The Hunt Begins (Part Two)

Austin reached Akira's house and knocked lightly on the door, one hand clutching a handbag stuffed with snacks and ice cream.

After a moment, Elena opened it. Her expression was unreadable.

Austin blinked, a little surprised to see her. He offered a faint, awkward smile.

She returned it just as faintly. "Hey. Long time no see. How have you been?"

Austin studied her closely. Like Akira, he had never felt entirely comfortable around Elena. Something about her smile always sent a chill up his spine — too wide, too perfect, too practiced.

Avoiding her gaze, he glanced into the house. "I'm fine. Where's Akira?"

Elena's smile didn't falter, but something behind her eyes sharpened. She knew how close Austin and Akira were — and she also knew neither of them liked her much. Still, she kept playing her part.

"She's in her room," she said after a beat. "I don't think she's feeling well. Anyway, you can go check on her. Try to make sure she eats something, if you can."

She turned and walked away without another word.

Austin made his way to Akira's door and knocked gently.

Inside, Akira lay tossing and turning, trapped in dreams she couldn't remember and a heaviness she couldn't shake. The knock yanked her out of that haze, and frustration boiled over.

"Are you deaf? I said I'm not—"

She yanked the door open mid-shout — and froze.

Austin stood there, sheepish and hesitant, holding up the bag of snacks like a peace offering.

The anger drained from her face in an instant. Without a word, she stepped forward and threw her arms around him, burying herself in the familiar comfort of his presence — like he was the only thing holding her together.

Caught off guard, Austin blinked. "Umm… okay, but she just left."

Still, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. For now, that was enough.

"I'm right here," he said softly, after a long pause.

Akira pulled back, sniffled once, and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Right here? What took you so long, huh? You wait until I'm one emotional meltdown away from punching a mirror to show up?"

Austin raised both hands defensively. "Hey, I came as fast as I could! And I got hit with a surprise I wasn't ready for. Man… Elena's smile. That thing still haunts me."

Akira let out a short laugh. "Yeah… it's like she practiced it in the mirror until even the mirror gave up."

They both chuckled, and the weight in the room lightened — just a little.

Still, a quiet fear gnawed at Akira. After what had happened — the slap, the tears — what would Austin think of her?

Not just him. What would everyone think?

She hesitated and tried to steer the conversation away from school. Each time Austin brought it up, she shut it down. Then, silence filled the room.

Finally, Austin broke it.

"You know… about that slap," he said, glancing at her. "You weren't wrong."

Akira turned to him, surprised.

"If someone had said something like that about my mom…" he continued, "I probably would've done worse."

Akira tried to smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I didn't even get the chance to explain. And honestly, I didn't want to. I didn't know who would believe me. And you... I didn't want to see the look on your face if you didn't."

"Hey… hey, look at me," Austin said gently. "You don't have to explain anything. Not to me."

Her shoulders eased a little. A smile tugged at her lips — smaller, but real. She wasn't sure she could tell him everything yet — the strange powers, the demon-like creature, the voice. Who would even believe it? But for now, this was enough.

She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again.

Austin looked around, avoiding her gaze.

"So… dinner? Or are you planning to just live off trauma and sarcasm?"

"I was thinking of becoming a ghost, actually. No food, no school, no awkward small talk."

"Sounds like my dream life," Austin said, heading toward the freezer. "But until then, ice cream?"

Akira raised an eyebrow. "You just carry ice cream around now?"

Austin pulled out a tub with a dramatic flourish. "I came prepared. Horror movie and existential crisis recovery kit — deluxe edition."

She smirked. "Let me guess — next you'll say you brought garlic in case of vampires?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed, then whispered, "It's in my backpack."

Akira laughed louder than she had in days.

"Okay fine, let's watch something. But I get to pick."

"Please not horror," Austin pleaded, already flinching.

"Horror, it is," she said smugly.

Austin groaned and flopped onto the couch. "You don't want me here, do you?"

"Not when you act like a terrified puppy."

He tossed her a spoon. "Whatever. But if I scream louder than the ghost, you owe me your dessert."

"Deal."

They curled up on the couch, the glow of the TV casting soft shadows over their faces. Between ghostly jump scares and Austin's dramatic yelps, Akira's laughter returned, light and unguarded.

"Wait," she said suddenly, eyeing him. "Did you tell Isabella you're here? She's going to kill you if she finds out we watched a movie without her."

Austin grinned. "No one's going to tell her. This is our secret mission now."

Akira rolled her eyes but leaned back, finally relaxing.

The movie rolled on. Somewhere between the third ghost and Austin's exaggerated scream, Akira dozed off, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

And this time — she didn't wake up in fear.

For the first time in days, she fell asleep in peace.

Austin shifted gently to keep her steady, letting her rest.

She looked peaceful. Finally,

A small, nostalgic smile tugged at his lips.

He whispered, barely louder than the hum of the TV:

"Whatever it is, no one's going to hurt you. I'll always be by your side."

A flicker of memory surfaced—

Two boys chasing him across the schoolyard, laughter cruel and sharp.

He'd tripped. Scraped his knee. Alone. The boys were kicking him, taunting—

"You filthy animal," one had said. "You like boys? I'll teach you how boys like things."

A fist pulled back—

"Then teach me, and I'll show you how to ask a girl out!"

A flying kick hit one of the boys square in the jaw. He went down hard.

"Come on, dummy!"

Akira's hand had reached for his. Wild-eyed, fearless. She grabbed him, and they ran like hell.

Behind the library, out of breath and laughing, she looked at him and said:

"Well, no one wants to be my friend. Will you be mine?"

Then she held out her pinky, face smudged with dirt but eyes burning bright.

"Best friends forever," she'd said.

"No one's going to hurt you. I'll always be by your side."

Austin blinked, the memory warm in his chest. He looked at her sleeping form, curled under the blanket beside him.

"Guess it's my turn now."

He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.

"Whatever you're going through… I'll figure it out. And I'll never let you push me away."

***

In the distance, lightning struck — a low rumble echoing through the skies.

The atmosphere shifted. The air thickened, heavy with smoke and something far older than time itself. The world was holding its breath.

Far beneath, deep in the earth, a forgotten chamber stirred.

The walls were jagged stone, lit only by flickering torches. Ancient fox runes pulsed faintly across the ground, carved into a ritual circle. Bones and shards of broken mirrors lay scattered like discarded offerings. At the center, a brazier burned with an unnatural green flame — alive, restless, and wrong.

Ursula stepped barefoot into the circle, her ceremonial robes trailing like whispering silk. Her eyes gleamed with silver-white light, something inhuman swirling behind them.

She murmured to herself, low and calm, "Time to wake up, my children."

Kneeling at the center, she drew a curved dagger across her palm. Blood dripped into the flame below, sizzling as it touched the cursed fire. The pendant around her wrist flickered violently, as if straining to break free. Her grip tightened. Whatever magic held it in place—it was strong.

Ursula began to chant, her voice echoing with something older than language:

"From bone and ash,

From breath and fear…

Come forth, those who crawl in shadow.

Those who crave, who hunger, who remember…"

A wind rushed through the sealed chamber—icy and sharp. The torches flickered blue. The blood in the brazier turned black and began to churn, thick and restless.

In the corners of the cave, shadows began to slither. Twitching. Crawling. Watching.

They had no mouths, but their attention was suffocating. Eyes. So many eyes.

Ursula stood tall, arms outstretched, voice rising not just in volume—but in presence. Her words vibrated through the stone, through the earth itself.

"The Foxes are preparing their warriors," she hissed. "Rohana hides something—something I require.

I want her distracted. I want fear to spread in their streets like a disease."

A demon stepped forward—tall, malformed, half-wolf and half-smoke. Its limbs were too long, and its mouth never closed. Its voice was barely more than a breath.

"You promised us blood… You promised flesh…"

"You will get it," Ursula replied coldly, "but not yet. I want her first."

She pulled a piece of cloth from her robes—a torn scrap from a girl's jacket. She tossed it toward the circle.

"Play with her," she said with a cruel smile. "I want to see what she's capable of."

The demons hissed in delight. One screeched—a high, piercing note that stabbed at the air—until Ursula silenced it with a flick of her fingers.

Her voice darkened. "But don't harm her. Not yet. She is mine to deal with."

She stepped back. The sigils beneath her feet burned brighter—red, then blinding white.

The demons began to vanish—slipping into cracks in the earth, into shadows, into nothing.

One by one, they disappeared.

The flame in the brazier sputtered, then died.

Ursula stood alone in the dark and looked at the pendant.

She smiled and said softly,

"Soon, my love… we will be together forever."