HUNTING PERIOD 1

Reyan stared at his room, his mind racing. He took a deep breath and muttered to himself,

"My plan is simple. I'll leave the door open so that he can enter without any trouble. But… how did he even get inside my room the first two times when the door was locked?... Umm... Well, I saw him coming from the stairs during my fourth turn. Maybe if I keep the door open this time, he'll come in from here. And as I know, he brings a different weapon every time… What if he brings a sword? Yes… if it's a sword, I might have a chance."

He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. Holding it in his hands, he weighed his options.

"This isn't ideal for long-range attacks. Should I throw it? No… if I miss, I'll waste another chance."

His eyes then fell on the blanket and pillow on his bed.

"If I wrap the pillow inside the blanket and tie it to my left arm… maybe it'll work as a makeshift shield. That way, I can get close enough to stab him. But before that..."

His gaze shifted toward the forks on the table. A plan was forming in his mind.

---

A few moments later, Reyan stood ready.

In his right hand, he held a kitchen knife. His left arm was wrapped in a thick blanket with a pillow inside, forming a crude shield. But the biggest change wasn't in his gear—it was in his eyes. There was no longer fear, no hopelessness. He was serious now.

He was ready to hunt the monster. It was his... HUNTING PERIOD.

Then, he heard footsteps.

With each step that grew closer, his heartbeat quickened. Sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping onto the floor. The tension in the air was suffocating. And then—

"GHRRRRRR!"

The sound of a chainsaw starting.

Reyan's eyes widened in horror as he took a step back.

"What?! That's—"

It wasn't a sword. It wasn't a bat. It wasn't a hammer.

The Faceless Man was holding a chainsaw.

"I'm screwed."

The monster lunged at him, the roaring chainsaw slicing through the air. Reyan barely dodged as the blade crashed into the wall, sending debris flying. It struck the floor next, breaking the tiles, but for a brief moment, it got stuck.

Reyan saw his chance.

With a battle cry, he charged at the Faceless Man. "YAAAAAAAH!"

But the creature reacted instantly. Even with the chainsaw stuck, it swung the weapon like a sword.

Reyan barely managed to block with his left-arm shield, but the force of the attack sent a shockwave through his entire body. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground.

Before he could counterattack, a powerful kick landed squarely on his face, sending him tumbling backward. He spat out blood and smirked. "Damn… that was strong."

The Faceless Man restarted the chainsaw.

Reyan staggered to his feet, breathing heavily. He clenched his knife. "I have only one chance."

He looked at his left hand. "Only one…"

The chainsaw roared back to life.

For a moment, both of them just stood there, facing each other. The monster had no eyes, but Reyan could feel its empty gaze locked onto him.

Then, in an instant, they both charged forward.

The Faceless Man swung the chainsaw.

Reyan raised his shield.

The blade tore through the blanket and pillow, cutting into his arm. Blood sprayed into the air. His flesh and bones were being shredded.

But Reyan didn't stop.

With every ounce of strength left in his body, he plunged his knife deep into the monster's stomach— and twisted.

"DIE, YOU MOTHERF—!"

His left arm was gone, completely severed, but he ignored the pain.

With his last bit of energy, he lifted his leg and kicked the monster in the throat. The attack had power—not because of his strength, but because of the fork he had secretly attached to the tip of his shoe. The fork stabbed deep into the creature's neck.

For a second, Reyan allowed himself a victorious grin.

But then—

A powerful kick to his chest sent him flying across the room. He crashed to the ground, coughing violently, blood dripping from his mouth.

His knife was still embedded in the Faceless Man's stomach.

The fork was still lodged in its throat.

And Reyan?

He was barely holding on.

His vision blurred. The world around him faded, and the only thing he could still feel—

was the blood.

His own blood, flowing endlessly from his severed arm.

The Faceless Man yanked the knife from his stomach and the fork from his neck, tossing them carelessly onto the floor. Then, without hesitation, he restarted the chainsaw.

The deafening roar of the machine filled the room as he stepped closer to Reyan.

Reyan, barely conscious, lifted his head. His vision was hazy, his breath ragged. He coughed up blood and forced out a few broken words.

"So... this time too... I..."

Before he could finish, the Faceless Man raised the chainsaw high above his head—

and in a single, brutal swing, he cut through Reyan from his shoulder down to his waist.

Blood exploded across the room. It sprayed onto the walls, pooled on the floor, and even seeped out onto the balcony. The sheer amount of it was horrifying. The Faceless Man stood motionless over Reyan's bisected body, unfazed. The entire scene was grotesque—so much so that even the silent moon above bore witness to its horror.

—

Then—

Reyan gasped.

He was standing again.

Right in front of his apartment door.

His breathing was heavy, his hands trembling. Through the slightly open door, he could still see the blood inside, trailing all the way to his feet.

Panic shot through him.

He staggered back, his hand flying to his mouth in shock. His mind reeled, trying to process what had just happened.

Then, suddenly, he noticed something.

His hands—

Were empty.

The grocery bags he had been carrying earlier… were gone.

"Bags...? Where are my bags?"