The Crimson Afterglow and the Fading Innocence

The afterglow of the setting sun, crimson like blood, spilled across the man’s shoulders. One side glowed red, the other remained shrouded in black. In Chloe’s hazy vision, this figure twisted and contorted. Ultimately, it coalesced into a monster with eyes blazing red.

“Damn demon…” Chloe murmured to herself. A flicker of sinister intent crossed her pink pupils.

The demon opened its maw, a gaping cavern lined with razor-sharp fangs. It let out a demonic growl, as if mocking her very existence.

“It’s one thing for them to bully me, but what right do you have, you wretched thing?”

Within Chloe’s grasp, a bow of ominous black and crimson began to coalesce. Unique, pinkish-black tendrils of dark energy flowed across its frame. As she drew the bowstring taut, the gathered magical power disturbed the very air around her. An arrow, entwined with black thorns, now rested upon the string.

Chloe’s golden hair, billowing in the air, instantaneously transformed into a lustrous, moonlit silver.

What she could not perceive, however, was a tumultuous aura of black energy. At that very moment, it embraced her from behind, like a seductive devil, yet paradoxically, it was as gentle as a mother comforting her child.

For reasons unknown, the demon remained rooted to its spot. It merely bared its fangs and claws, awaiting Chloe’s assault.

Why must such utter filth exist in this world? If there were no demons, no witches, then Magical Girls would have no reason to be. And everything I’ve suffered would never have come to pass, would it?

Faint dark circles ringed Chloe’s eyes. Her profound exhaustion manifested physically. Her large, vacant eyes lent her an appearance of extraordinary calm. In truth, however, she simply lacked the energy to bear any more emotion.

The two fingers gripping the arrow lightly released their hold. The arrow shot forward like an untamed wild horse, transforming into a streak of blood-black lightning, hurtling towards the grotesque demon.

Just a split second before the arrow’s tip could meet the demon, a surge of demon-slaying power erupted from its shaft. A burst of golden light, like a blinding flash, illuminated the entire street, starkly revealing the true form of the ‘demon’.

What had rendered him immobile were tangible tendrils of black energy. They had erupted from the ground beneath his feet, transforming into vine-like restraints that tightly coiled around the man’s ankles. Yet, even without this binding restraint, he could not possibly have evaded Chloe’s arrow. For how could an ordinary person possibly escape an arrow fired by a Magical Girl, one that moved faster than a bullet?

Chloe’s eyes cleared instantaneously, her pupils contracting sharply. Reflected within them was the man, his entire body engulfed by the flames of demon-slaying power. That astonishing blaze, purer than the sun itself, continuously spat forth tongues of fire. From the man’s wounds, crimson blood spurted forth, acting as fuel and intensifying the inferno.

A wisp of black energy stealthily crept out from the side, intending to partake in the feast. However, the overwhelmingly dominant flames instantly devoured it as well, turning it into burning kindling.

Chloe stood frozen, stunned. Even though these flames originated from her, this unfamiliar intensity was unlike anything she had ever witnessed. Her heart filled with terror, she rushed forward, attempting to extinguish the raging inferno. Yet, no sooner had her fingers neared the flames than a searing pain erupted in her hand, forcing her to recoil instantly.

Suddenly, a piercing shriek, like the wail of a banshee, echoed in her mind. It was a cry of despair, akin to a demon consumed by hellfire.

“How… how could this be?”

This is my power, yet how can I not control even myself?

Though several burn marks now marred her hand, Chloe suddenly felt her mind clear considerably. The clearer her mind became, the more bewildered she felt.

Swiftly, the man’s body was reduced to nothing more than a charred husk. The last flicker of flame, before finally dying out, emitted a bright flash, like a final, mocking taunt.

Chloe’s legs suddenly gave way. She collapsed to her knees, her delicate, exposed skin instantly scraped raw and bleeding. Normally, she might have been on the verge of tears from the pain, but now, such trivial details were utterly inconsequential.

The blackened remains exuded an acrid, burnt smell. The hollow skull seemed to still echo with the desperate cries of a life extinguished.

‘I’ve killed someone.’

An innocent person. He might have had a loving family, a brilliant future, and a promising life ahead. But all these possibilities had now been irrevocably buried by her hand. Buried by the hand of a Magical Girl.

“I’m sorry…” Her apology was as powerless as her own voice.

Despite the gravity of this heinous act, Chloe was surprised to find her heart not nearly as shaken as she had expected. It was as if the remains before her were merely an inanimate object, no different from a stone by the roadside. The sole distinction was a faint warmth, a testament to its recent, living past.

‘But if I just bury it, what difference would it make?’ The thought that erupted in Chloe’s mind made her heart pound.

“Bury it. No one will know…” Whether it was an internal whisper or words spoken aloud, it enticed her to act.

Ordinary people were unaware of the existence of the magical world. There were countless ways to make these remains vanish silently. No one would ever trace it back to her, for she was merely a delicate, innocent, and charming little girl. No one would ever have the heart to impose the world’s darkness upon such a beautiful being.

The black energy within her, like a persistent malady, inexplicably surged forth once more. This time, however, it swarmed towards the charred skeleton, like loyal hounds executing their master’s command. It devoured its target with alarming speed.

This horrifying spectacle left Chloe pale, causing her to fall back onto the ground. Even more terrifying was the realization that this black energy originated from within her own body. Before she could even fully comprehend what was happening, the ground was already pristine, as if nothing had ever occurred.

Yet, some things had subtly shifted.

Fear swept through her heart, and in her panic, she transformed once more. Fortunately, her magical power still held dominance. She had not yet fully become that terrifying monster. However, her silver hair and pink eyes served as an undeniable reminder that things were spiraling in a sinister direction. Moreover, the demon-slaying bow itself had shifted from its original white and gold dual coloration to an ominous black and crimson.

‘I need to transform less, until I find a solution.’

Chloe rose to her feet, casting one final glance at the spot where the innocent man had perished, before turning to leave. Indeed, she had killed an innocent man, just as demons and witches did. Not even a complete corpse remained.

A Magical Girl with human blood on her hands no longer has the right to represent love and justice, does she? Should I turn myself in?

“Heh-heh…” Chloe suddenly let out a laugh. To whom would I confess? The police? The Watchtower? Why bother? Better to simply pretend nothing ever happened.

“Papertreat, are you there?”

Only an endless silence answered her.

“Have even you abandoned me? Heh-heh…”