Chapter 8: The Shadow of the Past

As Kenji's hand closed around Gai's wrist, a surge of pain shot through his arm, making his vision blur. He felt Aisha's grip on his other arm tighten, but he couldn't move, couldn't escape. Kenji's grip was like a vice, unyielding and unforgiving. Akane, who had been frozen in fear, suddenly sprang into action. She lunged at Kenji, her eyes blazing with determination. "Let him go!" she shouted, her voice carrying above the storm. But Kenji didn't flinch. He didn't even glance at Akane. His eyes were fixed on Gai, his gaze piercing and intense. "You should have stayed away," he hissed, his voice low and menacing. Gai felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, and his legs began to buckle. Kenji's grip tightened, holding him upright. Aisha cried out, trying to pry Kenji's hand off Gai's wrist, but he wouldn't let go. Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the dark sky, and in that brief moment, Gai saw something that made his heart skip a beat. Behind Kenji, standing just beyond the edge of the archway, was a figure he hadn't expected to see. It was his grandmother, her eyes fixed on him with a mixture of sadness and warning. But before Gai could process what he was seeing, Kenji yanked him forward, pulling him into the darkness. Gai stumbled, his feet scraping against the wet stone floor. Aisha and Akane cried out, trying to follow, but Kenji's grip was too strong. He dragged Gai deeper into the building, leaving his friends behind. As they moved further into the darkness, Gai caught glimpses of the building's interior. They were in a long, narrow corridor, the walls lined with old portraits and dusty tapestries. The air was thick with the scent of decay and rot. Kenji finally stopped in front of a large wooden door, adorned with intricate carvings. He pushed the door open, revealing a room that seemed frozen in time. The furniture was old and worn, the curtains heavy with dust. In the center of the room, a single chair sat facing a large mirror. Kenji pushed Gai into the chair, his grip still tight around his wrist. "It's time you saw the truth," he said, his voice dripping with malice. Gai's eyes were fixed on the mirror, his heart pounding in his chest. What was Kenji going to show him? And why did his grandmother's presence still linger in his mind, like a ghostly whisper?