Unknown World

Isamu wakes up with a startle, his brown eyes snapping open and jolting up right in a sitting position. He blinks. The first thing he notices is that he’s on a dirty padded floor in a half destroyed building, light peering down on him from the gaps in the ceiling where there was once a roof.

“How did I get here?” A confused Isamu wondered aloud as he stands onto his feet, surveying the tattered room.

Around the room is a broken single bed, a smashed through window and a worn down wooden wardrobe – the doors dangling from its hinge. It’s eerily similar to Isamu’s bedroom.

“Why does it look like my bedroom?” He turns around and his eyes lock onto a broken full-body mirror. “Even the mirror...” He extends a hand out and places it on the frame of the mirror.

When his hand makes contact, an image of the black shadowy hand enters his mind and he jumps back from the mirror with a terrified look on his face. “The heck even was that? Was that even real?” He walks over to the broken window and stares outside. Slowly his eyes widen to the size of saucepans at the sight standing before him.

“What the fuck is going on?!” He yells out, taking in the scene of utter destruction.

Buildings he recognised were all left in rubble, street-lights were either bent over or collapsed onto the gravel. But the thing that stuck out to Isamu the most is, “Why is it so eerily silent?”

It was completely deserted. There were no people nor animals in sight. It was as if the world had ended.

The grounds sudden rumbling caught Isamu’s attention as his body shook from the magnitude. He staggered forward reaching his hands out to grasp the window, his left hand slicing across broken glass.

Isamu hisses out, his left hand clutching his right as he loses his balance and lands on his knees. “Shit that hurts!” He eyes the blood seeping out of the wound and follows it’s trail as it rolls down his hand and drips onto the floor.

When the drop hits the floor the ground moves like a puddle, rolling like a wave and catching Isamu’s observation. He moves his head closer with a look of curiosity in his eyes. “What...” The words die in the back of his throat as he sees the face of a man inside the bloody puddle.

The face draws nearer, his eyes closed, leaving the dark haired boy enthralled as he continues to stare. Once the face is directly in front of Isamu it’s eyes snap open wide, revealing snake like eyes as it comes crashing out of the bloody puddle in all its terrifying glory.

Isamu can only jump backwards and stare in fear as its 15ft snake body dives out of the ground and up through the demolished ceiling. This creature was nothing like Isamu had ever seen. It’s body was that of a snake, but it’s upper half was that of a long necked human face, its bald head marked with veins that were like wires – it had no torso or arms. It’s neck wiggled around in a disturbing way that left the young man feeling sick to his stomach.

“If this is a dream, it’s the most fucked up one I’ve ever had.” Isamu backs away from the serpent-human hybrid until his back hits the wall. “But this feels too real to be a dream.” His hands grip the wall as his body trembles in fear as his eyes lock onto the creatures.

Finding Isamu’s panic amusing, the serpent-human hybrid slowly smirks out in a horrifying way which sets his fear levels soaring. It’s teeth were as sharp as a sharks and it’s creepy smile took up half its face. It was like a nightmare come to life.

“Food, food, food!” It calls out in a shrill voice.

Slowly it slithers forward with purpose, its eyes never leaving Isamu’s. Feeling sweat roll down his face, Isamu can do nothing but gulp down the flem that was stuck in the back of his throat, the sheer look of terror on his face never fading.

The sound of his pulsing beating heart is all he can hear as the serpent-human hybrid lunges its body towards Isamu, who ducks down with sheer reflex and is just able to evade the creatures attack.

Falling to his knees, Isamu quickly scrambles onto his feet and dashes down the familiar hallway of his apartment and shoulder barges the front door open. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He chants over and over as he darts down the front balcony of the complex, the creature crashing through the wall of the building behind him and closing in on him with speed.

Isamu glances behind him to see the creature getting closer, then turns his head back forward as he sprints faster. With practised ease he jumps over the railings of the stairs and lands on his feet, turning his head again to watch the snake-human hybrid hop over the railings by bouncing its body up.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Isamu shouts in disbelief. He breathes out a frustrated groan then turns back, continuing his attempted escape from this horrifying creature.

He runs down desolate and destroyed streets that he remembers seeing a short while ago in lively conditions. “What’s going on here?” He questions whilst he takes note of the state of this world he’s suddenly found himself in. He turns and goes down a thin narrow path that was once blockaded on both sides by brick walls, but now the walls are torn down.

Isamu has no time to ponder these questions as the creature behind him screams out in frustration, it’s snake body struggles to manoeuvre through the restricted space of the path. Its body crashes left and right, tearing down the brick walls ever more.

“Devour, devour, devour!” It screams out manically.

The dark haired male exits the narrow path and he suddenly stops in his tracks at the open space in front of him. What was once the 106 department store, the landmine of Shibuya, was now like something out of an apocalypse movie.

“This isn’t Shibuya any more.” Isamu’s thoughts flooded out of his mouth as he stared agape at this new reality he found himself in.

A loud crash alerts Isamu to turn behind him. The serpent-human hybrid charges through the narrow path leaving rubble and ruin behind it, anger palpable on its face as it bares it fangs wide. “Food, devour, now!” It slithers towards the dark haired male like a predator hunting its prey.

Isamu can do nothing but stand stock still, his legs frozen in fear as he stares at the creature with sheer terror in his eyes. “W-what do I do?!” He stutters out, “Stop!” Closing his eyes tightly, he raises his hands in front of his face, and turns his body in a way to try and shield himself.

The serpent-human hybrid lunges at Isamu. “Devour!-” A figure holding a shield bulldozes into the serpent-hybrid sending it crashing into a building. Hearing the loud sound, Isamu peeks one eye open to see a red-haired man standing where the creature was. He opens his other eye and relaxes his body from its defensive posture.

“Huh? Who are you?” Isamu questions.

He wears a black spandex outfit fitted with armour plates and holds a steel silver shield in his right hand. The red-haired man turns around, his dark green eyes meet Isamu’s brown eyes and a relived sigh escapes the other man’s lips. “Seems I made it here in time, I was worried you’d already be dead.”

“Uh, thanks?” Is all Isamu can say as he studies the older male standing in front of him. “Are you like, a superhero or something?” Isamu looks the other guy up and down taking in his outfit.

“I guess that’s the normal reaction to seeing someone dressed in a spandex outfit huh?” The spandex clad man scratches the back of his neck with a sheepish smile on his face. He takes a step towards Isamu, “But no, I’m just a regular guy. Name’s Haru.”

“Who carries a shield.” Isamu points out.

“Yeah, who carries a shield.”

“And wears spandex.”

“And wears spandex.” The red-haired male repeats. “But that’s besides the point right now, we have to-” Just like he had done to the serpent-human hybrid, he’s sent flying into the building opposite the creature, the said creature digging its fangs into the males right armoured shoulder – piercing it and tearing into the flesh.

Haru grunts in pain as he lands on his back, the creature atop of him with its fangs buried into his right shoulder. With his shield, he begins bashing it repeatedly against the creatures sides trying to disgruntle it. “Get off me you monster!”

Haru flicks a switch on the back of the shield and razor blades shoot out around the rim. “Take this!” He shouts as he grips down on the switch, the razor blades coming to life like a circular chainsaw. He digs the sharp blades into the side of the creatures neck tearing through its flesh, purple blood splatters out of its neck. The serpent-human hybrid retracts its teeth from the red-hairs shoulder, slithering back a slight distance and keeping its snakelike eyes focused on him, blood oozing out of the wound on its neck.

“Kill, kill, kill!” The serpent-human hybrid chants out, snarling at the spandex clad man who gets up onto his feet and stands in a defensive position – shield in front of him, the blades still spinning wildly like a well oiled machine.

“Come at me!” Haru taunts the creature, his green eyes narrowed dangerously.

The creature charges towards Haru, slithering to the left and right trying to catch him off guard. They meet with a clash of steel and teeth.

Isamu watches the fight from a distance, his eyes intensely flittering from the spandex clad superhero to the not-so-pretty serpent-human hybrid as they engage in battle.

“It’s like I’m in a movie.” He speaks out with awe.

“Oh this is more than a mere movie.” A deep voice growls out making Isamu snap his head to the left.

Isamu’s eyes widen in horror as he stares at the same shadowy figure that he’d seen in the mirror. “You...I saw you in the mirror!” He points at the figure, taking a step back. The figure takes a step forward, the shadows around it flickering like flames. It has no mouth, its just a black shadowy mass of flames with piercing red eyes.

“That’s right, I brought you here.”

“Why?” Isamu stops taking steps back, he stands with his arms at his sides staring down the figure as it stalks ever closer towards him.

The figure stops directly in front of him. “Because you’ve forgotten your purpose.” It states simply, its deep voice echoing inside the dark haired males head.

“My purpose..?”

———————————————————————————————————————

Haru’s shield clashes with the serpent-human hybrids face, forcing it into a game of who can push harder. The red-haired male grits his teeth and he pushes back at the creature with all his might.

A beeping sound in his ear gains his attention, and his uses his spare hand to click the device in his ear – opening up a voice channel – as he continues to wrestle back the manic creature. “This is Haru.” He grits out.

“Haru, be careful, there’s a category S nearby!” The blonde hair woman’s voice alerts him. “Back up is on the way, try to steer clear of it until then!”

“Category S?” Haru’s eyes dart away from the serpent-human hybrid in front of him and they slowly move to his left until they lock onto a shadowy figure standing by Isamu. His eyes widen in horror. “Hey, get away from that thing - it’s dangerous!” Haru yells out to Isamu but it falls on deaf ears.

“Civilian is in danger, I have no choice but to engage!” Haru calls out to the earpiece, clicking it to turn off comms and glaring at the creature that’s pushing back against his shield. “I don’t have time to deal with you!” He pulls back his shield pulling the creature towards him, and then turns the shield sideways and slamming the sharp blades into its eyes. Gripping down on the switch inside the shield he revs the blades into ignition, watching as they rip away into the creatures eyes – effectively blinding it and sawing the eyeballs in two.

The serpent-human hybrid lunges away with a gut curling cry as it lands on its side and wriggles about in that same disturbing way a worm does.

Seeing his chance, Haru clicks the blades back inside the shield and begins his mad dash over towards Isamu and the shadowy creature.

“Hey, you need to get away from that thi-” Haru’s words are cut short as a snakes tail wraps around his legs like a vice.

It pulls him backwards and down onto his front, dragging him along the gravel. He tries to dig his hands into the ground but his fingernails only scratch the surface. Haru is then dangled upside down by the snakes tail, his arms limply falling above his head and the shield in his hand clatters to the ground as its tail circles around his upper body.

His eyes meet the bloodied face of the serpent-human hybrid, its eyes disfigured and sliced in half as purple blood oozes out of the sockets. He wriggles his body in an attempt to get free, but the creature tightens its tail around him. Haru chokes out a grunt as its grip begins to squeeze against his ribs, slowly crunching them into pieces.

“Devour, kill, kiiiiiiiiiiill!!!” The creature hisses out, its face hovering near Haru’s and baring its shark-like teeth.

Haru shuts his eyes tightly as pain shoots through his body.

———————————————————————————————————————

The black shadowy figure circles around Isamu, who stands stock still with a look of anticipation on his face. “You really have forgotten huh? Well, let me remind you.” The figure stops in front of Haru and speaks a single word, “Isu.”

At the name Isamu’s face goes deathly pale, his eyes blank, as he stares at the shadowy figure with a monotonous expression. The name brings memories to the forefront of Isamu’s mind. He sees a young boy with dark hair smiling up at him with a toothy grin. “Big bro!” The boy cheers out with happiness.

As quickly as the image appears it fades and Isamu blinks back to being surrounded by destroyed buildings and the shadowy figure standing before him.

“How-” Isamu’s begins but the figure interjects.

“Look at me. Really look at me.” It commands and the dark haired boy squints his eyes at the figure, confusion written on his face. His confusion slowly dissolves, eyes widening as the shadows around the figure disperse showing who the figure is; himself.

“You’re me?!”

His other self takes a step towards him, his arms spread wide with a sadistic smile stretching across his face. “That’s right, I’m you, and you’re me. We’re the same.”

Isamu shakes his head in denial, taking a step back with his right arm outstretched as if trying to halt the figure from coming closer. “Stay away! There’s no way we’re the same!” His other self continues to smirk, not halting his steps as Isamu’s right hand presses against his chest, going through him like mist.

“You can deny me all you like, but the proof is right here in front of you.” Isamu goes to retract his right hand away but its grabbed by his other self and held firmly in place, startling the dark haired male. “Weren’t we going to catch the bastard that killed Isu?” It growled deeply, continuing, “Isn’t that why we left home in the first place?”

Isamu stares at his other self, his mouth slightly agape as his shoulders begin to tremble violently. He clenches his hands into fists, tightly closing his eyes and grits his teeth in frustration as he remembers the incident from 1 year ago.