Chapter Text
4/10 - ???
The first thing Akira realized upon opening his eyes, was that he was in a subway tunnel. The second thing he realized was that, no, he was not. The third was that he WAS in a subway tunnel, but one that looked so twisted it belonged in a horror movie. And his fourth realization was that he had no memory of how he got there or, rather, any memory beyond his name. Which did not ease any of the horror movie vibes his surroundings were giving him.
Akira checking his pockets resulted in only a broken pair of fake glasses and what might have once been a cellphone. No answers there, but a closer look at his clothes did reveal some clues. A school uniform complete with school crest and a 2nd year pin.
A sudden chill down his spine reminded the teenager of his ominous surroundings; and the fact that he has to find a way out before he can even begin to find out who he was and what happened to him. At least there is a breeze with fresh air he can follow. Better start walking.
A squelching sound behind him followed by a tiny malicious giggle forced him to correct that statement. Better start running!
4/10 - ???
Escaping from what appeared to be faeries was surprisingly easy. Faeries, apparently, can’t use escalators. Akira doesn’t know who to thank for that, but he knows he needs to thank someone that the tiny menaces don’t just fly up to continue chasing him. He also needs to thank them for the fact that the other monsters he passed didn’t join in, letting him continue running in the right direction. A creepy subway station is not much of a step up from creepy subway tunnels, but it is a step.
“Well, now, this is certainly a surprise,” a calm young voice states.
“You’re supposed to be in your cell, Inmate!” another, angrier but equally young, voice shouts.
Jerking his head toward the voices, Akira is greeted by a baffling sight. Two identical little girls dressed in matching correctional officer’s uniforms. Their only differences being their hairstyles, what they’re holding, and which eye is covered by an eyepatch. Oh, and the blue glowing door with iron bars that was standing free of any walls or any obvious place it might lead to. Akira is suddenly very concerned about where he ended up.
“Well! What do you have to say for yourself, Inmate!” Buns-and-baton growls out.
“Uh, do you know me?” Akira asks, unsure if he wants a yes or a no. Being called an inmate is not a reassuring sign.
“This is our first meeting, but you have managed to end up in a place you are not supposed to be.” Braids-and-clipboard hums. “Truly, you have exceeded our expectations, Trickster.”
“Regardless, our Master wants you back in your cell so you can begin rehabilitation! So, get moving, Inmate!” At this Buns-and-baton opens the glowing blue jail door revealing heavy looking chains and endless blue.
Akira stares at the door as his scrambling mind starts connecting what little evidence he has. Horrifying place filled with monsters of myth. Wardens here to collect a prisoner for redemption. His own missing memories, possibly lost from either trauma or a product his landing here.
“Oh, I’m dead. I’m dead, and this is the Spirit World, and that is Hell.” Akira thought faintly, a hysterical giggle almost escaping him.
“We’re waiting, Inmate!” Buns-and-baton’s demand abruptly snaps him out of his shock, reminding of his current situation. Being dragged into Hell by the eyepatch twins.
“Yeah, no. I’m flattered and all, but I think I should be going.” Akira chuckled nervously as he edged away from the twins and the door to Hell. He doesn’t care if going against the reincarnation cycle rarely goes well. He wants answers about who he was and how he ended up here (dead). Does he have a family missing (mourning) him? Friends? He doesn’t know, but he wants to find out!
“I’m afraid this is not up for debate. Our Master wishes to see you, and so, he will see you.” Braids-and-clipboard states matter-of-factly. “Please do not resist.”
At this chilling statement, Akira turns to run, but out of the corner of his eye sees the chains beyond the door start to move. Before he can get more than three steps, the chains wrap around his arm and up to his shoulder. Then they start to pull. Digging his feet into the cement does nothing to slow the inexorable haul. Akira frantically tries to loosen and escape the chains, but they’re wrapped too tightly, almost as if glued to him.
“Really, Inmate? We told you to come nicely. Now we have to get rough with you!” Buns-and-baton mocks. “Our Master is nice enough to offer rehabilitation and you reject his kind offer!?”
“Truly, a most foolish decision.” Braids-and-clipboard sounds almost disappointed.
Akira hears them only distantly, as if from underwater. Instead, all his focus is on the new voice. This one he is pretty sure is only in his head.
“So, this is how far you’ll go. What of your ambitions? Your questions? Allow yourself to be caged and they will come to nothing.”
A piercing headache starts to build behind his eyes, but the voice is right. It can’t end here. It can’t end like this! Akira starts to trying to claw the chains off of him, not noticing or caring about the blood that he spills.
“Oh? Well, it appears that you have some fight in you after all. Let us swear a vow. I am thou, thou art I. Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice. Call upon my name and release thy rage. Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be damned by Heaven itself!”
The piercing headache became blinding before suddenly fading away. Opening his eyes, Akira discovered he was now wearing a mask. Following some unknown instinct, Akira used his free hand to grab the mask and tear it away. The mask didn’t come away easy; taking what felt like all the skin underneath it, leaving his blood to flow down his face. As blue fire erupted around him, Akira felt nothing but exhilaration. After all, a baptism of blood and fire was strangely appropriate for his new afterlife.