Cell

Even though the tendrils looked insubstantial, they bleed dark liquid as they were stabbed, retreating with a shrill noise. Bai Rong was panting as she wiped the black sludge from her face with the back of her hand.

“I just want to know what you are,” she said. “Won’t you show yourself properly?”

The shadow rushed out again, and a stinging pain shot through Naoya’s eye directly into his brain. He curled into himself, almost falling off the table, but Aki held him up. The smoke tried to attack him, but it bounced off an invisible barrier.

“I want to study you more each day, you must know that,” Bai Rong said.

“Concentrate,” Aki spat back.

“Fine, fine.”

Aki pulled Naoya’s hands away from his head before he could claw his own eye out. Tears were streaming over his cheeks, and even his left eye was burning. The world flashed in front of him, flickering between the orange glow of the lanterns and the purple hue of that other realm. He could hear Aki groan, just as Bai Rong shouted something and the very air around them seemed to burn.

Then, as soon as it started, it ended. Aki held Naoya close to his chest, the energy from his body directly flowing into Naoya’s eye, soothing the pain. Naoya shivered in Aki’s arms, clinging to him like a lifeline. His whole body was cold and stiff. It felt alien. He sobbed as the pain burned itself into his skull like a hot nail.

“Are you alright?” Aki asked, his voice full of concern for the first time.

Naoya exhaled shakily. He didn’t dare open his eyes, but the immediate burning sensation was fading. With some shame, he realised that he was still clinging to Aki like a frightened child, but the thought of letting go felt even worse.

He felt hands on his head, and then a piece of cloth was wrapped around his eyes, covering both.

“That went about as bad as it could have,” Bai Rong mumbled. “What did you bring to me?”

“I don’t know. But I couldn’t leave him there.”

“No, you couldn’t. You shouldn’t. But that… it ruined my coat!”

Naoya dug both hands into the cloth of his trousers. Everything hurt. He couldn’t see. He was locked in here with… that curse in his head. With whatever that was…

“I’m scared…” he whispered—a confession.

A hand found his. It must have been Aki.

“I know. I’m sorry,” he said.

It was so far removed from how Aki had behaved before, it actually distracted Naoya from his fear, if only a little. He held Aki’s hand like an anchor.

“Sorry, Naoya-kun,” Bai Rong said. “It wasn’t supposed to go this way. But the curse is of a higher level than we normally get here. That must have been why it allowed you to see into the Deadrealm.”

“And what now?” Aki asked.

“I took a sample from the burnt paper. Give me a few days and I’ll have the type of curse figured out. We get rid of it then, and everything’s back to normal.”

“Days?” Naoya whispered.

“Sorry, boy. Just bad luck,” Bai Rong said and patted his head. “Aki, bring him to one of the cells with reinforcement.”

“Can you stand?”

Naoya shook his head. He couldn’t do… Cell? What?

“Are you going to lock me up?” he asked.

“For your own safety. The curse shouldn’t be able to activate once you’re in the cell. It’s reinforced with talismans in the wall. We’re not monsters. It’s called a cell, but it’s more of a hotel room. I’m sure Aki will be so nice to bring you food three times a day. Ruri has named you Naoya’s minder, after all.”

Aki made an unhappy, grumbling noise. But a moment later, he had scooped up Naoya into his arms and princess-carried him away.

“Don’t be a stranger, darling!” Bai Rong yelled after them.

Naoya was frozen in fear. Here he was, being carried off by someone he didn’t even know, about to be locked up, and worse, he couldn’t even see any of it. Aki’s heavy boots echoed in the hallway as he walked, and then he stopped, opened a door. The footstep noise changed from cement to wood, and soon Naoya was set down on a soft surface. A bed? It felt like one.

“Wait here for a moment. I’m going to get stuff for your wounds from Bai Rong. And food.”

And then he was gone. Naoya was left alone in a silent room that smelled of chemical cleaner. He drew his legs up and shrank into

himself. Time passed, waiting for the footsteps to return. Naoya didn’t dare move from his spot. Thoughts were circling in his head, but none of them was actually helping.

Finally, after a lifetime, Aki returned. Naoya heard him put some things down, and then the bed next to him moved as Aki sat down.

“Bai Rong gave me some cream to rub on your eyes and told me to bandage both for the night, just to be sure. If they stop hurting tomorrow morning, you can uncover the left one, but the right must stay closed.”

“Why?”

“It’s hard to explain if you don’t know what we do… but you remember the purple world we were in? Okay. That’s the Deadrealm. There’s a barrier between the living world and the Deadrealm. Sometimes it ruptures. Bai Rong says the curse on your eye could provoke a rift. Attract ghosts.”

“Like that thing that wanted to… take my eye?”

“Yeah. I’m going to take the bandage off now. Don’t open your eyes.”

Naoya nodded. He didn’t want to have any more of these things close either. Aki produced a wet cloth from somewhere and wiped Naoya’s face carefully. It felt so good, fresh and clean, that Naoya sighed and leaned into the touch. The cream was cold on his eyelids, but he welcomed it.

“I brought some food… should I lead you to the table?”

“Please. Thank you.”

He accepted Aki’s hand and followed him until he touched the chair and felt his way along the offerings. Aki explained them to him and helped Naoya find his way.

“Why are you so nice to me all of a sudden?”

“I’m sorry… My… that other form in the Deadrealm. She’s always angry. Rash. Unreasonable. Her emotions bleed over even when I turn back. But when I saw you that scared earlier… I realised I’d been too harsh on you.”

“Huh.”

Aki punched his arm. “Don’t huh me. It is what it is. I’m actually a pretty nice guy.”

“A nice guy and an angry woman?”

“It’s complicated.”

Naoya hummed. He reached for another piece of karaage and popped it into his mouth. It was still warm and satisfyingly salty. He heard Aki sneak a few bites too as he finished off the food. With the full feeling came some sort of peace. He leaned back in the chair.

“It’s only mid-day, but Bai Rong suggested you sleep. I can imagine you’re quite tired.”

“I… yes, actually.”

“Good. Then undress.”

“… … … What?”