"Raizen? Talk to me," he whispered.
I didn't have to. The world around me just... faded. It didn't go dark; it went cold. Suddenly, I wasn't in the hallway anymore. I was standing on a floor of cracked glass. A shadow was sitting there—a man who looked like he was made of smoke and old memories.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I am Zero," the voice rumbled in my chest. "I am what’s left of the person who tried to give this world a real heart. But the Seven Kings broke me. They turned my peace into a prison. Now, I am just a ghost in your blood."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because they are eating you, Raizen. Every week, they take a little more of your soul—your Zoryn—and give you 'Essentials' in return. They want you full and forgetful. If you want to keep your friends, you have to wake them up."
The cold snapped. I was back in my room, gasping for air. Kaito, Yuna, and Souta were all staring at me.
"He's real," I panted. I looked at Yuna. "The Kings... they’re taking our memories. That’s why we don't remember our parents. If we don't do something, we’ll just be empty shells."
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Yuna stepped forward. Her hands were still shaking from the alleyway earlier. "I don't want to forget again, Raizen. If you can help me... do it."
I turned to Souta. He shook his head, backing away toward the kitchen. "No way. The Kings provide for us! Look at this house! Look at the food! This power you're talking about... it feels wrong. It feels evil. I’m fine the way I am."
I looked at Kaito. He just leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "Don't worry about me, Raizen. I’ve always been a fast learner. My soul is already 'awake' enough. Focus on her."
I nodded, though something felt off about how calm he was.
I reached out and grabbed Yuna’s hands. I didn't know what I was doing, but Zero did. I felt a surge of energy—Zoryn—rush down my arms. I tried to be gentle, but I had no control.
"Hang on," I whispered.
BOOM.
A massive wave of golden light exploded from my chest. It wasn't a spark; it was a bomb. The windows of our house didn't just break—they shattered into dust. A pillar of light shot straight through our roof and into the sky.
I fell to my knees, blood leaking from my nose. My heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of my ribs.
"Raizen! Look!" Yuna cried out. Her skin was glowing with a faint blue light. She looked stronger, like a fog had been lifted from her eyes.
But Kaito wasn't looking at her. He was looking out the broken window.
Down the street, a black van was already screaming toward us. The "Peace" was gone. I had just rung a bell that couldn't be un-rung.
"A cage is still a cage, even if the bars are made of gold."
I stood up, my legs wobbling.
"They fed us so we wouldn't notice we were the ones on the menu."
"Get ready," I said, looking at the black van. "They're coming for the harvest."
To be continued...