NOVEL WEB Chapter 1: The Return... no.
The train sped through the Japanese countryside, a silver ribbon cutting through the emerald green of the rice paddies. Ren Ito, seated by the window, stared at the landscape with an absent gaze. A year had passed since he left Hokkaido to pursue his studies in Tokyo, a year that felt like an eternity.
His phone vibrated, jolting him from his thoughts. A message from his mother: "Ren, are you almost there? We're waiting for you at the station." A tired smile lit up his face. "Yes, Mom. I'll be there soon."
Sapporo Station was a hive of people, a mosaic of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Ren searched for his parents in the crowd, but what he saw froze him in place. His parents weren't there, but something very different: tall, slender figures, with bright, unnatural eyes, moved with mechanical precision, like puppets without strings.
"What... what's happening?" Ren murmured, feeling a shiver run down his spine. The station, once a lively and welcoming place, now looked like a movie set for a dystopian science fiction film.
As Ren tried to get his bearings, one of the figures approached him. "Identification required," it said in a metallic, emotionless voice. Ren stepped back, feeling his heart pound. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The figure didn't answer, but moved with surprising speed, grabbing Ren's arm with an iron grip. "Resistance detected. Subject need to be neutralized."
Ren struggled, pushing the figure with all his might. The creature fell backward, but immediately got back up, its eyes glowing with a menacing light. Ren knew he had to escape.
He ran out of the station, plunging into the crowd, trying to blend in with the people. But the figures pursued him, moving with unsettling speed and precision. Ren felt like a mouse in a trap, hunted by relentless predators.
As he ran, he saw a familiar figure in the distance. A girl with long white hair and bright eyes, staring at him with a worried expression. "Hina?" Ren shouted, feeling a spark of hope ignite in his chest.
Hina Sato, his childhood friend, was there, standing in the crowd, with a determined look on her face. "Ren! You're in danger! Come with me!"
Without hesitation, Ren ran towards her, feeling relief wash over him. Hina grabbed his hand and pulled him into a dark alley, away from the creatures' eyes.
"What's happening, Hina? Who are those things?" Ren asked, panting.
Hina looked at him with serious eyes. "They're androids, Ren. They've taken control of the island. And they won't stop until they've conquered everything."
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Information box
Ren Ito: Age: 18 years old. Gender: Male Hair: short blue hair. Eyes: light blue eyes. Height: 179cm. Build: slim but a bit muscolar. Clothing Style: he usually wear a white shirt and black pants.
Hina Sato: Age: 18 years old. Gender: Female Hair: long white hair. Eyes: purple eyes. Height: 165cm. Build: slim. Clothing Style: she usually wear a dark-red t-shirt, gray pants and a blue cap.