FROZEN GAZE

A cacophony of violent sounds echoed through the dimly lit alley as Sean's friend was hurled onto the grimy sidewalk. The bully, undeterred, staggered to his feet and charged back into the fray, his determination palpable. Yet, his efforts were futile against the boy in the yellow hoodie. Once more, the brutal symphony played out, and this time, the bully was flung onto a closed dumpster, rendered unconscious by the impact.

Damn it! The Kaiju cursed internally, his grip tightening as he battled the oncoming threat. How am I supposed to protect him and fend these guys off simultaneously?

A sudden realization hit him like a cold splash of water. Wait, why am I protecting him again? Helping others has never benefited me in the end.

Kiel had been entrenched in combat for several minutes, each second a testament to his resilience. A brutal strike from a wooden bat staggered him, but his resolve remained unshaken. Inside, his mind was a tumultuous battleground of its own, plagued by flashes of scenes he couldn't place. Despite the confusion, he never broke eye contact with his assailants, his gaze a fierce declaration of his willingness to defend himself.

This was not simply bravery; it was a primal necessity. Kiel understood he was outnumbered and outmatched, yet retreat was not an option. True courage lies in defying fear, and Kiel embodied that spirit, resolutely standing his ground and fighting back.

At first glance, his eyes seemed to shimmer with life, but a closer look revealed a rich tapestry of emotions woven within; the deep sadness of past losses, the fleeting joy of cherished moments, the weight of sorrow, and an unyielding fire that burned fiercely, vowing never to surrender.

Sean, silently observing, decided to intervene when he saw his lackeys' futile attempts. With a smug grin, he stepped forward, declaring, "If you want something done right, you do it yourself." Removing his glove with theatrical flair, he unleashed his gravitational powers upon Kiel.

"Now, sink even deeper into despair! Output level... 40!" He commanded, his voice dripping with malice. A swirling haze of energy coalesced around his hands, and Kiel felt an unbearable weight press down on him, pinning him to the ground and leaving him utterly immobile. The earth groaned and cracked beneath the immense gravitational strain, a testament to Sean's formidable power.

But then, something unexpected diverted Kiel's attention. Across the alley, he glimpsed a shadowy figure. He stopped struggling, focus drawn to the sinister presence before him.

Initially, he thought it a figment of his fear-addled mind, but as he looked closer, the figure took form—a grotesque skull monster towering eight feet high. Its body was a horrific amalgamation of exposed muscle tissue, ash, and bone-like wings. Time seemed to slow as Kiel absorbed every terrifying detail; long dark hair, a prominent hooked nose, deeply sunken eyes, and a jagged mouth suited for unintelligible speech.

A shudder ran through Kiel as he realized he had seen this monstrosity before, in his nightmares. The creature blocked most of the feeble light filtering into the alley. The sight compelled Kiel to rise slightly, despite the gravitational force holding him down. As he focused on the nightmare, it began to shift, its monstrous form morphing as it moved past Sean and his cohorts.

In an instant, the grotesque apparition transformed into a boy—the boy from his nightmares.

This figure resembled his younger self but twisted and sinister. Kiel saw his shadow self—his seven-year-old self—stalking ominously past the alley, a length of chain wrapped around his wrist. Bound or liberated from a mental prison, the figure flickered erratically, like interference on an old VHS tape, casting an eerie, unstable presence.

A palpable malevolent energy radiated from this apparition, striking Kiel with an even deeper fear. It seemed only he could see it, as no one else paid it any mind. The figure stood as still as a placid lake, patient as a monk deep in meditation. An unsettling silence enveloped the alley. Head bent toward the ground, it wore the coldest, most terrifying smile Kiel had ever seen, rows of sharp teeth glinting ominously, its red eyes glowing with a promise of death, framed by soulless black corneas.

Then, without warning, a voice pierced the silence in Kiel's mind; "Kieru."

It was more a whisper than a shout, a fleeting breath that cut through the silence. Kiel flinched, jolted by the unexpected sound. Another trick of his imagination? He looked up, but the boy had vanished, leaving an eerie void in his peripheral vision. A chill raced down his spine, a familiar sensation of dread creeping in. He stood frozen, his legs trembling beneath him as a tide of memories surged forth, clouding his thoughts and distorting reality. Then, as if summoned from the shadows, the voice returned, hauntingly close, brushing against his ear like a ghostly caress. "Kieru!"

Have you ever caught a glimpse of him, or am I the only one? The little boy who lingers just out of sight, always present in the corners of my vision. For me, he has been an ever-watchful shadow, a specter haunting the edges of my reality.

Perhaps that's why I never questioned his existence until recently—his presence woven into the fabric of my life for so long that it felt normal to ignore him.

You know those floaters that dance in your eye, elusive yet impossible to dismiss? You chase them with your gaze, but the moment you focus, they consume your vision. Now, imagine that, but with a figure cloaked in darkness, his eyes glowing a sinister red, resembling a twisted reflection of myself.

I can't quite grasp why I've never reached out to him. There's an unspoken tension between us, as if he's on the verge of sharing something profound. Just thinking about it makes my head spin.

Maybe, when I was younger, my shyness kept me rooted in solitude, shielding me from the taunts of other kids. Yet, I could always feel his piercing gaze upon me. Even after waking from nightmares, drenched in fear, I sensed him watching—his shaggy black hair and those haunting red eyes just beyond the shadows.

And now, after all these years, there he is again, still lurking, frozen in that same menacing pose, a sadistic smile creeping across his face, as if reveling in my unease.