05

She barely noticed the soft scraping sound coming from the far corner of the room. It was faint, barely audible beneath the sound of her frantic heartbeat, but something was there.

Her eyes darted to the wall, just as a small crack appeared, widening slowly. The wood of the house groaned, and a loose section of wallboard fell away, revealing a narrow hole, too small for a person to fit through… unless they were small and nimble.

Juno's breath caught as a familiar, violet eye peeked through the hole.

Ain.

His head was tilted slightly, his usual smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, though there was an edge to it that Juno had never seen before.

He slithered through the hole, his body contorting and wriggling as he emerged into the room with ease. “Well, this is a fine mess," he muttered, tone annoyed.

Ain gave himself a shake, particles of dust flying off as he did. “Don’t mind me,” he said, light but serious. “Just thought I’d pop in, since it’s not like they’re really keeping you here, right?”

Juno looked at him, her expression a mixture of relief and disbelief. She had no idea how he’d managed to find a way in, but she was glad he had. She had thought she might have to wait hours, or worse, days, before someone came to help.

“I was starting to think I wouldn't see you again,” she muttered.

Ain let out a soft chuckle, moving closer. “Oh no. Wouldn’t dream of it. Though, you’ve been quite the topic of conversation.” He paused. “Sereph... He’s really interested in you, huh?”

Juno’s face paled at the mention of the demon. “He’s a freak,” she spat. “I don’t know what his problem is, but I don’t like it.”

Ain stepped closer, his violet eyes studying her carefully. His usual playful demeanor had shifted, his gaze turning almost… serious. “He’s got a plan. And it involves you.” Ain leaned in. “He’s not just playing around. He wants you for something… and I’m not sure you’re going to like what it is.”

Juno slumped against the wall, her mind racing, but she tried to stay calm. "What are we going to do, Ain?"

Ain grinned, a small, sly smirk. “We get you out of here, obviously,” Ain replied, glancing at the hole. “But we’ll have to be careful. It’s not just Sereph we need to worry about. This house is full of them. So, we wait for the right moment.”

Juno nodded, grateful for Ain’s presence, but the weight of Sereph’s words lingered in her mind.

She looked around the room, but there was no obvious way out. The walls were bare, and the only furniture was a rickety old table and a chair. She tried to think about their next move instead of panicking. Staying focused was the only way out.

“Look at you acting like a big girl,” Ain said with a grin.

Juno shot him a look, half-exasperated, half-grateful. Ain leapt onto the table, studying her face.

His grin never wavered. “You really have got some guts, huh? I’ve seen grown men piss themselves in less scary situations.”

His comment made her smile but she looked away. Ain chuckled, his tail flicking back and forth. "Ah, don’t worry too much. This is just routine work for me.”

Juno’s brow furrowed slightly. “You say that like you’ve been in this exact scenario before.”

“Well, maybe not exactly this one," Ain admitted with a smirk. "But I’ve been in enough tight spots to know things always have a way of shifting."

Juno exhaled through her nose, not entirely comforted. "I don't want to sit around waiting for something to change. If we’re getting out of here, we need to do something."

Ain's ears twitched, and he gave her an approving nod. "Not a bad mindset, I'll give you that." He leaned back slightly, studying their surroundings. "Though you do realize they probably won't kill you, right? That changes our options.”

Juno narrowed her eyes. "And how would you know that?"

Ain’s expression darkened just a bit. "Because of Gin. You think it was a coincidence that Sereph picked up on his scent? You’ve been around him enough that it’s practically soaked into you. And trust me, these people don’t forget a scent like that." He paused, eyes gleaming. "Especially not someone like Gin."

Juno clenched her fists. “So what? Does that mean I’m just some kind of leverage to them now?”

Ain shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe they’re just curious why someone like you would be hanging around someone like him. Either way, that probably buys us time.”

Juno swallowed hard, unsure whether to feel relieved or even more uneasy. She knew nothing about Gin’s past, but if his reputation was enough to keep her alive, she wasn’t sure what that said about him or about what might happen next.

Ain chuckled, and they started to look around, studying the surroundings closely. She couldn't see much in the dark, and everything in the room seemed useless. Juno glanced around, her eyes landing on the only thing illuminated enough: the small window high up on one wall. An idea sparked in her mind. "Ain, come here," she whispered urgently, motioning for the cat to join her.

Ain padded over, his violet eyes questioning. Juno knelt down and cupped her hands together. "I think you can fit through that window," she said. "I'll lift you up so you can take a look outside."

Ain tilted his head, considering her plan. "Alrighty, let's give it a shot."

Juno lifted Ain, holding him steady as he peered through the window. He was small, soft, and light. He sniffed the air, his ears twitching as he assessed their surroundings. She was surprised by how easily he fit through the gap.

“Well, you got a good eye, I’ll give you that. And I can't see any guards outside…” He continued to sniff the air, trying to discern any smells coming from outside.

A small flicker of hope ignited within Juno's chest as Ain confirmed that the coast was clear. She swallowed, her throat dry. “Good. Okay, great. At least there's a chance of escape.” She paused, a frown etched upon her face. “But I can't go with you...”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right… You're not exactly built for squeezing through tight spaces, are you?” He chuckled lightly, his smirk returning to his face, but noticed her frown deepening in concern. “Hey, don’t get so gloomy on me, I’ll figure something out, aight?”

He left her hands to step on the small gap the window had and turned toward her.

“You're not gonna leave me here, right?” She was scared, even if she tried to hide it, and being left there without Ain made her stress even more.

Ain's eyes widened in surprise. “What, leave you here to those idiots? As if!” He smiled more genuinely now. “I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a coward. You're stuck with me, darlin’.” His tone was surprisingly warm and reassuring for the cheeky cat.

Juno let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Ain's words were surprisingly soothing, calming the rapid beat of her heart just a bit. She still didn't think she could escape herself, but knowing she wouldn't be left behind made things slightly less dire.

“Okay, Ain. Be careful out there.”

Ain gave her a final nod before squeezing through the window. He dropped down to the ground outside and quickly disappeared from her sight. Juno sat back, the room feeling even more oppressive now.

Her hand slipped into her pockets, and she froze at the cold touch of metal. Her fingers brushed against the familiar shape of the knife she had taken from Gin’s boat. A small spark of hope flickered in her chest. If there was one thing she could control right now, it was this.

The door was her only way out. She approached it cautiously, then pressed her ear against the old wood, straining to hear anything from the outside. The faint sounds of commotion reached her, Ain was certainly causing some trouble out there, and that could work to her advantage.

Gripping the knife tightly, she began working at the door’s hinges. The blade slid between the metal and the frame, the rusted metal scraping in protest. Her hands trembled slightly, but she ignored the shaking. The quiet, rhythmic motion of prying the hinge apart focused her mind, drowning out the fear and panic that kept creeping in.

A soft snap sounded as the top hinge gave way. Juno exhaled, moving quickly to the lower hinge. The pressure on her wrists grew as she worked, but the satisfaction of seeing the hinge finally break free pushed her onward. The door creaked as it shifted slightly, and Juno squeezed through the small gap she'd made.

The hallway outside was illuminated by flickering lanterns. She could make out the shapes of more doors, and a staircase leading down. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she took a deep breath, her determination driving her forward.

Just as she reached the stairs, she heard shouts from the other side of the house; Ain’s distraction was working. Her goal was clear: find her way out and reunite with him.

As she descended the stairs, the sound of the demons' voices grew louder, and the tension in her chest tightened. But Juno refused to let fear take over. She had come too far to turn back now. With every step, she weaved through the dark hallways, narrowly avoiding a few close calls with the demons searching the house.

She entered the new room, her heart pounding in her chest as she took careful steps. She scanned the area quickly and nothing seemed out of place. The room was quiet, so she moved farther in, her eyes darting to the corners, making sure there were no surprises waiting for her.

Suddenly, a deep, guttural breath broke the silence, and Juno spun around, a scream died in her throat. The large demon was right behind her. Its beady eyes gleamed with malice, and before she could react, it lunged toward her, its massive hands reaching for her.

Juno’s heart raced, a panic creeping up her spine. This isn’t good. I don’t know how to fight.

Instinct took over as she raised the knife, her hand trembling with fear. But the demon grabbed her wrist in an iron grip, twisting it painfully, causing her to gasp. The knife slipped from her hand, hitting the floor. She cried out, trying to free herself from its grip, but the demon’s hold was too strong.

In desperation, Juno shoved her foot against the demon’s leg and kicked with all her might. The demon growled and staggered backward just enough to give her a chance to move. As it charged at her again, she ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding it. The demon crashed into the floor, momentarily stunned.

Juno didn’t waste a second. Her eyes scanned the room quickly, landing on a heavy vase resting on a nearby table. Her pulse was hammering in her ears as she lunged for it, her fingers wrapping around the cold ceramic. She swung it down with all her strength, the vase shattering against the demon's skull.

The demon crumpled to the ground, unmoving. Juno stood there for a moment, her chest heaving as the adrenaline flooded her system. Her hands were still shaking from the encounter, but the silence in the room was deafening. She swallowed hard, her heart still racing, staring at the knocked-out demon while trying to catch her breath, leaning against the wall.

Then, shaking off the fear, she turned toward the door, her goal clear; she had to find Ain and get out of this place.

Navigating through the hallways, she finally found a back door. She pushed it open and stepped into the night air.

As she went outside, she started scanning the area for the cat while rubbing her wrist, which was in pain. She walked around the place that was just trees and some old, discarded items. Suddenly, a small figure quickly descended the branches of a tree and landed gracefully on the soft grass below.

"Ain… you're okay," she said in relief, feeling a bit calmer now after the scary fight with the demon.

"Can't say the same about you. Did you get run over by a truck?" he padded over to her, his tail swishing happily.

"Yeah, kinda." She crouched down to get closer to the cat and petted his head in relief. "We should go now before anyone—"

A dagger flew in their direction, slicing the air right between their faces. Juno felt the sharp rush of air from the weapon's passage, making her slowly turn her head around, her eyes wide in surprise. She stood up and backed away.

"Going somewhere?" Sereph emerged from the shadows, looking disheveled, with a few scratches and his clothes slightly torn. A thin line of blood trickled from a small cut above his eye. "That was a cute little trick back there, Time Devil. Real fucking cute."

Juno's breath hitched as she instinctively reached for her knife only to realize she had dropped it during the struggle inside. Damn it. Her fingers curled into fists as she took a step back.

Ain's ears flattened, his violet eyes narrowing. "Yeesh, Sereph, you look like someone threw you through a meat grinder. What happened? Trip over your own ego?" His tail flicked, but there was tension in his stance.

Sereph let out a laugh that sounded more like a bark, wild and unhinged. He touched the small cut on his face, his hand shaking slightly with rage. "Trip over my ego?" His voice cracked on the words. "Your little pet here thinks he's so clever. So fucking smart with his little games."

Think, think, think. Running wasn't an option; Sereph was fast, and she was already exhausted. Fighting him head-on? Even worse. Ain, however, was as smug as ever. He licked his paw, completely unfazed.

"Oof. Sounds like a you problem." He flicked his eyes toward Juno. "Hey, do me a favor? Next time, let's not get caught, yeah?"

"Shut up!" Sereph's voice pitched higher, more desperate than angry. Another dagger materialized in his trembling hand. "Just shut the hell up! You think you're so clever, don't you?" He took a staggering step forward, his movements erratic. "Playing your little tricks, making me look like an idiot. Well guess what? I'm done playing games."

Ain's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond immediately. He let Sereph's words hang in the air, the desperation behind them more cutting than any insult.

Juno wasn't about to let this continue, so she stepped forward. "Please, we just want to leave," she said, her voice steady. She didn't back down, not even an inch. "Can't you let us go?"

Sereph's laugh turned hysterical, his eyes too wide. "Leave?" Spittle flew from his lips. "After you made me look like a complete failure?" His grip on the dagger was so tight his knuckles had gone white. "And that scent of yours... you think I'll just let you walk away?"

Before Juno could respond, the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps shattered the stillness. The forest seemed to close in on them as dozens of demons emerged from the shadows, their eyes glinting in the darkness. They surrounded the pair, cutting off every possible escape.

Ain's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly recovered his composure. "Man, you guys are really bringing the whole circus, huh?"

Sereph's manic grin stretched wider, his whole body vibrating with desperate energy. "See? See what happens when you mess with me? When you think you can outsmart me?" His voice was getting shriller by the second. "I don't know what kind of trick you pulled, but it ends here."

Juno’s eyes flicked to Ain, who met her gaze with a fierce, unspoken promise. He gave her a single, determined nod, this wasn’t over yet. But before either of them could make a move, a deep, chilling voice cut through the night.

The voice was dark, low, and smooth, reverberating through the air as if the very trees held their breath.

"Enough," the voice commanded, sharp and unwavering.

Juno’s heart skipped a beat as she turned toward the treeline. A figure stepped out of the shadows.

The demons hesitated, their movements faltering as uncertainty filled their eyes, a ripple of doubt spread through their ranks.