The Hunt Begins
Renji gripped the note tightly.
His own handwriting. A warning from himself—from another version of him.
> Because they won't let you escape.
A chill ran down his spine.
He looked at Aoi. "Who are 'they'?"
She hesitated. Then, in a low voice, she said, "The Watchers."
Renji's breath hitched. "The Watchers?"
Aoi nodded.
"They're the ones keeping the loop intact. Every time someone tries to escape, they—" she paused, eyes darkening. "They erase them."
Renji's fingers tightened around the paper.
"So that boy who disappeared…?"
Aoi nodded. "He tried to break the cycle. Just like you."
Renji exhaled sharply. So that's what happens when someone gets too close to the truth.
The spiral in his left eye throbbed.
They were watching him now.
---
The First Sign
That night, Renji stayed awake.
He sat on his bed, gripping his phone, waiting.
Aoi had warned him—once the Watchers knew he was aware, they would come for him.
But what did that mean?
Would they send another creature? Would they try to reset the loop forcefully?
Or worse—erase him completely?
The clock struck 11:50 PM.
A strange stillness filled the air.
Then—
Click. Click. Click.
Renji's heart pounded.
He turned toward his door.
It was unlocked.
The lights flickered.
And then—his phone vibrated.
A message.
From the same unknown number.
> Run.
Renji barely had time to react before the door burst open.
A black figure stood in the doorway, its head tilting unnaturally.
No spirals. No twisting limbs.
This one was different.
It was human-shaped.
But its face was completely blank.
Renji's breath caught.
The Watchers had found him.
And this time—they weren't going to let him escape.
---
Escape into the Unknown
Renji moved.
Without thinking, he grabbed his phone and bolted toward the window.
The moment he leaped out, he heard a horrific, inhuman screech.
The blank-faced figure lunged after him.
Renji hit the ground hard, rolling onto the pavement. Pain shot through his shoulder, but he ignored it. He had to run.
He sprinted through the darkened streets.
The town was completely silent.
Not a single streetlight flickered. No wind. No sound.
Just the clicking footsteps of the Watcher chasing after him.
Renji turned a corner—and froze.
Aoi was standing in the middle of the road.
"Aoi!" he gasped.
She looked up, eyes widening.
"You—" she started, but then she saw the thing chasing him.
Her face went pale.
"Renji, get down!" she shouted.
Renji barely had time to react before she raised her hand.
A silver spiral symbol glowed on her palm—
And the Watcher screeched.
The air around them warped.
And suddenly—the world shattered.
---
End of Chapter 7
---
To Be Continue