"ARGHH!"

  Huh? Were those screams from the game place? Perhaps I heard wrong.

  I moved my head toward the game cafe.

  I am sure there was a blood curling screams.

  Luna asked worriedly, “Hey what’s up? Why did you stop?”

  Luna was on my back, so I raised my head to meet her brown eyes which were the same complexion as her skin. Her hair got in my face so it was hard to see. '

  So she didn't hear it? Maybe I heard wrong? No, I am sure I heard something weird.

  Putting on a smile for her, I said, “Nothing.”

  “Hm?”

  Like hell… I had a shivering feeling in my spine.

  Something doesn't feel right. Either way... It has nothing to do with me. My siblings are at home and none of my friends visit or hang out around this area at this time.

  I guess it's a good thing Luna didn't hear it. She would have called the police and run to help. I am not interested in doing something so absurd. Being a hero? Don't disgust me with that shit.

  After walking to a bus stop, I placed her down and walked in taking a seat on the right. By the way, I was carrying her because of some bet I lost to her yesterday.

  Luna led the convo. “---”

  What's this feeling... My hands are trembling and I have a deep uncomfortable feeling in me...

  “Rokun!” Luna's eyes fixed on me worriedly.

  “Oh? Sorry, I was just thinking about how I am going to be an adult soon, haha,” I slid a lie.

  “Oh? Huh, it just hit me. I am like Seventeen, and you are one year younger than me.”

  “Yah yah.” I nodded

  What's she getting on?

  “So what happens when I turn eighteen? Wouldn't that make me a pedo?”

  Holy shit! That is a serious question. I am going to be a victim. Is that even how it works? Is there a loophole to dating an 18-year-old?! Surely there must be, after all, we have been dating for 4 years now. Indeed, this is a significant concern.

  I cast a serious gaze at her and crossed my fingers. “So it would seem. You will become a pedo.”

  “Ahh! You are the worst!” She raged as she shook me violently.

  What was she trying to accomplish?!

  During the violent shaking, my eyes caught something outside the window. I swore I saw a man in all red with a weird aura.

  I turned my head quickly to the back window. Surely he couldn't have disappeared? The bus wasn't moving that fast.

  My eyes began trembling with anxiety and fear as it fell upon him. A man in red was now standing on the sidewalk.

  Huh... what's with all this shit?

  I turned back towards Luna and slumped.

  What's with him? He reminded me of that night… that same night my mother died, the exact feelings of fear, and hatred.

  My memory recalled seeing my dead mother on the floor, gasping for air, as she turned pale.

  My heart, it's getting louder. I am scared!

  If I get Luna worried... I can't. No, I must be just... Hell no. I know what I saw. That wasn't my imagination. But it would be impossible for him to be there, wouldn't it? Must be my hallucination, but hallucinations for what reason? Is my brain just playing games with me?!

  “Hey, Luna.”

  “Yeah... did something happen?”

  “I look forward to your ultimate cooking recipe.” I smiled at her.

  “...Sure!” She showed me a huge grin.

  Smile Rokun, smile. Always smile, cause if you smile, then those you love wouldn't be worried.

  After walking out from the bus, Luna quickly ravaged through her backpack. She took out a marker and drew cat-like whiskers on her face.

  This girl... I can't just handle this life. “Don't you think little John has grown out of being fascinated by whiskers?”

  “Hm, maybe, but it's not for him. It's for that little troublesome sister of yours; Elizabeth.”

  I scratched my chin.

  Elizabeth really didn't like Luna. Yet, Luna always tried to befriend her by pestering her. At Least little John and Sarah get on really well with her.

  “Big sis Luna!”

  From inside, little John's face was glued to the window. He quickly disappeared. The next minute he was dashing out from the front door making his way to Luna.

  This guy… He didn't even look at me for a second. What a little bastard. That’s son Johnny. He was given my father’s name... Anyway, he is the youngest of all my siblings, a ten-year-old troublesome ass who is small for his age, and a little chubby. The most noticeable feature of him was the silver hair that flowed in the middle, surrounded by his black hair.

  By the way, he was running at Luna as if she was a bag of cocaine. Maybe it was because of her shiny thick legs? Even I can agree that her legs are phenomenal.

  I began nodding to myself as if I was given a divine revelation that explained everything.

  Little John, who was completely drunk on Luna's beauty, leaped and leached to her leg.

  This bastard… think I don't know your tricks? Playing innocent, you little pervert. It must be because of genetics. I just hope he doesn’t grow up to be like father... I hope I don’t become like him too. Like hell I would! Having a child and then abandoning your wife along with them? I will never be like that.

  “Big sis Luna, please give me a piggyback ride!” He begged Luna.

  Sigh, I should calm down... getting bothered about not having a father when it has been over a decade-plus it's... silly... Yeah, it doesn't matter, it doesn't hurt me, so what if other kids had fathers? I-I have more freedom… Yeah, yeah.

  ...

  Damn that man to hell.

  I greeted the little guy, “Good night to you, John.”

  Say son Johnny? As if—sometimes I do, but I hate that name too much.

  “Night night, bro!” he greeted me.

  I like the little kid. I am his big brother, after all. Who else can he look up to as a role model but me? That's right, I must be a perfect example for him, for them.

  Luna picked him up. “How are you little John John?”

  “I ammm goood good, piggy rideee.” He vigorously nodded his head.

  Something is up. He is normally super active, but why does it seem like he has been supercharged on caffeine? And those two little kids aren't…

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Okay okay, I will give you a piggy ride.” She placed him on her back.

  I approached the door, and asked, “Sarah and Elize, What did you guys feed to John?” I tried to open the door, but it was locked.

  Luna made vehicle sounds as she ran around with little John on her back; he looked like he was going to die from excitement.

  My god. I want to keep a serious face but how can I after seeing a scene like that?

  I began to chuckle.

  “Faster! The mermaids are coming. Luna, useee moon blast!” He shouted as he thrust his arm forward like a general.

  “Yes sir!”

  Elizabeth finally opened the door with cake batter in her hair and clothes. She is fourteen years old, and about 5’4. Her hair was a little longer than her shoulder; it was straight with sharp endings. Also, random portions of it were silver. Right now she is dressed in a sleeveless black shirt and orange short pants.

  She tried to put on a smile. “You... came home early today.”

  “Well, you complain when I don't, and... why was the door locked after little John ran from inside mere minutes ago?”

  “Yeah, but it's your birthday, so I thought you would stay out longer.”

  She ignored my question. Needless to say, I didn't really care. I will find out later. I am in a good mood.

  “It's not a big deal.”

  As I tried to walk in, Elize blocked the door path with her leg and shoulder, stretching her body like she was a joke.

  “Uh... what are you doing?” I questioned her motive.

  Even Sarah has not reached here yet and-

  Sniff! Sniff!

  “Why do I smell burning food?” I asked.

  “W-what is burning food?!” Her smile contorted.

  Pushing her aside, she fell on her ass. As I walked in, there was Sarah. Her hair was completely silver from four inches above the hair roots. She had her hair in one big puff with a long black bang coming down to her right eyebrow. She had an apron on. Compared to Elizabeth's mature look, she was the cute looking one. Mom did say Sarah was a splitting image of her…

  Sarah moved her eyes around anxiously. She was looking for an excuse to make. On the stove was a black sponge. I am guessing it was supposed to be some half-ass cake.

  The counter had a bowl of icing? Well, it looks like there was one. The floor had a lot of flour along with icing. And the fingerprints of icing were the same palm size as little John's.

  “Uh... um... you see now... uh... um... I was like summoned to another world while making food to slay the demon king. And by the time I reached back, it was burning!” Sarah did a performance.

  I stared at the smoke coming from the completely pitch-black charcoal thing. Then moved my gaze toward her and stared, not saying a single thing.

  Bowing her head low, she said remorsefully, “I am sorry Rokun. We were just... experimenting.”

  Elizabeth placed something on the table, a white cake box. “We… bought this cake for you, ignore that thing on the stove..”

  So they put all their time and effort into cooking this, and gave up and ordered this cake, huh? I guess they didn't have enough time to finish cleaning the mess.

  I walked to the stove where the burnt cake was. Above the cabinet were candles that were thrown and hidden there.

  “Cake! Cake! Cake! Make way, we have come to slay big bro’s cake!” Little John bellowed as he pointed to his sisters.

  When Luna walked in with little John on her back looking aloof, Elizabeth looked away from her and her demeanor went cold for a second, then returned back to normal except for her eyebrows constant twitching. So, she is trying her best to make a happy scenario for me, putting away her hatred for Luna.

  I pulled out the flat burnt cake thing and placed it on the plate.

  Sarah waved. “Oh, hi Luna! But bro... we can get rid of the cake for you, so there isn't a need to do it yourself.”

  Elize inputted too, “Yeah, I mean, look at this cake here. It's the real deal. I heard it tastes like heaven itself.” She puffed her chest with pride.

  A tear dropped from my eye. “You guys... thank you.”

  "Huh?”

  “Big bro?”

  “...”

  I placed the plate on the table, pulled my chair, and cut the failed thing.

  “You tried to make a pancake?” I looked at Sarah.

  “Well, I didn't know what to make and Elizabeth knew about pancakes, well, some of it. I knew a little bit of it and little John knew a little.”

  “Mother’s favorite food.” I smiled.

  “Yeah, she made it a lot for us.” Elize gave a slight smile as her eyes wandered to the ground. “But... we... ruined the only damn thing she taught us on your birthday.”

  She grimaced as tears began to fall from her eyes.

  Little John stayed quiet. He wasn't really close to mom, but every time he saw Elize cry, he too wanted to cry. Despite her hard and cold attitude to people outside of her family, she always tried her best to care for her younger siblings.

  Sarah was a very strong-willed person. Despite her timid look, her feelings were always hardened, never showing too much emotion. She only cried when in a lot of physical pain and... even then, the crying always looked artificial.

  “Well... I was the one that always made it for you guys' lazy asses while you all watched TV or played on your phones, after all.” I tried to grin.

  Luna remained quiet as she took a seat opposite me and smiled. “Your siblings care about you a lot.”

  “Yeah, they do.” They always did.

  I took the pancake and bit down on it.

  Like ashes, my teeth cut through it easily. The disgusting burnt taste sanded itself upon my tongue and filled it with disgust!

  Oh shit, it tastes like, I don't know, just really bad! But crap, ima vomit. My stomach revolted and almost caused me to vomit.

  “B-brother”

  “Bro...”

  “Nak! Big bro is eating burnt food. Ima take the cake if you don't want it then.” Little John, clearly upset by me eating their hard work, tried to sneak his way to the cake box like a thief.

  Elizie stared at him with hostility while making sure to keep her smile. Little John quickly backed away and hid behind Luna.

  I managed to eat every single part of the pancake. Putting down my cutlery, I turned towards them.

  “Thank you, Sarah, Elizabeth and even you, little John.”

  Sarah gave a wry smile as if she was witnessing torture. Elize smiled like she had accomplished something great, she pressed her hand on her chest.

  You guys...

  I moved my eyes to the warm depths of Luna’s-- Sarah suddenly seemed distressed, as if something was out of the ordinary.

  Huh? What was up with her–

  BOOM!

  With a bright flash of yellow, a sudden brightness blinded me! And a shockwave blasted me across the room.

  THUD!

  Urgh! I slammed harshly against the wall.

  What was that? I am not sure what happen…

  I struggled to stand up.

  The room was in shambles; walls were torn apart, and the air was thick with smoke. Dust and debris littered the floor. The sound of the explosion was still ringing in my ear, despite that, I could hear everyone trying to get their footing; surely disoriented by the sudden attack.

  “Rokun! Sarah? Johnny!”

  “Rokun, where are you!”

  “Cough cough… Elizabeth? Sarah? Where are you all…?”

  It was as if a truck drove in at light speed, clearing everything in its way…

  Then I heard a voice of an old man. “Sarah...? Oh right, the fakes names. Don't bother looking for Sarlia. She was the one that got hit by Zeus’s thunderbolt.”

  Who the hell is that? And Zeus’s thunderbolt? And... the fake names, how does he know about that?

  “Who are you! And why did you do this? You better not have harmed Sarah!”

  “I said I hit her, and yet you say, I better not have hurt her? I guess you are in a state of panic where you can't think right. Well, whatever.”

  He drew his hand to his right, and a yellow thunderbolt returned to his hand.

  What in the hell? Am I seeing things?

  He threw it outside again. But for what purpose? Who is this man?

  The man moved his sharp gaze onto me.

  My eyes met his right hand. A long scythe was being gripped tightly.

  Who is this monster? Or demon rather.

  "I suppose you are the grim reaper?" I tried to put on a brave face, but my trembling lips gave me away. Fear consumed me, tightening my stomach and making my heart ache and scream in agony.

  Why! why! why did it appear here?! Why did it target us?! There are so many damn people in the damn world it could have killed instead, but it chose Sarah?!

  "Me? Grim reaper? Haha! I wish. I am simply a reaper."

  So he is a demon...

  "What do you want with me…" My throat was getting dry, and I struggled to squeeze out those words.

  He widen his right hand, expecting something to return, and like previously, the weird thunderbolt returned to his hand. And just like before, he sent it again at full speed.

  I don't understand, is this some hobby of his? Is he just sending random thunderbolt strikes at people??

  He just stared at me, ignoring my question. Then, my eyes fell on his arm, which had a scar that was spelled as, 'Arthur.' Was that his name? Whatever it was, it didn't matter right now.

  Keep calm… if I find out what he wants, maybe I can persuade him to go away.

  "You have been following me for a while. Why didn't you confront me then?” I asked.

  He didn't answer me. Instead, he looked around. His eyes fell on my struggling siblings, but there was no animosity in his eyes. It almost looked like he felt sorry for them.

  I don't get it. He makes no sense! Come on... he must have targeted us over misinformation. Maybe somehow, he mistook us for another family? Like hell he did! But... maybe it's some mistake. I am desperate here!

  He touched my chest with nothing but pure hatred in his eyes. Then he formed a gun signature.

  Huh? What is he-! Suddenly, my heart felt like it was torn apart. Was it a heart attack? But why now?!

  His eyebrows furrowed as he jabbed his finger into my chest. "Hey... I am the one who is going to kill you, Rokun. Nah, Rokuden."

  Bang!

  Before I could hold my chest from the sharp pains in my heart, he calmly gave the room a fresh coat of color with my blood as an intense pressure of air pierced through my lungs.

  “Hk-!”

  So this is how I die, huh? I guess this is what I deserve….

  My vision went blurry and my consciousness began fading. Though dying, I saw Luna, Elizabeth, and little Johnny pushing debris off themselves.

  “AHHHHHHHH!” an agonizing and horrific scream shrieked and echoed.

  I saw a glimpse of Luna; her face wrapped with horror. Her silky black hair with red highlights waved in the air so wildly yet so beautifully…

  THUD!

  My body slammed onto the floor, practically lifeless…

  As I embraced death, I had this realization. I have experienced this before. No, many times before—all playing out in different ways.