Taki and Miko stormed into the woods, their footsteps crunching on dry leaves and snapping twigs. The scream they had heard still echoed faintly in the air. Miko paused, resting her hands on her knees, chest heaving.
"How far is this place, Taki? We've been running forever, and I can't see anything," she gasped. She had left her phone in the car, relying only on the faint moonlight filtering through the branches.
"We're almost there," Taki said, gripping her hand. "We have to check on Rieko, so let's move."
They pushed forward, leaping over roots and small streams, their shoes slipping in the damp dirt. Then they stopped. A figure stood ahead, hands behind its back. Moonlight glanced off the stranger, and both froze.
It was Rieko but not. Her hair was green, streaked with darkness. Horns jutted from her forehead. Her glasses were on but cracked slightly on the right, and her flashlight lay dead on the ground. Miko's mouth dropped open. Taki's grip on her hand tightened as panic set in.
"Ri… Ri… Rieko?" Taki's voice cracked as he stared at the new face, disbelief written on every line.
"Is it me, or does she look like an avatar from one of those video games?" Miko whispered.
Before either could react, the figure moved closer. Suddenly, it was in front of them. Both screamed.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Shut up, you two peasants!" The voice was sharp and commanding. Both froze, trembling with fear.
"Wh-what happened to you, Rieko? Why do you sound and look different?" Taki stammered.
"Please, Rieko, or avatar Rieko, you do freak us out sometimes, but this voice, it's scary," Miko added.
"I said shut up," the figure snapped. "Now which one of you knows where the angel is?"
Neither of them answered. They stared at the new Rieko, wide-eyed and trembling.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Where is the Angel?"
"You said to shut up, which one should we listen to?" Miko asked cautiously.
"And we don't know anyone named The Angel," Taki added. "If you're talking about a video game, my username is The Demon Boy. Rieko is the Viper Bitch. I haven't seen anyone with the name Angel."
"And if you're wondering, I am The Internet Freak," Miko said softly.
The figure tilted its head. Its expression was unreadable, glowing green eyes narrowing.
"What the fuck are you two saying?"
"We don't know what's happening, but maybe we transmigrated into a video game," Taki said.
"Or maybe we're dreaming," Miko added.
"You guys are stupid and foolish! Where the hell is the Angel? The angel who left me to suffer. I need to kill her and take her wings. Where is she?" the figure demanded, voice low and dangerous.
"We already said we don't know who that person is," Taki said carefully. "Angels don't exist here, only in video games or movies."
"Angels are real, but not here on Earth. You would have to go to heaven to find your angel," Miko said quietly.
"So, you two don't know who or where The Angel is?" The figure's eyes flared. Both nodded together.
The figure stepped back, finally giving them some space. Both inhaled deeply, trying to calm their racing hearts.
"Alright then. Get the fuck out of my sight, you guys are creepy," the figure said, waving a hand.
They did not move. Standing frozen, they refused to leave.
"Are you deaf too? Leave, right now!" The voice was commanding, like someone far older and stronger than their fifteen years. Yet they stayed, holding their ground.
Taki adjusted his glasses. He always did this when nervous or scared. It steadied him, gave him a fraction of control.
"I believe you are using my friend's body as a vessel. I don't care why or how. Just give us Rieko back. We're past our curfew. Her mom will ground her if she doesn't get home now. Leave her body and find someone else for your angel hunt. Just give us back Rieko."
Miko's eyes darted between Rieko's new form and Taki. "Are you an alien or a ghost? Who are you?"
"Miko, I know you're curious, but getting Rieko back is more important than figuring out what this is. Stop being curious," Taki said firmly.
The figure tilted its head again. "Wait. She's right. I haven't introduced myself yet. Maybe when you find out who I am, you idiots will run. I am a demon king, number 999. They call me Deetee. I am the best of the best. My only purpose is to find and kill The Angel, the angel who killed my sister."
Taki blinked. Miko muttered under her breath, "Sounds like one of those video game introductions."
"I don't care who you are. Just leave my best friend's body!" Taki shouted. "Then I might listen to your story because it sounds like an adventure."
"I was being nice when I told you to leave," the figure said, voice low and dangerous. "But you two are too stupid to realize you are standing in front of rank no 1 Demon King 999. So, you will die. I will continue my search for The Angel."
The figure raised a hand, snapping at Rieko's fingers. Nothing happened. The fingers resisted, refusing to bend.
"What the fuck is happening? Why can't I control this vessel?" the figure growled. Eyes flashed to the terrified kids. Then it tried again, snapping both hands. They still did not obey.
The demon king's confusion gave Taki and Miko a fraction of hope. Rieko's body was fighting back. She was not gone completely. The green hair and horns glinted in the moonlight as the demon king tried and failed to gain full control.
Taki gripped Miko's hand tighter, his jaw tight. "We just have to stay calm. We can get her back. Don't let him scare you."
Miko nodded, chest heaving. Her voice barely above a whisper, she said, "I just hope she's still in there somewhere."
The forest around them was silent except for the soft rustle of leaves and the distant call of an owl. Every shadow looked alive. Every branch seemed to tremble as if watching.
Deetee's voice cut through the silence again, low and dangerous. "I will not fail. The Angel will pay, and no one will stop me, not you, not anyone."
Taki adjusted his glasses again, steadying himself. "We might not know what we're dealing with, but we know one thing. That's still our friend in there. We're not leaving without her. It three or none"
Miko squeezed his hand, eyes fixed on Rieko. She whispered, "We'll save her, Taki. I just hope we actually do."