Cursed Reincarnation

Return of the Hashira (pt. 4)

Not the biggest fan of this chapter, but it's done so that's cool.

Shinobu and Sanemi cautiously retraced their steps through the trashed hallway. The building was eerily silent except the quick sparks escaping from broken electronics and the subtle thud of feet padding across the ground. Sanemi took the lead, gun out and aimed forward. Shinobu trailed behind, baton in hand, lamenting the loss of all of her and her sister's hard work. She scanned through the windows and broken doors to each room, looking for any sign of the monster.

They walked in silence for the most part until the demon's words rang through Shinobu's head, stopping the researcher in her tracks.

"Shinazugawa?" Shinobu called out. Sanemi halted his movements but kept his eyes trained forward.

"What is it?" He replied a bit too aggressively.

"What do you think that...demon was referring to earlier?"

Sanemi tensed. "Which one? He was saying a lot of weird shit"

"Hashira. He called us Hashira" Shinobu stated matter of factly.

The detective was silent for a moment, a dull ache beginning to bloom in his temple. Crimson eyes flashed in his mind for only a moment, before Shinazugawa shook his head shaking the thoughts away.

"I don't know. This whole thing is bullshit anyway" Sanemi grumbled

"It is" Shinobu agreed, but continued, ", but something about that word bothers me. It has to be important to us if that thing came here to kill us"

Sanemi straightened up and turned to face the researcher with a scowl.

"Look, it's bothering me too, but i'm more concerned with getting out of here alive. We can figure it out once we get out of here"

The detective was stern and aggressive as he spoke, but there was a hint of fear and desperation layered within his tone. As an officer, Sanemi's main concern was getting Shinobu out of the building alive. Whatever nonsensical grudge that demon has with them could wait.

With a silent nod from Shinobu the pair continued forward. Although they were far too focused on escaping, both the researcher and the detective noticed how heightened their senses were. Their ears picked up on every little sound, their noses sought after the rotting whiffs of the demon's flesh, their eyes scanned the area quickly yet efficiently noticing things they wouldn't normally. Their skin also buzzed with a feeling akin to excitement as if waiting for something, anything to happen.

Just then their skin vibrated as if reacting to a person's presence. Both quickly turned around and readied their weapons at a humanoid figure draped in shadow.

Sanemi was quick to realize it was one of his fellow Officers and not the demon, but he could tell something was off. The officer's body, although standing, was slack and limp. Without saying a word Sanemi slowly reached for his flashlight, half expecting the figure to rush him. He clicked the light on and lifted his arm to point it at the figure.

Shinobu gasped.

The light illuminated what used to be officer Takao. Hung from the ceiling by an electrical cord were the mangled remains of Sanemi's coworker. His flesh was ripped off revealing muscle and bone beneath, teeth marks left in the remaining skin. He was missing a leg and his jaw appeared to have been ripped off. Fresh blood dripped onto the floor pooling into a small puddle.

Worse still, a look of fear was frozen onto the corpse's face.

It was a visceral sight.

Sanemi closed his eyes and turned away. Shinobu placed a shaky hand over her mouth as she tried not to gag.