Chapter 211: Shouts from the Depths of the Nightmare

Usagi stood at the edge of the forest for a long time. The night had grown deep, but Hayato had yet to return. Leaning against a tree, she occasionally glanced toward Akari, a mix of unease and anticipation clouding her thoughts. Akari seemed indifferent to Hayato's whereabouts, but Akane's impatient voice broke through with a note of irritation.

"Where has Hayato gone? He's probably disconnected somewhere again!"

Suddenly, Akari turned toward Usagi, her gaze sharp as a knife cutting through the shadows. "Usagi, go find Hayato."

Usagi froze for a moment, her hesitation betraying her thoughts. Being sent to find Hayato alone? Her first instinct was that this might be the perfect chance to escape. She stared at Akari's face, trying to discern any trace of ulterior motives. Akari's expression was serene, her faint smile unfathomable, her gaze as still as a deep lake.

"Why me?" Usagi asked coolly, testing Akari's intent. "You could go yourself, or we could go together. Wouldn't that be more efficient?"

Akari replied in Akane's voice, her tone firm and unyielding. "Who else but you? Even if you don't like Hayato, you're going."

Suspicion gnawed at Usagi's thoughts. Why insist on her? Was this a trap? Yet she quickly realized that rationalizing the actions of these lunatics—especially someone as unnervingly cunning as Akari—was futile.

"Fine," she relented, her voice barely audible. Masking her emotions, she turned and disappeared into the forest.

As soon as her back was to Akari, she felt a chill crawl up her spine. Glancing back, she saw Akari's lips curve into a cryptic smile, as if everything was under control.

Usagi moved cautiously, her steps deliberate as though treading on fragile glass.

In the distance, the faint sound of dripping water reached her ears, mingling with the uneasy whisper of a stream flowing under the cover of night. Intrigued and wary, she followed the sound.

The night breeze stirred the treetops, casting restless shadows on the ground. Moonlight filtered through the sparse canopy, painting the earth with a soft, silvery hue. Usagi found a small brook, its waters shimmering faintly under the moonlight. The serenity of the scene offered a brief reprieve from the suffocating dread. Kneeling by the stream, she splashed her face with the cold water, hoping to wash away the tension knotting her insides.

But as she leaned down, her reflection distorted, tinged with crimson.

She recoiled, her breathing quick and shallow. Was it an illusion? She scanned the stream again and saw it clearly—blood!

Standing abruptly, her eyes followed the stream downstream. A male college student's body floated in the water, his clothes soaked dark red. His face was twisted in horror, his eyes wide open, staring lifelessly into the void.

Before Usagi could fully grasp the scene, her surroundings seemed to close in on her. Scattered across the grass were more bodies.

A female student's abdomen had been torn open, her organs writhing faintly as though resisting their fate. Another woman's chest had been brutally carved, leaving her flesh exposed and glistening in the pale light. A male student's severed head lay nearby, his dim eyes frozen in terror, his expression a silent testament to the agony of his final moments.

The grotesque tableau was chillingly vivid, and the air was thick with the metallic tang of blood. Usagi's chest tightened, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Cold sweat drenched her back, her limbs frozen in place as though the malice of the dead had reached out to ensnare her.

Clamping a trembling hand over her mouth, Usagi stifled the scream threatening to escape. She knew—Hayato was close by.

Pushing through the undergrowth, she finally spotted him. He crouched on a rock, eerily still, like a statue carved in grief.

Her steps faltered. She didn't want to approach him. Even looking at him made her stomach churn with dread. But her legs, as if disconnected from her will, carried her forward. Swallowing hard, she fought to steady her voice.

"Hayato," she called softly, "it's time to go."

Her words broke the oppressive stillness like a stone skipping across a still pond. Hayato's vacant gaze slowly sharpened as he lifted his head. His eyes widened, and a manic grin spread across his face, grotesque in its intensity.

"Usagi! You came to find me?" His voice, raspy and uneven, was soaked with a disturbing mix of joy and madness.

Fear locked Usagi's body in place. She barely had time to react before Hayato lunged at her, pinning her to the ground with a force that left her breathless. Straddling her, his hands gripped her wrists like iron clamps.

Memories of another nightmare flooded her mind—Hayato, wild-eyed and violent, tearing at her clothes with terrifying fervor. Panic surged through her veins like fire.

"No! Stop!" she screamed, tears streaming uncontrollably as she struggled in vain to break free.

Hayato's grin only widened, his eyes glinting with unhinged glee. The air between them grew thick with an unbearable tension, his presence suffocating.

"You're still the cutest, my Usagi," he murmured, his voice soft yet chilling.

Leaning down, he buried his face in her neck, inhaling deeply. His hot breath crawled across her skin, sending shivers of revulsion through her body. His nose brushed her collarbone as he breathed in her faint scent, his satisfaction evident in the way his eyes darkened.

Usagi fought harder, nails digging into his arms, but it was futile. His strength was overwhelming, and her resistance only seemed to excite him further.

"Let me go! Stop it!" she screamed, her voice hoarse with desperation. Tears blurred her vision, and her sobs tore through the oppressive silence of the forest.

Hayato's hand cupped her tear-streaked face, his touch unexpectedly gentle. His eyes softened momentarily, a fleeting glimpse of something almost human. But his manic edge returned just as quickly, his smile tightening with dangerous intent.

Before he could do anything more, his ears twitched, picking up a faint rustling in the distance—the sound of footsteps crushing leaves. His head snapped up, his expression shifting in an instant.

The predator in him awoke.

"Someone's coming to take my Usagi away," he murmured, his voice low and venomous. Rising slowly, he stood over Usagi, his posture tense like a drawn bow, ready to strike.

The bloodlust radiating from him was palpable, and the nightmare was far from over.