Chapter 1: Before I Go
Morning at the Orphanage
The orphanage woke up like it always did—with noise. The sun hadn't fully risen, but the clatter of pans and the chatter of children already filled the air. The smell of porridge wafted through the hallways, and in the cramped kitchen, Mimi scolded two younger orphans, who were struggling to keep out of the pantry.
Mimi: "Kenji! Kya! Someone get these two before they climb the shelves again!"
From the common room, Ryuzaki's voice carried over, calm yet playful.
Ryuzaki: "You're on your own, Mimi. I've got a much bigger problem on my hands."
He was struggling to pry off Daiki, the youngest orphan, who had latched onto his leg, refusing to let go.
Daiki: "Don't go! Stay and play, Ryu!"
Ryuzaki (grinning): "If I don't get up, there's no breakfast. You sure you want to risk that?"
Daiki hesitated, his stomach growling loudly, before finally letting go of Ryuzaki's leg and stumbling back to the kitchen. Ryuzaki followed, chuckling.
As he entered the kitchen, he saw Kya already seated at the table, swinging her legs and munching on a piece of bread she'd swiped early.
Kya: "Good morning, Ryu! Guess what? I had a dream I was a princess!"
Ryuzaki (teasing): "A princess, huh? Did the kingdom survive, or did you accidentally burn it down?"
Kya (gasping): "Rude! I'd be a great ruler!"
Mimi handed Ryuzaki a steaming bowl of porridge, her brow furrowed as she eyed him carefully.
Mimi: "Speaking of burning things down, make sure the older kids finish their chores today. The last time you were in charge, someone left the stove on."
Ryuzaki (grinning): "That wasn't my fault. Blame Kenji and his "experiments.'"
Kenji, sitting at the corner of the table with a book, looked up, his face impassive but his eyes sharp behind his glasses.
Kenji: "I was testing thermal conductivity. It's not my fault you don't understand science."
Ryuzaki: "It's not my fault your 'science' nearly burned down the kitchen."
Laughter rippled through the room, and for a moment, everything felt normal. Ryuzaki relaxed into his seat, the familiar chaos of home making him feel at ease despite the growing unease inside him.
After breakfast, the children scattered to their tasks. Ryuzaki volunteered to walk Kya and Kenji to their school. The school was just a short distance away, but downtown was always bustling, especially at this hour. The market was just opening, and merchants were setting up their stalls, shouting greetings to each other and to the neighbors.
Kya, ever the energetic one, skipped ahead, twirling in circles as she passed by the fruit stands.
Kya: "Ryu, do you think Miss Maito will finally let me do art with the older kids today? I'm so tired of finger painting with the babies!"
Ryuzaki (grinning): "I think she just likes seeing you covered in paint. It's probably her favorite part of the day."
Kya (huffing): "Not funny! Last time, I got paint in my hair, and it wouldn't come out for days!"
Kenji, walking just behind them, didn't respond to Kya's antics. He was, as always, absorbed in one of his books.
Kenji: "If you'd sit still long enough to use a brush, that wouldn't happen."
Kya (mockingly): "Well, maybe I like making a mess! Ever think of that, Kenji?"
Ryuzaki chuckled, but his eyes scanned the street with a sense of wariness. There was something off about today, a feeling he couldn't shake.
As they walked, the usual hustle and bustle of the market continued around them. The cobblestone paths were crowded with people going about their day.
They reached the busy intersection, where a delivery truck was parked near the corner. It was an older vehicle, rusted in places, and tilted slightly as if the wheels were uneven. The driver wasn't visible, and the truck looked out of place, somehow.
Ryuzaki's instincts flared, the familiar unease creeping up his spine.
Ryuzaki: "Kya, stay close, okay?"
Kya: "I'm right here, don't worry!"
Kenji, never one for urgency, adjusted his glasses, eyes still fixed on his book.
Kenji: "It's just a delivery truck. You're being paranoid."
Ryuzaki's eyes narrowed as he watched the truck from the corner of his vision. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He couldn't explain it, but something was wrong.
The light ahead turned red, and they stopped to wait. Kya bounced impatiently on her heels, her gaze fixed on the crossing light.
Kya: "Come on, hurry up! I don't want to be late again!"
Kenji: "We have five minutes, Kya. Relax."
Ryuzaki barely heard their bickering. His focus was entirely on the truck. There was no sign of the driver, and the truck was oddly close to the curb, like it was waiting for something.
When the light finally turned green, Ryuzaki motioned for Kya and Kenji to cross. They stepped into the street, but just as they did, a loud blaring horn shattered the air.
Ryuzaki: "Move!"
Without thinking, Ryuzaki lunged forward and yanked Kya and Kenji back onto the sidewalk. The truck came barreling toward them at an alarming speed, its engine roaring as if it was out of control. The tires screeched but the truck kept coming.
Ryuzaki didn't have time to think. His body moved on instinct as he dove to the side, pulling Kya and Kenji with him. The truck passed by them, narrowly missing their bodies. The screeching of metal was deafening as the truck careened off the road and smashed into a lamppost.
The impact sent a cloud of debris into the air, and Ryuzaki's heart pounded in his chest.
For a few moments, everything was still.
Kya was clinging to his arm, wide-eyed.
Kya: "Ryu, what just happened? Was that truck trying to hit us?"
Kenji (adjusting his glasses shakily): "The brakes… they must've failed."
But Ryuzaki wasn't convinced. As the crowd began to gather around the wreckage, he moved closer, his eyes scanning the scene. The driver was slumped over the wheel, motionless. A couple of onlookers rushed forward, shouting for help.
Ryuzaki peered into the cab of the truck and immediately noticed something odd—the brake cables. They weren't just frayed; they had been deliberately cut. The edges were too smooth, too clean.
Ryuzaki (muttering): "This isn't an accident."
His eyes darted around the intersection, but there was no one in sight who seemed suspicious. Just regular townsfolk going about their day. Yet Ryuzaki's gut told him this wasn't a random event. Someone had orchestrated it.
Kya (gripping his arm): "Ryu, what's wrong?"
Ryuzaki (forcing a smile): "I don't know, Kya. But stay close. Something's not right."
They continued walking toward the school, but the unease lingered. Ryuzaki's mind raced, trying to piece together what had just happened. As they neared the school gates, he glanced back one last time at the wrecked truck. It was too quiet.
That night, after the children had gone to bed, Ryuzaki couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The usual calm of the orphanage had been replaced by an eerie tension that hung in the air.
Ryuzaki climbed to the roof of the orphanage, as he often did when he needed to clear his head. The stars were bright above, but the air felt heavy.
He sat there for what felt like hours, staring into the night sky, trying to calm the racing thoughts in his mind.
And then he heard it.
Adam (whispering): "Still alive, I see."
Ryuzaki tensed, his eyes narrowing as his hands clenched the edge of the roof. The familiar voice, cold and mocking, slid into his mind like a chill wind.
Ryuzaki (sharply): "You again."
Adam (laughing softly): "I told you, didn't I? I'll keep trying until you're mine."
The breeze shifted, growing colder, and Ryuzaki's breath fogged in front of him. He stood up, his muscles tense, ready for whatever was coming next.
Ryuzaki: "What do you want from me, Adam? I'm not your puppet."
Adam's voice seemed to echo from everywhere and nowhere at once, circling Ryuzaki like a phantom.
Adam: "I want you to break. I want to see you fall. It's only a matter of time."
Ryuzaki: "You think I'm just going to roll over for you? You don't know who you're dealing with."
Adam (smiling): "Oh, I know exactly who you are. And that's what makes it all the more fun."
Ryuzaki's heart raced as the shadows around him deepened, and Adam's laughter faded into the distance.
Ryuzaki stood alone in the night, his resolve hardening.
Ryuzaki (to himself): "I won't let you win. Not now. Not ever."
End of Chapter 1