The Author's POV

Has the illusion started?

It was the only conclusion I could make as I gazed into the distance.

Carnage.

If I had to describe what I was seeing in one word, it would be 'carnage.'

Large cracks scattered throughout the scarlet-dyed sky. Coming out of them was a sea of creatures, all pushing each other, hungrily goggling at what was beneath them with an insatiable and malicious look.

Buildings started to crumble, as screams echoed everywhere.

The blaring and irritating sound of the sirens became drowned out by the frightening explosions that were happening around the city.

"This..."

What's going on?

Staring at the scene from the top of the building, I was left at a loss for words. An acrid smell permeated the area around me.

In the end, I managed to murmur.

"This place looks familiar..."

I had definitely seen this place before.

But because of its current state, I found it hard to tell where exactly it was.

Taking my eyes away from the city, I waved my hand in the air and realized that the temperature around me was scorchingly hot. Sweat trickled down the side of my face, and breathing started to become more difficult for me.

'What I powerful illusion.'

I thought.

Clenching and unclenching my fists, I was left shocked by how realistic everything around me felt. The thing that shocked me the most about the illusion was the fact that I could feel all my senses.

From my sense of touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste.

Everything around me felt exactly as it did in the real world.

"Huuu..."

Fixing my gaze on the city below, I took a deep breath to clear my mind.

"Alright."

Once my mind was cleared, I took a step forward and my clothes and hair fluttered upwards. Reaching my ears was a loud rush of wind; similar to the static from blowing into a microphone which was also accompanied by a paper-like sound coming from my fluttering clothes.

Bang—!

Crashing against the groups, miniature fine miniature crevices formed on the area beneath my feet.

Brushing my clothes off, I took a look at my surroundings.

"How odd..."

People continued running around the city, desperately trying to cling to survival. Yet, no one seemed to have managed to notice my appearance.

It was then that I noticed a male with a short build running my way.

"Watch out!"

I warned.

Despite my words, the man continued to run. I became alarmed.

Can't he see me?

"Huh?"

The answer to my question was soon answered.

A split second after my words faded, the male passed through my body. As he passed my body, I turned my head to look at his disappearing back before I looked at my hands.

Lowering my body, I touched the ground. Feeling the rough and granulated road, my brows slowly knit together.

Slowly, I came to a conclusion.

"I can only touch things that are non-living."

To test this theory, I walked up to another pedestrian running, and just like the first time, he directly ran through my body.

This confirmed my theory.

I couldn't touch living beings.

"Where am I?"

Though odd, I decided to concern myself with other things. Looking around me, I tried to get a better idea of where I was.

For a second I almost forgot that I was inside of an illusion.

"Hm?"

It was then that I noticed something.

Carefully moving through the debris that littered the streets, I arrived at a small intersection.

"This place..."

[Avenue Street, 17N]

It was the name of a street that wasn't too far from my house. The one I used to live in before Amanda moved my parents.

I decided to

illusion was about, but I could tell that time here was slower than

my old house was to

get out of

I couldn't

But.

inexplicable feeling inside of me that told me to go there. I grew more alert when

this part

*

while since I've been

minutes to reach my old house, and when I gazed at it from beneath the footsteps,

lot of time in this house, but it still felt nostalgic to

inside of my memories, it was the fact that a part

damage wasn't to

"What am I doing?"

my hand, I moved up the stairs and grabbed onto the metal handle of the door. Feeling the cool sensation of the knob, I twisted it and

Clank—!

scent

was littered with pictures of

doubt, this place was

Creak. Creak.

beneath my feet. This was typical of an old house. Especially one that seemed to have gone

"It's the same."

the last time I had seen them. The house was a bit worn

was nothing out

"Strange..."

were the demons able to create

"Khhh..khhh.."

heard a muffled sobbing sound coming from the distance. My head immediately snapped in

"Who?"

I instantly became alarmed.

part of the

the heels of my foot, I tiptoed my way toward where the sobbing sound was coming from. I

sure if this was a

the living room, I carefully tilted my body to catch a glimpse of what

"What..."

My body stiffened.

a glimpse of what was behind the door frame,

"Mom...Dad...Nola..."

frail and weak voice rang throughout the

and wept uncontrollably. His body continuously trembled, and though hidden, his complexion looked especially

clear that the figure had

looked

all

managed to recognize the sobbing individual.

lips, I turned

fact that I knew that this was all an illusion, the images of my family lying down on

sharp and inexplicable pain coursed through

"Fuck..."

I eventually swore.

and fists, I

of yourself! You're doing

I'd let

Slap—!

my face, I dispelled all distracting thoughts from my mind. Taking a deep breath, I

deliberating for a bit, I

is probably targeting my weak points, I should get rid of them

sword materialized on my palm. Firmly gripping the sword, I slowly started to

at its sharp and glistening body which I could see my

at my reflection on the sword,

"Huuu..."

I took another breath.

gradually flexed my

"Hold on..."

felt a hand

WIIIING—!

I rapidly twisted my waist and slashed in the direction of where the voice

sword was met with no resistance as it

"Wow."

surprised voice rang

my eyes soon met with a figure I was all too familiar with. Unexpectantly, despite having just slashed at me, the figure's attention was

"What do you feel?"

the same as it always was.

My brows furrowed.

are you talking

play dumb.

hand, he pointed his finger in the direction of the illusionary version of

what you're seeing. Do

"I don't."

"...Oh?"

The other entity smiled.

"I don't believe you."

to speak, he took a step forward and

try feeling

"Wha—"

reply, the world around

*

Pain.

immeasurable pain that I couldn't

was a different type of pain. One that was drastically different from the times I almost had my soul incinerated and my body burned to bits and

different, but it was a pain that I never wished

"Haa... haaa..."

hard

breathing, thinking, or anything that required energy seemed strenuous

my hand over my heart and clenched my