Chapter 205: Gabrielle's Secret

Usagi's pupils constricted sharply. She instinctively covered her mouth to stifle a gasp, but the ragged breaths from her chest betrayed her emotions.

"Gabrielle…" she repeated the name softly, her tone laced with disbelief and unease. "From the clothing and belongings of those children… it must be their hometown, right?"

Akari glanced back at her, his gaze calm and detached. His footsteps didn't falter, the loose hem of his coat swaying gently as he moved with an air of eerie composure and indifference.

"Yes — it's the hometown of someone named Shingin," Akari said flatly, his voice low and steady, yet carrying a chilling undertone. "Now it's nothing but ruins, filled with destroyed buildings and the stench of rotting corpses."

Usagi's body shuddered. She froze mid-step, clutching her sleeves tightly. Her eyes reflected unease and dread.

"Why are we going there?" she asked shakily, her voice tinged with fear. "What's left there for you?"

Akari halted and turned toward her, his gaze slowly landing on Usagi. His smile deepened, but instead of reassurance, it evoked an even more unsettling dread.

"Some things may seem like ruins, but they aren't." His voice was low and icy, resonating like a call from the abyss. "Don't worry. You'll understand soon enough."

Usagi stood frozen, watching as Akari resumed walking. Her steps grew heavy and hesitant, yet she had no choice but to follow, like a small beast being dragged into the depths, powerless to resist.

The first pale rays of dawn spread across the wilderness, the cold light gradually dispelling the darkness. Four figures trudged across the barren horizon. The eerie silence was punctuated only by their footsteps and faint laughter. They had marched through the entire night, yet those three maniacs seemed as energetic as ever, as if fatigue was an alien concept to them.

Akari seemed "asleep," yet Akane's sharp and mischievous voice continued to emerge from his mouth. With hands in his coat pockets, his gait was loose and carefree, as if nothing mattered. Hayato, on the other hand, was like a hyperactive child, darting around, sometimes running ahead, other times circling Usagi while laughing. His laughter pierced her ears, driving her to the brink of collapse. As for Kanto, he appeared the only "normal" one, though that normalcy was only superficial. His bloodshot eyes were wide open, and his grinning expression was unnerving.

Kanto's true identity was shrouded in mystery, even to his companions. Perhaps it was his skill at hiding — after all, as a sniper, staying concealed from a distance was his forte. But now, he had revealed himself without restraint. Kanto was undeniably handsome in a rugged way. His black leather jacket clung to his frame, paired with stylish sunglasses he stubbornly wore despite the dim light. His hair was meticulously styled, and an earring glinted on his ear. The sniper rifle slung over his shoulder seemed an extension of his body. Yet the madness in his eyes and his manic grin shattered any charm, leaving only a suffocating sense of derangement.

Usagi moved forward on sheer willpower. Her steps slowed, as if her body had been hollowed out. She couldn't afford to close her eyes. Traveling with this group of lunatics, any moment of carelessness could mean never waking up again.

Akari seemed to notice her condition, smirking as if plotting a prank. "Let's take a break, or else—" He drew out the last syllable, a glint of malice in his eyes. "Usagi might collapse and die. Hehehe—"

The words pierced Usagi's mind like a needle. Her body tensed involuntarily, cold sweat dripping down her back. Clenching her teeth, she fought to suppress any sound. She knew any display of fear would only entertain them further.

Usagi forced herself to lift her head, casting a cold glare at Akari. Her arms trembled slightly, but she took a deep breath and spoke with forced steadiness. "I don't need your concern. I'm fine."

Akari's laughter grew sharper, stopping in his tracks. He turned his head, a faint amusement lingering in his expression. "Don't worry—" he said, his voice unnervingly calm. "You'll rest when the time comes."

Usagi didn't understand the full meaning behind his words, but she knew this group's logic was incomprehensible. Her emotions were a chaotic tangle, like walking on ice that could shatter at any moment. Yet she had no choice but to press on, gritting her teeth and following their steps toward the unknown.

Later, Usagi knelt by a riverbank, scooping cold water with trembling hands to splash on her face. The chill of the water trickled down her chin, rippling the surface, but it did little to ease her fear. She scrubbed her face, but her breathing only grew heavier, as if the air itself had become oppressive.

She glanced at Akari, who stood nearby with his hands in his pockets, leaning lazily against a withered tree. His lips curled in Akane's signature smirk. Though silent, his gaze carried a mocking undertone that made Usagi even more uneasy.

Suddenly, a cold sensation crept up her spine. Before she could react, a force yanked her twin tails, jerking her head back painfully.

"Tag! You're it!" Hayato's maniacal laughter exploded beside her, his sharp, grating voice slicing through her mind like a rusty blade.

Usagi's pupils shrank as her body froze. A torrent of terror surged from her memories — Hayato's unhinged chase, his taunting gaze as he pinned her down, his breath close enough to suffocate her. The nightmare flooded back, leaving her screaming in utter panic: "Stay away! Stay away!"