Ch. 2 - The Oni's Eyes

Zyko woke up again, it was a dream, he was dreaming of people worshipping his brother. It seemed so real, it felt like he was really there, watching as people bow over and over again. He thinks he had gone crazy. He grabbed his hair and pulled it out of frustrations. He looked at his window, the moon shining brightly like in his dream, the cold night breeze hitting his bare chest but there were no howling nor church bells ringing in the middle of the night.

" What a strange dream " He said to himself as he started to laugh like crazy. The small house he lives in at the moment is not soundproof do his laughs can be heard from a distance. He was going crazy over some dream that is made up from his stress. October is near yet he doesn't fear it as much as he used to, he just wanted to disappear. He doesn't wanna live in a world without his brother. His only family.

" I should get out of this town " He said as he remembered he doesn't even have enough money to go around anymore plus the job he was in isn't paying him enough, his life is as shitty.

Tying his hair into a high ponytail, he stood up and leaned at the frame of his small window, not bothering to put some t-shirt on, there were no people anyway. As he was looking outside, he remembered the weird dream he had. Does it have a meaning or is it because of the stress build up? He doesn't even know if he is fully awake know after what he just dreamt. It's weird but it must have a meaning behind it.

Zyko is not the type of person who would ignore such thing, his day just started and he want to know more about it, he wants to know if his brother is still alive and how he is doing.

" You know, you should really learn how to put proper clothing, you'll never know who might go in and barge in your room, you know? " Someone said from behind, it was a girl's voice, a voice Zyko has been hearing for months and a girl who has been helping him live his day in this crappy town. She knows what happened that day, she knows how Zyko cried his heart out, she knows how Zyko couldn't control himself, for Zyko, she is the only one who understood him. No one other than her and her family knows what happened that day yet his family stayed behind and acted like everything is to blame on Zyko and turned their back at him, it was hard for him.

" Oh come on, don't act like you don't like the view " Zyko said jokingly, eyes still fixed outside, trying to find if there are something suspicious, like in his dream, but instead of finding something, he instead got hit by a pillow from his back.

" Shut up, it's three am for God's sake, why are you awake this early? Nightmare? " She asked and stood beside Zyko, looking outside too, trying to understand what Zyko has been looking out, only to find nothing.

" Sort of, it was weird yet it felt so real, people were worshipping Wartyn... do you know what this means? " Zyko started, no response from her, she doesn't know what it means either. " There's a chance that Wartyn is still alive, it might be a calling from him. I mean, his body was never found, what if he found some way to survive that event? We can't cross out that possibility. " he explained, still looking outside. He tried to sound as cheerful as possible yet the sadness is there, in his voice. The young lady doesn't know what to do, she instead rub circles on Zyko's back, making him know her existence and that she's there for him, which Zyko understood.

" Should I go look for him? " He asked, mind going crazy over the thoughts that his brother might still be alive.

It has been years since Wartyn disappeared, his body was never found, no traces were found, it's like it was all planned. It all happened right in front of Zyko and that trauma will never leave him, seeing his brother call out for help, calling out for him yet he can't do anything, he just stood there, like a statue. He doesn't know what to do, and he regretted that deeply. It has been years and many has changed in Zyko's mental and physical appearance. His short strawberry pink hair has gone longer down his collarbone, his tan skin, still the same, his small and slim body has now grown into something more muscular, the way he thinks has changed, his voice now deeper, his love for reading is still there, his trauma still there. He has grown stronger than before, he hopes that when he meets his brother again, he will be better and keep him close and protect him with all he can.

" You can but where are you gonna start looking for him? No traces of him were found. " The girl replied to Zyko

" I'm going back, I'll go back to where I last saw him, he might left some clues there "

" We go there every month, everything is the same "

" It might be different now, the dream might mean something. I mean, why would I dream about Wartyn again after all this years? There might be something that we missed looking at. " Zyko explained as the girl just listened and nodded instead, she can't do something once Zyko is focused on something.

" Look, Cabte, I know this is hard but if you feel stressed out or feel like giving up, taking a break is never wrong. Don't push yourself too hard or you might hurt yourself. " she said as she turned around, making her way out of the room, giving Zyko some space.

" Don't worry, I'm not named Zyko Cabte for nothing. " Zyko confidently said as the young lady has made her way out and closed the door, leaving Zyko alone in his room. She's scared of what might happen to Zyko yet there's nothing she can do once Zyko has made his mind. Zyko and her isn't in any romantic relationship, they're just friend who shared almost the same experience, she understood Zyko nd Zyko understood her. Having little to no money left, they rented a small bungalow, enough for the both of them. It's not much but as long as they can live daily then they are good.

-

The morning has come, sun shining like crazy, roosters screaming to wake everyone up, people sweeping outside their houses to clean, the fresh air entering their lungs as they breathe. The day has started and so is Zyko's adventure. He prepared himself for hours, all the things he needed properly packed, all is left is for him to leave and start his hike. Confident that he will find his brother, he puts a sad smile on his face bidding his goodbye to the lady and started walking west. The heat of the sun hitting his skin, giving shine to his brownish orange, terra-cotta skin. He felt new, he feels positive that this time, he will be successful in finding is brother.

Walking his way to west means he'll meet people in the way for people tend to live in the west because of the resources located in the area, the usual route usually taken by Zyko is the well known south for the southern part is where some viscous creatures feed on everything they see, trees are no exemption, making the place look abandoned but luckily for Zyko, the creatures doesn't attack. Years of looking for that book means he gets a lot of advantage to learn new knowledge and those knowledge did not go to waste as it gave him new ideas on how to work with spells and curses. The way to south has a shortcut to where Zyko goes but he wants to go somewhere new today, he wants to see if thing are weird in other places or to know any clues that may lead him to his brother. Zyko is used to this, talking to new people, he's been doing it for years but deep inside him, he always know that no matter how he expresses himself on the outside, there's always that one thing he wanted to say but doesn't even have the courage to do so. He wants reassurance, reassurance that what he's doing is right, not hurting anyone, and more. Growing up with parents who loved luxury more than their child made him felt like his feelings is not even important and he should focus on what the others has to say and keep his mouth shut.

A tear rolling down Zyko's cheeks, surprising him. He shouldn't be weak, he shouldn't be vulnerable, not when he just started to have faith that he'll find his brother, his only family left that he can trust that this cruel world can still change. The path to west is quite muddy, it rained days before so maybe that explains it. The creek splashing water to his boots, trees dancing to the sound the wind is making. Everything seemed peaceful, too peaceful that it could attract dangers. People tend to go out and talk with each other at a time like this but it's painfully quiet, has something happened these few days? This part of the west is known to be a path connected to the south, meaning some of the creatures come here sometimes to feed but those creatures are pretty sensitive to light so it should be lively today.

" Looking for people ey?" someone said from behind, Zyko, knowing he went on a journey alone, was startled by the sudden voice, not expecting anyone. A gentleman, floating as high as a tree trunk, must be the rumored Oni that has escaped from an underground labyrinth, it has been said that the person in charge of their cell gate had a hear attack and died on the spot while closing the gates and now this creature is everywhere, didn't expect to see one so fast.

" I'm guessing, this one's your doing?" Zyko asked, alarming himself and reaching for the small knife he had on his pocket, it's not the best weapon out there but he shouldn't be so obvious or else this creature will kill him with no hesitation, Zyko's known for his calm and strong personality after all.

" Gentleman, it's not good to accuse someone you just met, people are just meters away and human meat is nothing new to me, just tell me the way to the South and I'll let you go on your journey " The Oni explained, smiling, his blue skin shining as the rays of the sun runs though it, black horns sharp as ever, red eyes glowing like fire, eager to hunt for it's prey. There's something wrong with this Oni, they usually go after humans and feast on the but this one seemed uninterested with them, it's quite a relief but Zyko's shouldn't let his guard down.

" And what if I don't? "

" Well, we wouldn't like that to happen, don't we? " The Oni said and started to smile like a maniac, closing distance with Zyko. " Way to the South, now! " the Oni added, widening their eyes even more taking Zyko aback, the Oni giggled at Zyko's reaction, never expecting the Oni to come closer

" You know, you look familiar? Have I met you somewhere before? before I turned to look like this? hmm, must be impossible, your smell is way different from the people I've came across here. Tell me, gentleman, what's your name?"

" Zyko " he didn't wanna respond but he felt like he was under some kind of curse, he couldn't lift it because it was too sudden, must be from when the Oni widened his eyes to Zyko.

" My, my, what unique name you have, can I steal it?" Onis' can also steal one's identity once they know someone's name and have their approval from that person, unless dead, but it needs a lot of power to turn to someone that's why they feed from living creatures. The curse on Zyko has disappeared, Onis' can't steal one's identity if forced, they appear dangerous but they're honest when it's related to a deal.

" No! "

" Well maybe next time. " the Oni said before transforming into a human from afar and walked away. From Zyko's sight, he thought he saw someone he knew, he thought he saw Wartyn. He was about to run and chase the Oni who might have taken his brother's appearance but something in him doesn't let him go to the path he wanted to, the curse is still there and it's forcing him to go straight to the west. Zyko cursed under his breath, how unlucky can he be?

His feet walked and walked, not feeling tired at all, Zyko's blood boiling from frustration. How could he not know Wartyn? Sure his appearance changed but he always know his brother from the heart. Minutes passed and after some thinking, Zyko reached the town and his eyes couldn't believe what he just saw, the town that used to be lively and filled with people, is now tainted with blood, guts, and bones, it's as if a war has started and ended quickly. It couldn't be the creature's from the south for sunlight is direct in this town, the blood looked fresh and some twitches from body parts, the smell is pungent too.

Could it be...