The truck barreled down the deserted highway, headlights cutting through the night. The moon loomed above, a silent witness to their escape. Kisimoto's grip on the wheel was iron-tight, his mind racing faster than the vehicle itself. The facility was far behind them, but the feeling of being hunted refused to fade.
His mother sat beside him, hands clasped together, lips moving in a whisper of prayers. Serena was still in the back, tapping her dagger against her knee—tap, tap, tap—a slow, rhythmic beat that sent chills down his spine.
And Roko?
Roko was grinning, stretching like he had just woken up from a nap. "So, that was fun. When's round two?"
Kisimoto snapped his gaze to him. "Are you insane?"
Roko smirked. "Probably. But you love me for it."
Kisimoto exhaled sharply, focusing back on the road. "We barely made it out alive, and you're making jokes?"
Roko shrugged. "What's life without a little excitement?"
Their mother's voice was barely a whisper. "This isn't a game, Roko."
His smirk faded just a little. "Never said it was."
Silence stretched between them. Only the sound of the tires against the road and the faint humming from Serena filled the air.
Then—
A shadow appeared in the distance.
Standing dead center in the road.
Waiting.
Kisimoto's heart stopped.
"…No way."
Roko leaned forward, his grin faltering. "Uh, you seein' that?"
Kisimoto slammed the brakes. The truck screeched, skidding across the asphalt, coming to a halt just inches from the figure.
A voice, low and chilling, broke the silence.
"Well, well… Took you long enough."
The moonlight revealed his face.
Kisimoto's breath caught.
"…Dad?"
Their father stood before them, unharmed.
No smirk. No anger. No warmth.
Just there.
Like something out of a nightmare.
Their mother gasped, hand over her mouth. "This can't be…"
Serena's humming stopped.
She gripped her dagger tighter.
Kisimoto's voice barely came out. "You… you died."
Their father tilted his head. "Did I?"
Roko exhaled slowly. His usual grin? Gone. His entire body had gone stiff.
Kisimoto swallowed hard. Something was wrong.
Then—
The truck shook.
A loud thud slammed against the roof.
Kisimoto's blood ran cold.
"What the hell was that?"
Roko's eyes flickered upward. "That ain't the wind."
BANG.
The roof dented inward.
Serena's grip on the dagger tightened.
Then—TAP. TAP. TAP.
A rhythmic knock against the metal.
Roko exhaled sharply. "He's playing with us."
Their father took a single step forward.
And Roko dashed.
He lunged. Fast. Too fast for Kisimoto to react.
But the moment his foot left the ground—
VOOOO.
He vanished.
Gone.
Not a single trace.
Like the night had swallowed him whole.
"ROKO!" Kisimoto's scream tore through the silence.
No answer.
His mother choked on a sob, trembling.
Serena's lips parted, her body frozen. Even her other self had no words.
Then—
The tapping stopped.
Kisimoto barely had a second to react before a face leaned down from the windshield.
Their father.
Upside down. Inches away.
Smiling.
Kisimoto's breath hitched.
His father's lips moved—but the voice that came out wasn't his own.
It was layered. Twisted. Echoing.
"Hi, SON!"
Then—the windshield shattered.
Glass rained into the cabin.
His mother screamed. Serena flinched, arms raised, dagger at the ready.
Kisimoto barely had time to react before—
Hands grabbed his throat.
Cold. Too cold.
He gasped, choking, fighting for air.
His father—no, this thing wearing his father's face—was inside the truck.
"Don't struggle, son." The voice was wrong. "It'll be easier that way."
Kisimoto's vision blurred.
He was losing air.
Losing consciousness.
No.
Not like this.
Then—
A knife plunged through the thing's arm.
Serena.
Her eyes glowed green, her face twisted in fury.
"GET. OFF. HIM!"
She twisted the blade.
The thing hissed, jerking back.
Kisimoto gasped for air, vision returning.
He didn't waste a second.
He grabbed the gear shift—and slammed it in reverse.
The truck screeched backward, throwing the thing off balance.
Then—he floored it.
The vehicle lurched, ramming straight into their father.
Or what was pretending to be him.
The impact sent it flying.
Kisimoto didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
Just drove.
Faster.
Farther.
Away.
His mother sobbed beside him. Serena panted, gripping her dagger so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Kisimoto didn't speak.
Didn't dare to.
Because something was still wrong.
Where was Roko?
They drove in silence. The empty road stretched endlessly ahead.
Then—
A shadow appeared in the headlights.
A figure.
Standing still.
Waiting.
Kisimoto's stomach dropped.
"…No."
The truck screeched to a stop.
And there—
Standing in the middle of the road—
Was Roko.
But something was off.
His head was tilted down, eyes hidden beneath his bangs. His hands hung loosely at his sides, shoulders tense.
Kisimoto hesitated. "Roko?"
No response.
Then—
Roko lifted his head.
His eyes weren't his own.
Glowing. Silver. Unnatural.
A slow, chilling grin spread across his lips.
And then—
He moved.
Faster than Kisimoto could blink.
Straight at them.
TO BE CONTINUED...