The sun had barely risen over Hishinawa Village, but Riku was already moving. The events of the past two days weighed on him like stones in his chest. Every shadow, every whisper of the wind reminded him of Haru—trapped, alone, and in danger. The forest had offered no answers, only fragments: footprints, strange symbols, and the memory of those masked figures. But it had also given him something unexpected—power.
The black surge that had erupted from his body in the cave still lingered in his mind. He didn't understand it, couldn't control it, and yet it had saved him. That strange energy, he realized, could be his weapon. But to use it wisely, he would have to understand it.
A CLUE IN THE WOODS
Following the trail from the previous day, Riku returned to the forest edge, clutching Haru's broken wristband. He examined the mud prints once more, noting that they led not toward the village, but deeper into the old, abandoned part of the forest—an area shunned by villagers for decades. Old mining tunnels, overgrown roads, and collapsed buildings gave the place a haunted feel. Even in daylight, the air was thick with decay and tension.
It was here, among the shadows of toppled trees and crumbling ruins, that Riku noticed something unusual: a faint glimmer reflecting off a metal surface hidden beneath the overgrowth. Curious, he pushed aside the vines and debris to reveal a small hatch in the ground. It was rusted, partially camouflaged, and emanated a faint hum—mechanical, precise, unnatural.
Riku's heart pounded. This had to be it: a lab, hidden underground, one of the places where Haru could have been taken. He knelt and tried the hatch. Locked. But with a forceful push, it creaked open. A rush of cold air and faint chemical scents escaped, carrying with it the unmistakable metallic tang of blood.
He hesitated only a moment. Then, with a deep breath, Riku climbed down into the darkness.
THE HIDDEN LAB
The underground lab was larger than Riku had imagined. Fluorescent lights flickered sporadically, and broken glass crunched underfoot. Rusted medical equipment, scattered papers, and overturned carts gave the impression that someone had fled in a hurry—or that something had broken loose. The smell of antiseptic mixed with decay, and every step echoed ominously.
Riku's flashlight illuminated writing scrawled on the walls—chemical formulas, cryptic symbols, and names he didn't recognize. And then he saw it: a containment room, the glass shattered, blood streaking the walls. His stomach turned. This was a place of experimentation, and he feared what horrors it might hold.
He moved cautiously, scanning the shadows, until a faint scratching sound reached his ears. It was soft, deliberate, almost like nails on concrete. He froze. His pulse quickened. Then, in a dark corner of the lab, he saw movement—a figure, hunched, twitching unnaturally.
Riku instinctively raised his hands. The black lines along his wrists—the strange energy—began to glow faintly. The figure lunged. Its eyes were hollow, face pale, veins black as night, and it let out a guttural sound.
Riku's mind raced, fear and instinct blending into action. The energy surged again, stronger this time, slamming the creature backward into the wall. Glass shattered further, and the sound of metal twisting echoed throughout the lab.
Riku fell to his knees, trembling, staring at his hands. The lines of black energy receded, leaving him both terrified and exhilarated. He had done it. He had controlled it—just barely—but it had worked.
DISCOVERING THE TRUTH
Riku rose, shaking off the fear. He had to find answers. Moving deeper into the lab, he discovered rows of crates, some labeled with chemical formulas, others marked with human names. One label caught his eye: "Haru Takahara – Phase I."
His heart skipped a beat. Haru was here. Alive. Somewhere in this facility. But the label also contained cryptic notes about "final awakening" and "subject potential." A chill ran down Riku's spine. Whatever they were doing, it was not normal.
As he rifled through more papers, Riku noticed something else—security footage. Broken, flickering monitors showed masked figures, strange creatures, and shadowy experiments. One image froze him in place: Haru, strapped to a metallic table, his eyes closed, veins faintly glowing with black lines. He looked peaceful—too peaceful. And then, one of the masked figures entered the frame and injected something into him.
Riku felt a surge of anger and panic. He had to reach him. He had to stop whatever they were doing before it was too late.
THE ENCOUNTER
Just as he turned to leave, the humming of the lab grew louder. From the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, in a black tactical suit, wearing the same white cracked mask Riku had seen in the forest.
"You shouldn't be here," the figure said, voice calm but commanding.
Riku's fists clenched. "Step aside! He's my brother!"
The figure tilted its head, almost amused. Then it moved. Faster than Riku could follow. A blow caught him in the side, sending him sprawling across the concrete floor. Pain shot through his ribs, but he forced himself up.
The black energy in his wrists flared again, stronger this time. It surged through him, responding instinctively to his rage, pushing the figure back. The masked figure hissed in frustration, stepping aside just long enough for Riku to notice another door—a stairway leading deeper into the facility.
Riku didn't hesitate. He ran, ignoring the pain, ignoring the adrenaline. He had to go down. He had to save Haru.
THE ESCAPE AND AWAKENING
The stairs led to a subterranean corridor, filled with humming machines and flickering lights. Pipes hissed, vents spat steam, and somewhere in the distance, a faint moan echoed. It was Haru. Alive.
Riku moved faster, but his energy faltered. The black lines on his wrists flared again, stronger than ever, almost pulling him forward like a magnet toward his brother. He realized something terrifying and amazing: this power was connected to his determination, to his emotions. Fear, anger, desperation—they amplified it.
Finally, he reached a locked metal door. Behind it, muffled sounds—Harus' faint cries. With a surge of energy, Riku slammed his fists against the door. The black energy erupted, cracking the metal just enough for him to pry it open.
Inside, Haru lay strapped to the table, unconscious but alive. Machines hummed rhythmically, monitoring his vitals. Riku dropped to his knees beside him.
"I've got you," he whispered, voice trembling. "I'm here… I'm bringing you home."
Haru's fingers twitched. A faint black line traced along his arm—the first sign that whatever they had done to him was beginning to awaken.
Riku swallowed hard, knowing this was only the beginning.
The sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor. The masked figure was coming back.
Riku's fists tightened. His energy flared brighter, and he whispered to himself:
"I won't let them take him. Not now. Not ever."
And in that instant, he realized: the fight had truly begun.