I head upstairs, trying to organize my thoughts. The bathroom is at the end of the hallway, and as I approach the door, a small chill runs down my spine.
When I open the bathroom door, warm and humid air wraps around me. The light is dim, but enough to illuminate the small room. Still, something feels off. I frown, but decide to ignore it—maybe I'm just tired. What I really need right now is a nice, hot bath to relax and clear my mind.
Steam surrounds me as I sink into the warmth of the water. I close my eyes, enjoying the stillness and letting the sense of comfort wash over me. For a moment, I forget the confusion of the day; all that remains is the soothing sound of the water and the soft scent of soap.
When I finish my bath, I wrap myself in a towel and step out with my mind a little clearer. But just as I take my first step toward my room, a strange sound stops me cold. It's like whispering—soft and almost imperceptible—but I hear it again, clearer this time. I freeze, my heart pounding.
"What was that?" I murmur to myself, slowly approaching my room. I take a deep breath and try to stay calm.
When I push the door open, the noise stops for a moment, making me hold my breath. But as soon as I open it completely, my eyes widen—the book I had left on my desk is lying on the floor. Carnival of the Dead is open.
I approach the book, my heart thudding in my chest, but when I look at it, there's nothing strange. It looks so normal—just an open book lying on my bedroom floor. With a sigh of relief, I pick it up and glance through it. For a moment, I wonder if something else happened while I was gone.
I place Carnival of the Dead back on my desk. Maybe this book isn't as scary as I thought.
Lying down on my bed, I feel the urge to share my discovery, so I grab my phone and open my chat with Saki.
Excitedly, I start typing:
"Saki! Guess what. I went to that old shop in the old district and found a book called Carnival of the Dead."
I wait eagerly for her reply, feeling a little silly at how fast my heart is beating, like a pendulum. Would she even care about what I found? I bite my lip, staring at the screen, waiting.
After a few moments, my phone vibrates.
"'Carnival of the Dead'? Sounds like a horror movie title," she writes.
"Exactly!" I type quickly. "But the weird part is, when I opened it—there was nothing inside! Just blank pages."
Her reply comes almost instantly, and I can practically imagine her frowning as she reads.
"A blank book? That's weird... Did you see anything else in the shop?"
Lying back on my bed, my fingers move quickly across the screen.
"Not much! There were tons of antiques and weird things. But the old lady who ran the place seemed to know a lot about the book. She said it was connected to stories from the afterlife, and that totally got me excited! But now I just feel kind of disappointed..."
While I wait for Saki's response, the atmosphere in my room shifts. A chill runs down my back, and suddenly the lights begin to flicker. I close my eyes for a second, thinking maybe I'm just too tired—but no.
"What... is happening?" I whisper, glancing around. My hands clutch my phone as a mix of excitement and nervousness floods me.
Before I can process what's happening, I see the book on my desk move. I blink, unsure if I imagined it. But no—it's actually opening on its own. My eyes widen, my breath catches, and I step closer to the desk cautiously.
"Saki!" I type quickly, my fingers trembling against the screen. "Something weird is happening in my room!"
The lights flicker again, and faint whispers fill the air—as if trying to communicate with me. My heart pounds as I stare at the book, now completely open, its once-blank pages no longer empty.
"Rika, what's going on?" Saki replies almost immediately, her concern palpable even through the screen.
"The book..." I whisper shakily. "It's opening by itself."
I move closer to the desk, my heart thundering in my chest as the book stays wide open before me. I can feel something about to happen, as if the air itself has grown heavy.
My phone vibrates again in my trembling hands. Another message from Saki. The words seem to jump out at me: 'Rika! Are you okay? Answer me!'
I can't take my eyes off the book. A faint tremor spreads across its pages, as if something inside were trying to escape. I swallow hard, frozen in place, staring at the impossible sight before me.
The lights flicker even more violently, and a cold wind seems to blow from within the book. The whispers turn into distinct murmurs—calling my name. Goosebumps rise on my skin, and I feel as though the entire room could collapse at any moment.
The light flashes one last time—and then goes out completely, plunging me into total darkness.
"What...?" I whisper into the void. My heartbeat drums in my ears, loud and unrelenting. The air around me feels heavier than ever.
Those murmurs—the soft whispers that once felt distant—now sound clear and close. I hear voices coming from the pages of the book. I can't make out the words, but it sounds like they're arguing about something important.
I try to focus, to understand what they're saying. But before I can, a sudden sound cuts through the thick silence—my phone vibrating in my hands.
I blink, feeling slightly dizzy as I glance at the glowing screen. It's Saki. She's calling me.
My hands shake as I answer the call. The light from the screen reflects in my eyes, and hearing Saki's voice brings a small wave of relief.
"Rika! Are you okay? I called because you weren't replying anymore!"
Her tone is full of worry, and it only tightens the knot in my stomach. The darkness in my room feels dense, pressing against me. Still, I try to stay calm.