The Death of Innocence

Perun's pulse thundered in his ears as the Echo of Dragan's grandson crashed through the shattered window, its childlike frame hitting the floor in a twisted sprawl of too-long limbs and jutting bone. It unfolded itself with a grotesque, insect-like precision, sunken eyes locking onto Lyra with a mindless, predatory hunger.

"Lyra, move!" Perun's shout cut through the chaos as he swung his crowbar in a wide, desperate arc.

The Echo snapped its head back, ducking with a speed that defied its gangly form, the rusted metal whistling through empty air before slamming into the wall, splinters exploding around the impact point. The force rattled up Perun's arm, numbing his fingers and sending a sharp ache into his shoulder.

Lyra staggered back, her makeshift pipe raised defensively, the dark lines on her forearms flaring with a pulse of unknown power. She swung more out of instinct than precision, the iron pipe crunching into the Echo's jaw with a brutal, splintering crack. Shards of jagged teeth sprayed across the kitchen floor as the creature reeled back, its thin fingers raking against her forearms as it crashed into the kitchen sink, the old wood splintering beneath its weight. Plates and cups shattered, glass and ceramic shards skittering across the cracked tiles.

Before either of them could recover, the second Echo burst through the door, its thin frame smashing the old wood door inward with a splintering crash. Perun staggered back, the impact driving the air from his lungs. He hit the ground hard, the edge of the door pressing into his ribs as the Echo loomed over him, its bony form shifting with a series of sickening pops and cracks.

Lyra's scream cut through the chaos, a raw, guttural sound that echoed through the small house. The black lines on her arms spread, racing across her skin like cracks in dry earth, her green eyes flaring with an unnatural, almost hypnotic brilliance. She lunged, abandoning her pipe as she crashed into the Echo, driving it into the wall with a bone-jarring impact. Her hands found its throat, fingers digging into the creature's pale flesh, her grip fierce and unrelenting.

The child Echo's head whipped to the side as it bit into Lyra's thigh, teeth sinking into muscle and tearing through fabric, a fresh gout of blood spilling down her leg. But she didn't scream this time. Her breathing came in harsh, animalistic bursts, her focus locked onto the creature's throat as she forced it back, her bloodied fingers tightening.

Perun clawed his way free from the splintered door, adrenaline dulling the pain as he scrambled to his feet. His crowbar flashed down, slamming into the back of the child Echo's skull with a sickening crack. The creature staggered, its grip on Lyra's leg loosening for a fraction of a second. Perun struck again, the sharp end of the crowbar sinking into the base of its skull with a wet crunch. He braced his foot against its head and yanked the weapon free, gray matter clinging to the rusted metal as the creature spasmed and went still.

For a heartbeat, Perun thought they'd gained the upper hand, but then the third Echo slithered through the doorway, moving with an unsettling grace. Its pale, near-translucent skin stretched over sharp, angular bones, empty eyes glistening in contrast to the other two echos. It moved fast, its head tilting as it took in the scene, the twisted remains of its kin crumpled on the kitchen tiles.

It lunged, its clawed hand flashing through the air and slamming into Lyra's stomach, the impact hurling her across the room next to the doorway, where she crashed into the kitchen wall with a dull, wet thud.

Perun reacted instantly, lunging toward his sister, but before he could reach her, Lyra's arm shot out, her palm slamming into his chest with surprising force and pushing him to the side through the doorway. He staggered and then he was airborne, crashing through the splintered doorway and into the hallway beyond. His back struck the wall, the impact jolting his spine, and his head cracked against the plaster. For a moment, his vision blurred, the world tilting as a sharp, tinny ringing filled his ears.

He blinked the stars from his eyes, shaking his head as he struggled to stand. Through the haze, he saw Lyra, still crouched in the kitchen doorway, her back to him, one leg trembling beneath her weight, blood soaking through her torn trousers. The fabric clung to her thigh, dark and glistening, the blood pooling at her feet in thick, slow streams. But she didn't seem to notice, her head tilted low, body coiled, her fingers flexing as if preparing to lunge. She was breathing heavily, each exhale a harsh rasp that echoed down the narrow hallway.

Lyra's movements were wild, almost feral as if she lost her mind, but Perun saw the flicker of recognition in her eyes, the hint of restraint in the way she shoved him back. She could have crushed his ribs or driven him into the floor, but instead, she had thrown him just hard enough to clear the danger, keeping him out of the immediate chaos. Whatever madness had overtaken her, his sister was still in there, fighting to keep control.

Perun's eyes flicked past Lyra to the two creatures still standing. Echo Stepan swayed unsteadily, its head tilted at a crooked angle, pale skin shredded around its throat where Lyra's fingers had dug deep, darkened veins pulsing beneath torn flesh. The Echo's jaw hung at an unnatural angle, strips of its neck hanging loose, a viscous blackish ichor dripping onto the wooden floor below, pooling around its bare, pooling around its feet, the skin stretched tight and ashen, almost desiccated, as if the life had been drained from its very flesh. Yet it remained upright, its sunken eyes still locked on Lyra, its body swaying with a slow, unnatural rhythm, as if waiting for a command, in contrast to its actions before.

The third Echo, however, was different. It stepped forward, its bony frame moving with a fluid, almost deliberate grace, its near-translucent skin stretching over sharp, angular bones. Its lips pulled back into a twisted, unnatural smile, and its empty eyes glistened with a dark, predatory animosity. For a moment, Perun thought he saw something familiar in those eyes—something that reminded him disturbingly of Lyra's own glistening, transformed gaze.

The third Echo tilted its head, a low, humming sound vibrating from deep within its chest, and Perun's breath caught as Stepan shifted, taking a slow, deliberate step toward Lyra.

Then, with a simultaneous roar, Lyra and Echo Stepan charged, their bodies colliding in a wild, chaotic brawl. Grunts and snarls filled the air, their limbs a tangled blur as they crashed against the walls, fists and claws raking against flesh and bone. Perun saw Lyra's hand lash out, fingers curled into claw-like hooks, aiming for the Echo's exposed throat. But before she could reach it, the third Echo lunged from the side, its thin, jagged fingers raking across her abdomen with a brutal swipe. Four deep gashes opened in her flesh, blood pouring down her front as she staggered back, her body curling reflexively around the fresh wounds.

Lyra was sent flying back, her back slamming into Perun in the halwlay. Four deep gashes ran across her abdomen, blood welling up and spilling through her fingers as she clutched the torn flesh. Her breaths came in short, shallow gasps, her eyes unfocused for a heartbeat as she struggled to regain her footing.

Perun's eyes darted back to the third Echo, still standing just inside the kitchen, its head tilted, eyes watching the scene with an almost pleased expression. The realization hit Perun like a cold slap—the thing was controlling Stepan, guiding its attacks, waiting for the exact moment to strike when Lyra was most vulnerable.

"Come on, Lyra," he whispered, his voice tight with fear, as he proceeded to drag Lyra to trhough the hallway towards living room "stay with me. I need you."

Behind them, the third Echo followed, its head tilting with that same grotesque, mocking curiosity, its dark, hollow eyes never leaving them. Echo Stepan shuffled beside it, its movements jerky, limbs twitching as if unsure whether to charge or hang back. It let out a low, wet gurgle, the sound bubbling through its shattered throat, blood spilling from the torn tissue with each convulsive step.

The creatures moved slowly, almost deliberately, their heads tilting in unison as they watched Perun struggle to drag his sister through the cluttered hallway. Broken glass crunched beneath his boots, the sharp edges biting into the soles as he stumbled over a fallen chair leg, nearly losing his grip on Lyra as her weight sagged against him.

"Please" he muttered, more to himself than to her, his own breath coming in ragged, panicked bursts.

They broke into the living room. Perun tightened his grip on Lyra, leaning her against the back of the old couch, the springs creaking beneath her weight. She slumped forward, blood still pouring from her torn stomach, the thick, dark fluid soaking into the frayed upholstery. But as Perun stepped back, he noticed the torn flesh knitting itself together, the jagged edges of the wounds pulling tight, the bleeding slowing to a sluggish trickle. Her breaths came steadier now, the harsh rasp of each inhale softening, but her eyes remained half-lidded, barely conscious.

Perun understood. She wasnt beaten, he just needed to buy time for her, she was their only chance.

Perun took a step back, his hand tightening around the crowbar, the rusted metal still slick with dark, coagulated Echo blood. He turned, eyes locking onto the approaching creatures, their thin, twisted forms silhouetted against the narrow hallway entrance. The third Echo moved first, stepping into the room with a slow, deliberate grace, its eyesglanced over Lyra's slumped form and fixated now on Perun. Echo Stepan followed a second later, its head jerking from side to side, shattered jaw swaying as it emitted a low hiss.

Perun's mind raced, his eyes flicking across the cluttered room, searching for anything he could use, any way to turn the odds in their favor. His gaze landed on the heavy, cast-iron fireplace poker leaning against the brick hearth, its long, jagged hook glinting dully morning light.

He grabbed it without hesitation, the cold metal heavy in his grip as he turned back to the advancing creatures. He took a deep breath, bracing himself as the third Echo lunged, its clawed hand swiping at his face. Perun sidestepped, swinging the poker with all the strength he could muster, but the creature's hand shot up, its thin, elongated fingers catching the metal with a sharp, ringing clash. It twisted its wrist, the sheer, unnatural strength of its bony limbs wrenching the poker from Perun's grasp, sending a shockwave of pain up his arm as the bone in his forearm cracked under the pressure.

Perun cried out, his left arm going numb, the sudden burst of agony stealing his breath. Before he could retreat, the creature's other hand slashed across his chest, jagged nails ripping through his shirt, flesh and muscle parting beneath the blow. Blood sprayed across the room, splattering against the peeling wallpaper as Perun staggered back, his knees buckling, his head spinning from the sudden, searing pain.

But in that desperate, adrenaline-fueled moment, he forced his right arm to move, driving the sharp, hooked end of the crowbar into the creature's side, just beneath its rib cage. The rusted metal bit deep, the jagged point sinking into the pallid flesh with a wet, crunching sound. It wasn't a killing blow, nowhere near deep enough to hit anything vital, but enough to enrage the creature.

It hesitated, its thin limbs twitching as the jagged metal grated against its exposed ribs, the attack enough to break its focus, if only for a heartbeat.

"Lyra, now!" he shouted, his voice raw and broken, his own blood now pooling at his feet as he clutched his torn side, his breaths coming in short, ragged gasps.

The Echo twisted its head, its hollow eyes flicking toward him. It let out a low, guttural growl, its thin lips pulling back into a twisted, mocking grin, its focus locked on Perun as it took another deliberate step forward, its blood-soaked feet leaving slick, black trails on the floor.

But in its brief moment of sadistic satisfaction, it had forgotten Lyra.

Lyra's head snapped up at Perun's cry, her eyes blazing, the dark lines on her skin flaring as she forced herself upright, in the next moment one bloody hand clamping onto the Echo's throat as the other dug through the creatures back to the front of its chest, part of its lung and heart pushed out by her hand. With a guttural roar, she threw the now dead echo into the wall.

But then Echo Stepan lurched forward, its shattered jaw snapping open, dark blood spilling from its torn throat as it charged, its limbs flailing, movements wild and erratic once more. Whatever control the third Echo had exerted over it had vanished, the creature reverting to its mindless, feral state as it closed the distance between them, its broken, blood-soaked form crashing through the cluttered room like a wild beast.

Lyra intercepted him, engaging in another brawl.

Perun slumped against the cold wall beneath the cracked living room window, his head lolling to one side as his vision swam, the edges of the world blurring into a dizzying haze. His breaths came in short, ragged bursts, each one sharp enough to stab his lungs, his blood pooling around him in a slow, spreading stain. His fingers trembled as he clutched his torn chest, the sticky warmth of his own life soaking through his shredded shirt.

A dull thud echoed through the room as Lyra finally brought Echo Stepan down, her fists still raining down on the creature's shattered skull, her breaths coming in savage, guttural heaves. But Perun barely registered the sound, his head tipping back to rest against the cracked plaster, eyes drifting to the broken window above him.

Two heads slowly peeked through the shattered frame, tilting at odd, unnatural angles, their thin stretched eye's peering down at him. Perun's breath hitched, his blurry vision struggling to make sense of the gray, withered faces looming above him. The faintest flicker of recognition sparked in his clouded mind, his lips parting in a breathless, disbelieving whisper.

"Mom... Dad..."

For a moment, the pain faded, the jagged, pulsing ache in his chest dulling as a strange, hollow warmth filled his heart. He blinked, the shadows around the figures sharpening, their gaunt, sunken features becoming clearer. He felt a tear slip down his cheek, cutting a warm path through the grime and blood smeared across his face. His chest hitched, a broken, desperate sob catching in his throat.

He had to be dreaming. This had to be a nightmare, a twisted vision brought on by blood loss and shock. Any second now, he would wake up, find himself in his childhood bed, the warm morning light streaming through the curtains, his mother's voice calling him down for breakfast, his father's heavy footfalls creaking on the old wooden stairs.

He could clearly see his mother's face, just as beautiful as he remembered—smooth, unlined skin, her soft, green eyes shining with warmth as she leaned in, her lips brushing his cheek in a gentle, affectionate kiss. The faint scent of lavender clung to her, the way it always had, wrapping him in the comforting embrace of childhood memories.

Beside her, his father's strong, calloused hand clapped against his shoulder, the same reassuring weight he'd felt countless times as a boy—after a hard day's work, a well-earned victory, or a shared, silent moment beneath the starlit sky. His father's eyes sparkled with pride, his jaw set in that familiar, steady way, the hint of a smile touching the corners of his weathered mouth.

Perun's lips trembled, his eyes glistening with fresh tears as he sank deeper into the fading warmth of the moment, his battered, broken mind clinging to the illusion like a lifeline.

His eyes slowly fluttered shut, his head lolling to one side as a broken, delirious smile spread across his cracked lips. His family was here. They had come for him. He wasn't alone. He would never be alone again.

But then, Lyra turned, her blood-matted hair whipping around her face, her chest heaving as she caught sight of the scene. Her eyes went wide, her knees nearly buckling as the last threads of her berserk haze snapped, clarity crashing back into her mind like a tidal wave.

The figures leaning over Perun weren't her parents, not really. They were twisted, desiccated husks of their parent's, their skin pulled tight over sharp, angular bones, their jaws hanging open, viscous fluid dripping from their gaping mouths. Her mother's teeth sank into Perun's cheek, tearing through flesh and muscle, blood spurting from the open wound, painting the wall behind him in a fresh spray of crimson.

Her father's clawed hand gripped Perun's shoulder, sharp, splintered nails sinking deep, ripping through muscle and tendon, pulling back strips of skin as he dug in. Perun's head lolled to the side, his unfocused eyes staring up at his sister, a broken, childlike smile still twisted across his blood-streaked face.

"Mom... Dad..." he whispered again, his voice trembling, each word wet and thick with blood. "I knew... you'd come..."

Lyra staggered back, her stomach heaving, a raw, guttural scream clawing its way up her throat as the reality of the scene crashed down around her.