Chapter Two- Isolation
"So Miss Electra, are you enjoying your stay here in Tokyo?" asked the small frail-looking reporter, who stood before the famous film actress with a large microphone while a heavy fat camera-man stood poised to attention behind the reporter, documenting everything Electra was about to say onto a film real that could make or break her career in no time.
Electra grinned, and said, "of course I am. I love Japan. It is beautiful. So beautiful- that I plan to stay here for a while longer after my movie is finished with its filming."
The reporter raised her eyebrows in surprise, "really? For how long exactly are you planning to stay after your movie?"
"Perhaps a month… perhaps a year… perhaps a lifetime, who knows?"
The reporter gasped in surprise as Electra greeted them farewell, before making her way into the train station that was situated right underneath them where the miniature interview had taken place. The reporter watched in shocked surprise as she watched the multi-billionaire actress walk down the steps and into the underground, before turning back to the camera and in Japanese said, "Well, you heard it. Talented actress Electra possibly plans to stay in our little country! Never ceasing to amaze anyone, Electra will definitely amaze you in her next shocking feature, 'Curse of the Attic Ghost'- a must see for all horror fans! That's all the time we have to talk about Horror Queen Electra, so we shall cut to a break, but afterwards, we have a special treat for you- Miss Kuriyama Chiaki shall be speaking to us about her latest film- Dead Rising'!"
That was tiring, thought Electra as she lazily found an empty bench to sit on when she entered the subway station after escaping the reporter, who would have thought this lifestyle to be so exhausting?
It had all started when she was 17 years old. She had performed on stage at a state theatre in her country, in the famous musical 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Later, the following year, her agent called her while she was studying for finals at school, informing her of the role of Cleopatra that no-one had been able to nab yet. The director was a very picky and irritable man, and so the agency's last resort lay in the hands of a girl trying to pass her exams.
She auditioned, but to her annoyance as she was trying to receive at least two distinctions and the director turned out to actually love both Electra and the Cleopatra she had presented to him. She was cast immediately. After one of the performances, towards the end of Anthony and Cleopatra's running, Electra was introduced to a television director who asked her if she wouldn't mind performing in a groundbreaking new local show that used a green screen instead of usual locations. It was entitled 'Innocent Days' and Electra was personally asked by the director himself, to play the lead character Genevieve. Electra saw this as an accomplishment and couldn't say no. Next thing she knew, Electra was asked to be a lead model for a brand of expensive internationally made perfumes called 'Emily Vale'. She had more than a thousand photographs taken of her, each with a separate bottle of the deliciously scented perfumes, and was being paid millions for each picture- and she received free Emily Vale perfumes!
Life couldn't get better- until she stumbled on an audition was an international horror movie about an axe-wielding madman that tortured young pretty models.
As Electra was already a model at the time, the directors wanted her to perform in the movie, and soon Electra was shot into fame and loving every minute of it!
And now, she was in Japan. Filming for her fourth film- and her fourth horror feature. Although Electra loved horror films and acting in them, she couldn't shake off the irritation of people referring to her as the so-called "Horror Queen". But at least the pay was good- she truly couldn't complain about that.
Sitting by alone in the almost empty subway station, all the memories and thoughts flooded Electra's mind. At last she had time to think! But this wouldn't last long. When the station filled up with people, some would want her autograph, some would confess her undying love for her, and others would beg her to be in her next feature film.
She had to get away from that! But how, everyone knew her and she couldn't have her peace, the peace she truly needed. There had to have been somewhere in Japan that wasn't filled to the brim with fans and stalkers… but where?
Suddenly, walking down the steps of the train station was a group of school girls, dressed in their sailor uniforms and clutching brown satchels in their hands. There was about five of them, and two were on their cellular phones, the other three gossiping about random boys and new anime' shows. Electra smiled at this, and remembered how back in her school days she did exactly the same things with her friends- talk about boys, television shows and cellular phones. But Electra shook her head, suddenly frustrated with herself. She was nineteen for crying out loud! Nineteen! And already she was acting like a woman of forty! This was not on at all. As she was about to scold herself about acting like an elderly woman, one of the school girls from the group of girls that had arrived in the station, tapped Electra on the arm.
Electra looked up, jumping slightly as she had been lost in her own thoughts.
"Konichiwa!"
Electra smiled at the girl, and replied, "konichiwa."
The girl smiled nervously, then added in Japanese, "My name is Megumi! I am a big fan of yours- just like my friends over there…" she pointed to the group of girls who giggled in excitement and shyness, "they are quite shy so they dared me to come over to you for an autograph."
Electra laughed and said in Japanese, "that is so funny! Gosh, so I scare people now… Hey, why stop at autographs? We can have pictures too you know!"
Megumi's eyes lit up in delight, "really?! Oh thank you, thank you!" She called to her group of friends to come over to Electra and the friends quickly ran towards her, chattering happily, and holding out cameras and cellular phones and magazines for her to sign.
After the picture taking, Electra signed their bags and afterwards Megumi asked her to sign an article in her magazine about Electra's biography. Electra grinned and gladly signed the last page of the article, happy with how good she looked in the photographs in the article. As she finished writing her signature and her little inspirational message to Megumi, Electra's eye caught hold of another write up in the magazine which was situated after her article.
"MORE DISAPPEAR NEAR BLOCK OF HOUSES"
Electra quickly finished the message and asked Megumi what the next article was about. Although Electra could speak and understand Japanese, reading it was quite a mission to her.
Megumi shrugged her shoulders and said, "Oh, it's just a local myth that has been going around for some time. But it isn't true, my friends and I went there two days ago, and we haven't disappeared yet!"
Electra thought for a minute, then said, "where is it exactly?"
Megumi looked at Electra strangely, "you actually want to go there? It's so boring! It's just a couple of houses that have been abandoned, and a couple of derelict cats. That's it."
Electra grinned, "abandoned? So there is a chance that I can buy there?"
Megumi rolled her eyes, "you are so rich- you don't have to buy there!"
"Well just tell me where it is Megumi…"
Megumi sighed, "I forgot where it is exactly… but here, take the magazine, it might tell you something there… just let me rip out your article first… like I said, I'm a big fan!"
Electra laughed, feeing a great wave of relief wash over her, as she finally found a place where isolation was guaranteed.
