Inside the shelter, which was once an old school, people were packed into rooms and hallways. The air was filled with crying and tense whispers. Ken sat in a cramped corner beside Yoko and her older brother, each of them hugging themselves as if trying to block out the horrors outside.
Ken (quiet and worried): "I'm… worried about my family. I didn't even get to say goodbye…"
Yoko's brother (staring at the ceiling): "Us too… our mom, dad, and sister weren't home when we escaped. We don't know if they made it."
Before they could say more, a massive explosion shook the building. The walls trembled as if about to collapse. Screams erupted. Children cried. Dust fell from the ceiling, and sirens howled above them.
The three held on to each other. Ken closed his eyes tightly, hands shaking, convinced he might not see the next morning. Two hours passed like a lifetime. Then, the noise gradually faded, like the world was finally catching its breath after losing control.
Ken (looking at the school door): "I think… it's quiet now. Should we go look for our families?"
Yoko (trembling): "Yes… I can't wait anymore."
They stood and walked out with hesitant steps. But the moment they passed the school gate, they heard gunshots—sharp and terrifying. Screams followed. Soldiers ran through the streets, firing at civilians.
Ken froze. His eyes locked on a baby crawling in the chaos. Then a soldier walked up and shot the infant in the head. Blood sprayed across the ground.
Yoko collapsed, screaming:
"It was just a baby! Why are they killing children…?!"
Another soldier appeared behind them—massive, bloody, and cold. He raised his gun and shot Yoko's brother in the chest. He collapsed instantly.
Yoko dropped beside him, sobbing:
"BROTHEEEER!!"
She couldn't breathe. The soldier moved toward her, but Ken grabbed her hand and ran, dragging her with him. He didn't look back. Miraculously, no bullets hit them.
They fled into a dark alleyway where no sunlight reached. Yoko fell to her knees again, sobbing uncontrollably. Ken sat beside her and held her in silence, tears running down his face.
Ken (softly): "I'm sorry, Yoko… for everything…"
She said nothing. Just cried, clinging to him like he was all that was left. After a while, Ken stood and stared ahead.
Ken: "Let's go back… maybe… maybe there's still hope."
They walked together down shattered streets, stepping over burned corpses and black rubble, until they reached their neighborhood. Ken stopped, stunned.
Ken (in shock): "My house… it's on fire."
He forced the door open and coughed violently from the smoke. Yoko rushed toward her own burning home.
Ken (choking): "Mom!! Dan!! Dad!! Emily!!! Are you here?!!"
He stumbled into the living room. What he saw stole the breath from his lungs—his mother, Masha, lay on the ground, holding Emily in her arms, as if she tried to shield her until her last breath. Their faces were pale… peaceful… no wounds, no blood—just slightly bluish.
Ken (choking): "No… no… impossible… Mom… Emily!!"
He dropped beside them, sobbing, burying his face in his mother's chest like a lost child.
Ken: "Mom! Please don't leave me! Wake up… You're okay, right? You're just sleeping… I'm here now…!"
He coughed harder, vision spinning. Then he noticed a small device near the back door—metallic, cracked open.
Ken (dazed): "Gas… it was a gas bomb… They… they suffocated them first…"
He sobbed again, shaking violently.
Ken (shaking Emily): "Emily! Open your eyes… Didn't you say you were excited for school? That you wanted to be a doctor? Come on… say anything… please…"
The coughing worsened. Ken was suffocating. Sweat poured down his face, and his legs shook. He reached for his mother's necklace and Emily's doll, grabbed some scattered photos, and stuffed them in his bag. He took one last, long look—painful and hollow.
Ken (hoarse whisper): "Goodbye… Mom… Emily… I'm sorry I wasn't here to protect you."
He stood with difficulty, face and clothes blackened. He stumbled through the burning ruins, each breath like knives in his lungs.
Ken (barely whispering): "Mom… help me… I can't… breathe…"
Suddenly, another explosion struck the house. The force slammed Ken into a wall. His head hit a stone, cutting his forehead. Blood trickled down his face.
He collapsed again, writhing in pain, barely able to open his eyes. He tried to crawl—one elbow at a time—through scorched dolls and charred books.
Ken (gasping): "I… don't want… to die here…"
His lungs burned. A high-pitched ringing filled his ears. But he kept going, biting his lip to stay conscious. Finally, he reached the door and escaped just before the roof caved in.
He collapsed outside, gasping for air, chest heaving violently. His face was bruised, his forehead bleeding, and his arms burned.
Ken (whispering): "They're gone… Mom… Emily… I couldn't do anything…"
Yoko emerged from her own house next door. Her black hair stuck to her face from crying. Her eyes were bloodshot. She was no longer the innocent girl from that morning.
Her parents' bodies were under rubble. Blood everywhere. The smell of burning flesh unbearable. She couldn't scream anymore. But then… she saw Ken.
Yoko (softly): "Ken…?"
She ran to him and dropped to her knees.
Yoko (touching his shoulder, voice shaking): "Ken… you're… alive?"
He opened his eyes weakly and looked at her. His voice was faint.
Ken: "Did… any of them… survive?"
Yoko (broken voice): "They're gone… My mom… dad… and my sister is missing…"
Ken (whispers): "I saw my mom and Emily… dead…"
Yoko helped him sit. He was wheezing and coughing.
Yoko (trembling, but determined): "We have to move, Ken… It's not safe here."
She held out her shaky hand. Ken placed his in hers. He stood, barely. As they walked through the ruined streets, Ken suddenly saw a familiar figure in the distance. He ran.
Ken (crying): "Dan! Brother! You're alive! I thought… I thought you died with them… Mom… Emily… they're all gone…"
Dan froze, stunned. Then hugged Ken tightly.
Dan (choked voice): "No… Mom… Emily…"
Tears fell freely from his eyes.
Dan (trying to stay strong): "Dad went to find you… I haven't seen him since…"
The three walked together, quietly. Suddenly, a strange soldier appeared from around the corner—cold eyes, twisted smile, bloodied clothes.
Soldier (staring): "Red hair… gray eyes… how familiar. You two must be Akako's sons, huh?"
Dan (angrily): "Who the hell are you?!"
Soldier (mocking laugh): "Names don't matter. I'm just here to finish what others started."
He lunged forward, grabbing Ken's right arm and Dan's left like toys.
Soldier: "Now, who should die first?"
Yoko screamed. Ken froze, staring at the gun pointed at his head, coughing.
Soldier (grinning): "Let's start with the little one. I love watching kids break."
Dan (shouting): "Take me instead! He's just a kid—he knows nothing!"
The soldier stared at Dan, then laughed.
Soldier: "Bravery… classic Yūkaji."
He shoved Ken aside and pressed the gun to Dan's forehead.
Soldier: "One of you has to go…"
Ken stood frozen, eyes wide.
Dan (looking into Ken's eyes): "Live, Ken… even if it hurts. Keep going. Run!"
The gun fired.
Dan collapsed instantly. Blood sprayed like a fountain. Ken stared in disbelief at his brother's body.
Ken (screaming): "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!"
He dropped to his knees and screamed until his voice faded… then blacked out.
Yoko ran to him and shook him.
Yoko (sobbing): "Ken! No! Don't die too! Please!!"
But Ken didn't move.
Gunfire rang again—the soldier fired at them.
Yoko screamed, something awakened in her. She threw Ken on her back despite his weight and her exhaustion, tears streaming down her face.
Yoko (barely audible): "Ken… I won't leave you… ever…"
To be continued…
Inside the shelter, which was once an old school, people were packed into rooms and hallways. The air was filled with crying and tense whispers. Ken sat in a cramped corner beside Yoko and her older brother, each of them hugging themselves as if trying to block out the horrors outside.
Ken (quiet and worried): "I'm… worried about my family. I didn't even get to say goodbye…"
Yoko's brother (staring at the ceiling): "Us too… our mom, dad, and sister weren't home when we escaped. We don't know if they made it."
Before they could say more, a massive explosion shook the building. The walls trembled as if about to collapse. Screams erupted. Children cried. Dust fell from the ceiling, and sirens howled above them.
The three held on to each other. Ken closed his eyes tightly, hands shaking, convinced he might not see the next morning. Two hours passed like a lifetime. Then, the noise gradually faded, like the world was finally catching its breath after losing control.
Ken (looking at the school door): "I think… it's quiet now. Should we go look for our families?"
Yoko (trembling): "Yes… I can't wait anymore."
They stood and walked out with hesitant steps. But the moment they passed the school gate, they heard gunshots—sharp and terrifying. Screams followed. Soldiers ran through the streets, firing at civilians.
Ken froze. His eyes locked on a baby crawling in the chaos. Then a soldier walked up and shot the infant in the head. Blood sprayed across the ground.
Yoko collapsed, screaming:
"It was just a baby! Why are they killing children…?!"
Another soldier appeared behind them—massive, bloody, and cold. He raised his gun and shot Yoko's brother in the chest. He collapsed instantly.
Yoko dropped beside him, sobbing:
"BROTHEEEER!!"
She couldn't breathe. The soldier moved toward her, but Ken grabbed her hand and ran, dragging her with him. He didn't look back. Miraculously, no bullets hit them.
They fled into a dark alleyway where no sunlight reached. Yoko fell to her knees again, sobbing uncontrollably. Ken sat beside her and held her in silence, tears running down his face.
Ken (softly): "I'm sorry, Yoko… for everything…"
She said nothing. Just cried, clinging to him like he was all that was left. After a while, Ken stood and stared ahead.
Ken: "Let's go back… maybe… maybe there's still hope."
They walked together down shattered streets, stepping over burned corpses and black rubble, until they reached their neighborhood. Ken stopped, stunned.
Ken (in shock): "My house… it's on fire."
He forced the door open and coughed violently from the smoke. Yoko rushed toward her own burning home.
Ken (choking): "Mom!! Dan!! Dad!! Emily!!! Are you here?!!"
He stumbled into the living room. What he saw stole the breath from his lungs—his mother, Masha, lay on the ground, holding Emily in her arms, as if she tried to shield her until her last breath. Their faces were pale… peaceful… no wounds, no blood—just slightly bluish.
Ken (choking): "No… no… impossible… Mom… Emily!!"
He dropped beside them, sobbing, burying his face in his mother's chest like a lost child.
Ken: "Mom! Please don't leave me! Wake up… You're okay, right? You're just sleeping… I'm here now…!"
He coughed harder, vision spinning. Then he noticed a small device near the back door—metallic, cracked open.
Ken (dazed): "Gas… it was a gas bomb… They… they suffocated them first…"
He sobbed again, shaking violently.
Ken (shaking Emily): "Emily! Open your eyes… Didn't you say you were excited for school? That you wanted to be a doctor? Come on… say anything… please…"
The coughing worsened. Ken was suffocating. Sweat poured down his face, and his legs shook. He reached for his mother's necklace and Emily's doll, grabbed some scattered photos, and stuffed them in his bag. He took one last, long look—painful and hollow.
Ken (hoarse whisper): "Goodbye… Mom… Emily… I'm sorry I wasn't here to protect you."
He stood with difficulty, face and clothes blackened. He stumbled through the burning ruins, each breath like knives in his lungs.
Ken (barely whispering): "Mom… help me… I can't… breathe…"
Suddenly, another explosion struck the house. The force slammed Ken into a wall. His head hit a stone, cutting his forehead. Blood trickled down his face.
He collapsed again, writhing in pain, barely able to open his eyes. He tried to crawl—one elbow at a time—through scorched dolls and charred books.
Ken (gasping): "I… don't want… to die here…"
His lungs burned. A high-pitched ringing filled his ears. But he kept going, biting his lip to stay conscious. Finally, he reached the door and escaped just before the roof caved in.
He collapsed outside, gasping for air, chest heaving violently. His face was bruised, his forehead bleeding, and his arms burned.
Ken (whispering): "They're gone… Mom… Emily… I couldn't do anything…"
Yoko emerged from her own house next door. Her black hair stuck to her face from crying. Her eyes were bloodshot. She was no longer the innocent girl from that morning.
Her parents' bodies were under rubble. Blood everywhere. The smell of burning flesh unbearable. She couldn't scream anymore. But then… she saw Ken.
Yoko (softly): "Ken…?"
She ran to him and dropped to her knees.
Yoko (touching his shoulder, voice shaking): "Ken… you're… alive?"
He opened his eyes weakly and looked at her. His voice was faint.
Ken: "Did… any of them… survive?"
Yoko (broken voice): "They're gone… My mom… dad… and my sister is missing…"
Ken (whispers): "I saw my mom and Emily… dead…"
Yoko helped him sit. He was wheezing and coughing.
Yoko (trembling, but determined): "We have to move, Ken… It's not safe here."
She held out her shaky hand. Ken placed his in hers. He stood, barely. As they walked through the ruined streets, Ken suddenly saw a familiar figure in the distance. He ran.
Ken (crying): "Dan! Brother! You're alive! I thought… I thought you died with them… Mom… Emily… they're all gone…"
Dan froze, stunned. Then hugged Ken tightly.
Dan (choked voice): "No… Mom… Emily…"
Tears fell freely from his eyes.
Dan (trying to stay strong): "Dad went to find you… I haven't seen him since…"
The three walked together, quietly. Suddenly, a strange soldier appeared from around the corner—cold eyes, twisted smile, bloodied clothes.
Soldier (staring): "Red hair… gray eyes… how familiar. You two must be Akako's sons, huh?"
Dan (angrily): "Who the hell are you?!"
Soldier (mocking laugh): "Names don't matter. I'm just here to finish what others started."
He lunged forward, grabbing Ken's right arm and Dan's left like toys.
Soldier: "Now, who should die first?"
Yoko screamed. Ken froze, staring at the gun pointed at his head, coughing.
Soldier (grinning): "Let's start with the little one. I love watching kids break."
Dan (shouting): "Take me instead! He's just a kid—he knows nothing!"
The soldier stared at Dan, then laughed.
Soldier: "Bravery… classic Yūkaji."
He shoved Ken aside and pressed the gun to Dan's forehead.
Soldier: "One of you has to go…"
Ken stood frozen, eyes wide.
Dan (looking into Ken's eyes): "Live, Ken… even if it hurts. Keep going. Run!"
The gun fired.
Dan collapsed instantly. Blood sprayed like a fountain. Ken stared in disbelief at his brother's body.
Ken (screaming): "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!"
He dropped to his knees and screamed until his voice faded… then blacked out.
Yoko ran to him and shook him.
Yoko (sobbing): "Ken! No! Don't die too! Please!!"
But Ken didn't move.
Gunfire rang again—the soldier fired at them.
Yoko screamed, something awakened in her. She threw Ken on her back despite his weight and her exhaustion, tears streaming down her face.
Yoko (barely audible): "Ken… I won't leave you… ever…"
To be continued…