Mohamed_Kened

In the bustling city of Tokyo, where people pass each other unnoticed, Kaito Renji harbors a secret that cannot be ignored...

He has no shadow.

Living an ordinary life with his parents and sister, Kaito hides behind a fake smile, pretending to be normal in a world that shows no mercy to those who are different. But when a series of strange murders spreads across the city and an inhuman creature appears in the darkest corners, the truth begins to crawl toward him—just like the insects that creep through the cracks.

In a world devoured by betrayal and deadly secrets, the shadow may be the enemy… or the key.

As Kaito’s true identity comes to light, he realizes Tokyo is not just a city—but a vast web of lies. And he was never truly human… but something the insects have followed in silence all along.

When the darkness begins to move, no one escapes without losing a piece of their soul.

The hollow soul

Night had fallen, and the cavern was suffocatingly silent.

In the left corner, Hana and Saya sat close together by a small, dying fire, talking in low voices, as if any louder whisper might awaken the unknown.

Hairu Shin lay against the wall, drifting into a fitful sleep, while Kaito's father sat on the floor, his head tilted as if sleep had overcome him, but his face held that eerie calm.

Only Tsuki remained awake, her hand clutching Kaito's cold palm. Her eyes studied his tense features, his heavy breathing, and the wrinkles on his tense brow, as if an invisible war was raging inside him.

A few steps away, Minamoto stood, speechless but watching Kaito with a piercing gaze, not devoid of caution... or fear.

His eyes opened... but he wasn't in the cave.

He stood in the middle of a thick, black river, its waters like ink, rippling soundlessly. The air was suffocating, and the sky above was pitch black, starless, moonless... hopeless.

At his feet, bodies floated directionlessly, pushed along by the slow current like dead leaves. Some were human, wearing uniforms bearing the government's insignia... others were emaciated creatures with multiple eyes and twisted arms... deformed insects, terrifying hybrid bodies.

He took a step forward... and there was a crash.

He looked down at his hands... startled.

They were covered in blood. Not dry blood, but living, warm, flowing as if from within him. He tried to wipe it away, but it only increased. It trickled down his forearms and chest... and his face.

Not an external voice, but from within. Calm… deep… as if the earth itself was speaking:

"All this blood… you caused it."

Kaito trembled. He cried out, "No… it's not me… I didn't do anything!"

"You did, and you will… this isn't the beginning, it's the result."

Kaito turned, and there… in the middle of the river, he saw his reflection.

He held his face, but his eyes were completely black, and a cold smile stretched across his lips, as if it were tearing his face apart.

The reflection said, his voice identical to his:

"When the chains are broken, the difference between you and me will disappear."

Suddenly, the river began to boil. The bodies moved… and screamed.

Screams that didn't come from their mouths… but from within him.

Kaito wanted to run… but he couldn't move.

The blood on his hands felt as heavy as lead.

The river rose… submerging his chest… his neck…

Back to the cave

Kaito gasped in his sleep, his body trembling violently, and a faint moan escaped his chest.

"Kaito!" whispered Tsuki, then grabbed his face, his forehead drenched in sweat.

At the same moment, Minamoto looked up quickly, slowly approaching, his eyes narrowing.

"Did he see something?" he asked himself in a barely audible voice.

Suddenly… the cave fire went out.

Darkness enveloped everyone for two seconds.

Then the fire came back on, as if something had passed through it.

Everyone exchanged glances… except Kaito.

He remained asleep, breathing slowly, but on his forehead… was a drop of blood that no one knew where it came from.

Fin chapter

Chapter 15: In the Heart of the Black River