Chapter 5: Turning Point
"You piece of shit, pay your damn rent!"
The man's fist connected with my cheek, sending me staggering back. The pain was intense, a sharp jolt on the right side of my face. I could already imagine the bruise that was sure to follow in the next few days.
He turned on his heel and disappeared from my view, as I slowly shut the door behind him. It's been ten months since I've seen Kaede and our paths have gone in separate directions.
Since then my life has changed drastically.
I've become a recluse, shut off from the world and living in solitude. Meanwhile, I've heard rumors about Kaede, that she's flourishing and has a bright future ahead of her. Always at the top of her class, with scholarships and accolades piling up. But I couldn't bring myself to care, her success only serving to further highlight the stark differences between our lives.
I still don't know what went wrong.
Kaede accused me of sacrificing her to the ogre. I lost the trust of everyone I knew. I had no idea why she did that.
Then I finally figured out the reason. She hated me because I was late to save her. But what was I supposed to do with those legs of mine? I'm not a god, or some manga hero with plot armor.
Thinking about it now makes me wanna puke.
I sank into my chair, the one I'd been stuck in for months. I fired up my PC and started playing games.
Father's death has been a constant presence in my life, haunting me every single day through my nightmares. In my dreams, he accuses me of sacrificing Kaede to save myself. But that's not true.
It was all Kaede's fault.
She stopped in the middle of our escape, and now we're here. I can't help but wonder why she did that.
Why?
I spend my time playing games and trying to escape the reality of my situation, but it's always there, nagging at the back of my mind.
"Gh.. this place stinks."
I let out a sigh and covered my nose with my left hand as the stench of my room hit me.
I hadn't taken out the trash in a while. I paused my game and stood up from my chair, turning to face the mess that was my room.
Bottles, trash bags, dirty plates, and more littered the small space.
It was cramped and cluttered, far worse than my old room, but as long as I could still breathe, it didn't matter. I grabbed the perfume I had stolen from the convenience store and sprayed it around the room, trying to mask the odor.
As long as I'm alive, it doesn't matter…it, doesn't—matter.
***
I was aimlessly browsing the internet when I stumbled upon something that piqued my interest. I quickly clicked on the link and was greeted with a cluttered research page, poorly formatted and difficult on the eyes.
Despite the struggle to make sense of the information, I trudged on, scanning through the lines. But as I read further, I was disappointed to realize it was just another recycled research, one of many I've come across in the internet.
-
'Japan was witness to a phenomenon that would change the course of its history forever. The full moon eclipse was going smoothly until a mysterious substance now known as Apophis Point Zero crashed into the moon. This event was unprecedented as it was not expected for any substance to hit the moon. The crash caused the moon to shatter into fragments, and as these fragments merged with the Apophis Point Zero, a new moon was formed. This new moon shone a red light onto the earth, which was not seen before.
However, the consequences of this event were far more severe than just a change in the appearance of the moon. Suddenly, a large number of unknown creatures appeared, and the source of their origin still remains unknown. The creatures caused widespread destruction and took the lives of many people, with reports estimating that around 40% of the population was killed.
The event was dubbed as the Tragedy of Point Zero and left the survivors in a state of shock and disbelief. The exact reason behind the tragedy is still a mystery, and many theories have been proposed to explain the sudden appearance of the monsters and the formation of the new moon. Some scientists believe that the Apophis Point Zero contained some kind of extraterrestrial life that was released upon impact, while others suggest that it was a result of a rip in the fabric of space-time.
Despite extensive research and investigation, the true cause of the tragedy remains unknown. The event has had a profound impact on Japan and its people, and serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the unknown forces that exist in our universe.
In conclusion, the Tragedy of Point Zero in Japan was a catastrophic event that changed the course of history. The reason behind the tragedy still remains a mystery, and the impact of the event continues to be felt to this day.'
-
The article described.
To me, it was just another vague and far-fetched explanation that I didn't put any faith in. I quickly closed the tab in frustration and opened a new one, not looking for news anymore.
"Shit, I can't ignore my growling stomach any longer."
I abandoned the mouse and clutched my belly before getting up from my seat. I left the computer on, not bothering to shut it down since I was all alone. I had to step high to avoid tripping on the discarded waste.
When I finally reached the fridge, I opened it, only to find it stocked with spoiled food. Disappointed, I knew I had to go outside to get food.
I crept out, making sure to lock the door and avoid the landlord's notice. After a quick walk, I finally arrived at the nearest 7-Eleven and went inside.
"Welcome!" The cashier, a cheerful young girl, greeted me.
I didn't respond, but she was the only person who had spoken to me in a while. I grabbed some cheap food and paid for it, knowing I couldn't risk stealing.
"Here's your change!" she chirped. "Come back soon!"
With bags of food in hand, I left the store and headed back to my apartment. I violently tossed the food in the bag into the fridge, grabbing only the instant noodle. I heated up some water and tossed the noodle into the pot, waiting patiently for it to cook to perfection.
I then sat down on my bed, taking the pot from the stove and pouring in the seasonings. The taste was, to put it mildly, utterly revolting.
***
Days passed by and nothing changed in my life. I was exhausted, unable to sleep for two whole days. So I collapsed onto my bed, letting the sweet embrace of sleep overtake me.
Despite the persistent knocking of the landlord, I continued to ignore it. I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards him, as it had been a while since I paid rent and yet he hadn't kicked me out.
*
I woke up to the sound of loud knocking on my door. I rubbed my eyes and rubbed my chin as I stumbled out of bed, the persistent pounding at my door grating on my already frayed nerves.
"..too loud," I muttered to myself, feeling a growing sense of annoyance.
As I shuffled to the door, I couldn't help but feel as though the knocks were becoming more and more intense, almost as if someone was trying to break down the door itself.
I saw that the bruise on my left cheek was getting better, it wasn't gone yet but it was definitely fading. It still hurts a little, but I've gotten used to it. It doesn't really affect my life so I don't mind taking a few punches for some cash.
But honestly, I don't really like pain.
I glanced at the window, I noticed the sky was dark, which meant I'd been out for a while. Sleep never seems to fully satisfy me, I thought to myself as I lazily reached the door.
I sighed and unlocked the door, and as soon as I did, it was thrown open with a crash. I was met with a terrifying sight - a creature that seemed like it had stepped straight out of a nightmare. My instinct kicked in and I screamed,
"—AA…AAAHHH!!!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
HashDaze
HashDaze Get ready for the fantasy elements to come to life in the next chapter.
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