Chapter 38: Has the Danger Passed?"WHAAAAAT?!"
Haruto shouted, his voice filled with anger and shock.
The inside of the headquarters was covered in blood. Some windows were shattered, and several bodies lay motionless on the floor.
Sora stared around in horror.
Sora:
"T-this… what is this?"
Kaito clenched his teeth.
Kaito:
"They attacked this place… but they weren't many."
Daichi scanned the area seriously.
Daichi:
"Yeah, Kaito's right. They fought here. They resisted… but most likely retreated to the shelter."
Sora swallowed nervously.
Sora:
"What if the Kuris are still here?"
Haruto ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
Haruto:
"Damn it… there's no sound from anyone. We need to check the basement first. You go to the basement—I'll look for Yuki and the kids."
Haruto started walking quickly.
Kaito shouted from behind.
Kaito:
"HEY! IDIOT, WAIT FOR ME TOO!"
(He starts moving and signals Daichi and Sora.)
Sora and Daichi nodded and split up.
Walking down the corridor, Haruto quickened his pace. Breathing heavily, he muttered through clenched teeth.
Haruto:
"I shouldn't have been this careless… I should've realized it that day—when Yuki arrived."
Kaito said nothing, only watching Haruto with a cold expression.
Haruto suddenly stopped and punched the wall.
BAM!
Kaito stepped in.
Kaito:
"Enough. Now's not the time to blame yourself. Just pray they made it to the shelter with the twins."
(He turns his head slightly.)
"You know how sharp those twins are."
Haruto looked at Kaito with teary eyes and gave a faint, sad smile.
"AAAHHH!"
A scream echoed. Both of them flinched and turned toward the open infirmary door.
Inside was the hunter, Nitta. A deep cut marked his neck, and he was struggling to breathe.
Haruto rushed to his side.
Haruto:
"H-hey… it's okay, Nitta. Stay with me… okay?"
Unable to breathe properly, Nitta weakly pointed at the top of a drawer.
Haruto and Kaito looked and found a blank sheet of paper, marked only by a single brushstroke of blue ink.
At that moment, Nitta's hand fell to the floor.
His eyes slowly closed.
Haruto froze.
Haruto:
"I'm sorry, Nitta… I'm so sorry…"
Kaito looked at Haruto seriously.
Kaito:
"Hey, idiot… stop blaming yourself. We're leaving—now."
With that, he turned and walked back into the corridor.