BAD MEMORIES PART 2

The masked man asked, his voice rough and distant, “Are you okay?” Kai could barely respond, his head spinning. He shook his head slowly, not trusting his own voice. Before he could react, the man’s strong hands gripped his arms, pulling him roughly toward a nearby cave. The air was cold and damp, and the shadows seemed to stretch endlessly as they entered.

The man’s voice broke through the silence, cold and unwavering. “Stay here. Don’t move,” he commanded. “I’ll be back by sunset. Wait for me.” With that, he turned and disappeared into the dark, leaving Kai alone in the quiet, eerie cave. The walls felt like they were closing in, and the only sound was the distant echo of the man’s footsteps fading away. Kai stood there, unsure of what to do, his thoughts racing as he wondered why the man had brought him here and what would happen when he returned.

The sun set, but the man didn’t return. The darkness grew, and it felt scarier for the 10-year-old. Every sound seemed louder, and the shadows around him made the cave feel even more terrifying. Kai hugged his knees, feeling cold and alone. The wait felt endless, and fear started to take over as he wondered if the man would ever come back.

From the darkness, Kai spotted two figures moving slowly, holding a lamp. He could tell from a distance that the masked man’s shadow would never return, and without thinking, he ran toward them. As he got closer, he saw that it was an old couple.

Kai grabbed the old man’s hand urgently, his voice shaky. “Please, help me.”

The couple looked at him with startled eyes, but then the grandmother gasped, her eyes widening. "You look just like our son... he died as a soldier," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Then, she noticed Kai's hand, which was bleeding. "Your hand... it's bleeding," she said softly. Without hesitation, she reached for a cloth, gently taking care of his wound. "Let me help you," she said, her hands shaking but steady as she tended to his injury.

The old man looked at Kai with concern and asked, "Where are your parents?"

Kai's eyes lowered, his voice quiet and uncertain. "I don’t know... I don’t even know who they were."

The grandmother’s expression softened as she placed a gentle hand on Kai’s shoulder. "From now on," she said, her voice filled with warmth, "we are your parents." She gave him a comforting smile, as if promising that he wasn’t alone anymore.

The old man spoke up, his voice low but firm. "Boy, we’re 20 kilometers from Shadow Headquarters. If we can get there, we’ll be safe. We can take shelter there."

Kai looked up at him, confused. "What is that?"

The grandmother gave a knowing look before the old man answered. "You’ll know soon enough when we get there," he said. "It’s the safest place on this damn planet." His words carried a weight, hinting at something important Kai wasn’t yet ready to understand.

As they started walking, Kai couldn’t shake the feeling gnawing at his gut. Something was wrong. His senses screamed at him that danger was approaching, something terrifying. Every step they took, the air felt thicker, colder, as if the world around them was shifting.

Kai glanced over his shoulder, but saw nothing. Still, the uneasy feeling didn’t go away. He couldn’t explain it, but deep down, he knew something was coming for them. His heart raced, and he tightened his grip on the old man’s hand, unable to quiet the rising fear inside him. Whatever was coming, it was close. And it wasn’t good.

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