Chapter 27: — “Demons Hut” — (Season 1 Episode 11) — [THE END IS NEAR]

The clock ticked softly in the living room.

Its sound was steady, but to Riku it felt louder than thunder.

He sat on the couch, hunched forward, his pen tapping against the notebook that sat useless in his lap.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

He didn’t even realize how long he had been doing it. His eyes stared at the half-written words on the page, though his mind wasn’t on them at all.

It was on yesterday.

On the fire.

On those glowing red eyes.

Riku’s hand trembled slightly. He tightened his grip around the pen, his heart pounding like the demon might appear again at any moment. Sleep had been impossible. Every time he closed his eyes, the memory flashed back sharper than before.

A quiet creak made him flinch.

He snapped his head up, only to see Akari step into the living room, her long hair falling over her shoulders, her expression unreadable as usual.

“You’re still awake,” she said calmly.

Her voice wasn’t surprised, more like she had expected this.

Riku let out a shaky breath. “…Yeah. Like I could sleep after that.”

Akari crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. Her sharp golden eyes studied him in silence, then she spoke.

“You saw it. The heat. The eyes. That wasn’t your imagination.”

Riku swallowed hard, the pen clattering from his hand onto the notebook. “Yeah... I know.”

“I know it’s real,” Akari replied flatly. “And I think I know where it’s coming from.”

Riku blinked, sitting up straighter. “What do you mean?”

“There’s a hut. Old. Abandoned. On the edge of the forest,” Akari explained, her tone low. “It’s been avoided for years… people whisper about curses. If the demon is nearby, that’s where the signs will be.”

The blood drained from Riku’s face. “You want me to go there? At midnight?”

“You want to keep waiting until it comes to you instead?” Akari countered sharply. “If we don’t find it first, it will find you. And next time, Mika might be caught in it too.”

Riku’s jaw tightened. His first instinct was to say no. To lock the doors. To never step outside again. But… she was right. If he kept running, he’d just put Mika in more danger.

“…Damn it,” he muttered, pressing a hand against his forehead. “Fine. But if I die, it’s your fault.”

Akari’s lips curved slightly, not quite a smile, but something close. “If you die, then I wasn’t strong enough. I won’t let that happen.”

They both turned their heads at the same time when a faint sound drifted from upstairs, Mika shifting in her sleep.

The two froze for a moment, listening.

But no footsteps followed.

“…She’s asleep,” Akari said quietly. “We’ll keep it that way.”

Riku stood, grabbing his jacket from the arm of the couch. He cast one last glance toward the staircase, unease clawing at his chest. 

“If she finds out we left—”

“She won’t,” Akari cut him off. “Not tonight.”

With that, the two slipped silently out the door.

The night air was cold, sharp against Riku’s skin. The streets were empty, lamps glowing faintly in the mist. He shivered, though he wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or fear.

Akari walked ahead, steady, confident. Riku followed, his heart racing with every step.

The closer they got to the edge of the forest, the darker the path became, the lamps thinning until only moonlight guided them.

And then he saw it.

The hut.

Crouched between trees, old wood rotting, windows cracked like broken eyes.

Riku froze in place, his breath hitching. “T-That’s it…?”

“Yes,” Akari said firmly. She didn’t slow down. “Stay close. Look for anything unusual. Evidence. Traces of the demon.”

Riku forced his legs to move, though every step screamed to turn back.

As they circled the hut, the night grew heavier. The silence felt unnatural, like the air itself was holding its breath.

Riku swallowed, glancing at the shadows. “I already hate this…”

Akari’s hand brushed against the wooden wall of the hut, her eyes narrowing. “…Good. That means your instincts are working. Keep them sharp.”

Together, they stepped deeper into the darkness, the hunt for answers beginning.

The inside of the hut smelled like mold and dust.

Every step made the wooden floor creak, like the whole place might collapse under them.
But it wasn’t empty.

Pinned across the walls were papers, old, yellowed sheets, scattered drawings, and messy notes. Some looked freshly written.

Riku leaned in, his hand trembling as he touched one of the papers. “What… the hell is this?”

One sketch showed a figure engulfed in flames, eyes glowing bright red. Another showed symbols, spirals drawn over human shapes, like targets. Others were stranger — diagrams of bones, hearts, even black shapes that looked like shadows.

Akari’s eyes narrowed as she scanned them. “These are rituals. Summoning patterns. Whoever did this… they’re not human.”

Riku’s mouth felt dry. His gaze locked on one drawing in particular. It looked like him. Or close enough to twist his stomach. A boy with messy black hair, shadow-like flames curling around his body.

“…This can’t be real,” he whispered, his chest tightening. “Why is this here?”

Akari stayed quiet. Her lips pressed into a thin line as if she already knew but didn’t want to say it.

Riku turned away, but it only got worse.
Scattered across the table were scribbled notes: “The vessel must break before the flame awakens.”

Another page: “Seventh fire. Crimson eyes. The hunter turns prey.”

His blood boiled as he flipped through them. His fingers dug into the paper, nearly tearing it.
Every line made his panic swell, and his throat tightened.

“This is insane,” he muttered, clutching his head. “This is seriously—”

The floor suddenly gave way beneath his feet.

“Riku!” Akari shouted, reaching for him, but the wood snapped apart.

He fell hard, his body slamming into damp dirt below. The air was knocked from his lungs, his side aching from the impact. Above him, the hole closed, cutting him off from Akari’s voice.

“Akari!” Riku scrambled to his feet, his voice cracking as it echoed against stone walls. “Akari! Can you hear me!?”

Silence. Just his own frantic breathing.

The basement air was thick and wet, carrying the faint smell of rust and ash. Riku wiped dirt from his hands and stumbled forward. His eyes caught on a crooked sign nailed against the wall.

EXIT →

Riku let out a shaky laugh, almost bitter. “Yeah, right… Sure. Just walk to the exit.”

He stepped toward it—

Shk!

Spikes shot up from the floor, barely missing his chest. He froze, his knees buckling. His breath caught in his throat.

“…You’ve gotta be kidding me,” he whispered, his hands trembling.

His eyes darted forward. The hallway stretched long and dark, and now he saw it, faint glints of metal, thin holes carved in the walls, scorched patches across the floor.
Traps. Dozens of them.

Riku pressed his fist to his mouth, trying to steady his breathing. “Okay… just don’t die. Just, don’t die, Riku.”

And then he ran.

The ground groaned, and spikes snapped upward, forcing him to leap aside.
Thhhwip! Arrows launched from hidden slits, tearing past his face.
One grazed his cheek, cutting a thin line that stung instantly.

He shouted in panic, his voice breaking. “AHHHHHH!”

The walls hissed, and fire burst out across the floor, forcing him to roll to the side. Heat scorched his arm, and the smell of burnt fabric filled his nose.

His legs pumped, his chest burned, but the traps weren’t stopping. They were speeding up.
Spikes, arrows, blades, fire — one after another.

“Please... please let me live!” Riku screamed, tears stinging his eyes.

He wasn’t even thinking anymore. His body just moved, stumbling and diving, scraping his arms and legs against the floor. His breaths came out as sharp cries, fear choking every word.

And then—

From the wall just ahead, a hidden panel slid open. An arrow shot forward with perfect precision, aimed straight for his chest. He froze, too late to dodge.

“NO!”

The arrow stopped inches from his body, quivering in the air.

Riku blinked, his whole body trembling, sweat dripping down his jaw. Slowly, his eyes turned, and there she was.

Akari stood at the end of the hallway, her arm outstretched, hand glowing with faint blue light. Her spell held the arrow frozen mid-air.

Her eyes locked on his. “Riku. Move!”

His legs barely worked, but he pushed himself forward, stumbling past the suspended arrow. It dissolved into smoke as he reached her side, collapsing against the wall, gasping for air.

Akari’s hands gripped his shoulders tightly. “Are you hurt?”

“I—” His voice broke, panting too hard to speak. He forced himself to nod, though his whole body shook. “…Just scared out of my mind.”

Akari’s gaze softened, but only for a moment. She gave a firm nod. “Fear means you’re alive. Hold on to it. Stay alive.”

Riku squeezed his eyes shut, trying to catch his breath. His shirt clung to his skin, drenched in sweat, his hands still trembling from the close call.

“Come on,” Akari said, keeping her grip on him as if he might collapse again. “We’re getting out of here.”

Together, they climbed the narrow stairs back into the hut.
The door creaked shut behind them, sealing the traps below.

Riku’s legs felt like jelly, but at least he wasn’t alone anymore.

The upstairs air felt heavier than before, as if the walls themselves had been holding their breath. Dust swirled in the thin light from Akari’s lantern, the silence pressing down on them.

Riku wiped sweat from his forehead, still shaky after the basement ordeal. His eyes flicked across more scraps of paper on a crooked desk, trying to distract himself. Most of them were useless scribbles, but one caught his attention.

A faded picture, rough but deliberate, a flame-shaped symbol etched in black ink. Its shape curled like a claw, sharp edges burning into the page.

Riku frowned, leaning closer. “What… is this supposed to mean—?”

A voice snapped through the silence, sharp and furious.

“WHAT are you two doing here!?”

Riku froze, the blood draining from his face.
He turned slowly, and there she was.

Mika stood in the doorway, her arms crossed tightly, her eyes burning with anger and something else underneath. 

Her voice shook as she yelled again, “Why are you outside… in this creepy hut… at midnight!?”

“...Mika?” Riku whispered, disbelief hitting him.

Akari blinked, her lips parting. “You followed us…?”

Riku stepped forward, his voice rising in frustration. “How the hell did you even find us out here!?”

Mika’s cheeks flushed red, her eyes darting away for a split second before she answered. “…Because I put Find My Phone on your phone. It syncs with mine. So if something happened to you, I’d know.”

Riku’s stomach dropped. His eyes widened, his voice cracking louder than he meant. “You WHAT!?”

Mika’s face burned brighter. “I only did it after I found out about the demon chasing you! I was scared, okay!? You’re reckless, you keep running headfirst into danger, and you don’t even think about what happens if you—if you—” Her voice caught in her throat, trembling. “If you die…”

Riku’s hands clenched into fists, anger flaring hot in his chest. “So you just decided to track me like I’m some… some child!? Without even telling me!?”

“I was trying to protect you!” Mika shot back, her voice cracking.

“I don’t need you sneaking behind my back! You don’t get to make that choice for me!” Riku’s shout echoed through the hollow hut, sharp enough to make the walls shake.

Mika flinched, biting her lip. She lowered her head, her voice small now. “…I’m sorry, Riku. I really am. I just… didn’t want to lose you.”

The anger in his chest burned hotter, but the sight of her trembling softened it just enough. He dragged in a shaky breath, rubbing his face with both hands. His voice came out low, ragged. “Dammit… Mika…”

Akari finally stepped between them, her tone steady but firm. “Enough. Both of you. We don’t have time for this.” She looked at Riku, then at Mika. “If we fight each other, we’re giving the demon exactly what it wants. Do you understand?”

Riku exhaled slowly through his nose, nodding reluctantly. Mika gave a tiny nod too, wiping her eyes quickly with the back of her sleeve.

“Good,” Akari said, softening her tone. She turned to Mika. “You stay with me. Don’t leave my side, no matter what.”

Mika swallowed hard but nodded again. “…Okay.”

Akari glanced back at Riku, her expression unreadable. “Check the room next to you. We’ll look in the other one. If there’s more evidence, we need to find it before the trail goes cold.”

Riku met her eyes for a moment, then gave a small, wordless nod. His chest still felt tight, but he forced his legs to move.

He pushed open the door beside him, the hinges groaning loudly as the darkness inside seemed to swallow him whole.

The door slammed shut behind Riku with a hollow thud.

At first, he thought it was just another empty room. But it was more than that.

Papers. Dozens of them. Floating mid-air as if caught in a wind that wasn’t there. They circled lazily, some folding, some crumpling, but never falling to the floor. The air around him pulsed with an invisible pressure, heavy enough to make his chest ache.

Riku’s breath caught in his throat. This… isn’t normal. None of this is normal.

The silence pressed down harder, until a low voice broke it.

“You really came all this way.”

Riku spun around, heart slamming in his chest. And there he was.

The same dark figure. The same empty, piercing eyes he had seen yesterday after school. Standing in the corner like he had always been there. The demon.

Riku stumbled back, his voice breaking into a yell. “Why!? Why the hell are you after me!? What do you want from me!?”

The figure tilted his head slightly, unmoving, unblinking. His voice was calm, almost bored, but sharp enough to cut through bone.

“…Because you don’t belong here.”

Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, his form melted into smoke, vanishing into the air.

Riku’s chest tightened. His breaths came too fast, too shallow. His vision blurred at the edges. 

No, no, no, no… 

He staggered back, nearly collapsing. His knees shook as he fought to steady himself, panic clawing at his lungs.

Something stirred. The walls themselves seemed to breathe, releasing black figures that slid into the room.

Figures in the shadows. Dark, formless bodies peeling away from the walls and ceiling. Dozens of them. The room seemed to stretch wider, darker, as the shapes floated forward, slow and inevitable.

Riku’s stomach lurched. His pulse screamed at him to run. But something inside him snapped.

“No… enough!” he roared, his voice cracking with desperation.

He lunged at the nearest shadow, tackling it to the ground. His fists moved on instinct, pounding, slamming, again and again until the figure twisted apart into smoke and vanished.

His chest heaved, sweat dripping down his face. His eyes went wide. 

It worked… I killed it.

Another shadow slid toward him. He didn’t hesitate. He kicked it square in the chest, the impact shaking the ground, before grabbing its head and slamming it down hard. It burst apart in seconds.

One after another, they closed in, and one after another, he tore them apart. His fists cracked like thunder, his legs whipping like steel. Every blow felt heavier than the last, every strike more brutal, until the shadows stood no chance.

“I WON’T DIE HERE!” Riku screamed, driving his fist through another one. “You hear me!? YOU WON’T STOP ME!”

Something pulsed under his skin.

He froze for just a moment, staring down at his arm.

It was glowing. A faint but violent purple light rippling across his veins, sparking like static. His muscles burned, but the pain only fueled the fire rising inside him. His breathing slowed, his fear drowned out by something else, raw power.

More shadows peeled from the walls, filling the edges of the room, circling him slowly like predators ready to pounce.

Riku straightened, his fists clenched, his eyes narrowing into a furious glare.

“Come on…” he growled, his voice low and trembling with rage.

The shadows floated closer, silent, endless.

Purple sparks snapped across his arm as he raised his fists.

And then—