In the Cafeteria
The cafeteria was buzzing with activity, students grabbing lunch and chatting loudly. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito found an empty table near the windows and sat down, trays of food in front of them.
Zohar, sarcastically says, "I swear, if I have to listen to one more history lecture, my brain's gonna melt."
Raiden chuckled, poking at his food with a fork.
"At least you're consistent. Failing all your classes in style."
"Hey, I'm just giving the teachers something to talk about."
Kaito shook his head but smiled as he took a bite of his sandwich.
"You know, if you actually studied, you might not have to repeat the same classes next year."
Zohar, pretends to be offended.
"You wound me, Kaito. I'm a man of principles—mediocrity is my brand."
The three of them laughed, the lighthearted conversation a nice break from the usual grind of school. They continued talking about their classes, what they had left to do, and how much they wished the day would end sooner.
As the conversation drifted to social media trends, Raiden suddenly felt his phone buzz in his pocket. A few seconds later, Zohar and Kaito's phones buzzed too. Raiden frowned, pulling out his phone to check the notification.
"What the..."
On the screen was a red alert notification, flashes urgently:
"WARNING: STAY INDOORS. LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS. UNKNOWN THREAT IN CENTRAL JAPAN. THIS COULD BE BIGGER THAN WE THINK."
The words sent a chill through Raiden's spine. He looked up at Zohar and Kaito, both of them staring at their phones with the same stunned expression.
"A red alert? Isn't that for, like... terrorist activity or something?"
Before he could finish his sentence, a deafening clap of thunder roared in the distance, even though the skies outside were clear. The sound was so loud it made the cafeteria windows rattle. Everyone in the cafeteria froze for a moment, looking around in confusion.
Then, without warning, a large, winged figure crashed through the cafeteria window, sending shards of glass flying everywhere. Students screamed and ducked for cover, panic spreading through the room like wildfire. The winged figure landed in the middle of the cafeteria, his massive wings folding behind him as he stood tall, his body bathed in an ethereal light.
Raiden's heart raced as he took in the sight of the man. He was tall, at least seven feet, with glowing white eyes and a stern expression. His long, flowing robe rippled as if caught in a breeze that no one else could feel.
Zohar screams falling off his seat.
"What the hell... is that?"
Before anyone could process what was happening, another figure followed, but this one was nothing like the first. It was a grotesque, demonic beast—its skin was black as tar, covered in jagged, pulsing veins.
Its eyes glowed red, and it let out a low, guttural growl as it prowled toward the winged man, claws scraping the floor.
Chaos erupted as students scrambled to the exits, tripping over each other in their desperate attempt to escape. Tables were overturned, and trays of food were scattered across the floor. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito stood frozen in place, their minds struggling to catch up with the insanity unfolding before their eyes.
The winged man's eyes locked onto the demonic beast, and without hesitation, he launched himself forward, colliding with the creature in a brutal clash of strength. The sound of their impact echoed through the cafeteria like a cannon blast, sending shockwaves that rattled the walls.
Raiden could hardly believe what he was seeing. The two beings fought with a terrifying intensity, the winged man wielding a glowing blade that sliced through the air with deadly precision. The demonic beast countered with savage swipes of its claws, each one narrowly missing the man as he danced around the attacks with incredible speed.
"We... we need to get out of here."
Zohar, still staring at the fight, nodded.
"No argument there."
The three of them turned and joined the panicked crowd rushing toward the exits. As they pushed through the swarm of students, Raiden glanced back one last time. The winged man had the upper hand, his blade glowing brighter as he drove it into the beast's chest.
The creature let out a blood-curdling roar before it collapsed to the floor, its body dissolving into a dark, smoky mist.
For a moment, the cafeteria was silent, the only sound being the winged man's heavy breathing. Then, he slowly turned, his glowing white eyes scanning the room, searching for something—or someone.
Raiden's heart pounded in his chest as those piercing eyes briefly locked onto him. There was something about the man's gaze that sent a shiver down Raiden's spine, a feeling he couldn't quite explain. But before he could process it, Kaito grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the exit.
"Come on! We need to go!"
Raiden snapped out of his daze and followed Kaito and Zohar out of the cafeteria, his mind racing with questions. Who were those beings? What was that demonic creature? And why did it feel like the winged man was looking directly at him?
As Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito sprint through the crowded school halls, the chaos around them intensifies. Panic spreads like wildfire as students and teachers, faces pale with fear, rush to find any form of cover.
Some stumble into classrooms, slamming doors behind them, while others trip over their own feet, screaming and pushing in their desperate attempts to escape. Raiden's heart pounded in his chest, every sound around him feeling louder, sharper, and more terrifying.
Just as they neared the staircase, another deafening bang echoed through the halls. It was as if something massive had struck the walls with force enough to shake the entire school.
Raiden glanced back, eyes wide, just in time to see the winged man from the cafeteria hurled through the air like a rag doll. His body collided with a row of lockers, crumpling them with a metallic screech, and he tumbled to the ground, gasping for breath.
A growl erupted from further down the hallway, and Raiden's stomach twisted in horror as he saw them—a pack of demons, far more terrifying than the one from the cafeteria. They were a mix of grotesque shapes and forms: some walked on all fours like feral beasts, others slithered along the floor, their eyes glowing with malice.
Their claws and fangs glistened with blood as they descended upon the fallen angelic figure, biting and tearing at him while he struggled to fight back.
But the demonic horde was relentless, and for every swing of the angel's blade, more demons piled on, ripping at his flesh with jagged claws. The sound of his labored breathing mixed with the growls of the demons, creating a symphony of violence.
Raiden's throat tightened as he heard the shrill screams of other students.
The sight of the demons overwhelmed the crowd, tearing through anyone in their path. The demons had begun to scatter, some turning their attention toward the terrified students.
One of the demons, a creature with glowing red eyes and long, needle-like fingers, suddenly broke away from the group, its gaze locking onto a pair of fleeing students. With a guttural roar, it launched itself forward, pouncing on them with brutal speed.
Blood sprayed across the floor as the demon's claws slashed through flesh, and Raiden had to force himself to look away. Zohar and Kaito were right beside him, their faces pale and eyes wide with shock as they ran.
Zohar in a state of shock.
"Holy crap! What the hell is happening?!"
Kaito, breathless, fear evident in his voice.
"We need to get out of here! Now!"
The three of them dashed up the stairs, dodging fallen chairs and backpacks that littered the hallways. Their footsteps echoed loudly, almost drowning out the nightmarish sounds of violence behind them. Raiden's legs felt like they were burning, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins pushed him forward.
Suddenly, the sound of guttural growling came from behind them. Raiden risked a glance over his shoulder and his blood ran cold. Two demons, one with spiny protrusions running down its back and another with a grotesque, bulbous head, were racing after them, moving impossibly fast. The demons' elongated claws scraped the walls, leaving deep gashes as they gained on the trio.
Raiden, panting and out of breath.
"They're right behind us!"
Zohar threw a quick look over his shoulder and cursed under his breath.
"Run faster! They're catching up!"
The stairway seemed endless as they climbed, their hearts pounding harder with each step. Raiden could hear the scraping of claws growing closer, the growls of the demons filling his ears, making his skin crawl.
As they reached the top of the stairs, Raiden glanced ahead and saw a long corridor stretching out before them. Desperation gnawed at his gut. They needed a plan, fast, or they wouldn't make it out.
"Where do we go?! We can't outrun them forever!"
Raiden's mind raced. The demons were too fast, and the hallways were too open. They wouldn't make it to the exits like this.
Then he spotted something—an old supply closet a few feet ahead, its door slightly ajar. It wasn't much, but it was their best chance.
"There! We can hide in there!"
Without hesitation, they sprinted toward the closet. Raiden pushed the door open, and the three of them slipped inside, pulling the door shut just as the sound of the demons' claws scraping against the floor grew louder. The space was small and cramped, filled with old mops and cleaning supplies. They pressed themselves against the wall, holding their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests.