Shadows of the Moon

Chapter 17: Descent into Madness

Tanjiro stared at the horrifying scene before him, disbelief gripping his heart like a vice. The lifeless body of the traveler lay limp in his hands, a stark reminder of the darkness that had consumed him. Guilt washed over him in waves, threatening to drown him in a sea of self-blame. How could he have allowed this to happen? How could he have become a vessel of destruction?

As panic set in, someone approached from behind, their voice trembling with concern. They asked him what was wrong, their eyes widening in disbelief as they took in the lifeless bodies. In his confusion and fear, Tanjiro stumbled backward, his mind reeling. The weight of his actions crushed him, and in a moment of desperate impulse, he lashed out, ending the life of the unsuspecting stranger.

Blood stained his hands, a macabre testament to the darkness that had consumed him. Horror and disbelief mingled within him, threatening to tear his fragile sanity apart. With a heavy heart, he hurriedly left the scene, desperately seeking solace and a means to cleanse himself.

Running through the wilderness, his breath ragged and his heart pounding, Tanjiro stumbled upon a babbling stream. Its crystal-clear waters offered a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos that raged within him. He knelt by the stream, scrubbing his bloodied hands and face with desperate urgency, but no amount of washing could cleanse the stain on his soul.

Panic gripped him as he realized the weight of his actions. The urgency to distance himself from the horrors he had wrought propelled him forward, his feet carrying him to the next village. It was a tiny, quaint settlement, nestled amidst verdant hills and bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun. But to Tanjiro, it was a place of terror and despair.

As he rushed into the village, his frantic presence drew the attention of the residents. Eyes fixated upon him, their gazes held a mixture of fear, confusion, and judgment. The weight of their stares bore down on him, adding to the suffocating guilt that threatened to consume him.

Unable to bear the weight of their accusatory glances, Tanjiro felt an overwhelming need to hide. He dashed into a nearby house, seeking refuge within its shadowed corners. Panic and despair gripped his heart as he crouched in the darkness, his mind tormented by the memories of the carnage he had caused.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, its golden rays pierced through the cracks in the windows, casting a gentle glow upon the village. The beauty of the sunrise juxtaposed the ugliness of his deeds, and a bitter irony hung heavy in the air.

In the corner of the house, Tanjiro's tear-filled eyes caught sight of a poignant scene. Huddled together, trembling in fear, were children. Their resemblance to his own siblings struck him with a painful pang of longing and remorse. With a desperate yearning, he reached out to embrace them, but they dissolved like mist, leaving him alone in the desolate house.

Terror tightened its grip around his heart as he realized the depth of his descent into madness. He remained crouched in the corner, his mind besieged by torment and remorse, until the comforting cloak of night enshrouded him in its embrace.