Into the mouth of darkness

Smoke rises. The sky burns deep blue.
Inside a house near the edge of the village, Ren breathes fast, frozen in fear.
Suddenly—he hears whispers.
Not from people.
From shadows.
They coil under doors, behind walls, in cracks of wood. Their voices seep in like poison.
“He knows.” “He followed us.” “Kill them all. Burn the rest.”
Ren runs towards the village.
He runs to find his brother.
[Scene: Kujo’s Room]
Ren bursts in.
Kujo (age 17) is covered in blood, one arm hanging limp, barely breathing.
A shadow demon is over him, fangs sunk into his chest.
Ren screams — charges forward with an axe — slams it down with all his strength.
The demon’s head splits. Black smoke pours out.
Ren grabs Kujo and runs.
Scene: Forest Path – Hours Later
Ren carries Kujo on his back. Blood drips from Kujo’s mouth. Snow keeps falling.
Ren’s legs shake. His breath rasps.
Still — he keeps walking.
Hours pass.
Nothing but trees, wind, silence.
Then… a light.
A tent.
Mysterious Tent – Outskirts of Nowhere
An old man opens the flap.
Old Man:
“Finally. I was waiting for you two.”
Ren drops to his knees, confused, panting.
Ren:“How… do you know our names?”
Old Man:“No time. Your brother’s dying. Bring him inside.”
Inside: warmth. Fire crackles. A kettle whistles.
The old man wraps Kujo in thick bandages. His breathing slows. His eyes barely open.
Then Ren collapses.
Hours Later – Inside the Tent
Ren wakes up on a blanket. His clothes are dry.
A bowl of food sits in front of him. The old man stirs a pot.
Old Man:“Eat. Before it gets cold.”
Kujo sits nearby, awake now. Weak, but alive.
Ren:“Thank you…”
They eat in silence for a moment.
Then:
Ren:
“You knew we were coming. Who are you?”
Old Man (quietly):
“Someone who lost everything. My wife… my two daughters… they died screaming. Ripped apart. Right in front of me.”
He stares into the fire.
Old Man:“The shadow demons don’t kill for hunger. They kill to erase. To make people disappear until nobody remembers they existed.”
Ren clenches his fists.
Kujo coughs blood, but manages to speak:
Kujo: “Why us?”
Old Man: “Because you're alive. And they hate that.”