrifying the consequences might be.
...
As the Tohno mansion came into view, Shiki felt his heart begin to race again. This is it, he thought, bracing himself for the worst.
"No matter what happens, I have to accept it."
When he reached the gates, Hisui was there to greet him. Her calm, serene expression was a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging inside him. "Welcome back, Shiki-sama," she said with a small bow. "Akiha-sama is waiting for you in the living room."
Shiki nodded, unable to muster a proper response. His legs felt like lead as he followed Hisui through the mansion, the familiar hallways now seeming foreign and foreboding. Every step felt like it was carrying him closer to his doom.
When they reached the living room, Akiha was sitting on the couch, her back straight and her expression cool. But Shiki could see the tightness in her shoulders, the subtle furrow in her brow—signs of the anger she was holding back.
"You're finally home," she said, her voice calm but tinged with irritation. "Arihiko told me you weren't feeling well and had to stay over at his place."
Shiki could only nod, his mouth dry. "Y-Yeah. I'm sorry for not calling…"
Akiha sighed, crossing her arms. "I was worried, Shiki. You've been acting strange lately, and then you disappear without a word. I understand if you're going through something, but you need to be more responsible."
Shiki opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Akiha continued, her tone sharp. "Arihiko said you passed out after eating something strange, and then you spent the whole night at his place because you were too sick to move. Is that true?"
Shiki blinked, taken aback. "What? That's not—"
"And then," Akiha went on, her voice rising slightly, "he said you were feeling better in the morning, but you decided to help him with some project he's working on, which is why you're only getting home now."
Shiki stared at her, his mind reeling. Arihiko… what did you tell her? The stories were so outlandish, so clearly fabricated, but the way Akiha recounted them with such seriousness made it almost surreal.
"And he also mentioned that you were helping him research some obscure subject for school," Akiha added, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Something about ancient legends and cursed objects?"
Shiki's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "That's… not really…"
Akiha sighed again, her expression softening just a fraction. "Nii-san, I don't know what's going on with you, but if something's wrong, you need to talk to me. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's happening."
There was a long silence, the weight of Akiha's words hanging in the air. Shiki wanted to tell her, to confess everything, but the words caught in his throat. How could he tell her the truth? How could he explain the blood on his hands, the life he had taken in a moment of madness?
Instead, he just nodded, forcing a small, tight smile. "I… I'll be more careful from now on, Akiha. I promise."
Akiha studied him for a moment, her eyes searching his. Finally, she nodded, though the concern in her gaze didn't fade. "See that you do."
Shiki excused himself, his mind still swirling with the weight of everything he had done and everything he had left unsaid. As he walked through the mansion's gates, the familiar path to school stretched out before him, but it felt different now, as if he were walking through a dream.
...
Shiki took the route he always did, the streets and buildings passing by in a blur. His mind was elsewhere, trapped in a cycle of guilt and fear. The memories of the girl's lifeless body haunted him, her blood staining his hands no matter how many times he tried to wash it away.
"I have to atone", he told himself. "I have to find a way to make this right, somehow."
As the school gates came into view, Shiki's steps slowed. Something felt off, a strange sensation crawling up his spine. He scanned the area, his heart beginning to race again. Then he saw her.
Standing by the gates was the woman he had killed. The woman whose life he had taken in that moment of madness. She was there, just as he remembered her—golden hair cascading down her back, crimson eyes staring at him with a calm, unreadable expression. It was as if the events of yesterday had never happened.
Panic surged through him, freezing him in place.
" How is she alive?"
The question echoed in his mind, over and over, but there was no answer. It didn't make sense—none of this made sense. His breath quickened, his chest tightening as the world seemed to tilt on its axis.
Run.
The instinct was primal, a voice in the back of his mind screaming at him to flee. Without thinking, Shiki turned on his heel and bolted, his feet pounding against the pavement as he fled from the impossible sight before him. The woman didn't move, didn't call after him—she just watched as he ran, her eyes following him as if she knew exactly what he was thinking.
"She's going to kill me."
The thought repeated in his mind like a mantra, each beat of his heart echoing with the fear of his impending doom. No matter how fast he ran, no matter how many twists and turns he took, the woman seemed to be right behind him, a shadow that never faded.
The streets blurred past him, the buildings and people becoming a distorted landscape of fear and desperation. He could hear his own breath, harsh and ragged, mixing with the sound of his pounding footsteps. The world seemed to narrow down to a single, unending chase, a nightmare from which he couldn't wake.He glanced over his shoulder, seeing her still behind him, her presence an inescapable certainty. Her face was calm, almost serene, as if the chase was nothing more than a casual stroll. Her crimson eyes were fixed on him, and that gaze seemed to pierce through him, cutting through his very soul.
Shiki's legs felt like lead, his body protesting with every step. He was exhausted, his breath coming in short, painful gasps. The fear was overwhelming, a tidal wave that threatened to drown him. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever. Sooner or later, she would catch him, and then…
No. He couldn't let himself think like that. He had to keep moving, had to find a way to escape, even if it was only for a little while longer.
But deep down, he knew the truth. No matter how fast he ran, no matter how hard he tried to escape, he was trapped in a nightmare of his own making. The woman's gaze was a reminder of what he had done, a specter of his guilt that would never let him go.
He wasn't sure how long he had been running. Minutes, hours? Time had twisted into a cruel illusion, stretching and compressing with every twist and turn of the shadowy maze. But the fear was real, gnawing at his sanity like a relentless beast.
Behind him, always just out of sight, was the girl he had killed.
"How was she alive?" His mind raced, trying to reconcile the impossible. He had felt her life slip away beneath his hands, seen the light fade from her eyes, yet here she was—relentless, tireless, as if death was nothing more than an inconvenience to her. His instincts screamed at him to keep running, to put as much distance between himself and the thing that should not be.
But no matter how fast he pushed himself, no matter how many corners he turned, she was there. A flicker in the corner of his eye, a rustle of fabric just behind him, a whisper of breath on his neck. She was playing with him, toying with his futile attempts to escape. And Shiki knew, deep in his bones, that she was enjoying it.
His legs burned with exertion, but the fear spurred him on. He wasn't just running for his life—he was running from something far worse, something his mind could barely grasp. Yet, despite his terror, a small part of him—some buried fragment of logic—was curious. What did she want? If she had wanted to kill him, she could have done so a dozen times over by now. But she hadn't. And that frightened him more than anything.
...
Finally, his luck ran out. A dead end loomed before him, a towering brick wall blocking his path. He skidded to a halt, his breath ragged and sharp in his chest. Trapped. He spun around, pressing his back against the cold, unyielding bricks, as if somehow that would make a difference. And then, she appeared.
She stepped out of the shadows with an almost casual grace, her pale skin glowing faintly in the sunlight. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her crimson eyes, however, were fixed on him, unwavering, filled with an amusement that sent chills down his spine.
"Running won't save you," she said, her voice smooth and melodic, yet carrying a weight that made Shiki's blood run cold. "You should know that by now."
Shiki's heart hammered in his chest as he stared at her, trying to keep his fear from showing. "What... What do you want?" His voice cracked, betraying his anxiety. The question sounded weak even to his own ears, but he had to ask. He had to know.
The girl tilted her head slightly, as if considering his question. "What do I want? An interesting question." She took a step closer, and Shiki pressed harder against the wall, as if it might somehow swallow him up and save him. "I wanted to kill you," she continued, almost thoughtfully. "I wanted to repay the favor for what you did to me."
Shiki's throat tightened. He didn't have the words to explain, not even to himself, why he had done it. He had killed her without hesitation, without understanding why. It was as if something inside him had snapped, driven by an instinct that defied reason. And now, standing before him, was the consequence of that moment of madness.
"But," the girl said, her lips curving into a small, enigmatic smile, "I'm willing to forgive you."
Shiki blinked, his mind struggling to keep up. "Forgive... me?" The word felt foreign on his tongue, especially in this context. He had killed her, and she was offering him forgiveness?
"Yes," she replied simply, as if the matter was already settled. "If you feel sorry for what you did, I'll let it go." She leaned closer, her eyes searching his, as if looking for something deep within him.
Shiki swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. Was this some kind of trick? Could she be serious? And what did it matter if she was? He could still feel the weight of her life slipping away in his hands, the warmth of her blood cooling as she—
"I—" he began, but the words stuck in his throat. Sorry? Could he feel sorry for something he didn't even understand? He met her gaze, and something in those crimson eyes told him that the truth, whatever it was, was the only thing that would save him now.
"I... didn't know what I was doing," he said finally, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I just... I felt like I had to—like something was forcing me to kill you." His voice was shaking, but he pushed on. "I don't know why, but... yes, I'm sorry. I didn't want to kill you."
The girl's smile softened, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "That's good enough for now," she said, her tone almost gentle. She straightened up, giving him a bit more space, though not nearly enough for comfort. "My name is Arcueid," she continued, as if the past few minutes had been nothing more than a casual introduction. "I'm what you humans would call a vampire."
Shiki felt a cold sweat break out across his skin. Of course, he had guessed as much—no human could survive what he had done to her. But hearing her say it out loud, so calmly, made it all the more terrifying. A vampire. An immortal being, a creature of legend—and she was standing right in front of him, speaking to him as if they were old acquaintances.
"I was going to kill you," Arcueid said again, as if reminding him of some forgotten chore. "But now, I've changed my mind. You're... interesting."
Shiki wasn't sure if that was a compliment or a warning. "Interesting?" he echoed, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Yes," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "You did something no one else ever has. You killed me." She chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Shiki's spine. "But I'm not so easy to get rid of. And now, you're going to help me."
"Help you?" Shiki repeated, his mind reeling. "With what?"
"Another vampire," Arcueid replied, her tone suddenly serious. "There's another one in this city—one much more dangerous than me. And I need your help to exterminate it."
Shiki stared at her in disbelief. This night had taken him from one nightmare into another, and now she was asking for his help? His mind raced, trying to process everything she had said. A part of him wanted to refuse, to turn and run again, even if it meant facing whatever horror might come next. But another part of him—a quieter, more rational voice—told him that running would get him nowhere. He had been lucky to survive this long. And if she was telling the truth, if there was another vampire out there...
efore he could respond, something caught Arcueid's attention. Her head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the rooftops. Shiki felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, a sense of foreboding washing over him. "What is it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Arcueid didn't answer. Her gaze locked onto something in the distance, and her expression darkened. "We're not alone," she murmured, more to herself than to Shiki.
A dark shape swooped down from the sky, a blur of black feathers and sharp talons. Shiki barely had time to register the hawk before it transformed mid-air, twisting into the form of a massive black wolf. The creature landed with a heavy thud, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence as it growled low and deep.
Shiki froze, his blood turning to ice. He had never seen anything like this before. The wolf's eyes were fixed on him, its lips curling back to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth. It was a predator, and he was its prey.
Arcueid stepped in front of him, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp. "Stay back," she ordered, her voice firm. "This one's mine."
The wolf lunged, its powerful body moving with a speed and grace that seemed impossible for something of its size. But Arcueid was faster. She met the creature head-on, her movements a blur of precision and strength. The alleyway echoed with the sound of their clash, the wolf snarling and snapping, Arcueid dodging and countering with lethal efficiency.
Shiki could only watch in stunned silence, his mind struggling to comprehend what was happening. He had seen death, had dealt it with his own hands, but this—this was something else entirely. This was a battle between beings far beyond his understanding, their power and ferocity unlike anything he had ever known.
In a matter of moments, it was over. Arcueid stood victorious, the wolf lying at her feet, its body already dissolving into shadows. She turned to Shiki, her expression unreadable.
"You're not safe yet," she said, her voice carrying an edge of urgency. "There are more of them."
As if on cue, two more figures emerged from the darkness. They were not quite human. They moved with an eerie, mechanical precision, their eyes glowing with a dim, unnatural light. Shiki's heart sank as he recognized them for what they were—human-like puppets, their movements jerky and disjointed, yet somehow meArcueid's eyes widened slightly as she took in the new threat. "Puppets," she said, her voice tinged with surprise. "I've never encountered ones like these before."
Shiki felt a surge of fear, but it was quickly overtaken by a feeling of being utterly overwhelmed. His mind was a whirl of confusion and dread as the puppets advanced, their movements synchronized in a way that suggested a singular, malevolent purpose.
Arcueid sprang into action again, her movements fluid and precise. She fought with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly, her strength and skill on display as she dispatched the puppets with a combination of speed and power. Shiki could only stand there, watching as the scene unfolded before him.
The alleyway became a battleground, a place where shadows danced and reality seemed to warp and twist. And amidst it all, Shiki was left standing on the precipice of understanding, trying to make sense of a world that had suddenly turned dark and dangerous.
As the last of the puppets fell, Arcueid wiped a drop of sweat from her face, her eyes meeting Shiki's with an intensity that left him breathless. "Are you ready to help me?" she asked, her voice steady despite the chaos that had just transpired.
Shiki looked at her, his mind a storm of confusion and fear. He had been dragged into a world of darkness and danger, a world where survival was anything but certain. But as he stood there, facing the enigmatic vampire who had spared his life, he realized that his choices were limited. He could no longer run from the truth—he was a part of this nightmare now.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling hands. "Yes," he said finally, his voice firm despite the quiver of uncertainty. "I'll help you."
Arcueid nodded, a small, approving smile touching her lips. "Good," she said. "We have much work to do."
And as the shadows of the alley swallowed them both, Shiki couldn't shake the feeling that his life had irrevocably changed. What lay ahead was uncertain, fraught with dangers he could barely comprehend. But one thing was clear: He was no longer alone in this dark, twisted world. And in the depths of the unknown, he had found an unlikely ally—a vampire with her own secrets, and a mission that would test them both to their limits.