The Judas Among Us

A mechanical hum filled the control room as Kisaragi worked at the console, his fingers moving with precision over the ancient system. The others stood behind him, their breaths still ragged from the chase, the tension thick enough to choke on.

Haruki leaned against the wall, gripping his knife tightly. He felt his heartbeat settle into something steady, but the weight in his chest wouldn’t leave. Aoi stood beside him, still shaken, her fingers clenched together as if she was trying to ground herself.

Renji wiped the sweat off his forehead, pacing the room. “I swear, I don’t care if this thing was some top-secret government pet project. I just wanna burn it to the ground and get the hell out.”

Natsuki sat on the floor, back against the cold metal wall. “The problem isn’t just the monster, Renji. It’s Kain. Even if we kill whatever this thing is, he’ll just make more. We need to cut him off at the source.”

Haruki shifted his gaze to Kisaragi. “Can you pull up the data logs? If there’s anything about Kain’s movements, or where his main facility is, we need it.”

Kisaragi didn’t respond immediately. His eyes flicked toward Haruki for a split second, then back to the screen. “I’m working on it,” he murmured. “Just… give me a moment.”

Renji clicked his tongue. “The guy can hack into a locked-down government facility but needs a ‘moment’ to check some logs? You’re slippin’, doc.”

Kisaragi adjusted his glasses, a small smile playing on his lips. “Some things take time.”

The words felt strange. Too calculated. But no one questioned it.

Aoi exhaled. “I just want to be done with all of this. It’s like the deeper we go, the worse it gets.”

Natsuki gave her a tired glance. “That’s because it is.”

Haruki studied Kisaragi’s back as the scientist continued typing. Something felt off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Maybe it was the way his shoulders were too relaxed. Maybe it was the way his voice held no urgency, even though they were still being hunted.

A flicker of movement caught Haruki’s eye. Kisaragi’s hand, barely noticeable, sliding something small from his sleeve into his palm.

Haruki’s instincts screamed—

Too late.

A sharp, deafening bang shattered the silence.

Renji jerked violently before collapsing, blood blooming across his chest. Aoi let out a strangled cry as she stumbled backward, hands flying to her mouth. Natsuki had barely gotten to her feet before the second gunshot rang out, the bullet ripping through her skull.

She hit the ground without a sound.

Haruki moved on instinct, lunging at Kisaragi, but his vision blurred as pain exploded in his stomach. He staggered, looking down to see blood spilling from a gunshot wound.

He could hear Aoi’s sobs, her breath hitching, her fear tangible.

Kisaragi turned toward her, his gun still warm from the shots. His face was calm. Cold.

“Kisaragi—” Haruki choked, his body refusing to move the way he wanted.

The scientist gave him a glance, almost as if he pitied him. “You should’ve figured it out sooner.”

Aoi scrambled away, her back hitting the wall. “Why? Why are you doing this? We trusted you!”

Kisaragi sighed. “You trusted me because you had no choice.”

Haruki gritted his teeth, pushing himself up despite the pain. “So what, you were working for Kain this whole time?”

Kisaragi smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Not the whole time. Only when it mattered.”

Haruki’s fingers twitched toward his knife, but before he could reach it, Kisaragi moved. Another gunshot.

Aoi gasped, her body jolting before she crumpled, a red stain spreading across her side. She whimpered, her breaths ragged, her fingers weakly clutching at the wound.

Haruki felt something inside him snap. He didn’t think. Didn’t hesitate. He lunged, ignoring the pain, grabbing Kisaragi by the collar. But the scientist was faster, stepping aside smoothly, sending a brutal punch to the back of Haruki’s skull.

Darkness crashed over him.

The last thing he heard was Kisaragi’s voice, quiet and distant.

“Sleep, Haruki. You won’t die. Not yet.”

Then, nothing.

Haruki woke to the scent of rust and dust. His body ached, every nerve screaming in protest as he shifted. His vision swam before settling into focus.

He was alone.

Aoi, Renji, Natsuki—gone.

Blood stained the cold floor.

He forced himself up, nearly collapsing again as dizziness washed over him. His mind spun, fragments of the last moments replaying like a broken record. Kisaragi. The betrayal. The gunshots.

A deep, suffocating rage burned in his chest.

He clenched his fists, breathing heavily. Kisaragi had played them. Led them straight to their deaths.

And now, he was gone.

Haruki looked toward the shattered security console. The screen flickered weakly, a single message left on it.

Don’t follow me. You won’t win.

Haruki stared at the words, his pulse steady, cold.

Then, he turned away.

Kisaragi had underestimated one thing.

Haruki never stopped fighting.

Even if it killed him.

To be continued...