Chapter 3

Usagi awoke with a start. They… they found it, Usagi put her head in her hands and cried. Her brother was now in trouble, actually she wasn't even sure he was still alive. "I've gotta find him!"

Usagi jumped out of her bed, quickly running to her dresser to find all the money she could get. She would spare no expense to get to her brother and help him. "Usagi… where are you going?"

The sweet voice rang out, causing Usagi to drop all the money she had in her hand. "L-luna… my brother! He's in danger… I need to find him."

She dressed quickly, and made her way to the bedroom door. "Goodbye Luna."

Searching as quietly as she could through the kitchen drawers, Usagi finally found a useable map. "Mutsu region… there. Now just to find… the Himuro Mountains!"

Usagi scrawled a note, praying her parents wouldn't be too heartbroken. She signed it with a heart. Tip-toeing to the front door, a tear slid down her cheek. Please let me find my brother… please Lord.

Usagi walked to a nearby bus stop and waited patiently for the bus that would soon be arriving. As the bus arrived, Usagi shivered knowing that this was only the first chill that would run up her spine. Usagi paid her way and sat in the front, knowing fully well that she could have sat on any seat on the bus. She reclined her seat, preparing for a long bus trip. Her eyes slowly closed as she clutched her bus ticket and the shimmering princess slipped into a fitful sleep.

Usagi arrived at her destination after several bus changes and peeked around at a small village in the Mutsu province. The princess wandered the village, asking several villagers whether they knew about the Himuro Mansion, but all of them brushed her off, scurrying away. "Excuse me… excuse me! Please, I'm looking for the Himuro Mansion!"

"Go away, there's no such mansion around here." An older woman with silver hair falling out her simple bun tried to brush Usagi off. The rabbit placed a hand on the woman's shoulder and felt the shivering body give up.

"Please… my brother went to the Himuro Mansion!"

"You'll never see him again, go home."

"So it is around here!" Usagi exclaimed. "Please I'm begging you! Just tell me how to get there."

The older woman shifted uncomfortably, finally giving in to Usagi's pleas, "There's a trail on the east side of the village, go there. But I suggest turning back, you'll never see your brother again. I lost my own child to that mansion…."

"I… I have to try…." Usagi gave a small smile and made her way to the east side of the village. Her sailor sense told her to turn around and head back home, but she pushed on. She loved her brother, even if they fought and argued all the time, he still had a good heart and she knew he was stronger than it appeared.

The young rabbit eventually found the trail that the woman spoke about and pondered what she said. Had the older woman really lost her child to the mansion? What really happened here?

Turn around… turn around… turn around. That was the mantra that followed Usagi through the thick woods, but she fought it. She was a sailor soldier! This was not supposed to scare her. She's fought several different types of enemies and came out victorious; but how could she fight something she didn't even know existed? Usagi shivered and a cold breath escaped her lips.

Her legs ached to run in the opposite direction, and she was about to give into that desire until the Himuro Mansion loomed in front of her. A name danced on her lips as she stared up in disbelief and terror, "Shingo."

She began to move forward, but stopped, immediately remembering something she packed in her backpack. "Flashlight… flashlight… I know I packed one…."

Something rolled to her feet, causing the rabbit to jump back. What laid before her was a flashlight. "N-no way."

She cautiously kneeled down to pick up the flashlight, telling herself there was no way it would work properly. She flicked it on, falling over as the light shone brightly at the mansion. Clutching it tightly, Usagi was ready to throw it at the mansion and run back towards the village. Shaking her head, Usagi braced for whatever lay ahead. Pull it together Usa… if you can't handle this, what makes you think you're ready for what lies in there?

Clenching her teeth, Usagi walked stoically towards the front door of the mansion, knowing there was no longer any chance at turning back. Pulling open the creaking door, Usagi stepped into the pitch black House of Mutilation.