Beyond, With a Yokai

Chapter 3: Enemy and Ally

"Half-fox."

Half?
So he's part human? Or is this another lie? And if not... can kitsune really have children with humans?

The thought made her skin crawl.

He caught the shift in her expression and smirked.

"You look scared. I like it. Much better than when you get mad and turn all red like an overripe tomato."

He finally stepped back, giving her room to breathe.

"Well, I don't like your face—with or without emotion."

"Oh really?" he grinned. "Wasn't you just snuggling up to me?"

Yesenia froze.

She had pressed herself against him, burying her face in his chest, inhaling the scent of his hair...

"I... I thought you were my mom."

"Oh, come on. Deep down, you knew it was me," he said smugly. "Just admit it—you wanted to get a little cozy."

"Pfft!" she scoffed, her cheeks burning.

Yes, he was gorgeous. Tall, lean, dangerously well-built...

But falling for someone who regularly threatened and tormented her?

Yeah—not exactly her type.

"Did you remember anything else?" he asked suddenly, his voice sharp.

"No... But like I said before, if you help me get out of here, I'll really try."

She didn't even finish the sentence before he grabbed her wrist and dug his claws into her chest.

Only when the razor-sharp tips scraped against something inside did she realize—she'd let her mouth run again.

He's going to kill me.
Maybe that's for the best. Maybe it's finally over. No more fear. No more pain.

"I thought I made myself clear yesterday," he said, his voice chilling. "You play by my rules, or I follow through on every threat I've made. No hesitation."

"W-What are you doing?" Her breath hitched. Her body froze. His grip was monstrous.

"Oh, nothing. Just lightly brushing the core of your soul. One flick, and I can tear it to shreds—end your entire cycle of reincarnation."

As he spoke, something in her began to fade. Her body felt unnaturally heavy. Not like pain... more like slipping into sleep—into nothing.

"Why are you turning blue? Can't breathe?" he murmured with cruel interest. "Oh... sounds like your mother's crying. They're escorting her out of your hospital room."

He was peeking through the veil between worlds—watching what was happening on the other side—and casually feeding it to her like gossip.

But she barely heard him. Her mind was fogging. Everything blurred into a haze.

"Just a little more," he whispered, "and your heart gives out."

Her knees buckled. Her limbs went limp. Panic surged like acid through her veins.

She didn't want to die.
Not like this. Not now. Not alone.

Was this really it?

Had she done something so wrong?

He yanked his claws from her chest without warning.

Yesenia collapsed to the ground like a sack of bricks, gasping.