"Please! No! Don't—don't do this!" Kado screamed, his voice raw, hoarse, echoing against the cold stone walls. "I—I'm your nephew! Uncle! I'm begging you!"
He thrashed against the ropes that bound him to the altar rock, every muscle straining, trying to escape the unyielding grip.
Kenji's hands gripped him tighter. "Shut up, Kado. It's the only way. You know the rules."
"I don't care about your damn rules!" Kado spat, tears streaking his face. "I—I don't want to die! Please! I'll do anything, anything! Just—just don't—"
"You've done nothing to save yourself," Kenji said quietly, almost bored. "The curse doesn't care if you beg. It hungers, and so do I."
"No! Damn you! I'll scream, I'll—" Kado roared, pounding his fists against Kenji's chest. "I'll die screaming if I have to! I—"
Pain tore through him. Hot, jagged, impossible. His breath hitched, his body convulsed, and a strangled cry tore from his throat.
"Why?! Why are you doing this?! I—I trusted you!"
Kenji's expression didn't change. "Trust has nothing to do with survival. You're the sacrifice. The heir. And the curse wants what it wants."
"I—I curse you! Curse the house! Curse this—this stupid bloodline!" Kado screamed, the words raw, desperate, shaking through him. "I—I'll die screaming, but I—won't—be eaten! Damn you all! Damn the curse! Damn—"
A sudden, icy chill swept through the chamber, crawling across his skin like fingers of shadow. Kado shivered, heart hammering, sensing something watching him—not Kenji, something far older, far hungrier.
A sharp, tearing pain cut through his chest. Kado's scream shattered into a strangled gurgle as darkness clawed at the edges of his vision. The last thing he saw was Kenji's shadow looming above him, calm, unflinching.
And then—nothing.
---------------------
Screams tore across the field.
"Get away! Don't touch him—he's covered in blood!"
Villagers circled him, hands gripping hoes, sickles, and sticks. One man crouched and shook the boy roughly.
"Hey! Are you dead or alive?!"
Kado groaned weakly, chest burning, voice hoarse. His lips moved, but only a strangled sound came out.
"Is it… a boy? Or one of those beasts that turn into humans?"
another shouted, stepping closer, holding a wooden staff like a spear. Fear rippled through the group.
"No! Leave him! He's a boy!" the first man shouted, pushing others back.
A small voice cried from behind the crowd.
"Father! We have to help him!"
A fisherman pushed forward, Akira clinging to his sleeve. "Careful, Akira… stay behind me," he said, ignoring the villagers' murmurs.
"Wait!" one man barked. "Who are you, letting a stranger into the village? What if he brings trouble? We'll be punished!"
Another stepped forward, waving his hoe.
"Do you even know what you're carrying? It could be a cursed beast!"
The fisherman's eyes hardened. "He's a boy. Alive. He needs help. That's all."
The villagers muttered angrily, some stepping back, but most holding their weapons tightly, still suspicious.
Gently, the fisherman knelt beside Kado. His chest rose and fell unevenly. "He's alive… just barely," he murmured.
Akira gasped. "He… he's really alive?"
"Yes," her father said firmly, lifting Kado into his arms. "We'll take him inside. Keep him steady."
The villagers whispered among themselves, muttering threats and warnings. "If he brings trouble, it'll be on you!" one hissed.
"Let's go," the fisherman said, voice steady.
"It's not your concern. Just stay out of our way."
Akira clung to his sleeve as they moved quickly toward their house, Kado limp in his arms. Behind them, the villagers' distrust and fear lingered, weapons still half-raised, as if expecting disaster to follow.
Kado groaned, lips moving in quiet murmurs, eyes half-closed.
"He's awake!" Akira whispered, kneeling beside his small bed, scarf in hand. Her small face hovered close to his.
Her father's voice called from the doorway.
"Akira… go boil something for him to eat. Quickly."
Akira nodded and hurried to the hearth.
Kado's eyes followed her, chest trembling.
"How… how am I alive…? I felt… the axe… my heart… torn…" His voice cracked, shaking. "I… I saw… death…"
A moment later, Akira returned, holding a bowl of steaming soup. She knelt again beside him. "Here… eat," she said softly, leaning toward him.
"I'm fine," he rasped, voice hoarse. "I don't need this!"
She tried to guide the spoon toward his lips. Kado's eyes snapped open, voice sharp:
"No! Don't—don't force me!"
Startled, Akira froze. He slammed his hand down on the small bed, knocking the bowl; hot soup spilled across her clothes as she jumped back.
Kado gritted his teeth, clutching his chest, sweat slicking his brow. The pain stabbed through him like knives.
Her father rushed in, concern in his voice.
"What happened? Are you hurt?!"
Kado shook his head violently, sobbing. "Be… quiet!"
The man stepped closer. "You have to tell me—"
"Shut up! Just… shut up!" Kado barked, voice raw and desperate. He pressed his hand to his chest, biting his teeth against the pain. His body trembled violently with each heartbeat, reminding him of the wound that should have killed him.
He leaned back against the bed, struggling to breathe, eyes wide, chest heaving, trapped between disbelief and agony.
Kado's eyes snapped open, chest heaving, every breath burning.
"Kenji! That bastard… where is he?!" he shouted, voice raw, trembling with rage. "I—he—he tried to kill me!"
Akira froze, kneeling beside him, small hands hovering but unsure.
Her father stepped closer, voice firm but commanding. "Shh… quiet! Calm down!"
"I—safe? Safe? How am I even alive? He—he—" Kado's hands clawed at the blankets, then pressed to his chest, trembling violently. "He tore my heart… I should be dead! I—"
"Stop!" her father barked, voice rising sharply. "Do you realize what you just did? You just hurt my daughter with all that screaming!"
Kado froze, chest still heaving, his voice faltering. The reality of his rage hitting someone else—Akira—made his own anger falter.
Akira flinched but stayed kneeling, wide-eyed.
"I… I—" Kado gasped, voice cracking, sobbing now as the panic and grief broke through.
Her father crouched closer, softer now, but still firm. "Nobody's here to hurt you. You're safe. Just… breathe. Calm down."
Akira pressed her scarf to his face, murmuring softly, "It's okay… just… breathe… shh… it's okay…"
Kado's body trembled, sobs wracking him. For a long moment, he didn't speak, only let the raw mixture of fear, rage, and relief wash over him.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his shaking slowed. He pressed the scarf to his face, letting a long, shuddering breath escape. He blinked once, chest still tight, tears streaking down, and allowed himself—finally—to rest.