Chapter 2: The Dream That Became a Nightmare
Rei awoke to the soft warmth of sunlight creeping through the curtains and landing on her face. For a moment, she felt disoriented, unsure of where she was. Taking a deep breath, she felt a wave of relief wash over her as she realized that the fever had broken. The cold that had plagued her for the past few days was finally letting up, although her throat still ached, a lingering reminder of the struggle her body had endured. Slowly, she sat up in bed, stretching her limbs. Her hair was damp with sweat, clung to her face. She felt weak, as if every movement took more effort than usual, perhaps due to the lingering effects of the medicine or just the exhaustion after a restless night filled with strange dreams. For a while, she remained still, trying to gather her thoughts. The events of the previous night swirled in her mind, hazy and disjointed, like images seen through fogged glass. Had it all really happened? Or was it just a fevered dream brought on by her illness and the medication? Rei wasn't sure, but the memories of the night continued to haunt her. Her gaze fell on the music box she had found the night before. It sat quietly on the nightstand, motionless, as if waiting for someone to wind it up again.
She got up from the bed and walked to the window, opening it wide to let in the crisp morning air. The air was cool, with a hint of the heat that the day would surely bring. She stood there for a while, looking out at the sleepy town that was slowly coming to life. She needed this moment of peace before diving into the mysteries that had drawn her to this place. After a few moments, she decided to take a long, refreshing shower. The water cascaded over her slender body and dark hair, soothing her tense muscles and helping her clear her mind of the disturbing images from the night before. She thought about how she should begin her search. There were questions she needed answers to—about the dream that had brought her here, and the strange occurrences that seemed to be unfolding around her.
After her shower, Rei dressed and headed downstairs to the hotel's ground-floor restaurant. The restaurant was cozy, though somewhat simple. It featured several tables arranged in a spacious room adorned with white columns that lent an air of elegance to the space. Near the windows stood tables decorated with potted climbing plants, which wound their way around wooden trellises, adding a touch of greenery and warmth. The overall atmosphere was pleasant, almost idyllic, and sharply contrasted with the unsettling memories that lingered in Rei's mind. The restaurant was nearly empty. At one of the tables near the back, an elderly couple sat, quietly conversing over steaming cups of coffee. In another corner of the room, a bald man was engrossed in reading a newspaper. Rei paused for a moment, realizing that she had seen this man before. She ordered breakfast and chose a table by the window, where she had a good view of the town. As she waited for her meal, she glanced around the room. The interior was quiet, almost melancholic, with only the soft murmur of the elderly couple and the rustle of the bald man's newspaper breaking the silence. His presence made her uneasy. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching her, though she had no proof. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Rei focused on her food, trying to ignore the unsettling sensation growing in her chest.
After finishing her meal, she decided to go for a walk to clear her mind and visit the places that had piqued her curiosity the day before. Before leaving the restaurant, she cast one last glance at the bald man. He, as if waiting for the right moment, folded his newspaper, then stood up and calmly followed in the same direction Rei had taken.
Rei paused as she passed by the old, dilapidated house, scanning the shadows for any sign of the elderly woman she had encountered on her first night in the town. But the place was deserted, just as Masanori had said. It had been abandoned for years. After lingering for a moment, she continued on her way, and before long, she found herself standing in front of a familiar café. To her surprise, Masanori was sitting at one of the outdoor tables, waving at her as soon as he saw her.
"Right on time as always, Rei-chan!" Masanori greeted her with a cheerful smile.
"On time?" Rei raised an eyebrow as she approached. "Did we have plans?"
"Not exactly," he admitted, still smiling. "But when we were kids, we always used to meet at 9:30. Don't you remember any of that?"
"No, nothing's changed since yesterday," Rei replied with a sigh, settling into the chair next to him. She looked tired, the weight of the previous night's events still hanging over her.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"A bit, but my throat still hurts," she admitted.
"Well, it's good the fever broke. Did you manage to get some sleep? It was so hot last night..."
Rei hesitated, Masanori's words bringing back the strange, vivid dreams she had experienced.
"I slept, but I had some really weird dreams," she said, her voice trailing off as she tried to make sense of it all. "They were so realistic... I don't even know what to think."
"Did you dream about something bad?" Masanori asked, his tone shifting to something more serious as he noticed her hesitation.
"Yeah, I dreamt that I woke up and went to the window to close it. When I looked outside, I saw this bizarre procession. People dressed in colorful circus costumes—clowns, acrobats, dwarves... and other strange figures, like a bearded woman and a dancer with three legs. It was really creepy. I could hear children singing, and someone was repeating my name... or at least I thought they were..."
As Rei recounted her dream, Masanori's face paled, and he set his tea down on the table, his hand trembling slightly.
"Rei, did you take that sleeping pill I gave you?" he asked, his voice tense.
"Yes, I did... why? What does that have to do with anything?"
"Never mind..." he muttered, trying to brush it off. "Did anything else happen? Do you remember any other details?"
"No, I had some other feverish dreams, but I don't remember them as clearly as this one," she replied, shaking her head.
Masanori let out a slow breath, as if relieved, and took another sip of his tea.
"You reacted pretty strangely when I told you about my dream..." Rei observed, gazing at him.
"You're imagining things. But maybe I know what might have caused it," he said, trying to sound casual.
"Oh?"
"You probably heard some noises from outside. When you're sleeping, your brain can weave those sounds into a strange story. Next time, just keep the window closed, okay?"
Rei ran a hand through her hair, considering his explanation. It made sense, but something about it didn't sit right with her.
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind," she agreed, though she still felt uneasy.
She stretched in her chair, and as she did, she noticed the bald man from the hotel sitting a few tables behind her, his face once again hidden behind a newspaper.
"Damn it..." she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Masanori to hear. "That bald creep. He's staying at the same hotel, and he keeps following me around..."
Masanori discreetly glanced over at the man, his expression hardening.
"What does he want? Maybe he's some kind of pervert?" he suggested, his voice low.
"I have no idea, but it's really starting to piss me off!" Rei replied, her frustration clear. Masanori rose from his chair and came up to the young woman who was working there.
"Hey, Shiho! Could you do me a favor?" Masanori asked, flashing a broad smile.
"Always... But who's this?" Shiho asked, pointing to Rei. Shiho was a young woman with black hair tied back in a ponytail. She was quite pretty, though there was something special about Rei Hino that set her apart.
"This is my girlfriend, Rei," Masanori replied without a hint of hesitation. Shiho smiled warmly.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Shiho Chitose."
"Rei Hino, but I'm not his..." Rei began to explain, but Masanori quickly cut her off.
"We don't have time for that now!" he said, glancing nervously toward the door. "I wanted to take Rei into the forest behind the café, you know, the part that's off-limits. Can you help us out?"
"Sure, no problem. Come this way," Shiho smiled and led them to the back. Rei and Masanori slipped through the café's rear door and found themselves at the edge of the forest. As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Rei turned on him.
"What were you thinking?!" she snapped. "'Your girlfriend'? We've known each other for what, five, maybe six hours? How could you say something like that?"
Masanori raised his hands in a defensive gesture, trying to calm her down.
"Rei, I had to say it. Otherwise, Shiho wouldn't have let us through. You wanted to get away from that bald guy, right?"
"But why didn't you just tell her the truth?" Rei shot back, clearly upset.
"That he's following you? Shiho's the type who would've confronted him on the spot. It could've gotten messy. It was better to give her a simple story. That way, she didn't ask any questions, and we got out of there quickly."
Rei took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
"Fine, let's say that makes sense. What now?" she asked, glancing toward the thickening trees ahead.
"Nothing. Just walk and take in the surroundings," Masanori replied calmly. Rei took a deep breath, noticing how the air felt different here, crisp and fragrant with the scent of pine needles and earth. They were deep in the heart of a dense pine forest, where the towering trees stood like ancient sentinels. The sunlight filtered through in dappled patches, casting the forest floor in a mix of light and shadow. A soft carpet of moss cushioned their steps. Birds sang everywhere, their melodies a gentle, natural symphony that echoed through the stillness. Here, the forest felt alive, yet serene, as if it were a hidden realm far removed from the rest of the world. The air was cool, a refreshing break from the oppressive heat of the day, and the faint rustling of leaves added to the sense of peace that enveloped the area. For a moment, Rei stood still, simply listening to the sounds that came from all directions. The wind whispered through the trees, and somewhere in the distance, the gentle murmur of a mountain stream called out to her. Her curiosity piqued, she quickly made her way toward it. Soon, she was standing by the rocky bank of the stream, its crystal-clear waters tumbling over smooth stones with a soothing, rhythmic sound that filled the area. The water sparkled in the sunlight, reflecting the vibrant green of the surrounding foliage. Kneeling down, she dipped her hands into the cold water, feeling the chill spread through her fingers. Masanori joined her a moment later.
"Do you like it here?" he asked, his voice soft as if not to disturb the tranquility of the place.
"Very much," Rei replied, a small smile playing on her lips as she looked around. "Is this another place where we used to meet as kids?"
"No… I actually discovered it a few years ago. But I'm glad you like it."
Rei stood up, brushing a spiderweb out of her hair. The delicate strands clung to her fingers before she wiped them away, the remnants of the forest's hidden world.
"That bald guy is probably waiting for me outside the café," she muttered, the peacefulness of the moment giving way to her previous worries.
"He can wait all he wants. If we follow this path north, we'll come out of the forest in a completely different part of town. Let him sit under the café for a while," Masanori laughed, his lightheartedness contrasting with her tension.
"I want to stay here a bit longer," Rei said, stretching before sitting down on a large, smooth stone that jutted out near the water's edge. She watched as the current swirled around the rocks, its motion hypnotic and calming.
"What do you do?" Masanori asked, settling himself beside the stream, picking up a small stone and tossing it into the water. It made a soft plunk, disappearing beneath the surface.
"I'm a student. My major is history and ancient literature, with a minor on religious studies. I also help take care of my grandfather's shrine. I barely have time for anything else."
"I see. So this trip is a bit of a break for you, then?" Masanori leaned back, resting on his elbows, looking up at the patches of sky visible through the treetops. Rei hesitated, thinking about how to respond. The truth was, she had come here because a dream had told her to.
"Exactly. I needed to clear my head a bit. And what about you? What do you do?"
"I'm taking a break from school, but I'm planning to apply to Tokyo U next year for electronics."
"That's not the best idea. You might get too lazy in the meantime," she said with a smile, teasing him lightly.
"When I first saw you, I got the impression that you had an aura of mystery about you. I'm curious, what were those papers you went back for at the abandoned house"
"Papers… Oh, those. They were ofuda, a project for my studies. As you can see, even on vacation, I have to do a bit of work," Rei quickly made up an answer, her tone casual, though she sensed his curiosity. Masanori fell silent, clearly searching for a new topic. The soft rustling of the wind through the pines filled the silence between them.
"Rei, are you seeing someone?" he asked hesitantly, his voice softer, almost uncertain.
"What?"
"Do you have someone in Tokyo? Are you dating anyone?" Masanori braced himself for an outburst, but to his surprise, it never came.
"No... I don't. Like I said, I barely have time for a private life," Rei replied calmly, standing up from the stone. She turned toward the path leading deeper into the forest, her gaze lingering on the shadows that stretched long and dark.
"But I don't think you want to hear about my rather unexciting life. We should head back to town before that guy figures out where I am and finds me."
"Alright, let's go," Masanori agreed, noticing that his question about her private life had saddened her. He promised himself he wouldn't bring up the topic again. Soon, they found themselves on a path well-worn by townsfolk foraging for wild berries in the area, the underbrush thick with ferns and low shrubs.
"And what about you? Are you seeing anyone?" Rei asked unexpectedly, catching her companion off guard.
"No," Masanori answered seriously, then added with a smile, "I was waiting for my childhood princess to come back to me."
"Yeah, right," Rei responded, quickening her pace, as if to leave the topic behind. After making their way through the underbrush, full of spiderwebs and insects, they finally reached the asphalt road leading to the town center and straight to the hotel. The heat was unbearable, the sun beating down relentlessly, so Rei decided to get through the sun-drenched path as quickly as possible, her steps growing faster.
"I should've brought us some sunglasses at least," Masanori said, squinting against the bright light.
"You should've thought of that," Rei replied. Her throat ached more than it had in the morning, probably from all the talking or the sharp contrast in temperature between the cool forest and the hot, sunlit road. She decided to end their meeting and sleep through the afternoon. She wanted to recover as soon as possible so she could start exploring the town, using her unique abilities.
"I'm going back to the hotel. I'm feeling unwell again, and I need to lie down," she announced, her voice softer now.
"Okay. I hope it's not because of me," Masanori replied, a note of concern in his tone.
"I don't know, but thanks for showing me that beautiful spot. I really liked it. I'll definitely go back there with you once this damn cold is gone."
"Thanks for coming. See you later," Masanori said, watching as she turned and began to walk away, heading back toward the hotel. He stood there for a moment, then turned and started his own journey home, leaving Rei to continue alone.
"You've really gotten yourself into something, Rei..." she thought, clutching her sore throat. The illness she had been trying so hard to ignore was making itself known again, a wave of heat washing over her as she walked down the street behind the hotel. As she strolled, her eyes were drawn to the familiar window of her rented room. The memory of that strange, almost nightmarish dream resurfaced — the eerie procession that had passed right beneath her window. The colorful figures, like something out of a demonic circus, came vividly back to her mind. Could it have been real? Another wave of heat surged through her body, her mind flickering between reality and the haunting memory. Suddenly, something glittered on the pavement. Curiosity piqued, Rei stopped and bent down to take a closer look. Lying on the ground was a small, golden bell, gleaming softly in the sunlight, adorned with a red ribbon. A strange sensation washed over her — it was exactly like the bell she had seen hanging around the neck of the dwarf from her dream! Her eyes widened in shock, a cold shiver running through her as fear mingled with the heat of her illness.
"That couldn't have been just a dream..." she thought, feeling her heart race. She picked up the bell, hesitated for a moment, then quickly slipped it into her pocket and headed back to the hotel with hurried steps. As she passed through the lobby, she noticed that the bald man who had been watching her was nowhere to be seen. She sighed with relief, grateful to be free of him, if only for a moment. Back in her room, Rei immediately placed the bell on her nightstand. A mix of anxiety and curiosity compelled her to act. She reached for an ofuda, the magical talisman she always carried with her. She had a feeling that this bell was no ordinary object. Placing the ofuda over the bell, she began to chant a spell, her body and mind slipping into a meditative trance. The ofuda glowed with a faint light, then was suddenly consumed by a fire that appeared out of nowhere. Rei watched in awe as the bell began to shimmer, then... vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the ashes of her magical talisman.
"What the hell is going on?" she whispered to herself, staring in disbelief at the empty spot where the bell had been just moments ago. Something was off, something she couldn't quite grasp. Suddenly, she felt an inexplicable urge to go to the window. She ran to it, trying to open it, but it was stuck, as if some unseen force was holding it in place. Rei sank down onto the bed, feeling a growing weakness overtake her. The pain in her throat intensified, and her thoughts swirled around the strange discovery. Something was deeply, unsettlingly wrong.
"I'll sleep for an hour and see what happens afterward," she thought, resting her head on the pillow. Sleep came quickly. As soon as she fell asleep, the familiar melody of the music box began to play softly in the room. The delicate yet unsettling notes filled the space.
In her dream, Rei found herself as a little girl again, walking through the pine forest behind the café, staying close to young Masanori. She followed him slowly as he spoke to her, but she couldn't understand his words. She was too engrossed in the surrounding nature. Suddenly, she noticed a shape darting between the trees in the distance. She ran toward it, ignoring Masanori's shouts, begging her not to stray from the path. Rei couldn't keep up with the mysterious figure, which moved faster and faster. She was exhausted, drenched in sweat, and her body was hot. She struggled to catch her breath, her dry throat was burning as if an intense fire had ignited within it. Rei knew she couldn't stop the chase—she had to catch the mysterious figure. The forest grew darker and colder, and she felt exhaustion creeping over her. Paradoxically, the figure she was chasing became more visible against the darkness, as if it was radiating its own inner light. Rei realized that it was a little girl with curly, blonde hair, about the same age as Rei appeared to be in the dream. The sound of the child's laughter echoed from every direction—from the depths of the forest, from the underbrush, from behind her—surrounding her on all sides. Rei reached out her hand toward the girl, trying to call her name, but she couldn't remember it. Her throat completely failed her. Suddenly, the mysterious figure vanished, dissolving into the air—just like the bell Rei had found earlier on the sidewalk. She found herself at the edge of a clearing where she noticed an old, rusty fence. Finding a gap in it, she slipped through and discovered she was in an abandoned amusement park. The lights on the wooden attractions and the giant Ferris wheel glowed in various colors, illuminating the darkness of the forest like Christmas lights. The air was filled with sounds of voices, laughter, and conversations, but Rei couldn't see a single person from whom these sounds could be coming. Suddenly, all the noises ceased, leaving only the rustling of the wind in the treetops. The little girl felt a terrible loneliness and sadness in this place, which now seemed completely deserted. In the stillness, she began to hear the faint notes of a familiar melody. Hypnotized, she moved toward the sound. With each step, the melody grew louder until she finally recognized it — this was the same circus tune that played when clowns entered the ring, the very same melody that the music box had played just before Rei fell asleep. Ahead of her, a carousel slowly spun in time with the music, its large horse figures illuminated by flickering colored lights. As Rei approached, she saw a girl with long, curly, golden hair sitting on one of the horses. The girl turned her head toward Rei and smiled at her.
"Rei-chan, join us," the girl with the golden hair pleaded.
Terrified, Rei turned with the intent to flee. In this part of the dream, she was no longer a small child but a young woman. Before she could move, she felt cold, strong hands gripping her arms, immobilizing her. She struggled, fought to break free, but it was in vain — her enemies were too strong, and she was too weak. Soon, she was surrounded by the same bizarre procession she had seen the previous night: the fat bearded woman, the brightly painted dwarfs, the acrobats, and fire-eaters. From the darkness, more figures emerged, even more terrifying and grotesque. There was a man with the head of a bird, his elongated beak clicking softly with every step. Beside him stood a woman with scales covering her body, her snake-like eyes staring at Rei with a cold, impenetrable gaze. A tall, gaunt clown appeared, his face exaggerated with grotesque features — huge eyes and a wide, malicious grin. In one hand, he held a balloon shaped like a skull, and in the other, a doll that looked like a miniature version of Rei herself, with a twisted face and eyes that seemed to follow her every move. Among the surreal figures was also a three-legged dancer, whose legs bent at unnatural angles. The dancer twirled to the rhythm of an invisible melody, holding in one hand a dog with two heads. The creature stared at Rei with a fearful gaze, its two pairs of eyes darting back and forth. Each head whimpered softly, adding to the eerie atmosphere. A snake-like man slithered along the ground, his body contorting into unimaginable poses, his sinister hissing echoing in Rei's head. Beside him appeared a dwarf with three arms, each holding a different object: a knife, a glowing rod, and a small mirror that reflected Rei's pale, terrified face. A young girl, dressed in an old-fashioned, lace dress, emerged from the crowd, but instead of a face, she had only a smooth, featureless surface, as if her head had been replaced by a porcelain mask. She walked slowly toward Rei.
All these figures surrounded her, closing in until the breaths of these nightmares seemed to scorch her skin. Rei tried to scream, but her voice was silenced by an invisible force. In the grip of these grotesque beings, she felt her body becoming heavier and more immobile, as if she were a puppet in the hands of malevolent puppeteers. She found herself at the center of a sinister, surreal masquerade that seemed to have no end. The terror gripped her heart, and the cold that penetrated her body mingled with the painful feeling of helplessness. She was utterly trapped in this nightmarish dream, surrounded by strange and menacing figures who seemed to take pleasure in her fear.
Rei jolted awake, gasping for air. She sat up in bed, clutching her head. She felt feverish, her breathing labored, and her body soaked in sweat. Her throat ached just as it had in the dream.
"Damn nightmare," she thought, clenching her fists. She knew this wasn't just any dream — someone had sent it to her, trying to convey something. As she lifted her head, Rei was shocked to see that it was the middle of the night. Instead of just an hour, she had spent almost the entire day in bed. When she checked the time, the clock read 1:19. Rei remembered that it was at exactly this time the night before when she had witnessed the terrifying phenomenon.
She walked to the window and tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. Someone had ensured that she wouldn't be able to watch the night's events. Through the glass, muffled sounds of a children's rhyme and indistinct laughter reached her, voices that seemed impossible to identify. The room was intermittently lit by red flashes from the fire-breathers outside. Determined to face the visions haunting her, Rei decided to act. As she headed for the door, a wave of weakness hit her, causing her to feel dizzy, and her stomach began to ache. On the corridor, she hurried to a large window, but it was also locked. The eerie childlike laughter echoed through the space, soft as whispers carried from afar. Rei peered through the dirty glass, trying to make out the colorful shapes moving along the street, searching for the golden-haired girl from her dream. She was certain she could hear her name being called by a chorus of faint voices. Rushing down the stairs to the main hall, she discovered the front doors were also locked, and there was no sign of the receptionist or any other hotel staff. Rei paused for a moment, catching her breath.
"Damn it..." she cursed, clutching her aching stomach. She wandered through the corridors, desperately searching for any exit that wasn't locked. She could feel something was wrong — the doors and windows that were once accessible now seemed to be sealed shut by some invisible force. She pulled out the ofuda from her pocket, preparing to cast a spell, when a cold shiver ran down her spine, as if someone was watching her every move. She turned around, but the corridor was empty. Despite this, something urged her to keep moving, something unseen pulling her forward. Holding the paper talisman tightly, she pushed open a door to what appeared to be a regular hotel room. But as she crossed the threshold, she felt as though she had entered an entirely different dimension.
The first room she entered was filled with mirrors. At first, they reflected only her current image, but soon scenes from her past began to appear. In the mirror to her left, she saw herself as a child, running down a forest path after the golden-haired girl who had haunted her dream. In another mirror, she saw herself on her first day at a new school, feeling lonely and lost. These scenes shifted like a kaleidoscope, blending past and present until it was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. Disoriented and frightened, she left the hall of mirrors and found herself in another strange room. This time, it was a dark chamber with walls draped in heavy velvet curtains. In the corner, on an old, rickety table, stood a small music box playing a melody identical to the one she had heard in her dream. Beside the music box stood a decrepit piano, its keys moving on their own, producing a soft, melancholic tune that perfectly matched the music box's melody. Rei felt a shiver run down her spine. She slowly backed out of the room, sensing that she didn't want to uncover the secrets hidden within. She found herself back in the corridor but was determined not to give up. She opened another door and entered a large room that resembled a grand ballroom from the past. It was empty, except for the faint, barely audible sounds of music lingering in the air, like the echo of a long-forgotten party. In the corner of the room, she noticed a painting on the wall depicting a three-legged dancer holding a two-headed dog—the same figures she had seen in her dream. Her eyes widened in fear, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. The dancer in the painting seemed to come to life, her smile growing wider as if inviting Rei to dance. Terrified, Rei quickly averted her gaze and left the room, feeling the urgent need to escape as fast as she could.
Finally, she came across a narrow stairwell. Without hesitation, she began descending the creaking steps, her heart pounding faster. When she reached the bottom, she saw a door ahead, but before she could reach it, she suddenly felt someone's presence behind her. Instinctively, she turned around...
"Don't leave these walls!" a commanding voice suddenly cut through Rei's thoughts. In front of her stood a bald man in a red short-sleeve shirt and white pants — the same man who had seemed to follow her everywhere for the past two days.
"Who are you?" Rei asked, still shocked, as she reached into her pocket for her transformation pen.
"I wouldn't advise doing that," he said calmly, though his tone brooked no argument. "You're in a pitiful state. You wouldn't stand a chance in a direct fight with me. And besides…" He paused, looking her straight in the eyes. "The virus you're carrying feeds on magic."
"Virus? Magic?" Rei looked at him in disbelief. How could this stranger know her secret? "Who are you? What do you know about what's happening outside?" Her voice trembled as she bombarded him with questions.
"Not much, but enough to know that you can't go out there now," he said, his tone softening slightly but still firm. "Come with me to my room. I'll try to answer your questions."
Rei hesitated. On one hand, she felt an instinctive fear of this man, but she had to admit he was right — she was exhausted. She could barely stand.
"Let's hurry. The influence of what's happening outside is strongest here," he urged, glancing at the window.
"Alright, I'll come with you," Rei finally agreed, and the bald man led the way, showing her to his room. His room was almost identical to every other hotel room — lacking any personal touches that might reveal who the mysterious man was.
Rei sat down in the armchair, clutching her feverish head. The bald man pulled out a bottle of whisky and two glasses from the nightstand. He poured himself a drink and then looked at Rei.
"No, thank you..." Rei replied, holding her belly. "My stomach hurts... I don't think I can swallow anything right now," she added with a faint groan.
"Suit yourself, your loss," he said dismissively, taking a sip of his whisky. "The virus is spreading throughout your body. We need to act quickly before it's too late."
"You promised you'd answer all my questions. So who are you?" Rei asked, trying to stay resolute despite her growing weakness.
"You know me. I was the one who sent you the dream about this place," Dale Knight replied calmly. Rei was stunned, but she remained silent, waiting for more information.
"My name is Dale Arthur Knight. I'm an international demon hunter. I followed one of these bastards all the way to Japan. I thought I'd deal with it quickly and return home, but I miscalculated." The man paused to take another drink of whisky. "The demon has become too entwined with this place, embedded in it. It's been here for many years, becoming a part of this world. Normally, this wouldn't be possible for these freaks, unless someone invites them into their reality. Something like that must have happened here…"
"And what does this have to do with me?" Rei asked, trying to make sense of the chaos in her mind.
"Helping to banish the demon requires someone who was present at its awakening," Knight said, looking her straight in the eyes.
"You must have confused me with someone else!" Rei exclaimed. "I'm here for the first time in my life and only because I had a strange, prophetic dream that you apparently sent me! I came here because of you!"
"It seems like someone really messed with your memory…" Dale's serious expression unsettled her. Rei remembered Masanori's story that they used to be good friends. What Dale was saying could be true, which scared her deeply.
"When I first encountered the demon, I looked into its mind and saw three children: two girls and a boy. One of the girls was surrounded by an aura of magic, which allowed me to contact her present self and send her an invitation to this place. It must have been you. By the way, what's your name?"
"Rei, Rei Hino," she replied, still in shock.
"Okay, Rei… I can sense the magic building up inside you. You might be useful for more than just being bait for the demon…"
"Who is the demon you're hunting? What do you know about it? What was that procession I saw last night? Why were you following me?" Rei bombarded him with questions, but suddenly stopped, clutching her head. Dale immediately went to her and touched her feverish forehead.
"Fuck, you have a high fever, maybe 40 Centigrades …," he said, astonished. "When did you start feeling this bad?"
"I don't know, my throat started aching as soon as I arrived. I thought it was from the rain I got soaked in, but now I see it's getting worse…" she said, touching her stomach.
"What symptoms do you have?"
"Sore throat, fever, weakness, sweating, I had nightmarish dreams, and now my stomach hurts too."
"I can feel that there's a very dangerous virus in your body, feeding on magic and slowly destroying you. If it reaches your brain, you'll lose your senses, girl. I stopped you from using that item in your pocket because you might not survive it… Do you remember when you might have been infected? Did you meet anyone strange?"
Rei thought for a while before finally recalling that she had fallen ill right after meeting the old woman.
"I'm not sure…" she answered after a moment.
"Did you have contact with anyone from the procession while you were in that state?"
"No… I only saw them through the window… But the next day, I found a bell on the street that belonged to one of the clowns. I brought it back to my room, and when I tried to use my spells on it, it simply vanished into thin air."
Knight's eyes widened in horror.
"You touched one of their items?!" he asked, downing his glass of whisky. Rei got up from the chair, preparing to leave.
"Where are you going?" Dale asked, blocking her path.
"My stomach hurts a lot, I need to go," she replied, heading for the door. Knight immediately stood in her way.
"I need to take care of you, or it might be too late by morning. Sit back down!"
"But…"
"Sit your ass down!"
Rei, despite her inner resistance, sat back down in the chair, feeling a growing frustration.
"Wait here, I'll help you soon," Knight said, reaching for a green backpack lying in the corner of the room. He pulled out a jar containing a strange liquid, which Rei could swear was glowing with an internal light. The man hurried to her and handed her the container.
"Drink this! It's luminescent water that made me invisible to the demon, but fuck with that! I brought you here, so it's my fault you're in this state! Drink as much as you can!"
Rei pressed the jar to her lips and began to drink. To her surprise, the substance tasted oddly pleasant. She intended to return to her room, but suddenly, she felt her life force draining away. She lost consciousness, collapsing to the floor, but Dale Knight caught her just in time, preventing her from hitting the head. He gently placed her on the bed, then reached for the room key that had fallen from her pocket. Deciding to carry her back to her own bed, he wanted to ensure her body could peacefully fight off the magical illness.
As he ascended the stairs to the upper floor, his attention was drawn to a window, where the last stragglers of the strange procession were wandering in the darkness. One of them, a dwarf with an oversized head and piercing red eyes, wore a garish, multicolored costume that flickered under the moonlight. Behind him trudged a hunched, twisted figure with unnaturally long arms, its face hidden behind a mask of a weeping clown. Dale carefully laid Rei down on her bed and then approached the window. To his surprise, it opened easily. He leaned out, drawing his gun.
"Fuck off from her!" he shouted at the dwarf. The little man looked up at him, smirking crookedly, his eyes glinting menacingly in the darkness. Without hesitation, Dale aimed his weapon at him.
"Tell your master it can fuck itself!" Dale shouted, pulling the trigger. A bullet covered in strange, forgotten runes shot out of the gun. The dwarf, hit squarely in the chest, collapsed onto the pavement, his body disintegrating into a swarm of multicolored ribbons that fluttered briefly in the air before dissolving into nothingness. Dale watched with satisfaction as the bizarre sight unfolded, then noticed other strange figures from the procession, lurking at the far end of the street, suddenly scatter in a panicked retreat, melting into the darkness. Confident that the immediate threat was over, he closed the window.
"Sweet dreams," he murmured, glancing at the unconscious Rei before exiting the room, turning off the light as he left.