Chapter 1: The Legend of the Tunnel
Introduction of the Characters
Souta Nakamura (19) – The protagonist. A curious, intelligent, and slightly reckless college student fascinated by urban legends and supernatural mysteries. He runs a small blog documenting paranormal locations.
Riku Tanaka (20) – Souta's childhood friend. Logical, skeptical, and always the voice of reason. He's a photography student who joins the investigation to prove there's nothing supernatural.
Mayu Aizawa (19) – Outgoing and adventurous, Mayu enjoys ghost-hunting as a hobby. She's superstitious but loves the thrill of uncovering haunted places. She documents everything on her phone.
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The Abandoned Tunnel
The Yamadera Tunnel lies on the outskirts of the city, deep in the forest. Once part of an old railway line, it was closed down 35 years ago after a train derailed inside under mysterious circumstances, killing everyone onboard. No bodies were ever recovered. The government sealed off the tunnel, and over time, it became overgrown and forgotten.
Yet, every night at 3:15 AM, locals hear the sound of a train rushing through—even though no tracks remain. Some claim to have seen shadows moving inside, and those who have entered report whispers, strange echoes, and the feeling of being watched.
No one has ever gone deep inside and returned with answers.
Until now.
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Chapter Start: The Legend Begins
Souta adjusted the straps of his backpack, his breath visible in the crisp night air. The three of them stood at the edge of the forest, staring at the entrance of the Yamadera Tunnel. The massive archway loomed before them like a gaping maw, the darkness inside impenetrable.
"This is a bad idea," Riku muttered, gripping his camera. "The locals literally said, 'Don't enter the tunnel.' That's usually a good reason to listen."
"But that's exactly why we're here," Souta countered, grinning. "Urban legends don't just come from nowhere. We need to document this, prove it's fake, and add it to the blog."
Mayu adjusted the flashlight in her hands. "Or we prove it's real and go viral."
Riku sighed, but followed as Souta led the way inside.
The moment they stepped into the tunnel, the air changed.
It was too quiet.
No insects. No wind. Just an oppressive, heavy silence. Their footsteps echoed unnaturally loud against the old stone walls.
Souta glanced at his watch. 3:12 AM.
Just three minutes left.
Then—
A low hum vibrated through the air.
Mayu gasped. "Did you hear that?"
The hum grew louder, turning into a distant rumbling sound. It was faint at first, but then—
Chug. Chug. Chug.
The unmistakable sound of a train approaching.
Souta's blood turned to ice. There were no tracks. No trains. This wasn't possible.
3:14 AM.
The tunnel shifted. The walls seemed to warp, stretching further into darkness. The air turned thick, suffocating. The rumbling became deafening.
Mayu grabbed his arm, her face pale. "Souta… it's coming."
3:15 AM.
A train's horn screamed through the tunnel.
They turned—
And the darkness behind them exploded with light.
A massive train, rusted and broken yet somehow moving, barreled toward them. The air vibrated with its force.
Panic surged through Souta's veins. "RUN!"
They sprinted, but the tunnel stretched endlessly, the entrance now gone.
The train was upon them—
And then—
Everything went black.
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End of Chapter 1