Jujutsu Kaisen: The Forgotten Clan
Chapter 15- Scariest Place on Earth, Evening 1
With the time nearing 6:00 pm, the six of us split up to have dinner and do our own investigating. We figure there is another three hours before the sunsets and the fireworks show begins. The plan is to meet in the alleyway by 8:30 pm to avoid getting lost in the crowd.
Since I have been running one of my techniques since riding Space Mountain, I am tired and hungry. Heading towards a vegetarian food stand, I decide on a last-minute detour. Walking back to Space Mountain, I notice a sign saying the ride is temporarily closed. Must have been from the mechanical issues earlier in the day. I look around to see how many people are around. I have a security badge and assume it allows me to enter and exit rides that are closed.
Once I breach the yellow tape closing the ride to patrons, I walk around the perimeter of the building to see if anything is out of place. The amount of cursed energy is so potent, it makes me want to choke on my tongue. Something else grabs my attention; just beyond the steel walls concealing the hallways from the outside staging area, I feel the presence of two bodies. They are walking around, but something is off. I leave the area and forget about grabbing food.
6:45 pm: It's a Small World Line
I need to get my mind off what I saw at Space Mountain. Whoever or whatever is in there needs to be taken care of. Grumble…my stomach is making noises.
"I was not expecting you to come here. I thought I would be able to find information on my own. And you look like you have seen a ghost." I turn around and see Suguru's face smiling at me.
"Hey, looks like I am raining on your parade. Do you want to ride together? And thanks for the compliment." I am saying this while staying half-awake. Another question comes to mind.
"Where is Satoru? You two seem close and always with each other."
"He is probably tormenting Ijichi or stuffing his face with sugar. You went back to Space Mountain, what did you find?" Well, talk about changing the subject.
"A human-like creature. I need to get inside the ride to get a clearer picture. How did…Osamu must have reached out to you or someone else since I turned my walkie off." Suguru gives me a toothless grin, confirming my assumption.
By the time the ride finishes, and we head outside, the sidewalks are tied off by rope. People are gathering in different areas along the sidewalk. I check my watch and see it is only 7:15 pm. I bid Suguru farewell and grab some food.
After chowing down on a few buns, I make my way to the alleyway. It is 8:00 and I hate being late. More people are lined up along the sidewalk, trying to get the best view for the firework extravaganza. I notice the same figure on the roof of the security building. Since the rooftop is out of sight for anyone walking along the main street and it is dark…I use the few minutes I have before 8:30 to investigate the roof.
I walk over to the security building, notice there are not any visible cameras around, and find a fire escape. The ladder is just out of my grasp, and I jump to reach the bars. With my feet dangling in the air, I hoist myself up using my upper body strength and swing my body onto the first landing. Success. I scale the rest of the escape as quietly as possible. Once I reach the final landing, I gracefully jump onto the roof…thankfully the roof is flat.
I spot the figure and quietly approach it. There is no movement coming from the figure. I keep walking towards the target and, it still does not move. Come to think of it, I am not picking up any signs of life through my technique. I look down in the alleyway and see one of my classmates standing alone. It is Haibara. I take one last look towards the figure and, it has not moved. Pop, shoo, pop, pop. The fireworks have started, they illuminate the corpse laying on the rooftop.
8:30 pm: Down in the Alleyway
"Interesting, I am the first one here. I wonder what is holding Santa-Clara up? She seems like the type of person to show up on time for things." Haibara says to himself.
"Hey Haibara, glad you made it. Where is everyone else? It is 8:30 already." Nanami with Ijichi walking close behind him.
Crash, thump. So much for a graceful landing.
"What was that?" Ijichi starting to panic.
"Agh, fruit cake." (I mumble under my breath while standing up from the trash cans I crashed into.)
"Whoever you are show yourself please." Ijichi trying to be assertive. He is distracted when Satoru and Suguru walk into view.
"What a splendid surprise! Everyone is on time!" Satoru shouts loud enough to wake the dead.
"Satoru, we are ten minutes late. Where is Blaze?"
"Right here, everyone."
I casually walk over to the group and pretend that nothing happened. I managed to fall on my ankle while descending the fire escape. At least I know the location for one of the missing civilians.
We make our way to Osamu's office. Of course, the area leading to the office is a tight squeeze, but we manage. Satoru knocks on the door and Osamu answers. He seems agitated, and gestures for us to go to the third floor and wait for him. I hear the fireworks going off outside.
My comrades and I walk into a conference room upon making it to the third floor. Snacks and beverages are waiting to be eaten, a chair for each of us, and a life-size map of the park hanging next to a whiteboard. Osamu catches up with us and starts talking.
"Have a seat everyone, and feel free to eat or drink as you see fit."
I take a breath in and release it before saying, "There is a body on the roof of this building. I did not get a good look at the face, but it could be one of the missing persons."
"It would have shown up on the security cameras. Are you certain there is a body?"
"I had checked around the area and did not notice security cameras. They are either hidden or turned off. You are the head of security and would know this. I climbed the roof between 8:00 pm and 8:30 pm. Feel free to check your footage…I should show up." I sit down and take a sip of water.
Osamu lets out a sigh and addresses the room while everyone else gets comfortable.
"When I said to be subtle with your investigation, that was not an invitation to poke around in closed-off rides." He is staring right at me while saying this. I shrug my shoulders, sit back in my chair and stare at the ceiling. There is a low-grade curse, I am certain the rest of my group has sensed it out too.
"Then why did you give us security badges? I was on Space Mountain when it experienced mechanical issues. To put it bluntly, something forced the ride to stop that was not the mechanical brakes. The force felt unnatural…as if something grabbed hold of the ride." I am having a staring contest with the curse while saying this.
"The security badges are to help you get information from employees young lady! Not a free ticket to do whatever you want. What are you looking at?"
"I am admiring the decor on the ceiling. You are welcome to ask my colleagues for their reports if you are finished chastising me." I turn and face Osamu at this point. He is tired and wants to solve this case as soon as possible.
"When we contacted Jujutsu Technical College, I was informed you all deal with cases of the supernatural kind. Is this correct or not?"
"You are right, Sir Osamu." Suguru responding calmly. Osamu turns his eyes to Suguru and starts talking with him.
"Then tell me, have any of you suspected foul play of the supernatural sort?"
"Do you mind expanding on your definition of supernatural?" This coming from Suguru. I am holding my tongue and waiting to see where this conversation heads.
Osamu takes a sharp inhale and a long exhale before saying,
"There was an incident last year involving a child. The guardians of the child filed a report the moment they noticed their kid had disappeared. After the park closed, my team and I searched high and low for the boy. He was found in the Haunted Mansion, fast asleep. I noticed a few scratches on his person and tried getting answers from him. But he could not remember what happened. It did not look like the child was thrown from a significant height or physically abused. Just a few scratches on his knees and face."
Osamu takes a breath and wipes away tears before continuing with his story.
"A few months after the incident, the child died. His father found the boy lying in bed and assumed he was asleep. After a few hours, the father tried getting his son out of bed and found scratch marks, a missing ear, and a cold body in his son's bed. The cause of death is still unknown."
It is hard to tell what my colleagues are thinking since they all have stoic expressions on their faces. I am back to staring at the curse, it is cute, harmless, and keeping me awake.
"And why wasn't this reported to us?" Suguru still talking with Osamu.
"At the time, Sir S. did not think anything of it. We are not the only theme park with death-related incidences. It was not until more people started disappearing that Jujutsu Tech was contacted."
He is trying not to accept the fact that a body is on the roof. I don't blame him, if someone died on my watch, I would do anything to ensure it never happens again.
"Something is living in Space Mountain. May I suggest checking the security footage or allowing me inside the ride to gather more evidence." At this point, the curse has curled itself on my lap. Osamu can't see this of course, and I get a few stares from the people I am working with.
"And how do you know something is living in Space Mountain? And why there?"
"It is a popular attraction for kids and adults, the area inside is pitch black and cold, there is a multitude of hideouts along the tracks. I sensed the presence of something that was not quite human. If I were a supernatural being, I would use it as a hunting ground."
Osamu just stares at me with a furrowed brow and narrowed eyes. At this point, the fireworks are finishing up: a series of them keep shooting off one after another for a minute and a half. Then, applause from the spectators. Osamu breaks eye contact and starts talking.
"I will look at the footage from today and see if anything odd comes up. In the meantime, you all have rooms booked at the Hilton Tokyo Bay. Three rooms, meals are included, and you will have easy access to the park. Complimentary of Sir S., of course. We contacted your school, and you will find your items in your respective rooms. I expect you all to head over the hotel, clean up, rest, and report back here within two hours."
Osamu gets up and heads for the door. I smile and pet the curse that is in my lap. Tonight is going to be fun, I can feel it in my bones.
10:00 pm: Hilton Tokyo Bay Lobby
"And that settles everything. Here are your room keys and the codes for the pool. Enjoy your stay." The front desk attendant to Haibara. He smiles in return and dances back towards the rest of us.
"What a nice person. Here is a key for Satoru and Suguru, I will hold the key for my room, and Santa-Clara here is your key."
"Thank you. I will see you all down here at, eleven?"
"We will see you down here at eleven. Come on everyone, let's eat! I am hungry." Satoru. He and everyone else head towards the dining hall. I need some personal time.
I walk into Room-707 and notice a duffle bag waiting on the bed. There is a note and a pile of papers next to the duffle bag. Bypassing the note and papers, I search for fresh clothing and a toothbrush: my outfit of choice...an oversized black sweatshirt, and high waist stretchy pants.
After a ten-minute rinse, I brush my teeth and sit on the bed. The note is longer and less cryptic than the one left at my apartment.
The Note: I am sure you know by now some people are out to kill you (oh, really?), keep information from you, and try to mold you into something you are not. Look at this information and absorb as much as possible. Answers to your questions will arise in due time. Try not to rush the process.
"Ok, whoever you are, I would like to meet you in person. I am going to talk with Gojo about this."
Knock, knock, knock.
I put the note and pile of papers on the nightstand and walk over to the door. I look through the peephole and see an employee standing outside my door. She is holding a tray and starts knocking again. I open the door partially.
"Good evening Miss. I do apologize for disturbing your rest. This was sent to your room and all I need is a signature." The young woman looks to be a few years older than me and cute as a button. My lilac eyes tell me she is a civilian.
"May I ask who sent the tray here?" She shakes her head 'no'. I smile and sign the tab.
I glance at my watch and notice there is ten minutes before call time. I leave the tray on my bed, grab my sneakers, a hat, and my green bag before heading out the door. Thinking I would be the first person in the lobby, I am met with...
"Hey, Nanami. Was not expecting you to be here early." I am smiling and sit in the oversized, Mickey-shaped chair adjacent to Nanami's Mini-shaped chair.
"Greetings, Miss Blaze. Quite the contrary, I appreciate timeless, unlike my senior." I assume he is referring to Satoru.
I doze off to sleep while waiting for the rest of our group to show up. A gentle shake of my shoulder wakes me up.
"Hey. Stop sleeping on the job," Satoru says with a grin.
"Seriously Satoru?" I mumble under my breath while standing up.
"Serious as a heart attack kid," Satoru says back to me.
We make it to the park entrance by 11:30. Osamu, two security officers, and Sir S. are waiting for us. My classmates and I split into our original groups.
"I am glad you all showed up. I was starting to wonder if your accommodations were too comfortable." Sir S. states with a hint of arrogance. He continues with his speech.
"Osamu informed me you all found a body and suspect there is a creature living in the park?"
We all nod our heads 'yes'. This makes Sir S. scoff. Osamu takes over the conversation.
"The six of you will stay with your partner, and explore the following areas: Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Main Street. You have two hours before reporting back here. Use force to subdue any attackers and try not to kill whatever might be living in the park."
Osamu stares at me while saying this.
"I don't appreciate you singling me out and implying I am a liar." My tone is direct and firm. Suguru shakes his head 'no' to get me to calm down.
"I don't appreciate a rude teenager coming into my place of business, telling my staff what to do, and taking it upon herself to explore a closed-off area. Bear in mind, Miss Santa-Clara, I have hired you for this job...and I can fire you if I see fit."
Sir S. making it clear I have crossed a boundary. I stop talking and this makes Sir S. grin.
"Do any of you have questions?" Osamu asks the group. We all shake our heads 'no.'
"Good, now get moving. I want to avoid closing the park due to unforeseen circumstances. Have a good evening gentleman," Sir S. states as he waves his hand and leaves with his sorcerer bodyguards.
Good to know Sir S. is familiar with curses and the supernatural world.
11:30 pm: Staging Area of Space Mountain
"How are you holding up?"
My partner-in-crime is hunched over and staring at the ground. He puts on a brave face and a professional manner.
"I am alright, Santa-Clara. What do you need me to do?"
"Follow behind me and do as I say once we enter the ride. If at any time we get separated, clap your hands three times or text me. Should we find ourselves face-to-face with an opponent, I expect you to fight."
He nods his head in agreement.
The moment we step inside, I feel the presence of the creature and cursed energy. The creature is further inside the ride, but the cursed energy is hard to pin down. My primary target is the creature.
After walking through the pitch-black ramp, we make it to the launching point of the ride. None of the control panels are acting up, the ride is still, and our target is beyond the first climb of the ride.
"Are you feeling up to climbing?" I turn around and see Kiyotaka cowering behind the control panel.
"Nope. I am not cut out for this line of work! Gojo was right, I am a baby! You go on ahead and call out if you need me to help you."
I let out an internal sigh before rummaging in my bag.
"Here, take these." I toss a pocketknife, can of mace, and a lighter to my partner. He gives me a perplexed look and I explain they are weapons he can use in case something attacks him.
Midnight-The Dining Hall Scene of Haunted Mansion
"There is something here, Satoru."
"I am aware Suguru. The question is where, and what. My Six-Eyes are picking up faint traces of cursed energy that are difficult to pin down: it's like whatever is in here runs back and forth between spots."
Crash! Thump.
"Over there, by the left corner of the dining table. I saw a human." Suguru yells at his partner.
"I am right here dude. Let's go...they could not have gotten very far."
The two men catch up to the civilian and tackle him to the ground. He is beside himself and looks malnourished.
"Let me go! Don't kill me, please. I beg of you."
"Sir, we are not going to hurt you. Satoru, let him go. We have a few questions to ask..." The civilian kicks Suguru in the shin and is pinned to the ground once again.
12:15 am: Space Mountain (Trigger Warning: Violence and Blood Ahead)
"I know you are here, show yourself."
I am standing on the tracks of the roller-coaster, keeping my balance by straddling the rails and holding my arms across my chest. My eyes are dark purple and staring towards the middle of the ride. A pair of light-yellow eyes meet mine. The owner of said eyes jumps onto the tracks across from where I am standing.
The yellow eyes bore into my soul as if the creature is figuring out what I am. Sulfur, blood, and cedarwood are the prominent scents radiating from the thing in front of me.
"Mind telling me your name?"
A grin flashes underneath the eyes; in a split second, I am knocked from my perch and fighting in mid-air. This thing's skin is cold as steel, they are ripped to the heavens, and 'clamp'.
"Ouch! Stop biting me." I punch the creature in the nose and mouth upon impact with lower-level tracks.
Crunch. My back crashes into the tracks first and I am pinned underneath the creature. It looks at my neck and tries to bite me again. I headbutt its mouth as it is about to chomp into my flesh. With my free leg, I kick the monster and it releases me.
"You are a lot stronger than the one who attacked me at my house. Now tell me your name." I need to buy time and prepare a counterattack.
The creature looks at me, looks at the area below us, and is distracted by three claps. It smiles widely and dashes off towards the noise.
"Ijichi! Run and hide!" I scream this out loud, hoping my partner is smart and fast enough to seek shelter.
I pick myself up, wipe the blood from my face, and whisper to myself, "Curse-Technique: Soul Trace, activate."
My five senses light up like a holiday tree: whatever the creature is experiencing, I am experiencing. Deciding on the fastest route towards the beginning of the ride, I jump from my current position. Three flights of rollercoaster later and I land butt first on the hill where the ride takes a secret photo.
"Mother of earth that hurt. I think I broke my tailbone." I am rubbing my lower back and slowly pick myself up. I can smell the creature; it is close by.
Clap, clap, clap.
"I hope she hears me. Something is in the walkway, and it is headed towards me." My partner mumbles to himself while hiding in one of the rides."
"Reverse-Curse Activate."
I run a Reverse-Curse while descending the tracks and coming to the launching area of Space Mountain. I see my partner in a fetal position, the creature I just fought off turning the corner up ahead, and another creature to my nine-o-clock. Feeling lightheaded and tired, I need to act quickly.
The creature to my nine-o-clock makes an attack, but I block most of the attack with my body. I am sent flying into the steel walls of the launching area; my body drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Creature two grabs my collar flashes a pair of fangs at me and pins me against the wall. It proceeds to punch me in the face. This one has a lavender scent to it.
I see the first creature heading towards Kiyotaka.
"Kiyotaka, watch out! Something is moving towards you!" I shout as loudly as possible while avoiding a fist to my face.
He looks up from his hiding spot and jumps out of the way right as creature one reaches for him. My right cheek receives a hard punch while I am distracted.
"Why don't you go ahead and drink from me? That is what you want, blood." I am staring my opponent in the eyes and trying to maintain eye contact. Their eyes light up in surprise, loosening their grip on my shirt. Jackpot.
"Here, here." I expose the right side of my neck, gather up cursed energy into my fist, and prepare an attack. The vampire inches closer to me and…. whomp!
The vampire is sent flying into the ride but quickly recovers. I run after them and land a blow on their face. Without a second thought, I wrap my arms around the vampire's neck and underneath their armpits. To say this creature is strong is an understatement.
It gets up and tries throwing me off its back. I do not break my hold but carefully move my hands towards its mouth. My hand is met with a bite that breaks my wrist. Blood starts dripping down my arm and I am in a lot of physical pain.
"Well then, now that you have bitten my arm down to the bone, how about you suck up as much blood as you want?" My eyes start flickering, a sinister grin adorns my face, and I shove my hand down the vampire's throat.
I can tell its eyes are wide, but I don't care. Once my hand reaches the throat, I grab hold of it and squeeze. At this point, the vampire starts moving around frantically, rams its back against the wall, falls on its face, and flips me onto the floor.
I manage to get up and grab an object from my pocket. The vampire charges me, tackles me to the ground, and goes limp. A blue-black substance oozes from its body as I roll the vampire off me. My spare pocketknife is buried in the jugular vein.
"Santa, Santa, Santa Clara.
I turn my gaze towards my partner and see he is being held hostage by the other vampire. Great.
"Well done taking care of my fellow vampire there. Now I will not have to kill her." The vampire says with his fangs bare.
"You talk after all? What a relief." My head is spinning and so is the room.
"Come now, there is no need to be sarcastic. You did me a huge favor, as a repayment, I will eat you after I consume your friend over here. What are you doing?"
"If you are going to drink from me, just do so already," Kiyotaka says while punching the vampire.
While the vampire is distracted by the punches, I throw my knife at him and graze Kiyotaka's head. A few hairs fall to the ground as the vampire releases my partner. Before getting too far, the vampire grabs Kiyotaka's ankle and throws him up the walk ramp. There is going to be excessive damage to the ride.
I use the few seconds my partner has bought for me to run by the control panel, grab the mace and lighter, and the run-up to the two men. With the vampire's back turned towards me, I hold the lighter up and spray the can of mace at the same time.
"Why you little!" The vampire lets go of Kiyotaka, turns around, and holds out his hand…extinguishing my makeshift torch. I lunge onto him and receive a vicious bite to the neck. I smear my blood on the vampire's face as I crash into the floor.
"Curse-Technique: Soul Prison." I manage to say while gasping for air and holding my neck.
"Why can't I move? What have you done to me you brat?!" The vampire yells at me while trying to escape our bond.
"I have taken what is left of your soul as a hostage. Until I release my technique, you are under my control. Now get up, we have to meet with the others."
My partner looks at me with puppy dog eyes.
"Stop worrying about me and check my phone for messages, please. I have a feeling Satoru and Suguru have found something interesting at Haunted Mansion."
I have an hour left before I need release my technique. If I go over the time limit, I risk severe blood loss.