Demon Year

The neighbor

"What's going on?!" Ryuki yelled as ren fell to the ground crying. "A thank you would be nice." Said the neighbor that saved the children. Ryuki looked at the neighbor before saying thank you. "Now, what's happening?!" Ryuki asked as he started to comfort ren, who was still crying. "You don't know? Well, you are both children so you probably don't know much about it. It's the demon year." The neighbor spoke. "A year where people all over the world get turned into flesh eating demons." She said as she walked over to her windows and started to lock them with red locks and covered them with red paper. "Then... Why aren't we demons..?" Ryuki asked. The neighbor didn't answer. She walked over to the next window and started to cover that one. As Ryuki awaited an answer, the only answer was silence.

"Did you hear me? Why aren't we de-" Ryuki started to ask again, but was cut off by the sound of demonic screams coming from the front door. SHRIEK! The sound of demons screaming outside woke up Ren and she started to cry again. "Shush! Boy, turn the lights off! Girl, hide under the table!" The neighbor whispered.

As Ryuki shut off the lights and Ren hid, the neighbor started to chant in a low whisper. The demons outside started to scream and soon they quieted down. "What happened...?" Ren asked as she was shaking in her brother's arm's. "They tried to break in. Now boy, about what you were asking." The neighbor started. "Oh, uhm.. why aren't we demons?" Ryuki asked as him and ren got from under the table. The neighbor was quiet, but then she said something. "I... Don't know. Every five years, the chosen people would turn into demons. I don't understand why it isn't everyone." The neighbor said as she paced back in forth. "Perhaps so the demons can eat people? For entertainment?" She started to sound worried as she was trying to figure it out. The neighbor sighed. "Well, now is not the time to worry about why." She said.

Ryuki grabbed Ren  and stood up. "Ryuki, where is mommy?" Ren asked as she had already forgotten due to all the stress that she's been going through. "Ren..." Ryuki whispered while tears fell from his eyes and slid down his cheek. "You.. you don't remember...?" Ryuki asked as he wiped away his tears. "No..? Why.. did something bad happen...?" Ren asked as she started to get upset. As Ryuki was about to say something, he stopped. As he was about to make up an excuse to tell Ren, the neighbor put her hand on his shoulder and nodded that he needed to tell her the truth. Ryuki looked at his sister and told her everything that actually happened.

Ren started to cry and scream, which lead to dozens of demons to start banging on the neighbors door. GRAHHH! The neighbor looked at the door and realized that the chains and red enchanted paper won't hold them back for long. "Quick, get down to the bunker!" The lady whispered as she lead them to her room. She moved a rug, and revealed a trap door that had had 'Ward the evil spirits ' written In big Japanese letters that lead to the underground safe room. "Get under!" She whispered.

As the kids claimed down the stairs leading to the underground room, the lady grabbed two katanas. One was red and covered in Japanese writing that spelled out 'Not welcome' and 'Leave our world' and the other's case was black and wrapped in a red chain that was enchanted to ward off evil spirits and demons. As the kids waited for the lady, they heard a demon scream followed by the breaking of a door. The lady looked and saw the front door had been broken. She ran to the bedroom door and locked it as she grabbed two red necklaces.

The lady jumped into the bunker and closed the trap door whilst she started to lock the door with a red lock. "Here." The lady said as she tossed the necklaces to the kids. "Wear those for safety" she said as she turned on the light and sat on the concrete  floor. As the kids put on the necklaces, the lady started to put together a bag full of stuff they'll need to survive the whole year. She started put knives, a med kit, water, and other things into the bag.

"What's your name?" Ren asked quietly as she watched the lady pack. "Azuki." She said while still being focused on packing. "And your's?" Azuki asked. "I'm Ren, and this is my older brother Ryuki." Ren said while faintly smiling. "I'm seven and he's twelve" she continued. "Nice to meet you both.." Azuki said as she finished packing the bag. Ryuki started to ask Azuki more and more about the demon year as Ren was listening while holding on to her stuffed rabbit. Azuki explained everything she knew about what was going on to Ryuki.

After a while, Azuki stopped talking and just looked at the ground, listening. "What are you do-" Ryuki said as he was cut off by the sound of Azuki shushing him. "Good to go." Azuki finally said. Azuki gestured for the kids to get up and out the bunker with her. "We can't stay here forever. They destroyed my whole house." Azuki said as she looked around and saw that windows were shattered, doors were busted, and furniture was destroyed. "And they destroyed all the food. We won't survive in this place." Azuki said. Suggesting that they have to find someplace else to stay. "Where are we gonna go? Every house is destroyed!" Asked as he looked out the broken window. "First, we need to find food. Grab that bag right there." Azuki said as she pointed at a bag on the floor. "Second, we need to find a place to stay that's far from here. We have to survive this year." Azuki said coldly.

Azuki, Ryuki, and Ren walked outside quietly and carefully while looking for a vehicle or any way of transportation. "Over there!" Ren whispered while pointing at a car that wasn't destroyed. They got into the car and Azuki started to hotwire the car to get it started. When the car started, Azuki heard demons screech. "Ryuki, in the front. Ren, in the back. Buckle up." Azuki said as she looked at something the kids couldn't see. As the kids did what they were told, a screech came closer to the car and they all saw it. A demon that was running extremely fast towards the car. Azuki put the car in drive and stepped on the gas pedal. As they were driving off and running over demons, Ren looked back and saw something. "Ryuki..." Ren whispered. Ren was too quiet and demons were screaming, nobody heard her.

Ren looked again, and saw it. A demon was right there, standing on the back of the car. CRASH! The demon broke through the car window and grabbed Ren by the back of her shirt. Ren started screaming and that's when Ryuki finally noticed.

"Ren!" Ryuki screamed.