Chapter 1 - Chasing

It is now afternoon and I am currently walking to go to my 5 PM class. The University where I go is not that far from the small apartment room where I stay plus the breeze feels good around here which is why I chose to go on foot instead. Walking is also a nice exercise to get rid of negativity. The town is relatively quiet if compared to a city but is livelier than most of the other towns since it has well known University.

“Aahhhhh...” I gave out a satisfying yawn. I was feeling a little drowsy because I was not able to sleep last night due to a nightmare. I did some strength exercise after then to calm down but I was not able to get some sleep after.

“Pam pam pam pam pam pampapaaaaam!” The music when you get an item in my favourite RPG game was played by my phone since I set it as my ringtone. I grabbed my phone from my pocket to see who it might be, I cannot think of someone aside from my parents sending me a message.

“Seriously?” I whispered as I saw the horrifying text message. It was a message from the Student Affairs saying there was an accident in the University and classes will be postponed until further notice and students are forbidden to go inside the school premises for the time being.

I am good with classes being cancelled and all since I will have more time to play some games but why the heck did they send the message after I already left home? It really is a huge bummer when you are already set on doing something then an event occurs that makes you unable to do what you set out to do. It just kills the mood when that happens.

Since classes are cancelled, I was about to turn around to head home when I saw a small commotion nearby.

“You! You must know something about demons! Please tell me you know something!” A man with black bags under his eyes and wearing a large coat is yelling at a woman.

“Sorry sir, but I really do not know what you are talking about...” The woman tried to reply calmy but her terror cannot be hidden in her eyes.

“Think about it more! You got to know something!” The man insisted.

I better get away from here fast before I get involved with that guy. He looks like either he is mentally ill or high on drugs. I did not want to have anything to do with either so I hope he does not notice me. I turned around and started walking back home.

“You there!” The man called out from a distance. I have a feeling that I am the one being addressed but I kept on walking. “Hey! Red headed guy in a green and brown jacket!”

Shit, he really is calling me. I continued on as if I did not hear him at all. Maybe he will find someone else and bug them instead if I ignore him.

“Hey, I’m talking to you.” The man grabbed me by the shoulder.

My heart just skipped a beat and I was not able to breathe for a second. How did he get to me that fast? From the sound of his voice earlier, I am sure there is a fair amount of distance between us.

His hand was gripping on my shoulder tightly and my eyes widened as I saw a black tattoo with a sprouting plant like pattern at the back of his hand. Dammit, this is getting worse and worse.

“I am sorry sir, I did not know that I was the one you are talking to.” I replied with a smile as I turn to face him. “I am just a University student sir. I do not sell drugs or anything that may get me in danger.”

“I am not a damned drug addict!” The man yelled at me in anger. Now that he is near me, he does seem like a sane man but with a more than horrible attitude. “You must have a demon inside of you! I can sense one!” He yelled as he pointed at me.

“Sorry sir, I do not think it is right to call someone you just met evil.” I replied without getting rid of my smiling face. I need to hide my fear or else he might eat me alive.

“Damn you! Stop feigning ignorance! I can sense it! You had the same curse as me!” The man continued talking with a very loud voice. “Grrraagh!” He suddenly groaned as he fell to his knees while his right hand is holding his face.

“Are you alright sir?” I asked.

“Please, you got to help me! I need to get rid of this thing!” His voice filled with anger became one filled with fear. The white of his eyes suddenly turned black and his iris color turned to a dark bluish color. “I am losing control... I don’t want to die yet! I can’t die yet!”

I became sure of what I should do next the moment that I saw the way his eyes changed. I turned around quickly and ran at full pace. It would be bad if he will be somehow able to follow me to my room so I just ran aimlessly while turning to every corner I see.

I kept on running despite doing so left a bad taste in my mouth. I am well aware of his situation, I am in the same boat but it is not as if there is anything I can do. I do not want get involved with them again. If there is a chance that I can be excluded from all this chaos then I’ll gladly take it. It is best to be sure that I was able to lose him so I kept on running despite being actually clueless as to where I am right now.

“Haaaaa haaaaa.” I was out of breath hence I had no choice but to stop. I used my hand as a support and leaned on a nearby tree. I did not know that there was a place like this in the area. I arrived in a forest, a place with nothing but plants and bugs and trees. The place was painted in orange due to the setting sun.

I must have run a few kilometres. I guess it is good to run as a work out once in a while since I mainly do strength. The problem is it is disgusting to feel all so hot and sweaty while I am in casual attire, I cannot wait to go home and take a shower after. I also ran with the extra weight of my sling bag and my right shoulder felt numb as a result. I put down my bag to ground for a minute when I saw...

“Shit!” Why did I not notice at all? I was wearing my brand new leather shoes all along! I moved my ankle and toes a bit and the shoes already felt soft, the stiff hard elegance is already non-existent. The top middle part was also filled with wrinkles and creases. It already looked more worn out than my last one. I only brought new ones because the soles of my last one already gave off but it is still frustrating to have my current pair be made into this state in just a day. “Dammit!”

“Seriously?” I heard the rustling of leaves and the sound of footsteps coming towards my direction at a fast speed. I was so irritated that I completely forgot that I was trying to escape from someone! This is ridiculous, to think that he was chasing after me all this time! I hid myself beside a large tree and peeked back to confirm if it was really him.

It is really that guy but his appearance slightly changed. Aside from his eyes, his face had violet spike like patterns in his cheek and his forehead. His mouth was opened widely as a large amount of saliva drips from it. I guess it was no use hiding since it seems he already knows where I am.

“Hey buddy! What a coincidence! Are you here to go sight-seeing in this forest too?”I came out from the large tree and greeted him with a smile. I tried to talk to him but he just kept on running towards me, it seems as if he did not hear me at all. “I am sorry about earlier, I just suddenly had the urge to r-“

“Graaaaagh!” He screamed as he punched me right in the face before I even finished talking.

It felt as if my skull was going to be detached to my body as I got sent to the air flying. It is as if a force is pulling my head and my body has no choice but to follow it. I then landed on a tree on my back. Damn... it hurt a lot. How come characters in games can quickly stand up after taking such a hit?

My check felt both stinging and burning sensations at the same time. It throbbed as if I had had another heart inserted through it. My neck and back were also aching due to the few seconds of sudden flight and landing.

“Aaaaaargh...” I groaned. It did not feel so good. I was still perfectly conscious but it was quite hard to get up. Trying to talk just makes my cheek hurt even more. I just hope that I did not lose any teeth.

I looked at him and he was there, standing still while looking down on me. The more I look at his eyes, the more certain I get that he has gone berserk. Reason, even how logical it may be, will no longer go through in his head. His body was no longer able to tolerate the presence of the demon inside that the brain was corrupted by the evil presence, hence going berserk.

He suddenly jumped and about to stomp at my face but I was able to dodge it by forcing my body to roll sideward.

Once one goes berserk, the only cure waiting for you is death. I believe that this fact is already well known to everyone who suffered the same fate as I.

“Graaaaaaaagh!” The man roared, trying to establish its dominance as I tried to stand up.

Despite my reluctance to be involved in incidents like this, I guess I have no choice. I failed to outrun him after all. He asked for my help, I guess I have no choice but to do so. It is just sad that the only assistance that I can offer him is to give an end to his suffering.

“Come at me!” I yelled as I put my right foot forward, arched my back, and raised my arms; ready for a fist fight.