Chapter 1
Haru slept peacefully beneath the warm blanket, lost in a dream.
In the dream, he and Shikimori were laughing beneath the cherry blossoms after school.
For the first time in weeks...
He felt happy.
Then...
Tap.
His smile disappeared.
Tap... Tap...
The sound wasn’t part of the dream.
His eyes slowly opened.
Darkness.
Only the pale moonlight slipped through the curtains, casting long shadows across his bedroom.
He held his breath.
Tap...
A quiet sob echoed outside.
Then...
Laughter.
Not the laughter of someone happy.
It was broken.
Twisted.
As if someone had forgotten how humans were supposed to laugh.
A chill crawled up Haru’s spine.
“...Who’s there?”
No answer.
The crying stopped.
Curiosity slowly defeated fear.
He stepped out of bed.
Each footstep felt impossibly loud in the silent room.
When he reached the window...
His entire body froze.
Two women floated outside.
Their pale skin looked almost transparent beneath the moonlight.
Long black hair covered their faces.
Only two glowing crimson eyes stared back at him.
Then...
Both spirits slowly smiled.
Their mouths stretched far wider than any human’s should.
One raised a pale finger...
...and slowly pointed directly at Haru.
His heartbeat exploded.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
He stumbled backward before diving beneath his blanket.
His entire body shook uncontrollably.
“This isn’t real...”
“It has to be a nightmare...”
He covered his ears.
But he could still hear them.
The crying.
The laughter.
The whispering.
They were right outside his window.
Then...
A warm hand gently rested on his shoulder.
“My boy...”
“What are you hiding from?”
Haru nearly screamed.
He spun around.
Standing beside his bed was an elderly woman.
Unlike the monsters outside...
She radiated warmth.
Her silver hair gently swayed despite the still air.
Her smile reminded him of home.
Somehow...
The fear inside his heart began to fade.
“W-Who are you?”
The old woman smiled softly.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to see you again.”
Haru stared at her.
“...Again?”
She slowly nodded.
“I’m your grandmother.”
His breathing stopped.
“My... grandmother?”
“But...”
“You died...”
“...when I was four.”
Haru stumbled backward.
“No...”
“This isn’t possible.”
He pinched his own arm.
A sharp pain shot through his skin.
“...I’m awake.”
His breathing became uneven.
“Then... what am I looking at?”
A faint sadness appeared in her eyes.
“You were too young to remember my face.”
“But every night...”
“I held you in my arms until you fell asleep.”
“I sang to you.”
“I promised I would always protect you.”
Something stirred deep inside Haru’s memories.
A melody.
A gentle voice.
Warm hands holding him close.
His eyes widened.
“...That lullaby...”
“You...”
She smiled.
“You finally remembered.”
Before Haru could say another word...
He pointed toward the window with a trembling hand.
“W-What are those things?”
The warmth in her face disappeared.
“They are spirits.”
“People betrayed by those they trusted most.”
“Parents...”
“Friends...”
“Lovers...”
“They died with hatred in their hearts.”
“And now...”
“They seek revenge upon the living.”
Haru swallowed hard.
“...What about you?”
A painful silence filled the room.
“...Who killed you?”
His grandmother closed her eyes.
For the first time...
She looked afraid.
“When the time comes...”
“You will learn the truth.”
“And when you do...”
“Your life will never be the same.”
Haru wanted answers.
Instead...
She stepped closer.
“Listen carefully.”
Her voice became heavier.
“If you wish to save your family...”
“...and stop this nightmare...”
She looked toward the moonlit window.
“There is only one weapon...”
“...that even the strongest spirits fear.”
Haru held his breath.
“...The Demon Sword.”
“It was forged long ago by your grandfather.”
“It is the only weapon capable of destroying the strongest spirits.”
Haru stared at her.
“A sword?”
“This has to be impossible...”
“Then come with me!”
“Please!”
Her gentle smile returned.
“Oh, my dear boy...”
“I wish I could.”
Tiny blue lights began drifting from her body.
“No...”
Haru reached toward her.
“Don’t leave!”
She gently touched his forehead.
“I’ll always be watching over you.”
“When the right time comes...”
“We’ll meet again.”
Her body dissolved into countless blue lights.
Within seconds...
She was gone.
The room became silent once more.
Haru stood alone.
His heart refused to calm down.
“This...”
“This can’t be happening...”
He needed to see his parents.
Now.
He hurried into the hallway.
“Mom?”
“Dad?”
No answer.
The bedroom was empty.
Then...
He noticed a faint light coming from the dining room.
His parents sat perfectly still at the table.
Neither of them blinked.
Neither of them moved.
“...Mom?”
“...Dad?”
Slowly...
They turned their heads toward him.
At exactly the same speed.
Their smiles appeared.
Too perfect.
Too wide.
“We’re fine.”
Both voices spoke together.
“Go back to sleep.”
Haru felt something inside him scream.
Run.
Their eyes...
Were empty.
Not tired.
Not sleepy.
Empty.
Like dolls.
He slowly backed away.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them blinked.
They simply watched him.
Watching...
Watching...
Watching...
The moment Haru reached his room...
He slammed the door shut.
CLICK.
He locked it.
His breathing became ragged.
“No...”
“This isn’t my family...”
He leaned against the door.
Trying to steady his shaking hands.
Then...
A whisper drifted through the hallway.
Barely loud enough to hear.
“He can see us.”
Every hair on Haru’s body stood on end.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
One...
Two...
Three...
They stopped outside his bedroom.
Silence.
Then...
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
His mother’s voice came from the other side.
Soft.
Gentle.
“Haru...”
“Open the door.”
Then his father’s voice joined hers.
“We’re worried about you.”
The doorknob...
Slowly began to turn.
Click...
Haru didn’t move.
He didn’t breathe.
Because for the first time in his life...
He realized something that shattered his world.
Those voices...
No longer belonged to his parents.
The doorknob stopped turning.
Silence.
Silence.
Then...
Scratch...
Something slowly dragged its fingernails across the wooden door.
Haru covered his mouth to stop himself from screaming.
The scratching stopped.
Then a voice whispered...
“We’ll wait...”
End Chapter.
