The sharp sound of shattering glass tore through the living room. Fragments rained down like deadly crystal shards, scattering across the floor.

  Cold night air rushed into the house, carrying with it the putrid stench of rot and blood.

  Before Sheichi could react, a Hollowed figure lunged through the broken window, its bloodied hands clawing at the air. Its disjointed limbs twist, its flesh marred by jagged tears and blackened veins. Its eyes-once human-were now glassy, hollow pits that glistened with primal hunger.

  The creature's jaws snapped violently, spitting out strings of bile and blood as it let out a feral shriek.

  "Get down!" Sheichi's father cry out, shoving him and Haruka backward.

  The Hollowed pounced, its nails raking deep into his father's chest. The sudden force sent him crashing onto the dining table with a sickening crunch, breaking the wood beneath him. The breath was knocked from his lungs, but before he could rise, the creature sank its teeth into his shoulder, tearing through flesh with a wet, visceral rip.

  "DAD!" Sheichi screamed, his throat raw with panic.

  The Hollowed thrashed like a rabid beast, gnawing and pulling, its teeth scraping against bone. Blood poured in a torrent, soaking the table. His father grunted, eyes wide in shock, trying to push the creature off, but his strength was already draining.

  Another Hollowed crashed through the window, knocking over a lamp. The living room was bathed in chaotic, flickering light, casting monstrous shadows against the walls.

  Sheichi stumbled back, clutching Haruka tightly to his chest. She was awake now, trembling in his arms, her fingers clawing at his jacket in terror. Her muffled sobs made his chest tighten.

  "Onii-chan... what's happening?" she whimpered.

  But he had no words. Only terror.

  ---

  His mother's scream pierced the chaos.

  Sheichi's head whipped around just in time to see another Hollowed crashing through the back door.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  It lunged toward her, but she grabbed a kitchen knife from the counter. With trembling hands, she slashed at the monster's face, carving a deep gash across its cheek.

  For a fleeting moment, it reeled back. But it only enraged the beast.

  With a guttural snarl, it clamped its rotting teeth down on her wrist, grinding against bone. Her scream turned into a raw, strangled cry as blood spurted across the kitchen tiles. Her body convulsed violently as the creature ripped the flesh from her arm, sending glistening chunks of muscle and skin flying.

  "No!" Sheichi's voice cracked with helplessness.

  Her eyes met his-wide and panicked, filled with nothing but fear and desperation.

  "Run, Sheichi!" she screamed through clenched teeth, her face contorted in agony.

  Sheichi's feet refused to move. He was frozen. Paralyzed by the sight of his mother being torn apart.

  The Hollowed shoved her against the counter, sending her sprawling onto the cold floor. It dropped onto her chest, its jaws snapping relentlessly. It latched onto her throat and ripped out her jugular, splattering blood across the cabinets. Her legs twitched violently, but her eyes were already glassy, vacant.

  His mother was dead.

  ---

  The world was collapsing around Sheichi, but his limbs still wouldn't respond.

  The only thing grounding him was Haruka, trembling in his arms, her small hands gripping his jacket with panicked desperation.

  "Onii-chan!" she wailed, her voice raw with terror.

  Suddenly, the Hollowed that had slaughtered their mother snapped its head toward them, blood dripping from its sharp teeth. Its hollow eyes locked onto Haruka, sensing easier prey.

  No.

  It lunged.

  Sheichi's eyes widened.

  "NO!!" he growl, instinctively throwing himself between Haruka and the monster.

  The creature's clawed hand slashed across his shoulder, sending a searing pain through his body. He stumbled backward, barely keeping his grip on his sister.

  His father-bleeding out and gasping on the floor-locked eyes with him. With the last shreds of strength, he grabbed a broken chair leg and swung it with a hoarse, desperate cry. The makeshift weapon hit against the Hollowed's skull, causing it to stumble.

  "Get her out of here!" his father rasped, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Sheichi's vision blurred with tears, but he obeyed. He turned and ran.

  Haruka clung to him, her small arms trembling around his neck as he bolted toward the hallway.

  "Hold on! Don't let go!" he panted, his voice cracking with fear.

  But the Hollowed were faster.

  One lunged from the side, clawing at his leg, sending him crashing to the floor. Haruka tumbled from his arms with a terrified shriek.

  "NO!" Sheichi screamed, scrambling toward her.

  But it was too late.

  A Hollowed hand clamped onto her ankle, dragging her across the wooden floor. She clawed at the floorboards, her nails splitting and bleeding as she kicked and thrashed.

  "Onii-chan! NO! NO! PLEASE!" she screamed, her voice cracking with terror.

  Sheichi's hands grasped at nothing but air.

  The Hollowed hoisted her small body into the air. Its jaws unhinged grotesquely, saliva and blood dripping from its fanged maw.

  "STOP! STOP!!" Sheichi howled, his voice breaking.

  The monster bit down.

  A sharp, wet crack-blood burst from Haruka's throat, drip unto the floor of her blood. Her small frame convulsed as the Hollowed tore into her, its teeth crushing her collarbone and throat.

  She reached for Sheichi with blood-slicked fingers. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but only wet, gurgling coughs came out.

  Her eyes-once so bright with mischief-dimmed.

  Sheichi's world stopped.

  "Haruka..." his voice cracked into a broken whisper.

  Her bloodied hand slowly fell limp, dangling loosely in the air.

  She was gone.

  ---

  The Hollowed turned toward him, his sister's blood still dripping from its maw. Sheichi's entire body trembled. His vision blurred with tears. His hands clenched into trembling fists.

  A scream tore from his throat-animalistic, primal, broken. It shook his entire being, reverberating with raw, unfathomable grief.

  But the Hollowed didn't stop.

  It lunged for him.

  And Sheichi, blinded by agony and rage, didn't run.

  He fought...