Runa pulled Abby to a secluded corner and leaned down, her face only an inch away from Abby's. "Abby, listen to me! He might know something that will help us out of here." Suddenly, her voice dropped into a sultry murmur. She gazed at Abby through her lashes: "Will you help me drag him back so we can interrogate him?" Abby nodded dimly as she gave Runa a confused smile.
Runa patted her hand and walked up to the man, tying him up with a long silver chain and pulling him to Abby. "Hey, can you look after him while I go search the office? I tied him up so he's not a threat." She looked reassuringly at Abby before stepping back into the office.
Runa looked around the office and saw a strange star pattern that looked like it was burned onto the wall; the edges were singed and blackened with soot. A dark, bloodstained ring encircled the star. Entranced, she reached her hand towards the symbol. She felt like it was calling out to her. When her fingertips touched the rough surface of the wall, the emblem lit up and burst into flames.
The wall parted to reveal a tiny chamber containing a small, well-worn handbag that looked like it was lovingly hand-made. Despite its age, the cute rabbit embroidery still caught Runa's eye, and she smiled softly at it.
Runa lifted the bag up and opened it. Inside was a delicate little key with a cute flower pattern. Stashing it in her pocket, she returned to Abby, and they took the unconscious man back to the classroom. They unceremoniously dump him in a corner before checking to see if there's another secret chamber in the room. Runa walked up to the blackboard and pressed it. A part of the black board popped out to reveal a box in the walls. Unfortunately, it was locked. She took the box out and called, "Abby, come here!" Abby ran to her and sat with her at the nearest table to the board. Deciding she may as well give it a try, she took out the keys she found earlier and slipped it into the lock. To her surprise, she heard a soft click, and it slid open.
Inside the box was a diary and an old radio. Abby took the diary out and opened it. On the first page it read: "The day I got back to school, I saw Manjiro-senpai kill all the members of the gang of delinquents next to our school. His face was covered in blood. It was the first time I'd seen pure hatred in someone's eyes. I knew there must be something really wrong that happened. I went home that day and avoided telling my mom about it. Oh, this is bad. Manjiro-senpai was the nicest person I know. How did he turn into a demon like this? I need to find out what's going on!"
On the next page of the diary: "July/11/1927. Today I went back to school. A massive cloud of mist surrounded the school. I sensed the sound of people dashing through the mist, but I couldn't see a thing through it. My heart dropped like lead when I saw what was inside. The floor was littered with dead bodies, and the stench of rotting flesh filled the air. I spotted several familiar faces and had to stop myself from throwing up. Right there on the stairs laid my childhood best friend. In my memories she was so alive and boisterous, but now she is a cold dead body on the floor with maggots crawling around her.
"When I got to my classroom, Manjiro-senpai was crying in his spot with a letter written in blood in front of him. I awkwardly patted his shoulder and tried to console him. This was the first time I've seen him cry. Manjiro-senpai was like a god who was off limits to us mortals, but now he seemed so vulnerable and real and I just wish I could stop the crying. It scared me.
"I asked, 'Manjiro-senpai, what is in this letter?' He told me it was his stepfather the old schoolmaster's will. Apparently, he left things for me, too, because he knew I would probably survive. The letter said, 'My dear Manjiro, I hope you had a good time in the school in Kyoto! I think when you see this I will be a rotten body but it's ok! Go live your own life! This is my will before I die. Manjiro, I will leave my school to you and I hope you can take care of my family for me. I left all my money to my family and I remember Sylphie is out of the school too, so will you give my limited edition copy of her favorite book to her? I have no more time left so all I want to say is take care and live a wonderful life.'
"I broke out in tears and asked Manjiro-senpai why anyone would murder a bunch of innocent school children and teachers. Our headmaster was a kind man… He didn't deserve this. Manjiro said, 'A gang got mad at the school and poisoned the water supply. I killed them in revenge but a few ran away. After that, I came back to the school, but somehow I couldn't get out. I think it is because of the mist." WHAT!! He's telling me this NOW?? I can't believe this. What are we supposed to do? How am I supposed to get home???
"True enough, when we tried the front door where I came in, it was mysteriously locked, and so were all the windows. I don't know what to do. After days and days without food or water, I began to see things that weren't there.
"Once, I saw a boar-headed man dash through the hallway. Another time, I caught him observing me through the classroom window. He was just floating outside the building, staring at me. Even though I couldn't read his expression, I knew instinctively that he meant no harm. Then, I started to hallucinate that I was a fox with nine bushy tails swaying behind me and roaming through the building on four legs. Every day, I gained a new body part. At first, it was only the tails, then my ears, and at last my legs. I don't know when my hand will turn into paws. I'm scared. Help me!..."
The diary ended abruptly.
"Why did it stop?" Abby protested. "I still don't know anything about how to escape!"
"True, but at least we know what happened here. And that fox! The one you were petting! What if…"
Abby gasped. "You think that was the girl? It sounds crazy, but I have a feeling you're right. We need to find her!"
"And Vicky and Polina, we haven't seen them in ages. They should have been back by now," Runa added worriedly.
Suddenly, they heard noises from the corner of the classroom. Turning around, they saw the man struggling against the ropes holding him captive.
"Good, you're awake!" Runa beamed.
The man looked at them coldly. "What do you want?"
Runa explained: "Well, we read the diary of a girl who was trapped here, and she wrote something about a boar-headed man which we think is you!"
"What boar-headed man?" he responded incredulously. "I am Manjiro Sano, a student of this school! Now let me go at once!"
"What do you mean! Just now you were trying to kill Runa and I with a boar mask on your head!" Abby exclaimed.
"What in the world are you talking about? One second, I'm dying of hunger with my friend, then the next second, I am tied up here with you two!" Manjiro snapped.
Abby was confused. "But I was the one who tied you up after you tried to kill me! And we are also trapped here!"
Manjiro questioned, "How are you girls also stuck here? How!? I thought only Sylphie and I were trapped here!"
"Sylphie?" Abby asked. "She's the girl who wrote this diary! And she talked about a guy called Manjiro! Wait, no way! You're the Manjiro-senpai from the diary!"
Manjiro's jaw dropped to the floor. "What diary? And how do you know Sylphie?"
Abby was about to say something, but Runa stopped her. She stepped forward, explaining: "Before you woke up, we found a diary and a radio in a tiny hidden chamber…" Runa told the whole story written in the diary and kept a close eye on Manjiro for any reaction.
Manjiro seemed deep in thought and did not realize that the two girls were waiting for him to reply. After a while, he looked up and saw them staring at him like tiny puppies (Abby and Runa were bored and desperate to know what Manjiro was about to say). He coughed awkwardly, blushing hard.
"So, I thought about what you said, and I am sure that this diary is Sylphie's and that I am the Manjiro-senpai in the diary. But I don't get it. How do people still know and want to come in here? I mean, this place has a mass murder mystery, and people literally say that it's cursed. So, why are you guys here? Are you guys some kids who like haunted places or what?"