"Looks like our friend does not want you. Leave her body now," Taki said, stepping forward.
Before he could finish, Deetee moved in a blur. One second he was standing by the tree, and the next he was gripping Taki's neck. His fingers dug into Taki's skin, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing. Then he slammed him hard against a tree. The crack echoed through the woods.
Taki gasped as the bark scraped his back. His glasses fell off and landed near Miko's foot. Miko froze, eyes wide, trembling. She wanted to scream but the sound caught in her throat.
"I hate it when people command me," Deetee growled. "I am a king. No one tells me what to do."
His voice was deeper now, no longer Rieko's. It rumbled like thunder. He struck Taki again against the trunk. The tree splintered under the force.
"Taki!" Miko cried, dropping to her knees. She crawled toward him, shaking. "Let him go!"
Deetee tilted his head toward her, a cruel smile curling his lips. "Since I cannot snap my fingers," he said slowly, "I will do it the biginner way."
He crossed his fingers together. His green eyes glowed brighter. "Demon mode activate."
The forest responded. A sudden gust of wind roared through the trees, bending the branches. Dust and leaves spun in the air. Birds burst from their nests, wings beating frantically into the night sky. The ground vibrated under their feet.
Deetee spread his arms. "Peasants, arise before your king."
The soil around them cracked. A foul smell rose from the ground. Then hands, grey and clawed broke through the dirt. One by one, shadowy figures crawled out. Their skin looked dry like old bark, and their eyes glowed faint red. Ten of them, kneeling before Deetee.
Taki coughed and managed to speak through the pain. "Did he just summon zombies?"
Miko clutched his arm. "Please tell me this is a dream."
Deetee frowned and looked at the demons. He started counting, his expression darkening. "What happened? Where are the rest of my peasants? Why only ten?"
The demons kept their heads low. One finally spoke, voice trembling. "My king, we welcome you back. We are pleased—"
"Shut up!" Deetee snapped. "Tell me what happened to the rest. I had thousands. Where are they?"
The demon gulped. "They are dead, my king. The angels and their binders killed everyone. We barely escaped. We are all that remain."
"The Angel," Deetee spat, his face twisting in rage. "I will rip them apart. I spent thousands of years gathering an army only for those angels and peasants to destroy it in a day."
He hissed and clutched his head, his movements jerky. "This vessel is testing my limits," he said. "It is playing with me."
He turned to Taki and Miko, his eyes burning. "First, kill those peasants," he ordered.
The demon soldiers froze. Their eyes shifted from Deetee to the two frightened teenagers. None of them moved.
Deetee's anger flared. "What are you waiting for? I said kill them!"
One of the demons hesitated, then spoke softly. "My king, if we touch humans… the binders will come."
"Who will come?" Deetee barked. "Who dares to make you afraid other than me, your king?"
"The binders," they whispered together.
Deetee stared at them in disbelief. "The binders are peasants like you. Why are you afraid of them? Obey me. Kill them. If any binder appears, I will kill them myself. Now move!"
The demons slowly rose to their feet. Dirt fell from their bodies as they shuffled forward, dragging their feet through the leaves. Their hollow eyes locked on Taki and Miko.
Miko picked up a branch and swung it in panic. "Stay back! I said stay back!" She threw a rock that hit one demon's chest and bounced off uselessly.
Taki tried to stand but his legs shook. His body hurt everywhere. "Miko, run," he said, breathing hard. "Call someone for help. I'll be fine. I won't leave without Rieko. I know she's still fighting inside."
Miko shook her head fast, tears running down her cheeks. "I can't move. I'm too scared. I'm my parents' only child. I can't die here."
"Me too," Taki whispered. "My mom has only me. I'm scared too."
They both broke down, their sobs echoing through the trees.
"Somebody help us!" Taki shouted.
"Please, anyone!" Miko cried.
"Any good alien out there, come rescue us!" she yelled louder.
Their cries mixed with the sound of wind and rustling leaves.
Deetee let out a deep growl. "Kill them now. Why are you walking like snails?"
The demons' eyes flashed red. They hissed and charged forward. Miko screamed and held on to Taki as tight as she could. Taki covered her with his arms, closing his eyes.
One demon lifted its hand, claws gleaming in the moonlight, ready to strike.
Then, out of nowhere, a burning ball of light shot across the clearing. It sliced clean through the demon's arm, leaving a round hole. Before anyone could react, the same ball curved mid-air like a boomerang and came back, punching through the demon's head. The creature burst into flames and fell.
The other demons stopped moving. Even Deetee straightened from the tree he leaned on, eyes narrowing.
Smoke rose from the fallen demon's body. The air smelled like burnt wood and metal. The glowing ball came back, spinning through the air, and a hand caught it easily.
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
It was a boy, maybe their age, wearing white from head to toe. A hood covered part of his face, and in one hand, he held a baseball bat. His other hand held the glowing ball, which dimmed as it rested in his palm.
Moonlight spilled over him. His hair was black with yellow stripes, and he wore a calm smile like someone who'd done this a hundred times.
He looked relaxed, confident, and a little amused.
He wasn't alone. Two girls stepped out behind him. Both wore white outfits like his. The first girl had short brown hair and a steady gaze. The second had long white silver hair that flowed behind her and her hands tucked in her hoodie pockets. She smiled faintly, her eyes half closed like she was bored but enjoying it.
The three of them stood there, the wind gently pushing their hoods back. The demons shifted, growling low, unsure if they should move or retreat.
Taki and Miko could barely speak. They just stared.
The boy tilted his head, a smirk forming on his face. "Did someone call for help?"
The clearing went silent again. Even the trees seemed to hold their breath.