Sayoko opened her eyes, her vision adjusting to the darkness that surrounded her. A damp, musty scent filled the air, mixed with the faint staleness of decay.
She sat up slowly, her fingers brushing against the dusty, cold floor beneath her. Confusion clouded her mind as she scanned the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Huh? Where am I? How did I get here?" Her voice wavered in the dark, breath quivering as if the air itself pressed against her throat.
The space around her was dark and unsettlingly quiet, save for the occasional sound of dripping water and the faint creaking of rotting wooden boards above. The walls were cracked, their surfaces covered in peeling paint and creeping vines that had forced their way through the neglected structure.
As she stood up, she realized she was in a part of the school she had never ventured into before—the abandoned section.
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
"That's strange. One moment, I was leaving school, and the next… I woke up here. And now it's already dark?" She hugged her arms around herself, voice barely a whisper against the still air.
A sense of unease settled over her. Something about this situation wasn't right. She had no memory of coming here, and she couldn't recall falling asleep either.
Had someone brought me here?
Her breathing grew uneven as she processed the unsettling reality.
It's dark out… and I'm here alone… in this empty, eerie place.
The silence of the old building felt oppressive. She could hear her own heartbeat—loud, rapid, almost deafening in the stillness.
Then suddenly—
Drip.
Creak.
Her breath hitched. The noises were subtle but unnerving. The slow, rhythmic dripping of water echoed through the empty hallways, and every so often, the old wooden structure groaned under its own weight.
Then, cutting through the unsettling stillness—
"Sayoko… Sayoko… are you listening?"
A voice, distant and whisper-like, called her name.
Her entire body stiffened.
"Sayoko… can you come closer?"
A chill ran down her spine. Her hands curled into fists, nails pressing against her palms as her pulse raced.
Her instinct screamed at her to run.
Without hesitation, she turned on her heel and sprinted out of the abandoned section, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
"Who the hell was that?! Why would anyone be in that old building at this hour?" Her heart pounded so loud it hurt.
Her mind raced with possibilities. Was this some sort of cruel prank? Had someone locked her inside as a joke?
No, this doesn't make sense… why was I even asleep in there to begin with?
Her pulse was still erratic as she made her way through the dimly lit streets. The air outside felt heavier than before—still and damp, like the night itself was holding its breath.
Near the gate, a stray cat sat licking its paw beneath a flickering streetlamp. The light buzzed faintly, casting long, broken shadows across the pavement.
When it noticed her, the cat froze. Its pupils narrowed, ears twitching. Then, without a sound, its back arched and a sharp hiss cut through the quiet.
Sayoko flinched, stumbling a step back. "Huh? What's your problem?" Her voice trembled with a mix of confusion and unease.
The cat's fur bristled, and after a tense heartbeat, it bolted into the darkness—its claws scraping faintly against the concrete before fading away.
She stood there, staring after it. "Weird… I didn't even move toward it."
For a moment, she tried to laugh it off, but the sound came out shaky and hollow.
As the silence returned, the faint warmth from the streetlamp seemed to dim, leaving her with a sudden, inexplicable chill.
Her eyes then suddenly caught a familiar figure walking ahead. Her breath hitched, shoulders easing slightly as a faint, shaky smile formed on her lips.
"Nanami! Oh, I'm so glad to see you! You wouldn't believe the crazy night I had!" Her voice lifted with desperate relief as she waved frantically.
But to her shock, Nanami walked right past her—without so much as a glance.
Sayoko's stomach twisted.
"Did she just ignore me?" She turned around, watching her friend disappear into the distance.
A sinking feeling settled in her chest. Nanami wasn't the type to act cold or indifferent. They had been close friends since childhood.
If Nanami was ignoring her, then something was very wrong.
She bit her lip, trying to dismiss the uneasy thought. Maybe Nanami was distracted. Maybe she just didn't hear her.
Still… something felt off.
As she continued down the street, she passed by a small pastry shop. The warm glow from inside spilled onto the pavement, and through the window, she spotted two of her classmates.
They were laughing and enjoying slices of cake—but something was strange.
They weren't wearing their school uniforms.
Instead, they were dressed in working clothes, as if they had just come from a full-time job.
Sayoko frowned. "Wait… did they have an interview today? But they never mentioned anything about getting jobs."
She hesitated. A part of her wanted to go inside and ask them. Maybe they would at least acknowledge her, unlike Nanami.
But a nagging feeling in her gut held her back.
What if they ignore me too?
The thought unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
When she finally reached home, the familiar sight of her house filled her with relief.
"Finally… home." She exhaled softly, exhaustion dragging at her limbs.
But as she approached the window, her relief was replaced by confusion.
Inside, her family was gathered around the dining table, enjoying dinner together.
But something felt… off.
Her eyes lingered on her younger brother, and her heart skipped a beat.
His hair was slightly longer, his face sharper — not the round, boyish look she remembered from just this morning.
He looked older.
A year older. Maybe more.
Her brows furrowed. "What?! How dare they start eating without me?" Her pout deepened, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "Did they even think to call me? Weren't they worried about me?"
Annoyed, she rushed to the front door and grabbed the handle—only for her hand to pass right through it.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"Huh…? What was that?"
Shaking her head, she tried again, pressing her palm firmly against the surface.
Her hand went through the door as if it wasn't even there.
Panic surged through her. She stumbled back, tripping over her own feet and tumbling through the door without opening it.
Sayoko's heartbeat thundered in her chest as she scrambled to her feet.
"What's happening?" Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her chest, struggling to steady her breathing.
She rushed into the dining room, where her parents and younger brother were still laughing and chatting as if nothing was wrong.
"Mom! Dad! Why are you eating without me? It's so late, and you didn't even call me!" Her voice cracked, rising over the clatter of plates.
No response.
Her mother smiled at something her father said. Her brother stuffed his face with food, completely unfazed by her presence.
"Mom? Dad?" Sayoko's voice quivered, breaking into near silence. "Can't you hear me?"
Nothing.
Dread tightened around her chest.
With shaking hands, she reached out—only for her fingers to pass right through her mother's shoulder.
A strangled gasp escaped her lips.
She tried again, this time reaching for her father. Her hand slipped through him like mist.
Panic surged through her veins. She kept trying, over and over, but the result was the same. Her hands went right through them.
No… No, no, no—this isn't real. This isn't happening!
Her vision blurred with tears as she fell to her knees, clutching her chest.
Nanami ignoring her.
Her classmates wearing different clothes.
Her hands passing through solid objects.
Her family carrying on as if she didn't exist.
Her breath came in shallow, ragged gasps.
"Am I… dead?"
The words barely escaped her lips, yet they felt heavier than anything she had ever said.
Her body trembled as she clutched her head.
She couldn't remember what had happened to her.
All she knew was one thing:
She didn't belong to the world of the living anymore.