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.

to have a

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

to my old house was to figure out if there were any irregularities with this

didn't have any clue regarding how to get out of

couldn't really explain

But.

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

part of the

*

while since

gazed at it from beneath the footsteps, I felt a small part of

not spent a lot of time in this house, but it still felt nostalgic

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

the damage wasn't to an extensive

"What am I doing?"

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

Clank—!

homey scent

with pictures of me

doubt, this

Creak. Creak.

a step forward, the wooden floor started to creak beneath my feet. This was typical of an old house. Especially one that

"It's the same."

had seen them. The house was a bit worn

was nothing out

"Strange..."

the demons able to create

"Khhh..khhh.."

was then that I heard a muffled sobbing sound coming from the distance. My head immediately snapped in that

"Who?"

I instantly became alarmed.

part of

where the sobbing sound was coming from. I wanted to be as quiet

if this was a good idea or

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

"What..."

My body stiffened.

glimpse of what was behind the door frame, my body stopped

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

frail and weak voice rang throughout the empty

his knees, behind three familiar figures, a figure hunched over their bodies and wept uncontrollably. His body continuously

clear that the figure had been morning for more than a

scene looked truly

is all

the sobbing individual. Who could

I

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

through

"Fuck..."

I eventually swore.

fists, I

a hold of yourself! You're doing exactly

I'd

Slap—!

my mind. Taking a deep breath, I closed

bit, I

weak points, I should get rid of them in order to free

my hand, a sword materialized on my palm. Firmly gripping the sword, I

its sharp and glistening

the sword, I

"Huuu..."

I took another breath.

I gradually flexed my muscles and

"Hold on..."

to a halt, I felt a hand grasp my

WIIIING—!

and slashed in the

my sword was met with no resistance as it simply slashed

"Wow."

voice

was all too familiar with. Unexpectantly, despite having just slashed at me, the figure's attention was not drawn

"What do you feel?"

the same as it always was. Emotionless

My brows furrowed.

you talking

play dumb.

his finger in the direction of the

you think about what you're seeing. Do you

"I don't."

"...Oh?"

The other entity smiled.

"I don't believe you."

a step forward and suddenly pressed his

you try feeling it for

"Wha—"

reply, the world around

*

Pain.

couldn't describe consumed my

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

different, but it was a pain

"Haa... haaa..."

it hard to

action, be it breathing, thinking, or anything that required

over my heart and clenched my