Chapter 2: Akai’s troubles

I awoke to Stardust shaking me gently.

"-up. Wa...up. Gui, Wake up!" I sat up and looked around confusedly. "Oh- my head..." I groaned.

"Are you alright, Gui?" My mother asked me. "I-I think so." I muttered. My at ye notion turned back to Akai as I remembered what he said. Azther. Hearing his name is like hearing nails on a chalkboard...

"I'm sorry I mentioned him, Gui. I know I shouldn't have." Akai apologized. "Dont apologize... I- should be stronger than this. I... I'm just a baby sometimes." I tried to manage a smile, but all three of them saw right through me. That's when I turned red and began crying silently.

"Aw Gui, it's alright. I'm sorry... I know. It hurts me too. It's ok to cry. I know." My mother comforted me, hugging me and stroking my hair softly. I sniffled and wiped away my hot tears.

"I-it's not me we need to be worried about... It's Akai who needs our attention." I said, turning towards my cousin. We may not be related by blood, but I love him like family. My mother nodded with an empathetic smile.

Stardust was conversing with Akai, trying to figure out how exactly this happened. My mother and I tuned in, trying to hear the story.

"I...was just near my home when I saw something black out of the corner of my eye. It looked like an animal- so I went to see what it was." Akai started. "My father wasn't paying any mind to it, and my mother was inside, so I decided it was alright. A-as I walked up to where the black flash went, I found a Demonizer." He paused as dark purple tears welled up in his eyes again.

"It's alright Akai. If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to tell us." My mother said in a quiet voice. "N-no it's alright." Akai took a few deep breaths and continued.

"I tried to run away and call for my dad, but that's when I was surrounded. Three of them took me by surprise, and then I was gagged and bound before I could make a peep. After that... i-it seemed like the whole world went black...I guess I fainted or I was knocked out." He explained.

All three of us sat there, waiting in anticipation for what was about to be said next. At this point, I couldn't stop crying for the sake of my cousin.

"When I woke up, I was in a dark room; a cell I think. I was chained to the wall by my wrists and ankles, but I couldn't escape...I was already drained of all my energy from helping my father earlier. Within a few minutes, a big black creature with grey eyes came and unchained me from the wall, keeping my cuffs on." He looked down at his feet. I kept weeping silently, knowing that the story was about to get worse.

"The Demonizer led me down a long hall until we reached these really big doors... When it opened them, I thought I would never see the light of day again." Akai was in full tears now, as was I. Even Stardust had tears in his eyes, and that was rare to see.

"That's when I came face to face with King Azther. He turned me into this...this monster!" Akai yelled, trembling and holding his hands out as if to compare himself to a beast.

"Akai... you aren't a monster. You're a strong, brave young boy who faced a very deadly situation." My mother corrected him. "I don't know how you survived, but I'm so glad that you did... I love you as if you were my own nephew." She continued as hot tears fell from her beautiful stormy eyes.

Akai couldn't verbalize his gratitude, so he only nodded. "A-After that... there was a black cloud of smoke... a-and I was back on my front porch..." He further explained. "That's when I found my parents. They reacted the same way you did... a-and they let me come here. I-I don't remember why I came here though..." He added.

Stardust and I gave each other a look of sadness and confusion. My mother sported the same expression. I wasn't sure how to react to this. Do I just cry? Do I try and help him? How was I supposed to help him? My thoughts broke away when Stardust began to speak.

"It's alright Akai. Can you think of why you needed to come here?" Stardust asked. "I-I'm not sure... I just had a gut feeling. Like there was a force pulling me here or something. I don't know what to do." He whispered in reply. For a moment, we all sat there in wonder of why Akai came here.

That's when there was a sudden wince from him as a slight black smoke oozed from his neck. The black flame mark was emitting a dark energy. My mother and Stardust backed away, but I stood there. My legs were locked with fear and anxiety. How could I possibly move? Akai screamed and winced as he tried to hold his neck. His body wouldn't let him. His tail thrashed wildly as his limbs shook.

I don't know what to do...