The noise had finally dialed down. The once deafening chaos outside the supply closet was now reduced to an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional distant scream or the soft creak of a collapsing structure. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito exchanged glances, their hearts still racing in their chests. They had no idea how long they had been hiding, but it was clear they couldn't stay here forever.
Raiden took a deep breath and slowly reached for the door handle, his hand trembling. He glanced back at Zohar and Kaito, who nodded at him, both of them just as tense. He pulled the door open a crack, peeking out into the hallway.
Nothing.
He pushed the door further, revealing the gruesome sight before them. The hallway was littered with bodies—students and teachers alike, some lying in pools of blood, others twisted in unnatural ways as if they had been tossed aside like ragdolls. Claw marks gouged deep into the walls and floors served as a grim reminder of what had happened here.
Zohar gulped, his voice barely audible as he muttered, "Don't look... just keep moving."
They slipped out of the supply closet, staying close to the wall, their footsteps careful and light. The horror around them was almost unbearable, but they forced themselves to keep moving. Raiden led the way down the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, and every creak of the floor beneath them made their skin crawl.
As they descended into the downstairs hallway, the devastation only worsened. The bodies of their classmates, their friends, were everywhere. It felt like a nightmare they couldn't wake up from. But then they saw something that made them stop dead in their tracks.
Lying against the wall was the angel they had seen earlier—the one who had fought the demons in the cafeteria. His once glowing form was now dim, his wings battered and torn. The golden sword that had shone so brightly now flickered weakly, its light fading with every passing moment.
The angel coughed, blood spilling from his lips as his eyes dimmed, but he was still alive. Barely.
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito stood frozen, unsure whether to run or help.
"What the hell is he?" Zohar whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.
Raiden, still in shock, managed to step closer, his voice trembling as he asked, "What's going on? Who... what are you?"
The angel's head tilted slightly towards them, his gaze weak but focused. His voice was raspy, barely more than a whisper, as he spoke. "My name... is Gabriel. One of the archangels." He paused, coughing violently before continuing. "Lucifer... has awakened. We don't know how... but he's causing havoc through central Japan. You... you need to get to safety."
The boys exchanged glances, fear and confusion swirling in their eyes. This was too much to comprehend.
"Lucifer?" Kaito's voice cracked as he spoke, the weight of the name sending chills down his spine.
Before any of them could ask further questions, a sudden, guttural growl echoed through the hallway. Raiden's blood ran cold as he looked over to see a lone demon, bloodied and snarling, charging straight toward them.
"Run!" Kaito yelled, but Raiden's eyes locked onto the golden sword in Gabriel's hand, the last flicker of light sputtering from its blade. He knew they couldn't outrun it.
Without thinking, Raiden darted to the angel's side, reaching for the sword. His fingers curled around the hilt, but it was impossibly heavy, far beyond what he expected. He struggled, trying to lift it, his muscles straining.
"Raiden, what are you doing?!" Zohar shouted, but seeing Raiden's struggle, both he and Kaito rushed to his side.
With their combined effort, the sword began to lift, just enough for the demon to leap toward them—straight onto the blade. It impaled itself, a sickening crunch filling the air as the sword pierced through its body. The demon let out a monstrous scream, its dark, twisted form writhing for a moment before collapsing, lifeless, onto the floor.
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito dropped the sword immediately, its glow completely extinguished. They looked at each other in shock, their chests heaving with exertion.
Raiden turned back to Gabriel, but it was too late. The light had finally left his eyes, and his body slumped forward, lifeless. The once mighty archangel was gone.
There was no time to grieve. The boys' instincts kicked in as they turned and ran for the exit, their breaths shallow, adrenaline pumping through their veins. Whatever this was, it wasn't over yet.
And they weren't safe. Not by a long shot.
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito burst through the school's exit, stumbling onto the street, gasping for breath. The cold air hit their faces as they looked around in shock. Just as they stepped onto the sidewalk, a car screeched to a halt, narrowly missing them. Raiden pulled Zohar out of the way just in time. The city was in chaos—people running, military vehicles rolling down the street, and soldiers shouting orders.
A group of soldiers patrolled nearby, their eyes scanning the area with rifles in hand. One of them noticed the boys and jogged over, his face stern but concerned.
"Are there any others inside?" the soldier barked, eyes flickering between the three.
"I—I don't know," Raiden stammered, still in a state of shock. "We saw people running into the classrooms when we were trying to hide. There might be survivors in there."
Without wasting a moment, the soldier nodded to his team. "You heard them! Search the classrooms! Move!"
A squad of soldiers charged into the school, their boots echoing off the pavement. The boys were pulled to the side as a few other soldiers directed them away from the chaos. They started walking them down the road, away from the scene.
"You're lucky to be alive, kids," one of the soldiers said, his voice gruff but sympathetic. "What happened in there?"
The three hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances. Kaito, still shaken, was the first to speak. "There was an angel... and demons. They crashed through the cafeteria, started fighting right in front of us. People—students—were being ripped apart."
The soldiers stopped dead in their tracks, their faces turning pale as they exchanged worried glances.
"So it's true," one of them muttered under his breath.
Raiden's heart raced. "True? What's true?"
The soldiers seemed reluctant at first, but one finally spoke up. "The higher-ups warned us. They said something about the old myths being real. That Lucifer, Loki, and hades are the three kings of Hell... the ones who will bring chaos to our world."
"Lucifer?" Raiden said, his voice barely a whisper. "The angel Gabriel mentioned him. He said he's been awakened but doesn't know how."
The soldier who had been silent until now suddenly turned to Raiden, his expression serious. "You came in contact with an Archangel? You actually saw Gabriel?"
Kaito nodded, his voice shaky but firm. "Yeah, we saw him. He was fighting off demons, but... he didn't make it. Before he died, he told us that Lucifer's awake and wreaking havoc in central Japan."
The soldiers looked at each other in disbelief, processing the gravity of what they just heard. One of them, a woman with a scar running down her cheek, cursed under her breath.
"We've been briefed on these 'myths,'" she said, shaking her head. "But none of us thought we'd actually see angels or demons. If Lucifer's awake, we're in deeper trouble than we thought."
The soldier leading the group stopped and turned back to the boys. "Look, we need to get you to a safe location. The streets aren't safe anymore. But I need you to tell everything you know to the higher-ups. This isn't just some terrorist attack—it's something much, much worse."
They continued walking through the chaos, the city streets filled with panicked citizens and military personnel. Sirens blared in the distance as helicopters circled overhead. The boys were still reeling from the surreal events, trying to make sense of what they had witnessed.
As they neared a checkpoint, Kaito glanced at Raiden and Zohar. "If angels and demons are real... what else could be out there?"
Raiden didn't answer. His mind raced, remembering Gabriel's dying words. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Something bigger was coming, something far beyond anything they had ever imagined.
The soldiers led Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito to a checkpoint on the edge of the evacuation zone. It was a chaotic scene—military tents set up hastily, doctors and medics rushing between groups of civilians. Families huddled together, many crying out for their children, desperate for any news. The air was thick with fear, confusion, and sorrow.
The boys exchanged glances, feeling a shared sense of urgency.
"We should look for our parents," Raiden said, his voice barely above a whisper, the weight of the day pressing on him.
Zohar and Kaito nodded, and they agreed to split up, each heading into the sea of people, hoping to find their families among the chaos.
Raiden weaved through the crowd, scanning every face, every figure. His heart pounded in his chest as he moved, dread growing with each step. Then, through the throng of crying families and panicked civilians, he spotted a familiar figure—his dad.
"Dad!" Raiden called out, rushing toward him. But as he got closer, he froze. His father stood still, covered in blood, his face blank, almost vacant. His eyes, usually filled with warmth and life, were now clouded with shock, and silent tears streamed down his face.
Raiden's heart sank. "Dad... what happened?"
His father blinked slowly, as if waking from a terrible nightmare. His voice was distant, hollow. "The news... told us to stay inside... but they still came. They broke through. I tried, Raiden, I tried to get your mother to safety." His voice cracked, and he looked down at his bloodied hands. "But... they killed her. I couldn't... I couldn't save her."
Raiden's breath caught in his throat as his world shattered around him. "Mom...?" He felt his knees weaken, tears welling in his eyes. His father's words hit him like a physical blow, his mind reeling from the loss.
"She told me... to find you... as she was dying in my arms." His father's voice broke, the weight of those final moments crushing him.
Raiden collapsed into his father's arms, hugging him tightly, his tears mixing with the blood on his father's clothes. "I'm so sorry, Dad. I... I promise you, whoever did this—whoever is behind all of this—they'll pay."
But instead of the agreement Raiden expected, his father gently pushed him back, looking him in the eye with a sadness Raiden had never seen before. "Oh, Raiden... don't be so naïve."
Raiden blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"
His father's voice was somber, his eyes filled with a deep, unsettling understanding. "The fate of humans... was written a long time ago. This... this was always going to happen. We were never in control."
Raiden stared at him, his mind struggling to comprehend. "What are you saying?"
His father's gaze turned distant, as if looking beyond the present moment, beyond the chaos around them. "We're just pieces in a game, son. A game the gods and demons have been playing for centuries. It was only a matter of time before they made their move again."
Raiden stood there, frozen, his father's words chilling him to his core.
Zohar moved through the crowd, scanning the sea of faces desperately for any sign of his family. The chaotic noise of the evacuation—families crying, soldiers shouting orders, and the distant hum of military vehicles—felt like a dull roar in his ears. His heart raced, each step filled with a growing sense of panic as he failed to spot his parents or siblings anywhere.
He stumbled over to a nearby soldier, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. "Excuse me!" Zohar called out, his voice hoarse with anxiety. The soldier, busy directing a group of civilians, turned to him.
"Yes, what is it?" the soldier asked, eyes flicking over Zohar's disheveled appearance.
"My family... have you seen them? Please, I need to know," Zohar said, his voice trembling. "Their last name is Tani, Zohar Tani. They... they might have come through here."
The soldier pulled out a clipboard with a long list of names and began flipping through the pages. Zohar's heart pounded in his chest as the soldier scanned the list. Finally, the soldier nodded. "Yes, they did come through this checkpoint."
Zohar's heart surged with hope, but it quickly faded as the soldier continued. "They got on the last convoy headed out of here. They're on their way to Osaka."
Zohar's stomach dropped. "Osaka? But... that's 110 miles away!" His voice rose in frustration and disbelief. "Why couldn't they wait for me? I was just here—why didn't you let them stay?!"
The soldier's expression softened, but his tone remained firm. "Look, kid, I understand you're upset, but the camp was getting overcrowded. We've had to send out convoys every 30 minutes just to keep the situation under control. We can't hold people here for long."
"But my family... they were waiting for me," Zohar muttered, his mind reeling. He could picture them kicking up a fuss, demanding to wait for him, refusing to leave him behind. The thought made his chest tighten with guilt.
"They didn't want to go, trust me," the soldier added, looking Zohar in the eye. "They were worried about you, but we had no choice. It was either get on the convoy or risk putting more lives in danger."
Zohar stood there, torn between anger and helplessness, his hands balling into fists at his sides. He wanted to scream, to argue, but he knew deep down the soldier was just doing his job, trying to keep the chaos from spiraling out of control.
"They're safe now," the soldier said quietly. "They made it out of here. That's what matters."
Zohar nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat, though it did little to ease the knot of worry and frustration tightening inside him.
The soldier, seeing the distress etched on Zohar's face, softened his tone. "Do you have anyone here with you? Friends, maybe?"
Zohar nodded, still trying to steady his emotions. "Yeah, Raiden and Kaito. We came here together."
The soldier gave a small nod of approval. "Good. Stick with them, alright? Safety in numbers. The next convoy out of here is leaving soon. If you're on it, you should be able to catch up with your family by the end of the day."
Zohar felt a slight weight lift off his shoulders, though the gnawing fear and guilt remained. "Okay," he murmured, glancing around the checkpoint, scanning the sea of panicked faces, wondering if Raiden and Kaito were having as much luck finding their families.
"Don't lose hope," the soldier added, placing a hand on Zohar's shoulder. "The situation's bad, but your family is safe now. You'll be with them soon."
Zohar nodded again, feeling a strange mixture of relief and frustration. He thanked the soldier and turned, heading back to find Raiden and Kaito.
Kaito pushed his way through the chaotic checkpoint, his heart racing as he searched for any sign of his family. When he finally reached the medical tent, his breath caught in his throat. There, on two stretchers, were his sister and little brother—both unresponsive, covered in blankets, their faces pale.
"No... No, no, no!" Kaito shouted, rushing over to their side. His mind spun as he tried to grasp the situation. He turned to the nearest medic, grabbing them by the arm. "What happened?! Where are my parents?!"
The medic, caught off guard by Kaito's urgency, took a deep breath before answering. "When the demons broke loose in the city, they attacked anything that moved. Your family tried to escape in a car, but they didn't wait for assistance. The demons managed to tip it over, and the car flipped several times."
Kaito's heart dropped, his legs barely holding him up. "What about them?" He gestured toward his siblings on the stretchers. "Are they going to be okay?"
"We got to them in time," the medic said softly. "They're in bad shape, but we're doing everything we can. They're stable for now."
Kaito's stomach churned. "And my parents? Where are they?"
The medic's expression darkened. "Your parents... they didn't make it. The car hit a lamppost head-on. Anyone in the front was killed instantly."
The words hit Kaito like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of him. His knees buckled, and he collapsed next to his siblings, his body shaking. Tears streamed down his face as the reality of what had happened sank in. His parents were gone—just like that.
For a moment, the world around him disappeared. All he could hear was the echo of his heartbeat and the shallow breaths of his unconscious siblings. He reached out, gripping his sister's hand tightly, trying to hold onto what little he had left.
He made a silent promise to himself. Whatever it took, whoever was responsible for this destruction, he would make them pay.