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

the moment, I was still unclear about what the goal of the illusion was about, but I could tell that time here was

my old house was to figure

to get out

I couldn't really explain

But.

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

this part of the

*

a while since I've

reach my old house, and when I gazed at it from beneath the footsteps, I felt a small part of

time in this house, but

one thing that was different about this house than the one inside of my memories, it was the fact that

damage wasn't to an extensive

"What am I doing?"

shaking my hand, I moved up the stairs and grabbed onto the metal handle of the door. Feeling

Clank—!

scent of the

was littered with pictures

doubt, this place was

Creak. Creak.

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

"It's the same."

walls, I realize that everything was the same as the last time I had seen them. The house was a bit worn out, and the windows were broken, but it was the

nothing out of

"Strange..."

the demons able to create

"Khhh..khhh.."

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

"Who?"

I instantly became alarmed.

part of

foot, I tiptoed my way toward where the sobbing sound was coming from. I wanted to be as quiet as

was a good

to the living room, I carefully tilted my body to catch

"What..."

My body stiffened.

of what was behind the door

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

weak voice rang throughout the

their bodies and wept uncontrollably. His

figure had

scene looked truly

is all

to recognize the sobbing individual. Who could it

I turned my

I knew that this was all an illusion, the images of my family lying down on the ground, dead, kept replaying inside of

through my heart, forcing me to look

"Fuck..."

I eventually swore.

teeth and fists, I

of yourself! You're doing exactly

I'd let

Slap—!

deep breath, I closed my eyes and

deliberating for a bit, I came to a

weak points, I should get rid of them in

hand, a sword materialized on my palm. Firmly

the sword, I stared at its sharp and glistening body which I could see my

on the sword, I raised my

"Huuu..."

I took another breath.

I gradually flexed my muscles

"Hold on..."

to a halt, I felt a

WIIIING—!

of pure reflex, I rapidly twisted my waist and slashed in the direction of where the voice came

my sword was met with no resistance as it simply slashed

"Wow."

voice

a figure I was all too familiar with. Unexpectantly, despite having just slashed at

"What do you feel?"

voice was the same as it always was. Emotionless

My brows furrowed.

are you

play dumb.

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

think about what you're seeing. Do

"I don't."

"...Oh?"

The other entity smiled.

"I don't believe you."

I had a chance to speak, he took a step forward and

about you try

"Wha—"

to reply, the world around me

*

Pain.

immeasurable pain that I couldn't

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

was a pain that I never wished

"Haa... haaa..."

hard to even

couldn't quite open my mouth. Every action, be it breathing, thinking, or anything

over my heart and clenched my