Before I could even think of what to say, everything happened in an instant.
There was a flash of movement.
I heard a sharp sound.
Then Mom collapsed.
I froze.
My brain couldn't understand what I had just seen.
Katsuo was standing several feet away.
His hand was holding a katana.
He had moved so quickly that I hadn't even seen him draw it.
"Mom...?"
She didn't answer.
My entire body went numb.
This couldn't be happening.
Not here.
Not to her.
Dad grabbed my shoulder.
"Run."
His voice was barely a whisper.
I didn't move.
"Tom."
"Run!"
I stared at Mom.
My mind kept insisting that this wasn't real.
That she'd suddenly stand up.
That she'd tell me everything was okay.
That Dad would laugh and say it had all been some horrible misunderstanding.
But none of that happened.
"Run!"
Dad pulled me toward the door.
I finally moved.
Then Katsuo spoke.
"I think you should listen to your father, son."
His voice was calm.
Far too calm.
like he was in pity for me.
He sounded like he was giving advice about the weather.
He casually lowered his sword.
Then he tapped his foot against the floor.
BOOM!
The entire house shook.
It wasn't just a small tremor.
The ground violently buckled beneath us.
Plates jumped from the table.
The walls groaned.
Cracks spread across the wooden boards.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
I stumbled and nearly hit the floor.
My brain went completely blank.
I didn't think.
I didn't plan.
I didn't even know where I was going.
I just ran.
I burst through the doorway and into the freezing night.
The cold air hit my face.
I sprinted through the village as fast as I could.
My feet pounded against the snowy ground.
My heart was hammering.
Everything around me looked different now.
The houses I had known my entire life suddenly felt unfamiliar.
The streets felt darker.
Every shadow looked like it was following me.
I don't know how long I ran.
A minute?
Two?
Maybe more.
Eventually, I stopped.
I was breathing heavily.
My legs were shaking.
And then my brain finally started working again.
Dad.
Maybe he'd escaped.
Maybe he'd gotten away.
Maybe...
I turned around.
I looked back toward home.
I didn't want to go back.
Every part of me was screaming run.
But I couldn't leave my dad behind.
So I turned around...
and ran back toward home.
Even though I had no idea what was waiting for me there.