《Crimson House》 THE MAIDEN OF THE STRING SHRINE PROLOGUE Hundreds of years ago, there was an inn located in the rocky, isolated areas of Tokyo, Japan. This property was inherited by the Himuro family¡ªa traditional Japanese family that, despite appearing much like any other, harbored a sinister secret. The Himuro family practiced a Shinto ritual known as the ¡°Strangling Ritual,¡± in which the family patriarch would select a young girl from their lineage to be completely isolated from the outside world, forbidden from any contact to ensure she remained pure and untainted until the day of the ritual. This girl was called the ¡°Maiden of the String Shrine.¡± When a girl reached the designated age, she would be taken to the mansion¡¯s garden, where there was a gate said to hold the pathways to hell, which harbored ¡°Malice¡± in the world. To shield their descendants from misfortune for the next several years, they believed the girl needed to be offered as a sacrifice to prevent karma from falling upon them. The maiden would be tied with ropes around her legs and wrists, which were then fastened to horses (or oxen, depending on some accounts). The patriarch would conduct the ceremony, and the horses would be made to run in opposite directions, tearing the girl apart. The ropes, drenched in the maiden¡¯s blood, were used to seal the gates of hell, ensuring that karma was kept at bay. The blood was spilled over the portal to seal away the malice, guaranteeing the Himuro family¡¯s prosperity for the next 50 years, at which point the ritual would need to be repeated. However, during the last recorded ritual, something went horribly wrong. The chosen maiden fell in love with a young man she saw through a window. Her soul, meant to remain pure, became tainted, unleashing an inexplicable wrath upon the family patriarch. From that moment on, none of the Himuro were safe from karma¡ªor, perhaps, from its physical manifestation. EPISODE 1: ¡°THE MAIDEN OF THE STRING SHRINE¡± HIMURO MANSION, JAPAN, 1954 The Himuro estate is designed like the ancestral homes of feudal Japan, from an era when kimonos were still worn. It features halls, rooms, grand staircases, and red accents on the walls, as well as at the main entrance. It¡¯s nighttime at Himuro Mansion. Another strangling ritual is supposed to take place, but something has gone wrong. We see feet in sandals and socks running down a long corridor toward us. Then we see a white garment, and as it passes the kitchen door, we catch sight of a beautiful young woman holding up her white kimono to run more easily. Her name is Mino, 18 years old, with long black hair and bangs. Mino is fleeing from something. She stumbles to the kitchen floor and sees her mother¡ªa woman appearing to be around 60 years old, dressed in a golden kimono with geisha makeup¡ªhiding under the table. ¡ª Mother? ¡ª Shh! Child, karma has fallen upon us, and now your father has gone mad. ¡ª Why is Father doing this? ¡ª You know very well the rules of the ritual, my daughter. You should never have met that young man! ¡ª But I love him, Mother! It¡¯s not fair¡ªI¡¯ve been trapped in this house for so many years, only to find out it¡¯s all for this family¡¯s whims. A furious male voice echoes through the mansion: ¡ª MINO, WHERE ARE YOU? The mother grabs Mino¡¯s arms and whispers: ¡ª Child, your father will never forgive you for what has happened. But you still have a chance to escape. Go and find the man you love¡ªrun away with him! ¡ª But¡­ what about you? What about my brothers and uncles? ¡ª Don¡¯t worry about me, Mino. I am strong and will endure anything. Now go! Mino gets up, but her father appears at the kitchen doorway. He looks to be in his early 60s, with gray hair tied in a samurai-style bun. He is holding a bloodstained katana, presumably already used on others earlier that night. ¡ª MINO-CHAN! ¡ª Father? ¡ª You have brought disgrace upon this family! And now you will pay dearly! ¡ª Father, please! The mother rises from under the table and tries to calm her husband. ¡ª My husband, if you have even a shred of compassion left in your heart, spare the life of your poor daughter. ¡ª She has tainted the ritual! This family is now cursed by karma! Mino notices the blood dripping from her father¡¯s katana. ¡ª What have you done? Why is there blood dripping from your sword? Her father gazes at the katana, admiring his reflection in the crimson-stained blade. ¡ª Your uncles and brothers dared to defy me, so¡­ ¡ª You killed them? What harm could they possibly have done to you? ¡ª This is the only way to save our family from the curse. Blood must be spilled tonight! ¡ª Don¡¯t you dare touch my daughter! You¡¯ve gone mad! Pray to the kami (Éñ, gods or deities in Shinto) to forgive us and free us from this malice. ¡ª It¡¯s too late, woman. Tonight is the last chance to perform the ritual. And I will make sure it is done perfectly. ¡ª MINO, RUN! The mother steps between Mino and her father. He swings his sword brutally, decapitating her. ¡ª MOTHER! Mino watches in horror as her mother¡¯s head rolls across the kitchen floor. Without hesitating, she runs. She slides open the doors to another room and hears a young man¡¯s voice. ¡ª MINO-CHAN! ¡ª YORO-KUN? Yoro, 21, with straight black hair styled in a mushroom cut, reaches out to her. ¡ª Hurry! Come with me! ¡ª You can¡¯t stay here! My father has lost his mind¡ªhe¡¯ll kill us both! ¡ª Quickly! Let¡¯s run away together! Mino grabs Yoro¡¯s hand, and the two dash across the mansion¡¯s front garden, heading for the exit. But her father follows, sword in hand, seething with rage. The couple reaches the gate, and Yoro tries desperately to open it. ¡ª Hurry! He¡¯s coming! ¡ª Listen to me, Mino-chan. No matter what happens, you will always be the best thing that ever happened to me. I¡¯ll never forget you, my sweet maiden. ¡ª Yoro-kun, I¡­ I love you. ¡ª I love you too¡­ Mino-chan. Yoro kisses Mino tenderly, but they are quickly interrupted by her father¡¯s enraged voice. ¡ª CURSE YOU! YOU¡¯VE DISHONORED THIS FAMILY! ¡ª Mr. Himuro, please, have mercy! Your daughter is innocent! ¡ª NO! My daughter was meant to be the pure example that would seal the malice for another 50 years. DAMN THE DAY YOU CAME TO THAT WINDOW, YOU WRETCH! ¡ª Mr. Himuro, if you cannot have mercy on me, then please have mercy on your daughter. ¡ª Father, please! ¡ª NO! I must complete the ritual. Mino must die. Mr. Himuro prepares to drive the sword into Mino¡¯s chest, but Yoro steps in front of her. The blade pierces not only Yoro but also Mino, going straight through both of them. The two bleed and collapse to the ground, writhing in agony. ¡ª Mi¡­ Mino-chan. ¡ª Yoro-kun. They embrace, lying face-to-face on the ground, waiting for death to take them. Mr. Himuro returns to the mansion. Standing alone in the main room, he gazes at a family portrait on the wall¡ªlikely the previous patriarch. ¡ª Forgive me, Father! I offer myself as a sacrifice to honor our family. Mr. Himuro places the tip of his sword on the floor, points it upward, and falls onto it, driving the blade through his body. Thus, the Himuro patriarch falls. Legend has it that to this day, the spirits of those who perished in Himuro Mansion continue to try to complete the ritual with anyone who dares to enter. Over time, the mansion ¡°disappeared from the map.¡± No one knows where it is anymore. Perhaps it¡¯s better that way¡ªfor the story of the Himuro family to be forgotten. At least¡­ for now. TOKYO, JAPAN, PRESENT DAY Morning arrives on a dirt road winding toward a mountainous region on the outskirts of Tokyo. A car is making its way along the path, carrying the Miyazaki family. Driving is the father, Kaiba¡ª55 years old, 1.60m tall, with graying hair and glasses. In the passenger seat sits the mother, Mei¡ª50 years old, 1.56m tall, with dark brown hair always tied back and a robust face, knitting quietly. In the back seat is Saori, the eldest daughter¡ª17 years old, 1.65m tall, with short black hair reaching her chin and bangs framing her face. Beside her is her younger sister, Kato¡ª7 years old, with long black hair and bangs, holding a bunny-shaped teddy bear in her hand. Clearly bored, Kato pipes up: ¡ª Papa, Mama, are we there yet? ¡ª Sweetheart, please don¡¯t rush us. You know your father can¡¯t drive too fast because of his heart. ¡ª My heart is just fine, dear. If I wanted to, I could speed up and get us there faster. ¡ª Oh, please, darling. What kind of example are you setting for your daughters? Right, Saori? Saori, wearing headphones, is lost in thought, gazing out the window at the passing scenery. ¡ª Saori? Saori, honey? Startled, Saori notices her mother calling her and quickly removes her headphones. ¡ª Sorry, Mom. What did you say? ¡ª You¡¯re off in another world, young lady. ¡ª No, it¡¯s nothing, I just... Kaiba interrupts: ¡ª She¡¯s probably missing some boyfriend she left back in Kyoto, isn¡¯t that right? ¡ª Dad? Of course not! That¡¯s horrible! ¡ª Come on, tell the truth. A pretty girl like you must¡¯ve been popular at school. ¡ª Ugh, here we go.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Mei interjects: ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, sweetie. At your new school, you¡¯ll make new friends, finish high school, and head off to college soon. ¡ª Mom, it¡¯s not that. You know I was the first one to agree we should move to Tokyo. ¡ª Then what¡¯s been on your mind, honey? ¡ª Nothing. I was just... thinking about Takeru.
ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL, HONG KONG, CHINA A classroom full of uniformed students listens attentively as their teacher explains something on the board. The bell rings. ¡ª Alright, see you all in tomorrow¡¯s class! In the back seat by the window sits Takeru Miyazaki¡ª17 years old, 1.70m tall, with straight dark brown hair. Takeru, Saori¡¯s twin brother, had been sent to boarding school after allegedly being reported for drug trafficking in Kyoto. As the other students leave the classroom, Takeru remains seated, lost in thought, staring out the window. The teacher notices and approaches him. ¡ª Miyazaki? Mr. Miyazaki? ¡ª Huh? (startled) What is it? ¡ª Class is over. Takeru looks around and realizes the room is empty. ¡ª Oh... Right. Sorry, I¡¯m leaving now. He packs his notebook and other materials into his bag and walks out, visibly disoriented. Cut to Takeru in the school bathroom, splashing water on his face. He pauses to look at his reflection in the mirror, but then hears a sound coming from one of the bathroom stalls. Takeru turns his head, finding nothing unusual. Looking back at the mirror, however, he notices, in the reflection, a pale white female foot stepping down beneath the stall door. A second foot follows. As he glances upward, a bluish-white hand grips the stall door. Takeru begins to sweat, his heart racing with every second. When he hears the stall door creak open, he doesn¡¯t hesitate¡ªhe bolts from the bathroom. The scene shifts back to the stall. There is nothing there. In the hallway, Takeru walks unsteadily, bumping into a classmate. ¡ª Hey, Takeru-kun. What¡¯s up with you? You¡¯ve been acting weird all week. ¡ª It¡¯s nothing, Sato. I¡¯m fine. ¡ª Are you sure? You look pale¡ªlike you¡¯ve seen a ghost. ¡ª I told you, I¡¯m fine. ¡ª Alright, if you say so. Oh, by the way, Director Li wants to see you. ¡ª Me? What did I do this time? ¡ª Don¡¯t ask me, man. You¡¯d better find out yourself. ¡ª Damn it.
DIRECTOR LI¡¯S OFFICE, 10 MINUTES LATER Director Li, a 55-year-old man with half-gray, half-black hair and glasses, sits at his desk as Takeru knocks on the door. ¡ª Come in, Mr. Miyazaki. ¡ª Director Li, you called for me? ¡ª Yes, please take a seat. ¡ª I... uh... (sitting) I¡¯m sorry. ¡ª Sorry for what? ¡ª I haven¡¯t been paying attention in class lately. I¡¯ve been so distracted; maybe the teachers are complaining about my performance. ¡ª No, young man. Quite the opposite. I didn¡¯t call you in to reprimand you but to give you good news. ¡ª Good news? ¡ª Yes, yes. The school board and I have reviewed your recent behavior and... we see no reason for you to stay here for another entire year. ¡ª Wait... Really? But, Director Li, what I did in Kyoto was... ¡ª ... The past is the past, young man. We all know what you did was wrong, but you¡¯ve shown remorse and came to this boarding school seeking redemption and discipline. And, frankly, you¡¯ve performed better than students who¡¯ve been here for over two years. ¡ª So, does this mean... I¡¯m going home? ¡ª Yes, but for now, don¡¯t mention it to anyone. We don¡¯t want to jinx good news, do we? Wait for final approval from the board, and I¡¯ll notify you of your departure date. We¡¯ll also inform your parents. ¡ª Thank you so much, Director Li! (He bows deeply in traditional Japanese fashion) This has made my day. Thank you, truly! ¡ª You¡¯re welcome, young man. As Takeru exits, Li leans back in his chair with a sigh. ¡ª Poor boy, so young and already burdened with so much. It¡¯s best for him to be with his family.
HIMURO MANSION, TOKYO, JAPAN ¨C HALF AN HOUR LATER The Miyazakis¡¯ truck pulls into the driveway of the grand mansion. Over the years, the house has undergone renovations, adding new rooms, floors, and features such as an old service elevator and a barn at the back of the property. Saori steps out of the car, mesmerized by the mansion¡¯s grandeur. ¡ª Oh my God! Why didn¡¯t you tell me it was a place like this, Mom? ¡ª It was meant to be a surprise, dear. ¡ª This must¡¯ve cost a fortune! ¡ª It¡¯s the result of my commissions and the sale of our shares in Kyoto. We even got a huge discount to finance this mansion¡ªinterest-free, too. ¡ª said Kaiba. Kato gazes at an upstairs window and says to her mother: ¡ª Who¡¯s that lady? ¡ª What lady, sweetheart? ¡ª That one in the window. Mei looks at the upstairs window but sees nothing. ¡ª Oh, honey, it¡¯s just the curtain. We really need to get your eyes checked, don¡¯t we? Saori takes out her phone and snaps a few pictures, aiming at the same window Kato had pointed out. Kaiba interrupts her. ¡ª Hey, hey, influencer. You can snap pictures later. Let¡¯s get the luggage inside. Come on! ¡ª Fine, Dad. Saori slides her phone into her jean skirt pocket. ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL, HONG KONG, 11:30 PM In the boys¡¯ dormitory, with several bunk beds lined up like a barracks, Takeru lies on one of the beds, staring at a photograph. Only a bit of his hair and possibly another person in the photo are visible. He sighs, tucks the photo under his pillow, turns to the side, and begins to think. Voices of past memories echo in his mind. A nostalgic yet lonely look crosses his eyes as small tears start rolling down his face. In the dead of night, he muffles the whispers of longing in his chest, hiding his emotions so that none of the other boys know what¡¯s on his mind.
MIYAZAKI MANSION, TOKYO, MORNING Saori is finishing getting ready in front of her vanity mirror when she hears her mother¡¯s voice. ¡ª Girls! Come on, or we¡¯ll be late! ¡ª I¡¯m coming, Mom! Saori grabs her backpack, slings it over her shoulders, and leaves her room. As she approaches the staircase, she feels a slight dizziness and fragments of memory involving a staircase flash in her mind. She steps back, leans against the wall, closes her eyes, and her hands begin to tremble. She struggles to breathe but finally regains some control, though she doesn¡¯t dare take a step. Still with her eyes shut, she feels the small hand of Kato holding hers. ¡ª Come on, Sis. I¡¯ll help you! ¡ª Kato? ¡ª Mom said sometimes you¡¯re scared of going down the stairs, so she told me to help you whenever that happens. Kato holds her sister¡¯s hand and helps her down, step by step. Saori feels a mix of embarrassment and deep emotion at her sister¡¯s caring gesture. The two make it to the bottom of the stairs. Mei appears and looks at them. ¡ª Is everything okay here? ¡ª Mom, I helped Saori down the stairs like you asked. Mei looks at Saori, who says nothing but nods, still somewhat flustered by her sister¡¯s action.
YAMATO HIGH SCHOOL, TOKYO, MORNING A teacher in the classroom asks the students to quiet down. They all sit in their chairs and fall silent. ¡ª Students, today we have a new student who just transferred from Kyoto. Please come in, dear. Saori enters the room, clutching her backpack with both hands in front of her. She is already wearing the school¡¯s traditional uniform. ¡ª This is Saori Miyazaki. She recently moved to Tokyo and will now be studying her final year with us. Saori? ¡ª It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all! I¡¯m Saori, 17 years old. I live with my parents and my younger sister, Kato. It¡¯ll be a pleasure to study here with you. The class responds in unison: ¡ª Welcome, Miss Saori! ¡ª Saori, dear, please find an empty desk and settle in. ¡ª Thank you! Saori scans the room for a free seat. A girl near the back, with light brown hair tied in a ponytail and bangs, waves to her. ¡ª Over here! Saori walks over to the desk next to the girl. She sits down, and the girl greets her. ¡ª Nice to meet you! I¡¯m Aeka Shijimori. My parents are from Kyoto too. Welcome to Tokyo! ¡ª The pleasure is mine, Miss Aeka. Thank you so much. ¡ª Don¡¯t worry. The students here are pretty friendly. You¡¯ll do just fine. ¡ª That¡¯s a relief.
ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL SPORTS COURT, HONG KONG The boys are finishing up a soccer match. One of Takeru¡¯s teammates waves to him. ¡ª Takeru, pass the ball to me! Takeru tries to dribble past an opponent to pass the ball but decides to take a chance and shoot. Unfortunately, his shot is off-target and hits the post. The game ends as the referee blows the whistle. ¡ª GAME OVER, BOYS! Takeru leaves the court, disappointed with his performance. Sato approaches him. ¡ª Why didn¡¯t you pass the ball, man? ¡ª I don¡¯t know. Forget it. I¡¯m heading to the showers.
ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL LOCKER ROOM Takeru is taking a hot shower before the others arrive. He stands still for minutes, letting the water cascade over him, before turning off the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist. The bathroom is filled with steam, and Takeru hears a noise. ¡ª Sato? Is that you? There¡¯s no response. ¡ª Hey! Guys, is it one of you? Takeru walks barefoot through the bathroom, trying to locate the source of the noise. He¡¯s confused, unable to see clearly because of the steam. Clearing a space on the fogged mirror, he looks closely. A message is written in the condensation. ¡°IT WAS YOU.¡± Takeru stumbles back in shock, falling to the floor. He breathes heavily for a few seconds until the other boys burst into the locker room. The thick steam is gone, and the boys are puzzled to find Takeru on the floor, wrapped in a towel, staring wide-eyed at the mirror. Sato approaches him. ¡ª Takeru-kun? Are you okay? Takeru looks at Sato, gets up, and leaves the locker room without a word.
YAMATO HIGH SCHOOL, TOKYO During recess, Saori sits on the outdoor hallway steps with Aeka, chatting. ¡ª ¡­ And that¡¯s how I ended up with a retake in Math. You should¡¯ve seen me; I almost lost it. ¡ª Oh, Aeka. That¡¯s rough! It¡¯s the worst having to redo a subject. ¡ª Tell me about it! Two other girls approach them, standing nearby and talking. ¡ª Ugh, stop it, Sakura! You know I hate those stories. Aeka asks: ¡ª What¡¯s going on, girls? ¡ª Ugh, Aeka, Sakura here is telling me these horror stories again. I won¡¯t sleep tonight! ¡ª No, but I¡¯m serious. This one actually happened. Aeka turns to them, with Saori silently listening. ¡ª What is it, Sakura? ¡ª It¡¯s about a case of demonic possession that happened two years ago in a nuns¡¯ asylum in Ireland. I heard that one night, all the elderly residents there became possessed by some demonic force. Saori couldn¡¯t help but feel intrigued by what she heard. ¡ª That¡¯s terrifying! Where did you hear that? ¨C Aeka asks. ¡ª How can you not know? It was all over the news. Look! She shows them a news article on her phone, featuring a photo of several nuns gathered together, with bold headlines such as: MACABRE INCIDENT AT ST. AGATHA ASYLUM IN NORTHERN IRELAND ¨C VATICAN INVESTIGATES CASE OF DEMONIC POSSESSION ¨C MOTHER SUPERIOR ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING COLLEAGUES ¨C ST. AGATHA ASYLUM FIRE: WAS IT THE WORK OF SATAN? ¡ª And here, in another article, there¡¯s a photo of this woman. They say she performed an exorcism on her own. WHO IS OLIVIA BROWN? NURSE, 32, PERFORMS SACRED RITUAL WITHOUT PRIESTLY AID ¨C SAINT OR FRAUD? Saori, after hearing and seeing all this, asks: ¡ª Do you believe in these stories? Couldn¡¯t it just be exaggerated marketing to promote the asylum? Kaoro responds: ¡ª Honestly, I don¡¯t know. But just thinking about ghosts and demons gives me the chills. I¡¯m going to binge-watch ¡°Baby Looney Tunes¡± and forget we ever had this conversation. Kaoro walks away, followed by Sakura. Aeka turns to Saori. ¡ª Wow, that¡¯s wild! You don¡¯t believe in this stuff, do you, Saori? Saori stays silent for a moment, staring into space. ¡ª Saori? Saori? Aeka calls her a few more times, and suddenly, her voice grows deep and harsh, with a chilling tone. ¡ª SAORI! ¡ª AHHHH! ¡ª Hey, calm down. What¡¯s wrong? ¡ª It¡¯s nothing, Aeka. I just¡­ I haven¡¯t been sleeping well these days. But I¡¯m fine. MIYAZAKI MANSION, TOKYO, 7 PM In the dining room, Kaiba had arrived earlier to have dinner with his family. Kato excitedly recounts her first day at school to her parents, while Saori stirs her pasta without eating or saying a word. ¡ª ¡­ That¡¯s great, my little angel! Daddy is proud of you. And you, Saori? How was your day? Saori seems lost in thought. ¡ª Saori! ¡ª Huh? Oh, Dad! ¡ª What¡¯s wrong, dear? Mei interjects: ¡ª She¡¯s been like this since I picked her up from school. ¡ª No, I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s just... Mei¡¯s phone rings. ¡ª Who could it be? Excuse me for a moment, everyone. I¡¯ll answer this. Mei steps out of the dining room to take the call by the door. ¡ª Hello? (T) Yes, it¡¯s me. Who¡¯s speaking? (T) Oh, of course, of course. Is there a problem? (T) Oh my God! Are you serious? (Glancing at her family at the table) (T) No, that¡¯s perfectly fine. Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯ll take care of everything. Thank you so much! (T) Okay, I¡¯ll wait for your call. Goodbye! Mei hangs up and returns to the dining room with a smile. Kaiba looks curious. ¡ª What happened, Mei? ¡ª I have wonderful news! Takeru has been released from his boarding school in Hong Kong for good behavior. He¡¯s coming home! Kato cheers enthusiastically, while Saori reacts indifferently, as if it doesn¡¯t matter to her whether her twin brother returns or not.
ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL, HONG KONG, 9 PM Takeru brushes his teeth before bed. He spits into the sink, washes his face, and begins drying it with a towel when he hears that same sound coming from one of the bathroom stalls and a distorted voice calling him. ¡ª Please, not again, not again, not again. Takeru lowers his head to the sink, his hands trembling. ¡ª It¡¯s not real, it¡¯s not real, it¡¯s not real. As something approaches him from behind, Takeru continues whispering to himself until a hand touches his. ¡ª AHHHHHHHHH! ¡ª Calm down, Takeru. It¡¯s me! ¡ª Sato-kun? Takeru crouches against the bathroom wall, struggling to breathe. Sato kneels beside him, holding his hand. Another dormmate joins them. ¡ª Calm down, Takeru. You¡¯re having a panic attack. Ryota, help me with him. ¡ª On it. Sato, tall with a long neck and bleached blonde hair, and Ryota, shorter with dark brown hair and glasses, sit on either side of Takeru. ¡ª Why are you doing this? Why are you here? ¡ª We¡¯ve noticed you having these episodes before, Takeru, ¨C says Sato. ¡ª Yeah, sometimes we hear you crying at night. ¡ª You¡­ you¡¯ve heard me? ¡ª A few times. We never said anything because you always act tough, and we didn¡¯t want you to think we were jerks, ¨C answers Ryota. ¡ª Please¡­ Sato-kun, Ryota-kun¡­ Don¡¯t tell Director Li or anyone else. If they find out about my panic attacks¡­ they won¡¯t let me go home. ¡ª You can count on us, Takeru-kun, ¨C says Sato. The three stay in the bathroom until Takeru finally calms down.
MIYAZAKI MANSION, KATO¡¯S ROOM, MIDNIGHT Kato sleeps peacefully in her comfortable bed until a strange voice calls her. ¡ª KAAATOO¡­ KATO! Kato stirs, her eyes fluttering open. ¡ª KAAATO¡­ COME PLAY WITH ME! Still groggy, Kato sits up, confused. ¡ª Big sis? Is that you? ¡ª I¡¯LL SHOW YOU SOMETHING REALLY COOL, KATO. The closet door begins to open slowly. Kato¡¯s eyes widen as the creaking door grates on her ears, an involuntary dread gripping her young heart. The little girl is paralyzed, staring into the darkness of the closet. ¡ª Sa¡­ Saori-chan? Is it you? She continues to gaze into the blackness until an eye suddenly opens in the shadows. Kato screams and cries uncontrollably. ¡ª AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!! DADDY, MOMMY! Saori hears her sister¡¯s screams and bolts out of bed, running to her sister¡¯s room. She yells for her as she rushes down the hallway. ¡ª KATO! KATO! Saori bursts into the room to find Kato crying on her bed, clutching her stuffed bunny. ¡ª KATO, WHAT HAPPENED? (Sitting on the bed and hugging her) ¡ª A BOY! THERE¡¯S A BOY IN THE CLOSET! ¡ª What? Saori looks at the closet, its door now closed. Kaiba and Mei enter shortly after. ¡ª What¡¯s going on here? ¡ª Saori, what¡¯s wrong with Kato? ¡ª I don¡¯t know, Mom! ¡ª Mommy, there¡¯s a boy in my closet. ¡ª What? Sweetheart, you must have had a nightmare. ¡ª No, it wasn¡¯t a nightmare. I heard his voice. He said I shouldn¡¯t be in this house, that I¡¯m an intruder, and if we don¡¯t leave willingly, they¡¯ll force us out. Saori stares at Kato, then looks at her mother, who exchanges a troubled glance with Kaiba.
ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL, DORMITORY Takeru tosses and turns in his bunk bed, sweating profusely, as if trapped in a nightmare. Voices echo in his mind until one grows louder and clearer: ¡ª GO BACK AND PROTECT YOUR SISTERS! Takeru wakes up with a start, screaming: ¡ª SAORI-CHAN!!!
MIYAZAKI MANSION, KATO¡¯S ROOM Kaiba stands by the closet, addressing Saori. ¡ª Saori, take your sister out of here. I¡¯ll handle this. ¡ª But Dad? ¡ª Honey, what are you going to do? ¡ª If there really is someone in this house, it¡¯s my duty to protect my family. Hurry, Saori! Take Kato! ¡ª Okay. Saori picks Kato up and leaves the room. ¡ª DADDY, BE CAREFUL! HE¡¯S IN THERE! As they flee, in the dark corridor, a woman in white glides past in the distance, vanishing from sight. ¡ª Sis, I¡¯m scared! ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, Kato. Everything will be fine. The two enter Saori¡¯s room. She places Kato on her bed. In Kato¡¯s room, Kaiba counts down. ¡ª Ten¡­ In Saori¡¯s room, she searches for her phone. ¡ª What are you doing, sis? ¡ª Calling the police. If there¡¯s an intruder, they need to be caught. Back in Kato¡¯s room, Kaiba continues. ¡ª Seven¡­ six¡­ In Saori¡¯s room, the lights flicker. Kato looks up, increasingly terrified. Saori nervously fumbles with her phone, accidentally opening her photo gallery. Her eyes widen in horror at the last photo she took outside the mansion. She gasps, her hand covering her mouth as her world begins to crumble. In Kato¡¯s room, Kaiba flings open the closet. His brave expression falters into one of shock. ¡ª Oh my God! In Saori¡¯s room, she remains frozen, staring at her phone, her throat tightening with fear. ¡ª My¡­ my God. Kato points and screams: ¡ª SIS, LOOK OUT! Saori drops her phone, turns, and screams in terror at what she sees. ¡ª AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! The nightmare of the mansion had only just begun. I WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ABYSS HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CHINA, SATURDAY MORNING Takeru walks through the bustling airport, carrying a small suitcase in one hand and a backpack slung over his shoulder. He¡¯s just received his boarding pass and is making his way toward the gate where he¡¯ll wait for his flight to Japan. He glances up at the departure screen and reads: ¡°FLIGHT 743 ¨C DESTINATION: TOKYO, JAPAN ¨C BOARDING IN 30 MINUTES.¡± Nostalgia washes over him as he thinks of Japan. He sighs, then looks to his side and notices a woman in a white dress with long black hair obscuring her face, standing on the upper-level gallery of the airport. She¡¯s gripping the railing, leaning forward as if she¡¯s about to jump. Takeru freezes. He sees that no one else seems to be reacting. ¡ª What is she¡­? The woman stretches her arms back, tilting her body dangerously forward. Takeru¡¯s eyes widen as he processes what¡¯s happening. ¡ª No, wait! Someone help her! The woman leans further forward, clearly preparing to jump. Takeru panics. ¡ª MISS, STOP! He drops his suitcase and dashes toward the gallery, shouting at the top of his lungs. ¡ª STOP! DON¡¯T DO THIS! But the woman ignores his desperate pleas and lets herself fall. ¡ª NOOOOOO!!! Takeru dives forward, landing on the floor, hoping to grab hold of her. He lies there for a few moments, face down, knowing it¡¯s already too late. Slowly, he lifts his head, expecting the worst. But instead, he sees the people around him staring at him with puzzled, uneasy expressions. Confused, he looks up at the gallery. There¡¯s no sign of the woman. No body, no commotion¡ªnothing. He stands up, shaken, as murmurs ripple through the crowd. ¡ª What a weirdo. ¡ª He¡¯s crazy or something. Takeru looks around, bewildered. ¡ª No, no! Didn¡¯t you see? A woman just jumped! I swear! Why are you looking at me like that? But the people continue to steer clear of him, some parents pulling their children away as they pass. He runs his hands through his hair, completely disoriented. ¡ª I¡¯m not crazy. I¡¯m not crazy!
MIYAZAKI MANSION, TOKYO, TWO DAYS EARLIER Before Takeru¡¯s journey to the airport, something had happened that needed to be resolved. In her room, Saori nervously fiddles with her phone. By accident, she opens her photo gallery and sees the last picture she took outside the mansion when she first arrived. Her eyes widen, and she gasps, covering her mouth with one hand as if the air had been knocked out of her. In another room, Kaiba flings open a wardrobe, his previously brave and determined expression changing to one of utter shock. ¡ª Oh my God! Meanwhile, back in Saori¡¯s room, she remains frozen, staring at her phone with tears welling in her eyes. It feels like the world is collapsing around her. ¡ª My... My God. Elsewhere, Kato points toward something and yells: ¡ª SIS, WATCH OUT! Saori drops her phone, spins around, and screams at the top of her lungs. ¡ª AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! But instead of what we expect, it¡¯s her father, Kaiba, tossing a black cat toward her. ¡ª Meow! Look what I found hiding in Kato¡¯s wardrobe! Saori, now sitting on the floor, stares in disbelief. ¡ª Wh... What? But... ¡ª Relax, Kato. It was just a cat. Nothing to be scared of. Saori doesn¡¯t buy his explanation, and it seems like Kato isn¡¯t convinced either. After all, cats don¡¯t talk. And if they don¡¯t, then who said those awful things to her? The next day, Saori decides to confront her mother with the photo. ¡ª Look at this, Mom. ¡ª Wow... Impressive, honey! Great Photoshop work! ¡ª Wh... What? Are you kidding me? You think I made this? ¡ª Didn¡¯t you? ¡ª Mom, for God¡¯s sake, look closely. When I took this picture, there was nothing in that window. And now there¡¯s this woman¡¯s face on the glass! ¡ª Oh, honey, maybe it was just a weird reflection. Don¡¯t start buying into your sister¡¯s ghost stories, okay? ¡ª Oh my God, why won¡¯t you believe me? ¡ª That¡¯s enough, Saori! You¡¯re too old to be believing in ghost tales. You¡¯ll scare your sister. Let¡¯s get ready for school, and don¡¯t you dare mention this to your father. Your brother comes back tomorrow, and I don¡¯t want him hearing about this nonsense either. Understood? Defeated and disappointed, Saori lets it go. Nothing unusual happens for the rest of that day¡ªor the next¡ªat the mansion.
TOKYO AIRPORT, SATURDAY, 1 P.M. After a four-hour flight, Takeru finally arrives in Japan. Exiting the arrivals gate with his suitcase and backpack, he spots his parents waiting for him, holding a sign with his name and a box of chocolates. Mei waves enthusiastically. ¡ª Over here, sweetie! Over here! Takeru¡¯s eyes fill with tears as he runs to them. ¡ª Mom! Dad! Mei and Kaiba wrap him in a warm embrace, and Takeru sobs like a child. ¡ª I missed you both so much. ¡ª We missed you too, son. ¡ª Let¡¯s go home, champ. Back to the new house. Your sisters are waiting to see you. MIYAZAKI MANSION, 1 HOUR LATER The Miyazaki''s truck honks at the mansion''s entrance, prompting Saori and Kato to come out to the door. The vehicle parks, and Takeru immediately gets out. Kato, overjoyed, runs straight toward him. ¡ª BRO! BRO! ¡ª Where¡¯s my stinky big-headed little one? Takeru picks Kato up, kisses her, and starts ruffling her hair. ¡ª I thought you¡¯d forgotten about me, little head. ¡ª Of course, I didn¡¯t forget. ¡ª Good, because if you had, I was going to bite this big cheek. ¡ª Stop! That tickles! Saori, slightly hesitant, approaches him. ¡ª Hi, Takeru. Welcome back! Takeru looks at his sister, places Kato back on the ground, and notices that Saori extends her hand for a handshake. He shakes her hand but pulls her into a hug. ¡ª Come here, sis. It¡¯s good to be back. Kaiba and Mei step out of the car with his suitcase and backpack. ¡ª I see you¡¯ve already reconnected with your sisters. Let¡¯s head inside! ¡ª said Mei.
CUT TO MEI AND KAIBA SHOWING TAKERU HIS NEW ROOM.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡ª Holy... I mean, wow! This room is a thousand times better than my one back in Kyoto. By the way, how did you afford this mansion? ¡ª Your sister asked the same question, but in your case, it makes sense to be curious since you were away for a year. Your father will explain it better, son. I''ll leave you two to talk. Later, we¡¯ll have a special dinner with the whole family. See you then! ¡ª Bye, Mom. Thanks! Mei leaves the room. Kaiba approaches his son, placing his hands on Takeru¡¯s shoulders. ¡ª So, son! How have you been? Got yourself a girlfriend in Hong Kong? ¡ª No, Dad. Did you forget that the boarding school was all boys? ¡ª Oh, right. ¡ª And I¡¯m not gay, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking. ¡ª I didn¡¯t think that at all, son. It¡¯s just that after a year of not seeing you, I... You know, I missed my only son. ¡ª I missed you too, Dad. All of you. I¡¯m really sorry for everything I did... I swear I¡¯ve changed. ¡ª I know, son. Let¡¯s leave the past behind. Unpack your things, and we¡¯ll have dinner later.
HOURS PASS, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR, THE WHOLE MIYAZAKI FAMILY IS GATHERED AROUND THE TABLE. Grateful smiles and glances are exchanged between them. Before starting the meal, Takeru asks for permission. ¡ª Excuse me, Dad, Mom, girls¡­ May I lead the prayer for our food today? The four are a bit surprised by the request, as Takeru was never one to follow certain rules. Mei looks at Kaiba, who nods in approval. ¡ª Of course, son. Takeru asks everyone to close their eyes and begins the prayer. ¡ª Dear God, bless the meal we are about to partake in, and¡­ beyond that, I want to ask for forgiveness. Mei and Kaiba open one eye, curious about Takeru¡¯s prayer. ¡ª I ask forgiveness for making my parents suffer, for making my sisters suffer. I know I¡¯m not worthy of Your love, but¡­ thank You for bringing me back to my family. Thank You for pulling me out of those dark days where I thought I¡¯d never see the light at the end of the tunnel. But here I am now, before them, begging to be accepted back into Your embrace and praise. My sins, my wrongdoings cannot be justified, but¡­ Please don¡¯t let them bear the consequences of my mistakes. Bless my mom, bless my dad, bless Kato, and bless my twin sister Saori, who¡­ we¡¯ve been distant, but I believe we¡¯ll find unity again. Bless this house and bless all of us¡­ Amen. As he finishes, Saori cannot hide her emotions upon hearing those words. The others are equally moved by his sincerity. ROAD TO MIYAZAKI MANSION - MONDAY - 10 AM A mailman rides his motorcycle along the road leading to the outskirts of the Miyazaki family''s mansion. Sweat drips down his face, the sun unusually intense for that time of year. Finally arriving near the property, he wipes his brow with a handkerchief and pulls out two letters from his bag. ¡ª Let¡¯s see¡­ A letter for the Miyazakis. So, I... The mailman hesitates, looks ahead, then back at the letter to confirm the address. ¡ª But¡­ This was supposed to be the address. We see the mailman¡¯s point of view, revealing that the property is completely empty. No mansion, just a vast, vacant lot. It¡¯s as if the house currently occupied by the Miyazakis never existed.
YAMATO SCHOOL, HOURS LATER¡­ One of the school coordinators briefly interrupts a teacher''s class to call the Miyazaki siblings. ¡ª Excuse me, I¡¯d like to have a quick word with the Miyazakis. Saori asks: ¡ª Did we do something wrong? ¡ª No, no, I just need a quick word with you two. The siblings leave the classroom. Minutes later, they¡¯re talking in the hallway. ¡ª So, I¡¯m here to give you your monthly school report cards, but¡­ Are you sure you wrote the correct address on your enrollment forms? ¡ª Hmm¡­ You¡¯re the one who enrolled me, right, Saori? ¡ª Yes, but I did it right. I used the same address as my enrollment. What¡¯s the problem? ¡ª Well, here¡¯s the thing: the mailman who delivered your report cards said he arrived at the address you provided but didn¡¯t see anything. ¡ª What do you mean, didn¡¯t see anything? ¡ª Takeru asks. ¡ª Yes, yes, he said that when he arrived, there was just an empty lot and no house nearby. ¡ª That¡¯s logically impossible! Our house can be seen from far away, even before reaching the property. ¡ª Saori said. ¡ª Exactly, which is why I¡¯m asking. Look, he even sent me a picture. Take a look! The coordinator shows the photo to the siblings, and they¡¯re utterly shocked to see no mansion on the land. ¡ª But¡­ Impossible! ¡ª Saori exclaims. ¡ª Is this some kind of joke? ¡ª You know what? I think the mailman got lost and ended up at some random vacant lot. Anyway, here are your report cards. If you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯ll get back to work. The coordinator leaves, but Takeru and Saori remain in the hallway, deeply puzzled. From behind a wall, one of the school teachers listens to the conversation. She seems to know something.
MIYAZAKI MANSION - 1 HOUR LATER Takeru is driving, taking his two sisters back home. He murmurs: ¡ª Well, it looks like our house didn¡¯t run away, huh? Saori gets out of the car and helps her sister out. Both head to the door. ¡ª Hey! I¡¯m heading downtown to pick up a few things. Do you guys want anything to eat? ¡ª No, thanks! ¡ª I do, big bro. ¡ª Kato? ¡ª Saori reproaches. ¡ª Okay, princess. I¡¯ll bring you waffles. ¡ª Yay!! ¡ª Come on, Kato. Let¡¯s go inside. The two enter the house. Takeru maneuvers the car to head back out. Saori sits on the couch, her mind still preoccupied with what the coordinator said. Kato approaches, holding Saori¡¯s hands. ¡ª Big sis, let¡¯s play hide-and-seek? ¡ª Ugh, not now, Kato. I¡¯m really tired. ¡ª But you never play with me. ¡ª When your brother gets back, ask him to play with you. ¡ª But he¡¯s always the one who plays with me. I wanted to play with you this time. Pretty please? ¡ª Oh, fine, fine. ¡ª Yay! ¡ª But let¡¯s set some rules. Since the house is so big, you can only hide on the first floor, okay? No going upstairs or outside. Agreed? ¡ª Agreed! ¡ª Alright then, 1, 2, 3¡­ ¡ª Hey, that¡¯s not fair! ¡ª Run, time¡¯s ticking! 4, 5, 6¡­ Saori closes her eyes, continuing the count, while Kato looks for a place to hide. She notices some hiding spots are too obvious, so her eyes land on the service elevator. The elevator is meant for sending dirty laundry, trash, and other small items. It¡¯s a square compartment, just big enough for one person. An adult would have to crouch to fit inside. It¡¯s built into the wall near the stairs. There¡¯s a brown outer door that lifts upward and a protective grate inside. Kato manages to open the first door, unlocks the grate, and climbs into the elevator with some difficulty but finally settles inside. She closes the grate first, then the outer door, ensuring her sister won¡¯t notice where she is. Saori finishes her count. ¡ª 46, 47, 48, 49, 50! Ready or not, here I come! Saori begins her search for Kato around the house. ¡ª Kato-chan. I¡¯m going to find youuu! Kato stays quiet inside the elevator, stifling her giggles. Saori starts in the kitchen. ¡ª I¡¯m great at finding people, you know? So, I think you¡¯re¡­ UNDER THE TABLE! She lifts the tablecloth, looks under it, and finds nothing. ¡ª Damn! Alright, let¡¯s keep searching. Still on the road, Takeru reaches into his wallet. ¡ª Damn it! I left my card on the nightstand. Crap, crap, crap! He makes a U-turn to head back to the mansion.
At the mansion, Kato remains hidden, covering her mouth to suppress a fit of laughter. Saori continues searching, already on the verge of giving up. ¡ª Alright, little pest! This time, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself. You hid better than I thought. You can come out now. Kato lets out a small giggle. Just as she starts to open the grate, the elevator jolts slightly. She hesitates, then brushes it off. But when she tries to move again, the cables suddenly give way, and the elevator plummets. ¡ª AAAAAAAHHHH! BIG SIS! ¡ª KATO-CHAN! KATO-CHAN, WHERE ARE YOU? The elevator falls until it reaches the bottom of a dark, filthy basement filled with old junk. Upstairs, Saori frantically opens the elevator¡¯s outer door, then the grate, peering into the dark shaft below. ¡ª KATO! KATO-CHAN, ANSWER ME! At the bottom, Kato clutches her head, feeling a sharp pain. She notices a small cut on her forehead from the fall. Luckily, the cables stopped the elevator just 10 centimeters from the ground, preventing a harder impact. Kato hears her sister¡¯s faint voice from above. ¡ª BIG SIS! ¡ª Kato! Are you alright? ¡ª I hurt myself! ¡ª Oh no! Badly? ¡ª My forehead is bleeding! It¡¯s so dark here, I¡¯m scared! ¡ª Calm down, sweetie. Stay calm. I¡¯m coming down to get you. Saori starts searching the house for a way to reach the basement. Every attempt seems to lead to a dead end. In the kitchen, she discovers a door hidden behind the fridge. Straining, she pushes the fridge aside and opens the door. Leaving the door ajar, she finds herself in a long hallway. At the end, there¡¯s an old, battered, green door, likely the basement entrance. Meanwhile, in the basement, Kato crawls out of the elevator. With her arms crossed in front of her, she cautiously navigates through the darkness, searching for an exit. Kato feels her way along the walls, her small hands brushing against dusty surfaces. In the distance, she notices a faint glow, possibly coming from a small window. The little girl moves closer and sees that the window is indeed letting in a bit of sunlight. ¡ª BIG SIS! BIG BRO! MOM! DAD! Kato is alone¡ªor at least she thinks she is. That changes when she turns around and spots her stuffed rabbit lying on the basement floor. ¡ª Mr. Rabbit? What are you doing down here?
Outside, Takeru pulls up in his car, quickly parks, and enters the house. ¡ª Hey, guys! I just came back to grab... He notices neither of his sisters are nearby. ¡ª Saori? Kato? Are you upstairs? He places one foot on the staircase but stops when he notices the service elevator door is wide open. He approaches the elevator, sensing something is off. Why is the door open, and why aren¡¯t his sisters responding? ¡ª SAORI! SAORI! In the living room, by a window, a pale woman with long hair presses her hands against the glass, silently watching Takeru. He turns to glance at the window, but the woman is gone. ¡ª What the hell is going on here?
Back in the basement, Kato walks toward her stuffed rabbit. ¡ª Why are you down here? As she bends down to pick it up, the rabbit slides back slightly, as though being pulled by an invisible thread. Kato hesitates, takes a couple of steps forward, and tries to grab it again. The rabbit moves further back. Each time it retreats, it gets closer to the shadows. Her fear growing, Kato takes another hesitant step. This time, she stretches out her hand instead of bending down. The rabbit is pulled entirely into the darkness. Kato lets out a small gasp, her chest heaving as her breath quickens. Tears well up in her eyes, shimmering in the faint light. Her small body trembles as dread grips her. She stares into the shadowy depths of the basement, hearing an eerie noise coming from the darkness ahead. Mustering courage, she speaks: ¡ª Mr. Rabbit, is that you? From the darkness emerges a boy with a shaved head, blood dripping from his mouth, clutching the stuffed rabbit in his hands. ¡ª THIS IS MY HOUSE! ¡ª AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! BIG SIS!
In the hallway, Saori hears Kato¡¯s terrified scream. ¡ª KATO-CHAN! She sprints toward the old, green door at the end of the hallway.
In the basement, Kato scrambles to find an escape, all while hearing the guttural whispers of the entity. ¡ª KILL, KILL, KILL, KILL... ¡ª BIG SIS! HELP ME!
In the kitchen, Takeru notices the fridge moved aside and the open door behind it. ¡ª What¡¯s this? He heads toward the door.
In the hallway, Saori finally reaches the green door. She opens it to find a long staircase descending into the basement. ¡ª I¡¯M COMING, KATO! As she steps onto the first stair, a wave of dizziness washes over her. The stairs seem to stretch endlessly. ¡ª No, not now. Please, not now. She leans against the wall, taking deep breaths. ¡ª I can¡¯t stop. I have to get down there and help my sister. Saori pulls out her phone, turning on the flashlight to illuminate the steps. Slowly, she descends, using the walls for support. In the hallway, Takeru spots the open door and shouts: ¡ª SAORI-CHAN! ¡ª TAKERU-KUN! OVER HERE! KATO IS IN DANGER! Takeru breaks into a sprint toward the basement. Saori, still on the stairs, shines her phone¡¯s flashlight toward the doorway above. She sees the ghostly figure of a man with a bloody head, dressed in a brown suit. ¡ª HAVE A GOOD LESSON! ¡ª AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!! Saori drops her phone, losing her balance, and tumbles down the staircase into the terrifying basement.
In the hallway, Takeru¡¯s heart pounds as he hears Saori¡¯s scream. ¡ª SAORI-CHAN!!!!!! He races forward, reaching the basement door, only for it to slam shut violently, throwing him backward. ¡ª Arghhh!! On the floor, Takeru struggles to get up. As he does, he comes face-to-face with a demonic figure¡ªa woman in a white dress with long, tangled hair. ¡ª WAS IT YOU, TAKERU? From the depths of Takeru¡¯s lungs comes the loudest scream he¡¯s ever let out. ¡ª AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!