l feel like I'm leaning back on a chair. Opening my eyes. Straightened my head that had been bowed. Where am I? I wandered around, taking in the surroundings. Silence. It was dark. It was as if the world had turned pitch black. I couldn't even see my own body. Even so, I could feel my waist wrapped around an iron chain. So were my feet and wrists, bound to the chair. Instantly my heart rebelled, wanting to jump out. My body struggled, trembling with fear. I couldn't stand up. I was hysterical.

"Help! Where am I! Help! Whoever is out there, help me!"

Suddenly there was the sound of a violin. A distinctive, melodious sound. I was stunned. The shrill music enlivened the silence. It was beautiful, the harmony of the tones and the gentle rhythm, breaking the silence. It calms the tense feeling.

"Who's there!" I exclaimed. My breath rumbled. There was no answer.

Soon there was a flash of light the size of a baseball, floating. It shone down, about three meters in front of me. My eyebrows furrowed. Welcoming the light that hit my eyes. I saw someone's feet, wearing shoes. The ball of light shines towards the abdomen. It moves slowly until it forms a perfect human body, playing the violin. White shirt. Black shorts.

"A child?" I thought. Frowning.

The little boy was about 9 years old. Two-parted, neatly combed hair. There was no sense of anxiety, or fear. It was evident from his thin smile, which was so calm.

"Hey, little boy! What room is this! Where are we!"

The little boy was silent. It was as if he didn't notice me. Or was he just pretending not to hear me? I don't know.

The ball of light went out. Leaving no light on the pale-skinned child's body. It remained black at the other end. No matter how bright the light was, it wasn't enough to illuminate this place. I still couldn't tell the difference between the sky, walls, and floor of the room.

I looked to my right. 1 meter away. There was a young man tied to a chair. His head was bowed. He had long straight hair. Hiding his face. His ribs were poking out. It was as if the young man's body was only wrapped in skin, without flesh. Very thin.

"Hey, how are you? Are you okay? Earlier, I fell asleep in the room. However, when I woke up I was already in this room. Are you experiencing the same thing as me?"

The young man in the tattered pants was also silent. Perhaps he was still sleeping. I looked down. Desperate, mixed with annoyance. Busy my brain with questions. Grumbling softly. Why didn't anyone want to answer my questions? What exactly was going on?

Suddenly my eyes bulged. Realizing something. Ah, what could it be? I shouldn't guess. Better to ask directly.

Head up. Shine a sharp light.

"Hey, little brother. Did you kidnap us!"

The little boy stopped strumming the violin. Returned my gaze more sharply. Grinning fiercely and seemingly maliciously. From his expression, I could guess. As I suspected, it was indeed the little boy who was the culprit.

"Let us go. I promise you'll be fine afterwards. We won't hit you," I persuaded. I lowered my voice.

The little boy responded. Resting his chin on the body of the violin. The violin strings again. The stick rubbed very fast. His fingers, as if running on the neck of the violin. Pressing one string to another, agile. The violin whimpers. Unlike the previous melodious rhythm, this time it sounded creepy. It sent goosebumps down my spine. Tense.

Suddenly, the shirtless young man shouted. The hoarse voice echoed,

"Arrrrggg!"

I gasped. I turned my head in surprise. The young man's head was tilted up. I couldn't see his face, it was still covered by hair.

"W-what's wrong with you?"

"I'm hungry!" The young man shouted again.

Brakkk.

There was a loud crash against my thigh. An object fell from above. I groaned. Looked down. Glaring. My breathing was ragged. My body was weak, cold. I wanted to scream, but my throat seemed to be choked,

"Corps--"

How shocked I was, until my words hung. Witnessing the corpse of a headless woman with a naked body full of wounds. Lying on my lap.

Braakk.

A fat body followed. Hugging the disembodied, long-haired head tightly. With its face covered in blood. Landed between me and the little boy.

"Give me back my body and my mother's tongue, Kafka!" The disembodied head with a female voice growled harshly. Staring at me with fiery red eyes. Horrifying.

"Arghh" I was hysterical. My voice was gone.

Brakkk.

My body fell off the bed. I groaned. Opened my eyes. It was dark. But not as dark as the room. There was still moonlight filtering in. Through the cracks in the walls, made of wooden planks. I felt the floorboards. It was dusty. This place? My room. My breath is still ragged. I feel very sticky on my body. Wiping away the cold sweat, pouring down my face and neck. Gratefully relieved. It turned out to be a nightmare, but how come the sensation felt real? Strange.

What time is it? I cast my eyes toward the wall.

Tek

The hands of the clock suddenly stopped ticking. It was exactly one o'clock at night. I was confused. The clock was dead. It was probably out of batteries. I moved to the bed. After a few seconds, I heard a soft male voice. Tickling the ear. I don't know where it came from,

"Kafkaaa--"

I raised my face, looking around. The room was still in the same condition. Neat and quiet. There was no one but me. Ah, maybe it was a hallucination or a mishearing. I lay on my back. Stretching out both hands. Suddenly my body froze. I couldn't cooperate. The air temperature in the room turned very cold.

Then a large, black creature appeared. Sitting casually on my stomach. Showing off its sharp teeth. Don't ask about its appearance, of course it was scary. I knew he wasn't human. So what is this creature? Ghost, monster, or alien?

"Good evening, Kafka!" A heavy, rough voice broke through my ears.

"Who-who are you?" My eyes widened. I was shocked beyond belief.

"I am you, and you are me."

"Haa?"

"Bet you don't believe it, do you?"

I was silent. Put up a fight. Trying hard to move my body. Even though the creature didn't crush my legs and arms. But it was strange, no matter how much energy I exerted, it was useless. My body seemed to go numb. Arrgghh... Completely paralyzed. She didn't even give me the chance to move my thumb. Could she be using magic? I don't know.

"Believe it or not, it doesn't matter to me. I came to see you just to give you a welcome. Welcome to this boring fictional world. Where destiny is determined by Author. The tongue is a weapon and money is a shield. You will drown in a sea of humiliation, with no self-respect. Even to have self-respect is like looking for a grain of gold in a pile of sand at the bottom of the sea. Do you know why?"

"Haa?"

"Because self-respect is very expensive."

The creature's red eyes bulged.

"Actually, what were you talking about earlier? I don't understand. Who is the Author you're referring to?"

The creature looked up. Raised both palms as high as it could. From above, a flicker of light appeared. Highlighting the two of us. Dazzling. My eyes narrowed.

"Author, he is a writer. We are created from his imagination and live in every page of the book. All kinds of cause and effect rules and destiny depend on his feelings. Don't you want to be happy, live a normal life, and have dignity in this story? You need 50 million to make it up to the Author."

"I still don't understand and I don't have that much money either."

The creature laughed loudly. Its mouth, which was torn to the point of touching its ears, opened wide. My room was dark again, tense.

"Then you have two choices. Die by suicide. Or keep living by accepting all kinds of abuse. Your suffering, despair, and regret can make money. And you know where that money comes from? From readers. The more readers you have, the more money you will make. Therefore, cry, Kafka! Show your suffering!"

I close my eyes. Wake up! Wake up! This must be a dream. I tried to coax my consciousness. However, the rumble of her breathing was still clearly audible.

"Make your choice now, Kafka!"

The creature strikes my eyeballs. Lifting my lids, upwards. It hurts! My eyes popped open. I realize this is real, not a dream. I saw long fingernails and a wide smile, inches away. A horrible expression. My body trembles even more, terrified.

"You're not answering. That means you won't be strong. Then go to sleep Kafka! Let me take your place!"

The creature strangled my neck. Its sharp nails dug into my throat. My throat struggled to breathe. I screamed,

"Help! Grandma help me!"

The creature released its grip.

"The show, it has begun! Have fun, Kafka!"

Immediately after showing a big smile. A rumble sounded, echoing through the room. The dreadlocked creature disappeared. I gasped, sitting up. I couldn't stop my heart from beating fast. I caught my breath again. Control myself. I wipe my neck, there are no scars or bloodstains.

I stayed up all night. I was afraid that something terrible would happen again.