[ Tokyo, Japan ]
[ Risveglio Akasaka Hotel – 3:51 A.M. ]
The yellow lights cast dull shadows on the walls of the hotel room. The dim luminescence gave the place a warm and pleasant atmosphere, but the silence that reigned in the room made the scene more somber.
To one side, a girl with long black hair stood anxiously waiting. The electric kettle in front of her turned off with a 'clack', indicating that the water was ready. She grabbed the handle with trembling hands, pouring the hot liquid into a disposable paper cup. A column of white mist danced in the air, giving off a strong smell of black tea.
Ciel inhaled the bitter smell deeply, feeling her body relax and the haze in her mind gradually clear. However, at that moment, there was someone else who needed to be appeased, so without wasting time, she held the hot cup and approached with careful steps the three people who were huddled on one of the two beds in the room.
A brown-haired girl was sitting in the middle of the queen-sized bed, with her back hunched and both arms tightly wrapped around her legs. Her head was resting on her knees and her short, messy hair fell in waves. Even though none of the other three people in the room could see her face, her labored and shaky breathing showed her agitated state.
"Dre... just a... real…" An almost inaudible murmur left her lips; incoherent words were repeated over and over like an old broken record. Sabrina dug her nails into her skin because she had the feeling that her own body was twisted in a strange way, but it was all her imagination.
She was flanked by a girl of the same age, with brown skin and reddish hair, and a rather tall young man with curly, disheveled hair. Sophia gently rubbed her back in silence, while Joel caressed her head, trying to comb her tangled hair. Their faces looked fatigued, but their eyes revealed their growing concern.
The three of them had been like this for about ten minutes, maybe more, but they still hadn't managed to completely calm Sabrina down. The sound of feet dragging on the carpet drew their attention to the woman who had a steaming disposable cup in her hands.
"Drink this," whispered Ciel as she slowly brought the hot tea to her. "It will help you relax," she added in a soft tone, searching her friend's face with her hazel eyes.
Sabrina slowly raised her head, revealing an extremely pale and exhausted face. Her left cheek was red and swollen, as were her eyes, either from holding back tears or from lack of sleep.
"Thank you," she replied hoarsely, receiving the disposable cup with trembling hands. In the process, she surreptitiously touched the black-haired woman's hand, seeking to feel the temperature of her skin, and then carefully distanced herself.
They all noticed how Sabrina's tense face softened with relief, and believed that the tea had done its job of calming her down a bit. When, in fact, her relief was due to something entirely different.
At times, Sabrina felt that the people around her were not real, or that her surroundings themselves were part of a dream. Her numb body seemed to be floating above the bed, and even though her friends were next to her, there seemed to be a great distance between them. Their muffled voices echoed in the distance as if there was a wall blocking them.
Sabrina slowly brought the rim of the cup to her lips, ignoring the high temperature that made her skin burn. The mist swirled, the intense smell of tea entering her nose. She sighed heavily before taking small sips, feeling her chaotic thoughts slowly settle.
The tea burned her tongue slightly and slid down her throat, warming her chest and stomach, while the temperature that passed through the cardboard to her hands gave her that long-awaited feeling of realism. Her numb body and senses were revived, and the surroundings began to regain color.
Meanwhile, everyone waited in silence, watching her carefully in case she had any unexpected reaction. Only when she lowered the almost empty cup did the rest proceed to cautiously inquire.
"Does it hurt a lot?" Sophia began hesitantly, her black eyes fixed on her friend's swollen cheek. Seeing Sabrina shake her head in response, she continued. "Sorry. We had to hit you to wake you up because-" She suddenly stopped, shuddering at the memory of the piercing screams that had made her jump out of bed in the middle of the night.
"Has this happened before?" Joel interrupted them. His brow was deeply furrowed with a mixture of anxiety and bewilderment. "This is no longer normal. To be honest, it's unsettling. I still have goosebumps."
"This is the first time I've seen her react like this," Sophia firmly denied. "When she has a nightmare, she usually mutters nonsense or wakes up agitated, but nothing like this has ever happened," she explained while looking askance at the brunette, remembering the time they had lived together. "But in the last few months, the number of times she has suffered nightmares or insomnia has been increasing. And… you already know the rest of the story."
The gloomy silence once again reigned in the room as everyone was lost in thought. The phone on the coffee table in the living room suddenly rang. The reception number appeared on the digital display. No matter how insulated the walls were, with the chaos that had broken out inside the room minutes before, it was no surprise that the hotel employees had inquired about the situation and called once they identified where the disturbance was coming from.
"I'll handle it," Sophia said, getting up from the bed and quickly heading towards the phone.
No one objected since, among the four, Sabrina was the only one who could speak several languages fluently. However, it was obvious that she was in no condition to take the call, so Sophia, who had an average level of English, was the best option to deal with the situation. With a space now free on the bed, Ciel took the opportunity to sit down and hug her friend who was still frightened and nervous.
Firm, warm caresses ran down Sabrina's back, letting her know that she was not alone; it wasn't a dream, this was her body, and these people were real. Feeling the comforting warmth emanating from the black-haired woman, her cold, trembling body gradually relaxed, until the beating of their hearts synchronized. Once Ciel felt that the girl in her arms had stopped trembling, she then encouraged herself to speak.
"Hey, look at me," she called her friend's attention in an affable tone. Her voice was almost a whisper when she asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Sabrina hesitated for several seconds, but in the end, she refused. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk about it, but that she didn't remember the content of her nightmare very well. Places, noises, objects, voices; it was all a disastrous and confusing jumble of images and sounds without context. The only thing that had remained in her mind was the overwhelming pain, as if she had received a terrible beating, and a great grief that suffocated the rest of her emotions.
"Let's postpone the visit to the shrine for another day," Joel suggested as he examined the situation. "We have a few free days, so it wouldn't be a problem to take a break. What do you think?"
The four of them had arrived in Japan that morning after leaving South Korea, their next destination being China. After years of planning this trip through Asia and Europe, they had finally saved enough money and booked all the flight and train tickets, and hotel rooms necessary for the course of their trip. Although they had a tight schedule full of places to visit and foods to try, they had left a margin of free days in case any inconvenience or emergency occurred. However, Sabrina refused before the rest agreed.
"No, I'm good." After receiving reproachful looks from her friends, she decided to correct her words a little. "Well, I'm not so good, but I feel better. I don't want to stay in the hotel," she admitted with complete honesty. "I'd rather go out and have fun."
In situations like this, it was better to entertain herself with other things and forget about the horrible nightmares. If she stayed at the hotel, she would surely fall asleep and dream again.
What if it happened again? She didn't even want to imagine it. On the other hand, she also did not want to waste time or money, neither her own nor her friends'. After distancing herself from Ciel, she lightly hit her cheeks to wake up once and for all.
"Ugh!" A painful sting ran down the left side of her face. Only then did she remember that she had been slapped before.
"Sorry about that," Ciel apologized when she noticed her grimace of pain.
"Don't worry. Let's go to sleep, tomorrow will be a long day."
Just in time, Sophia returned from the living room. The kind staff understood the situation and had even asked if anyone needed medical attention, which she politely declined. After apologizing several times and hanging up, she returned to the room to find that the previously gloomy atmosphere had disappeared. The four of them talked a little more and decided to proceed with what they had planned, although they would get up a little later to catch up on lost sleep.
Sabrina drank another cup of tea while her friends moved some furniture and pushed the beds closer so they could sleep together. Needless to say, the arrangement was only for that night. The next morning they would have to return everything to normal before the employees noticed and reprimanded them.
Sophia and Joel occupied the outer sides, while the other two girls remained in the center. The lights went out and the room was suddenly plunged into darkness. Placid and slow breaths floated through the silent place, yet only one person was unable to fall asleep. The person who caused the whole mess was lying on her back, staring at the ceiling.
To be honest, Sabrina was scared to dream and experience that terrifying pain once again. What if she woke everyone up again? Not only would it ruin their friends' trip, but it would also get them a warning from the hotel, and in the worst case, they would be forced to vacate.
Several images raced through her mind; some violet petals that danced in the air, a loud crashing sound, a long flight of red-painted steps, and terrified voices. She could even swear she could smell a musky fragrance in the air.
'Why is this happening to me now?' thought Sabrina while cursing how untimely her nightmares were. Tears that she hadn't cried before watered her eyes, but they didn't fall. Suddenly, she was startled to feel something touch her right hand.
"We're here," Ciel whispered as her warm hand firmly squeezed hers.
"Sleep," Sophia added sleepily from her left, patting her belly as if she were a child.
"Do you want me to leave some lights on?" asked Joel thoughtfully.
Sabrina chuckled, exchanging a few words with them before finally closing her eyes and falling asleep. Luckily, there were no more nightmares.
- - - - - - - -
The restaurant located on the ground floor of the hotel was small but cozy. The interior design was a fusion between modern and vintage, with ochre-colored wooden furniture. The white walls and antique lamps with yellow lights added just the right touches to complement the design.
The strong smell of coffee, mixed with the subtle aromas of different foods, spread throughout the place. The employees were cleaning the counter and dishes, waiting for the clock to mark the time to close the kitchen and rest.
At the end of a row of empty tables, four people were chatting excitedly. As they finished their drinks, they reviewed the route that would take them to their first destination of the day: the Hie Shrine.
"According to the map, the shrine is about a 400-meter walk away, so we'll get there pretty quickly. On the way out, we walk to the taxi stand half a block down the street, and head to the Tokyo Skytree, is that okay?" Sophia confirmed with the rest once again.
"It seems perfect to me," Sabrina agreed as she put the last bite of her dessert into her mouth. "Them we'll haf move time tu walk avound," she mumbled with her mouth full of food.
"Do we have enough cash?" Ciel asked after sipping her strawberry smoothie. Meanwhile, her free hand smacked Sabrina's head in rebuke. The brunette retaliated by opening her mouth to show her the half-chewed food.
"Yep," Joel replied, ignoring the typical antics of his friends. His side of the table had more plates than the rest, though they were all as clean as new now.
"Then let's get going." Sabrina checked the time on her phone and stood up. Her fair complexion had regained its natural color and her mood had returned to normal; so much so that what happened last night seemed like an illusion.
It was the middle of spring in Japan and the weather was mild, perfect for walking. Still, the morning breeze was quite cool, so many people had light coats on. The area where the hotel was located was full of restaurants, bars, and other lodgings. Luckily, there weren't many people at that time, so the walk was rather pleasant.
Passing by the Bank of China, they reached Sotobori-Dori Avenue. Across the street and between two buildings was a dark gray torii gate with a green sign with gold letters written on it. On the side, there was also a map with the necessary information about the shrine.
They all gawked at the giant torii, for it was the first time they had visited a shrine. Although none of them were fervent believers, they couldn't help but feel the sacred air that the place emanated. Indeed, it was as if the gate separated the human world from the divine world.
When they crossed the torii, the four of them suddenly stopped and looked at each other quizzically.
"Was it just me or…?" Sophia asked, frowning.
"No, I felt it too," Joel said in wonder, his big brown eyes wide open.
"I thought I was the only one," Ciel added in amazement.
Sabrina nodded twice, for she had felt it too. It was as if she had passed through some kind of membrane and was now inside a bubble. The air felt cleaner and her body was lighter. She even believed her surroundings had become more radiant.
On the other side of the torii was a short flight of steps that connected to another street. In the center of the wooden lanterns was a stone sign with the words 'Sanno Hie Shrine' engraved on it.
"Let's take a photo here," Ciel proposed, showing her phone.
The problem was that their tripod had broken and they had not purchased a replacement yet. So if they wanted a group photo, they had to ask someone else or prop the phone up somewhere.
While they debated whether to take a selfie and continue on their way, a man approached them. Although they couldn't see his full face since he wore a facemask, his captivating amber eyes had a mix of European and Asian features. A professional camera hung around his neck, so everyone assumed he was another tourist who had noticed their dilemma.
"Excuse me, if you don't mind, can I take you some photos?" The man asked in a perfect British accent as he raised his camera. "Free of charge," he clarified when he saw them hesitate. "I can show you my Instagram so you can see some of my latest works. I'll send the photos to your email after editing them."
"Can you show me, please?" Joel was the only one to approach the photographer.
Sabrina watched the man furtively. He seemed to be about their age, around thirty years old. He didn't act strange and was very polite, however, she felt something didn't fit. Unconsciously, she averted her gaze to the other two girls.
Sophia was intently examining the guys, while Ciel exchanged glances with her; her hazel eyes reflected the same discomfort. Noticing their exchange, Sophia glanced at them out of the corner of her eye and raised her eyebrows, implying something.
The three of them came to the same conclusion without saying a word.
After a few minutes, Joel returned and told them it seemed legitimate, so they agreed to his offer. After taking a few photos with his camera and one of their phones, the man bid them farewell cheerfully and walked down the path on the right. They, however, went down the left side.
Before going up another flight of stairs, Sabrina glanced over her shoulder. She was greatly alarmed to see that the man had also turned around and was watching them from afar. Instinctively, Sabrina gave a small, harmless smile, and he returned the gesture by waving his hand.
'How awkward,' she thought as she turned quickly to follow her friends.
The long flight of stairs was narrow, so they were forced to go up in a single row. The path was adorned with ninety vermilion-colored torii gates that were clustered together.
Despite being amused taking photos, Sabrina occasionally turned around to check if the man was following them. The fifth time she turned around and saw only a few tourists also taking photos, she thought she was being too paranoid and stopped.
Upon reaching the top, the group followed the marked path until they found one of the side entrances to the main shrine. After walking in, the first thing they noticed was the huge main building on their right, where several people were queuing up to pray and pay their respects to the gods. Luckily, the place was not so crowded and they could walk around easily.
They also saw two stalls; one where they could buy amulets and other types of souvenirs, and the other where they could get the 'goshuin seal', but to get it they needed a special booklet that they did not have.
In the center of the courtyard was a large hoop that appeared to be made of straw, and there were two long bamboo poles on the sides. Visitors would first go through the hoop and then line up to pray. On either side were roofed passages embellished with wisteria trees in full bloom that gave off a musky fragrance.
"Where is it…?" Sabrina murmured, searching for something with her eyes, and the rest did the same.
According to their information, they had to first find a water ablution pavilion, where they had to perform a ceremonial purification rite, which consisted of washing their hands, mouth, and also the water ladle before offering their prayers.
"Could that be it?" Sophia pointed to the other corner of the courtyard, where three people were each holding a wooden ladle.
"Yes, that's it!" The brunette exclaimed excitedly upon recognizing the pavilion.
As they performed the ritual, they couldn't help but laugh at themselves as they watched their clumsy actions as they tried to imitate the locals.
"Do it again, just in case," Joel suggested to the black-haired girl with a mischievous smile, who looked at him confused. "I don't think a single purification is enough," and he moved his eyebrows up and down several times.
"And you need a few exorcisms, let me ask if they do those here," Ciel retorted, pretending to be looking for a shrine employee.
"Ask them if they do a two-for-one discount," Sabrina added, pointing at herself.
"Guys, we came to visit the shrine, not to set it on fire," Sophia joined in and everyone laughed quietly.
When they finished, they joined the line to pass through the giant hoop. The line moved quickly as they chatted until it was finally their turn. As she waited for the others to cross one by one, Sabrina stared in wonder at the hoop and thought that it looked like some kind of dimensional portal; one that would transport her in an instant to a fantasy world like those in the books she liked to read.
Suddenly, a horrible feeling ran through the back of her neck, making her shrink her shoulders. Sabrina quickly scanned her surroundings, until her gaze landed on a lone figure standing motionless in the middle of the front door. Before she could look at the familiar man more closely, her friend's voice startled her.
"Brina, hurry up! Don't hold up the line," Joel urged her.
"Ah, yeah, sorry," she muttered with embarrassment.
As she crossed to the other side of the hoop, Sabrina again experienced the sensation of passing through a thin membrane, although this time the feeling was even more real.
Fleeting images flashed through her mind like lightning. The world spun out of control, and the wind, fierce and biting, whipped at her body as she plummeted from the sky. Her eyes could barely open against the relentless force of the air. Below, a sea of white trees stretched out like a shimmering canvas, but its beauty vanished in an instant as a blinding light consumed everything.
Sabrina staggered as a torrent of voices assaulted her eardrums with force. Sophia and Joel reacted quickly and grabbed her by the arms, saving her from an embarrassing fall in front of everyone.
"Are you okay?" they both asked at the same time.
"Yes, I just got dizzy for a moment. I'm better now, it's nothing serious." Sabrina wasn't sure if she was trying to reassure her friends or to quell the nervousness that was growing inside her.
"If you feel bad, we can sit down for a while and then come back," Ciel suggested, but the brunette refused.
"I'm fine, let's move on."
The three of them examined her face with concern, but in the end, decided to continue to the next line. After about fifteen minutes, it was finally their turn.
Sabrina neither affirmed nor denied the existence of what others called gods. To be honest, relying on something unknown and intangible like a god gave her an unpleasant feeling of uncertainty, so she preferred to rely on herself and the people who were always by her side through thick and thin. However, when she visited a church, temple, or shrine, she always tried to respect their rules regardless of her own beliefs, just like now.
'I don't know if they exist, but... Whoever is listening, I don't want to dream anymore, please,' she desperately begged with all her might. Her intertwined fingers turned white from clenching them so hard. 'Allow us to return home safely... Thank you.' She bowed and stepped to the side, waiting for her friends to finish.
Then, everyone headed straight for the stall where they sold souvenirs, amulets, and so on.
"I want to buy an amulet."
"Me too. And I want that wooden tablet to write wishes on."
"Let's buy those fortune papers too," Joel suggested as they joined another queue. "Although I wouldn't be surprised if we all got the worst ones," he joked.
After a while, the four were under the roofed passage covered in wisteria flowers, putting their new purchases in their bags. Then they busied themselves with writing on their wishing boards, leaving the fortune papers for last.
"What did you write?" Ciel asked, putting her tablet aside and casting a curious glance at the others'.
"May we always find our way home, safe and sound, and may we be together forever," Sabrina answered honestly, showing what she had written. "And you?"
"Prosperity and health for my loved ones," Ciel replied with a relaxed expression brimming with affection.
"May I never lack the wisdom to resolve and overcome any situation," Sophia continued, raising her tablet with an air that reflected her usual confidence.
"May my mental health be stable and may no passion enslave me," said Joel, being the last one to share his own. "Happiness and health to all who seek it."
"Stop, holy sir, your magnanimity overwhelms me!" Sabrina teased him, dramatically bringing a hand to her face and pretending that Joel's tablet was blinding her eyes, eliciting everyone's laughter.
After everyone revealed their wishes, the most anticipated moment arrived: the mysterious omikuji that contained their fortune. Since they were in Japanese, they decided to use the translators on their phones for greater convenience.
The four then concentrated on reading, but the heavy silence that surrounded them was evident. The girls raised their gazes almost at the same time, fixing their somber eyes on the boy's face.
"Don't tell me... You're kidding, right?" Joel began to laugh out of nervousness as he felt the threatening pressure on him.
"Mine says 'kyō'." Sophia was the first to speak out. "According to the translator, it means misfortune."
"Mine too," Ciel followed.
"Mine says 'dai-kyō'... Great misfortune." Sabrina had a scathing expression as she glared at the boy who moments before had joked about this.
"Mine also says 'kyō'." Joel couldn't contain his laughter, as the chances of something like this happening were slim, and yet, they had pulled it off.
Amid laughter and disbelief —and a few well-deserved hits to someone—, everyone hung up their tablets and tied their papers in their respective places before continuing on their way. As they passed through the passageway full of purple flowers again, Sabrina heard a faint voice calling her and turned around, thinking it was one of her friends.
"Did you say something?"
"No?" Sophia denied it without taking her eyes off her phone while checking the route and the visiting hours of their next destination.
"Let's buy something to drink, please," Ciel asked, bringing a hand to her neck. Her throat felt so dry that she couldn't wait to empty one, maybe two, bottles of water.
"And something to eat on the way," Joel added as he felt his stomach protesting from hunger.
Sabrina, confused, thought she might have misheard and continued walking, trying to convince herself it was nothing. But just as she was about to cross the imposing main door, she heard it again. A high-pitched, desperate voice broke through the murmur of voices in the shrine, shouting her name. The rest were unintelligible words, like a twisted lament that faded away before taking shape.
A cold chill ran through her body, making her skin crawl and digging into her chest like a silent warning. The feeling of being watched returned, but this time it was different: something sinister, charged with an inhuman perversity, seemed to lurk in the shadows.
Suddenly, a gust of wind whipped through the branches of the wisteria, tearing off hundreds of violet petals that swirled in a chaotic whirlwind, drowning out all sounds. The courtyard was plunged into an unnatural silence, so dense that every step and breath she took echoed loudly.
"Brina, don't stay behind or you'll get lost!"
"Hurry up!"
"Coming!"
The voices of her friends echoed in the distance, tearing through the oppressive stillness. All the sounds came back as if their disappearance moments ago had been a delirium of her own. Sabrina ran quickly towards them with her heart pounding hard in her chest, refusing to look back.
- - - - - - - -
The group decided to conclude their visit to the shrine after strolling around the grounds for a while longer. They headed towards the steps leading to the white torii, where, half a block away, they would find the taxi stand. At the top of the stairs were some vending machines, where they took the opportunity to buy soft drinks and take a few minutes of rest before continuing down.
"I think I'm going crazy," Sabrina confessed.
Her revelation was so sudden that it caught the others off guard, leaving them bewildered in their place.
"If you ask me, you've never been very sane," Joel joked, assuming that his friend was making fun of them.
But Sabrina didn't react with the mischievous grin or the scathing wit that used to characterize her. Her face remained expressionless, and her brown eyes seemed lost in an indefinite spot on the ground. What was said earlier seemed more like a thought leaked aloud than something she would have wanted to share.
It was then that they understood that the situation was serious.
"What do you mean?" Sophia asked, cautiously leaning towards her. Her solemn tone was filled with concern. "Why do you say that?"
Sabrina did not answer right away. Instead, she covered her face with her hands and dragged her fingers over her skin in a gesture of deep anguish, as if trying to erase with that movement the tangle of thoughts that invaded her.
"It's just that…" she finally murmured, but the words seemed stuck in her throat.
Frankly, the only conclusion she could come to was that she was delirious.
For as long as she could remember, her dreams had been as vivid as they were unsettling. She remembered them so clearly that sometimes the line between reality and fantasy was blurred. There were nights when her dreams didn't seem like figments of her imagination, but memories buried in her mind, so real and palpable that they made her question if they had happened every time she woke.
However, Sabrina couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when everything began to fall apart. Was it when she first dreamed about that story, or when she wrote it down? The deeper she delved into the details of her dreams, the darker and more disturbing they became. When did her insomnia go from being a torture to a comfort? She reached a point where she was afraid to close her eyes unless she had someone nearby who could tear her from the clutches of her nightmares before they swallowed her entire consciousness.
"When we went through that hoop before... How do I explain it…" Sabrina began, trying to find the words. "I saw something very strange. Although I don't know if 'seeing' is the right word to define it." She frowned and rubbed her face in frustration, letting out a long sigh. "It was like… I don't know, memories, or a lucid dream. Damn, I don't know what it was."
Sabrina was silent for a moment, gathering the courage to continue.
"But what scares me the most are the voices. I have been hearing them since we got here. It's like someone is talking to me, but at the same time, I don't understand what the hell they are saying. I just know that… it's calling me." She stopped suddenly as if something new had crossed her mind. "Now that I think about it, was it my name? It didn't sound like mine, but…"
Before she could continue her monologue, Ciel interrupted her:
"Let me tell you, if that's the reason you think you're crazy, then that makes two of us."
"I'm not the only crazy one!" Joel exclaimed, letting out a relieved laugh.
Sophia raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she tried to hold back a smile.
"Well, look on the bright side," she said, grimacing. "At least we'll all go to the same asylum. Who knows, maybe we'll get a group discount."
Sabrina looked up and stared at her friends, one by one. Her face was a mixture of surprise and confusion. Were they serious or were they just playing along to keep her from completely breaking down? But when they all started talking, sharing similar experiences, something clicked in her mind.
They weren't joking. What was happening to her wasn't an isolated event... and somehow that was both terrifying and relieving.
"I felt like I was thrown into the void, and then I felt so cold," Ciel confessed as he adjusted the coat around her shoulders with an involuntary shiver. "I thought it was just my usual anemia, so I didn't think much of it."
"Something weird happened to me too!" Joel interrupted, raising his voice excitedly. His eyes sparkled as he gestured with his hands. "But in my case, I felt warm, and I could even smell a peculiar aroma… It was dry and dusty, like hot sand under the sun. And a terrible hunger, as if I hadn't eaten in days," he added, bringing his hand to his chin, and then chuckled. "I assumed it was a symptom of 'purification'," he emphasized the word with an exaggerated wave of his hands. "Or well, maybe I was just hungry." He shrugged and took a long sip of his drink.
"I also experienced the sensation of falling," Sophia added, lowering her voice as if still trying to figure out what had transpired. "But I also felt like my skin was burning, as if it were on fire. It was so intense that I started sweating and had to take off my coat." She paused, nervously rubbing her hands. "And I also heard voices. At first, I thought it was the people around me, but then… Then I realized it wasn't my name they were saying. Although, for some reason, I was reacting as if they were calling me." Her gaze was lost for a moment, trapped in the memory.
"I don't know whether to feel scared, or fascinated… Or if we are possessed, or cursed," Sabrina joked, letting out a short, empty laugh that did not relieve the tension that had taken over her body. She massaged her temples, trying to calm the chaos in her mind, while her foot tapped the ground rhythmically, reflecting her anxiety.
"Whether it's the shrine or us, we'll find out when we get out of here." Joel stood up slowly, dusting off his pants and putting the bottle in his backpack.
"He's right," Ciel said after standing up. Then she held out her hand to Sabrina, a common gesture between the two. "We still have places to visit. Let's talk about it later at the hotel, okay?"
Sabrina smiled with relief, a flash of calmness crossing her face as she took her friend's hand. Their fingers firmly intertwined, as if that contact was an anchor in the middle of a turbulent ocean. The anguish that lodged in her chest began to dissipate, swept away by the understanding and constant support of her friends. They listened to her, not with pity or judgment, but with such pure empathy that it transformed her insecurities and fears into much lighter burdens to bear.
For a brief moment, Sabrina allowed her imagination to wander. If she were a monster in a fairy tale, she had the strange, yet comforting certainty that, even if the entire world rejected her, she would be proud to be the feared witch or the imposing dragon. Because, at the end of the day, it didn't matter what role she played in other people's stories: she would always have those who accepted her without reservation.
The four of them began to descend the first flight of stairs, their steps echoing softly against the stone as their gazes fell on the immense white torii below, guarding the busy avenue.
"How many steps are there?" Joel asked, letting out a sigh.
"About a hundred," Sabrina replied, patting him on the shoulder.
"We should take a picture from here," Sophia suggested, pointing to the horizon. "The view is beautiful."
"Let's get the torii in the background!" Ciel added with eagerness.
As there were only a few people around, they rushed to pose. The camera clicked at just the perfect moment, capturing their smiles and the scenery behind them. However, before they could even check the picture, a bone-piercing screech of tires burning the pavement pierced the air. The sound was followed by a thunderous impact and the screams of people from the avenue.
Their hearts shrank in unison. Everyone turned around, their gazes now fixed on the chaotic scene unfolding in the distance.
"How horrible…"
"It looks like a car hit a bicycle."
"I hope they're all right, that it's nothing serious."
"Let's go down."
The four of them resumed their walk, this time with more haste. As they descended the steps, the brutal scene became more visible. The siren of a patrol car resounded like a distant wail, and the policemen tried to contain the curious onlookers. One spoke quickly on the radio, desperately asking for an ambulance, while another knelt beside the young cyclist.
The driver of the car got out of the vehicle with clumsy, hurried movements. He was an elderly man, with a refined appearance, dressed in luxurious clothes that reflected his status. His face, weathered by time, showed a mixture of disbelief and fear when faced with the scene before him. His legs trembled, and his face paled until it turned gray. He took a step back, almost losing his balance, and covered his mouth with the palm of his hand, trying to contain his nausea. His eyes filled with despair, unable to tear them away from the horrifying sight.
The bicycle was now a jumble of metal and plastic, and its owner lay several meters away, in the center of the avenue. Her body was twisted at impossible angles. Arms and legs bent like rags, but it was the dark, growing puddle beneath her head that gave the impression that life was draining out of her with every passing second.
Sabrina froze. Her eyes were riveted on the details that others missed: the faded colors of the mangled bike, the contents of the basket scattered on the asphalt, and the girl's clothes, torn and soaked in blood.
'It's like déjà vu,' she thought. The scene before her had an eerie familiarity as if it were part of an incomplete puzzle left in some dark corner of her memory.
Suddenly, her view began to warp. Everything became blurry as if reality itself was breaking down. A cold, slimy sensation crept up her spine, accompanied by the same sinister feeling of being watched. Her breathing became erratic, and her body refused to respond.
"What's wrong?" Sophia asked, moving closer as she noticed something was odd.
Sabrina didn't answer. The words seemed to choke in her throat.
"What's going on?" Joel, who was a few steps ahead, turned around as he heard the concern in Sophia's voice.
"I… I don't feel well. Let's get out of here." Sabrina's voice trembled with panic.
"Then let's go, now" urged Ciel, whose expression reflected the same fear.
"I can't move," Sabrina admitted, on the verge of tears.
Joel carried her on his back in a single motion. The four of them rushed down, but they had barely descended a few steps when a piercing scream came from the boy's lips. His legs gave way and they both fell down the stairs. Sabrina felt her world spin out of control. As her body hit the stairs, the impact knocked the air out of her lungs.
A moment later, everything went white.
When she regained consciousness, a searing pain enveloped her. Every fiber of her being screamed, but something more urgent took hold of her: the need to check on her friends. Sabrina managed to turn her head with a seemingly insurmountable effort.
And then she saw it.
The blood, dark and fresh, had stained the stairs. The bodies of her friends were scattered like broken dolls. Sophia lay on her side, her neck in an unnatural position. lay face down, their limp bodies sinking into a pool of blood that slowly grew beneath them.
"No… no…" Sabrina stammered, crawling towards them, shouting their names over and over again in the hope that one of them would respond.
Every movement drew a cry of pain from her. She was aware that some of her limbs were twisted in impossible directions, but the fear that drove her was greater than the physical suffering. Her dull mind could barely process what was happening: why had they fallen? Why was everyone covered in blood, motionless? Questions bounced around in her head with no answers.
Panicked screams echoed around. Policemen ran, some trying to evacuate the crowd, others climbing the steps while shouting something with their weapons in hand. But Sabrina neither saw nor heard them. She noticed nothing but the motionless bodies in front of her.
Amid the chaos, that familiar voice ripped through the air as it screamed her name with such brutal desperation that it seemed like their vocal cords were on the verge of breaking. The musky scent intertwined with the metallic stench of blood, creating a heavy mixture in the air that made it difficult for her to breathe.
Then, a shadow loomed over the stairs.
A man with a black facemask and a knife in his hand slowly descended. His white clothes were splattered with fresh blood, and his amber eyes shone with a blend of madness and satisfaction.
"At last…" he whispered, talking to himself. Then he raised his voice, his tone tinged with an almost religious fervor. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment."
Sabrina looked up. Her eyes fell on the photographer she had met earlier, and time seemed to freeze.
Before she could process his words, the man leaned over her, kneeling and holding her tightly. Sabrina's clouded eyes bore into him, searching for answers in his relentless gaze. He tilted his head, a satisfied smile curling his amber eyes. He couldn't help but feel a deep elation at the realization that his presence had finally been acknowledged.
Sabrina felt the cold of the steel pressing against her chest, followed by the burn of her blood spilling out, warm and thick. At her last thought, a feeling of disbelief and resignation washed over her: it wasn't supposed to end like this.
"Because I'm the only one who can release you from this mortal body," he whispered, his voice laden with a haunting conviction.
It was the last thing Sabrina heard before the knife plunged into her heart.