Disclaimer: I do not own Mystic Messenger
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Kiku
...
"Oh God it worked!" shrieked the tall black cloaked figure in front of five girls who were too nauseous to stand. The figure's face was covered with a ski mask and oversized hood, and the cloudy starless night wasn't helping the figure seem less ominous. However, high pitched shrill sounded feminine, so that was one positive point against the fact that Kiku was lying in a giant glowing summoning circle which the figure was standing right outside of.
Kiku was in a stranger's house practicing occult activities the very second before the earthquake and opening her eyes to find a hooded stranger staring down at her. A glowing circle with ancient scripts around her, instead of being surrounded by walls of a dining room combined with kitchen, the Autumn's crisp air greeted her from the open field all around her, the dark shadows just begging her to run into them and never be seen by anyone ever again. The only source of light was from the round white bulbs on the four pillars making an imaginary square around them, and the endless candles around the circle Kiku was in.
"Uh… Greetings," stuttered the figure before regaining her composure, "people from another world. I have brought you for a reason." The figure raised its arms in a grand gesture.
Yes, Kiku was scared out of her mind, but at least she had her knocked-out best friend and three strangers beside her.
"Please don't sacrifice us?" mumbled Kiku in a voice low using all the strength her recovering mind could muster.
…
3 days ago
...
Kiku prepared early in the morning for another boring day of boring Uni courses and boring lectures. As a night owl, it was a pain to drag her tired body out the door. Hence, every weekday she had no choice but to brush her teeth, place a toast in her mouth, and pray to dear non-existent god for no traffic.
There was a saying in life, 'don't be miserable or you might lose your daily miracle'. Well, Kiku's daily miracle was used up every weekday by how Kiku didn't crash the car when she was so tired. She could only buy a coffee after she arrived because she was never going to underestimate the pain of finding carpark after the nightmare on her first day.
If every lecture were online, it would have saved her from a lot of pain (and danger), but it wouldn't have eased the daily pain of life.
Kiku didn't understand why she found everyday so boring. She would ponder this question during her lectures.
When she would read comments on social media to find anyone else miserable by their life. They all talked about how their lives changed after the pandemic.
However, unlike most people her anxiety and friendship circle weren't affected by the global pandemic. She was happy with the solitary home life and her friendship circle was always small. Her life wasn't affected the slightest. This made her more miserable because she didn't have an easy excuse for how she felt.
As a kid, her parents and the media said that once she entered high school, she would have friends. During high school that changed to once you entered University you'll find friends. All lies. She found that out after studying her butt off to enter the best university in the country.
Right now, she was in her third year of university. Still no friendship group, no joy from her classes, no joy in her gloomy life. Nothing changed from high school, except now each year brought closer the glooming wave of her future's unknown propensity.
This might sound like an exaggeration, but without this one thing she might had questioned whether her boring life was worth continuing walking down.
"Kiku," shouted Violette as she jumped on Kiku from behind. "How are you?" Violette was her childhood friend since elementary school. Her only friend. Kiku wasn't surprised at all, she was used to being jumped on by Violette since they became close in high school. She wasn't exactly jump-scare-proof though, she just recognised Violette's running steps and laugh before she jumps.
"I'll on my way to my next ear numbing lecture," sighed Kiku.
"If you hated it so much you should had changed a course," scolded Violette with a smile. The thing with Violette was that she always had a bright smile which attracted people, unlike Kiku's socially awkward smile. Violette's entire atmosphere was always bubbly, whether she was joking, scolding or being sarcastic. It was a trait that avoided conflict since you couldn't tell when she's angry, and it allowed her to deliver perfect backhanded comments without the person noticing.
"It was either this or giving presentations to a judgy audience," replied Kiku.
"Then you should had changed your major," brushed off Violette. She spun and hugged Kiku's shoulders with one arm. They continued walking like that.
Whoever made the statement 'only choose a major you'll enjoy' I want to punch them. Thought Kiku. Despite this thought, Kiku was a pacifist. She would just jump in joy if something malevolent befell them like she prayed.
The fact that she paid for her courses made her feel worse. It was as if she was paying to be miserable.
"I don't want to hear that from you Mrs failing English Literature."
"Hey," Violette pouted. "It's harder than it sounds."
Instead of continuing the conversation they both paused to glance at a poster before continuing.
"That club was so annoying," whined Violette.
"It might be worthwhile."
Two weeks ago, posters appeared all over the campus about the Occult club. It didn't exist on record, Kiku thought it might had been because it was recently founded, the poster was recruiting members.
However, the most intriguing part of the offer was that the club was recruiting members based on how well they could solve the puzzle whose hints lie all over the campus.
Kiku's eyes at glowed at the word 'puzzle'. Kiku had little interest in the occults, but she didn't want to feel miserable forever, and she most certainly didn't want to feel empty for another year. Plus, a puzzle would give her the most thrill for the year at this campus.
This club probably wouldn't solve any of her problems. However, it was worth a try. What's life without trying anything?
"All the poster gives is a riddle. I still think it was too much," whined Violette.
Kiku remembered the riddle off by heart:
Ghosts roam most at this time, competing this once with wolves for rivalry. So, I reach for the clearest point to stare longingly at what's Pink but white.
It was easy. Ghosts and wolves? The riddle was obviously talking about the moon at night. It was April so the full moon was known as the Pink Moon. She had brought Violette with her to the rooftop of the tallest building on campus at night where the next clue on the bricks glowed in the moonlight.
"What are you complaining about? I had solved every riddle for you. You didn't do anything," smiled Kiku jokingly.
"It was somewhat fun for three days of running around campus," said Violette as she rolled her eyes. "In the end they asked us to send the passcode at the final point to a suspicious number."
"It was an ordinary number. Don't you get prank calls from all those 'suspicious' people you gave your number to?" Kiku reminded, teasingly pulling emphasis on "suspicious".
"Hey, they looked like nice people! And my experience is why I'm telling you we should be cautious," Violette smiled smugly.
"Yet you gracefully hand your number to any boy on campus who asks for it."
"Hey! I only gave my number to hot guys."
Who was everyone that asked.
"What if the number ended up belonging to a handsome guy?~"
"Or it might be some creep." Violette wiggled her nose in disgust. Kiku laughed.
"There was no point giving up then. If we get prank calls, we'll just delete the number."
Violette nodded reluctantly.
"Of course, you'll have to ask me first because you can't tell your prank calls apart."
"Hey!"
They both laughed as they separated into their respective buildings.
There wasn't any point in their argument since they had already both texted the mysterious club three days ago.
After the lecture Kiku ate her packed lunch under a tree as she waited for her tutorial. Boring peace with the faint smell of manure from the gardens, until Violette banged her palms on her table. Around them few students stopped and looked at them before minding their own business.
"What's wrong?" Kiku asked calmly unflattered. Recognising Violette's footsteps were second nature to her.
Violette hastily leaned forward too close for comfort.
"Did you check your texts?" Violette gasped out too quickly for anyone who wasn't used to her to understand.
"Not yet," Kiku replied as she checked her phone. Her eyes widened. "Did you receive one too?"
"Yep," slowly replied Violette. Her arms shook as she sat opposite to Kiku, unable to hold the suspense.
Kiku's smile sharpened like a blade. She opened the reply from the Occult club.
It was an invitation welcoming her into the club. It stated the location to the club's first meeting at 11pm. The date was perfect, during the mid-semester break.
"Please don't tell me you want us to go to a mysterious place at midnight?" asked Violette worryingly. Usually, she liked Kiku's smile but not the one she had now.
"It's 11pm," Kiku corrected. "Don't worry, the location is in a neighbourhood."
"Still sounds sketchy!"
"What about all the times you went to a total stranger's house in the middle of the night for parties?"
"Hey, I went in groups and the parties start at 10pm."
Kiku gave Violette a look.
Violette has a look of realisation when she finally figured out the one-hour difference. And technically in pairs they wouldn't be alone.
"Oh."
"We're adults, we know to leave if anything's sketchy," persuaded Kiku.
"Fine," Violette sighed. "Just couldn't we go together to any other club? Maybe an official club?"
"Mrs burnt-her-money-on-every-club-on-campus, were any of the clubs interesting?"
"I know your point, but I think we would had fun if we went to them together," insisted Violette.
Discomfort weaved through Kiku.
"I don't want to waste money on clubs anyone," she replied without looking at her best friend. Especially if they just give me more emptiness. At least the occult club wasn't asking for payment.
…
3 days later
...
Kiku and Violette both wore something causal and comfortable as they headed to the location following the instructions on the GPS. It was a cool night with soft winds. Kiku was comfortable with mid-length pants and a thin jacket while Violette wore shorts and short sleeves. Violette had more social experience so Kiku was sure her clothes were more culturally attractive. The shirt did have a fancy gape for her shoulders and a slit for her sides. But all that mattered was that Violette didn't have a weird look when she saw Kiku's outfit, that calmed Kiku down.
The temperature didn't matter for now since they were in the car. Kiku driving, Violette in shotgun. The sound of the engine and road flowing through their heads. No honking, no traffic, it was a quiet night. The neighbourhood was close to their place so that was a bonus.
"Remember, we'll leave if anything's sketchy," ensured Kiku.
Violette snapped from her trance and smiled giving a nod. She still played with her fingers. This made Kiku nervous since usually their places were reversed; she the nervous one, Violette the excited one.
So far so good, the neighbourhood looked peaceful. Houses on both sides of the road, most with their lights off. Well, it was almost 11pm.
The GPS led them to a comfy looking house at the end of a street with its lights open. It was wooden, moderate sized, two floored, old styled. Some white paint was coming off at the corners near the red wood.
When they exited the car Kiku was prepared for the cool rush of air. On the other hand, Violette was ambushed, gave a small 'yelp', and started rubbing her arms.
"Do you want my jacket?" asked Kiku with concern.
"No need," stuttered Violette.
3 minutes to 11pm.
As they walked towards the house at the end of the street. They saw another girl on the opposite footpath walking in the same direction. She wore leggings and an oversized jacket with a hood covering her face. Strips of her long curly hair fell out as she walked with her head down.
Kiku envied her. If she didn't care so much about how society would judge her, she would also walk around with a hood covering her face. The only time she would have an excuse to do that would be during the rain.
All three girls stood outside the door with heavy hearts.
"Walking straight into a stranger's house at the end of the street," mumbled Violette to herself, but loud enough for Kiku to hear.
Maybe all three of them were afraid. That's why they stood until 11 on the dot.
Kiku reached for the doorbell. She was nervous, but something else shocked through her veins. Excitement. She could barely hide a nervous smile. What's life without a few risks?
The sound of the doorbell was deep, booming through the house, shaking the wooden panels as the sound echoed.
To some this might had seemed like the start of a horror movie. To Kiku, she was thinking about how awkward the three of them were standing in front of a stranger's house. Actually, for all Kiku knew, the hoody girl might be acquaintance with the homeowner, or not a member of the club.
In the 38 seconds it took for someone to answer the door. Kiku felt like the awkward tension between them and the hoody stranger was dreadfully slowing time.
How embarrassing it would be if this was the wrong house? Kiku wondered as a distraction.
She could hear Violette let out a silent 'yelp' for every lock that was undone.
Kiku believed it was rude to stare at strangers. What if they looked back at her? Then she would have to give an awkward greeting. But her peripheral kept glancing at the hooded stranger would kept her head lowered.
A red-haired girl opened the door with a kind smile. She wore casual clothes with cat pictures, brushing off any serial killer at the end of the street vibe.
Violette released her breath quite loudly.
That was five locks.
"Welcome. Hope our intense doorbell didn't scare you," she smiled.
Kiku awkwardly smiled back and nodded. She wondered how many per day did the girl practice in the mirror to gain such a pretty smile; it was not too cheerful but gave a sense of relief.
"Are you all the new members of the Occult club?" she asked.
Kiku nodded until quickly she realised none of them was speaking. She desperately turned to Violette.
You're the one who always talks remember! Her eyes screamed.
Violette nodded until she flinched in realisation.
"Oh," she uttered before smiling to red hair. "Yep, we were all invited to this location."
Kiku would have face palmed herself if no one was watching.
I'll have to do it myself…
"Are you the club president?" Kiku asked.
"No," she shook her head. "I'm the cousin who's house-sitting. My Aunty is obsessed with safety which explains the overload of locks." She gestured to the locks along the edge of the door. "She would never allow a young girl to stay at home by herself, hence why I'm here." She had a mature way of conveying conversation which made Kiku think she might be older than them. Still in her 20s though since her skin looked young.
"They're here," shouted a voice from within the house.
A dark tanned girl shoved her cousin out of the way to greet the three girls at her doorstep. She had the brightest eyes and smile.
Violette gave a not so hidden sigh of disappointment.
Kiku tried not to cringe when the new stranger suddenly grabbed her hands which were politely crossed on her waist and shook them with enthusiasm.
"I'm Hanna the occult club president. Come in, come in members!" she exclaimed. Clearing the doorway.
"Hanna, keep your loud voice indoors, don't disturb the neighbours," chastised red hair from behind the door squashing her.
"Relax, the neighbours are too far and too deep in their snores to hear."
"Mrs Frigleton doesn't feel that way."
"That Granny's just paranoid," brushed off Hanna.
Red hair sighed in defeat.
Kiku awkwardly squeezed in with Violette behind her and Hoody at the back.
Hanna handed the three of them black cloaks to bring a "creepy" atmosphere. She bounced in excitement waiting for them to put on the cloaks before guiding them to her dining table beside the kitchen. The table was covered with a black cloth, candles, and a summoning circle in the middle. All the lights in the kitchen were off, the only other light source came from the doorway, and the stairs.
Kiku found the cloaks amazing. She immediately asked if they could keep them. They were long covering every piece of skin/ clothing, nothing fancy; pitch black, best of all the oversized hood and multiple pockets on the inside. They were also warm. Kiku wanted to jump when Hanna said they were theirs from now on but they had to bring them to every meeting.
"I have to go to bed now, please don't destroy the house," red hair called from the stairway.
"Just leave us," Hanna pouted in annoyance. Once her cousin was out of sight, she stuck her tongue out at where she previously stood. The stairway light clicked off.
That's childish.
"Take a seat," Hanna smiled gesturing to the chairs. Her excitement was contagious, Kiku's adrenaline was pumping. She loved but didn't believe in the supernatural, but this situation felt taboo. Every parent's worst nightmare. Her parents had no say now, she was an adult.
Unfortunately, Violette wasn't as enthusiastic. The sound of her finger and foot tapping was especially loud to Kiku who was sitting beside her.
Hoody kept watching Violette's tapping finger. Kiku wondered if she had just placed the cloak over her hood, she hadn't caught a single glimpse of her face yet.
"For our first meeting, I suggest we do a summoning," exclaimed Hanna.
That explains the weird circle and black candles. Violette must be pale under her cloak. Violette was the more superstitious one out of the two of them.
"We should start our club with a bang. And what's better than a summoning," exclaimed Hanna with her arms in the air. Her smile frowned a little when no one else was openly as enthusiastic as she was. "You know since the first things must be interesting."
"Like how the first chapter of a book must hook the reader," suggested Kiku. Anything to not dampen the mood.
"Exactly!" exclaimed Hanna with rising excitement.
"What are we summoning?" asked Hoody. Her first words. Kiku was disappointed by how normal she sounded.
"Anything! A demon, ghost, or any wandering entity!"
"Sure thing," Kiku shrugged. Taboos she smiled.
"Cool with me," replied Hoody at the same time.
Violette yelped.
"I-I'm just really excited," she quickly smoothed.
"Good! The summoning begins at midnight," she checked her watch, "so we have half an hour to introduce ourselves and get to know each other." She clapped her hands. Kiku felt sorry for Hanna's cousin, Hanna was not being discreet with the noise.
"I thought black candles were meant to be placed around the table instead of the circle to protect us from whatever we summon?" questioned Hoody.
"Uhm…The entity is summoned from the circle so we're trapping it in the circle," explained Hanna.
Hoody nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
They introduced each other in a circle with Kiku starting first then Violette. I'm glad this is a small group, she sighed internally. She hated group introduced for classes. Violette didn't have her usual positivity, but she faked it quite well. Hoody was revealed to be called Iseul. The bottom half of her face under the hood revealed pale skin. She flinched back when Hanna come way too close to see her face. Hanna stood up again, grinning with satisfaction.
Kiku honestly forgot what they were talking about until Hanna shouted, "it's time!"
She sat beside Iseul and asked everyone to hold hands.
Violette's hand was cold and trembling. Kiku gripped her hand tightly as comfort. Hanna's palm was full of calluses.
"Oh, being from the other side," chanted Hanna. Her change to a serious tone surprised Kiku. "I invite you to my humble home to ask you to bestow your powers to us."
Iseul shook too lightly for anyone to notice if they weren't paying attention. Kiku knew too well from personal experience that was laughter not fear.
This chant doesn't sound like a greeting. Imagine if this was real? Kiku's smile widened. She didn't notice Violette constantly peeking at her.
Hanna asked them to close their eyes and repeat the next chant after her. It was some sort of weird language. Kiku was certain she made some mistakes but who was checking.
Kiku started seeing blue from behind her eyelids, but she kept them closed and continued chanting until…
"Shit, it's working!" said Hanna.
They all opened their eyes and saw the circle glowing.
Was this some sort of trick? But I checked under the table. Her grin widened. Why not pretend this is real for a while?
"Let's continue with more concentration this time!" ordered Hanna.
All of them started chanting with excitement except Violette who reluctantly didn't want to get left out.
They were too adrenalized to close their eyes. The circled shined brighten until it became blinding. They continued, not caring if they made mispronunciations. That was until the house started shaking. They were initially too stoked to realise, but the rumbling increased in magnitude.
Items fell off the kitchen shelves. Violette screamed. Their hands broke apart when their chairs shook. Violette and Kiku reached for each other.
The table slid side to side. This was a disaster horror movie coming true.
"Everyone stop!" yelled Hanna. Everyone had long stopped chanting, too busy trying to keep their balance. However, the rumbling wasn't listening, neither was the circle, glowing brighter until it engulfed them all in its blue light.