Flame in the Dark
World: Sailor Moon
Non-Original Characters: Rei Hino (Sailor Mars)
I decided to remade the stories I have written years ago. In the case of that story, only changes to the language will be introduced and maybe some minor modifications of the story as well.
For example, in this chapter, there are two small bonus scenes added.
The old versions of the stories will be removed permanently from the site. Also, new versions will be published only in English version, because the original, Polish ones, had much less visitors. The Polish versions of the new ones exist, but may be available for the readers only on a request. This particular story may be continued in the future, either in a form or new chapters, or a sequel.
Chapter 1 – Phantoms of the Past
The large tourist bus crawled slowly along the winding road that snaked between dark, forested hills. It was a moonless night, and the sky was heavily shrouded by thick clouds from which torrential rain poured unceasingly. Occasionally, the silence was shattered by claps of thunder that seemed to tear through the darkness, and the darkness was illuminated by flashes of lightning.
Inside the bus traveled a black-haired girl named Rei Hino. Nestled into the back of the seat, she held a book on her lap with one hand, while the other traced patterns on the window, she was watching as the rain splattered against the glass and then streamed down in endless rivulets. She had been on the road for hours, and fatigue and discomfort from the cramped seat were starting to take their toll. She listened to the surrounding sounds: the steady hiss of water, the relentless drumming of rain on the bus's metal exterior, the monotonous hum of the engine, and the faint music trickling from someone's player in the background. Every so often, the dim interior of the bus was lit up by a flash of lightning, and somewhere in the back, a child was crying, frightened by the storm.
Rei adjusted her black hair and glanced out the window, lost in thoughts about her journey. She didn't know exactly why she had left or why she had come so far North. One night, while meditating by the fire in the temple, she had a vision—she saw a small town in northern Hokkaido and felt an inexplicable pull to be there. She knew she would only understand the meaning of the vision once she arrived. She also understood that she had to go alone, without telling anyone where she was headed or what had driven her to leave.
Rei concluded that she wouldn't be able to sleep, so she returned to her book. noticing the faint outlines of buildings in the distance. A sign that she was nearing her destination. Suddenly, a noise echoed through the bus, followed by a jolt that immediately stirred anxiety among the passengers. People began to speak loudly, someone cursed, and the crying child's wails grew even louder. Rei put down her book and looked around, concerned. Outside, the rain was falling so heavily that it was impossible to see anything beyond a few meters. The driver ran out in front of the bus. After a moment, he returned, furious and soaked to the skin.
"We've got a flat tire. We'll have to wait out the worst of the downpour. I'll try to fix it as quickly as
I can. I apologize for the inconvenience," the driver announced, trying to maintain composure, though there was a note of irritation in his voice. Someone cursed loudly. Two young men offered to help the driver change the tire.
"How far is it to the hotel from here?" Rei asked the heavyset woman sitting closest to her.
"About half a kilometer," the woman replied in a low voice, somewhat raspy voice.
"In that case..." Rei grabbed her backpack and stood up from her seat. "I'm not going to sit here for hours," she declared and, pushing her way between the seats and the plump lady, made her way to the exit. The moment she stepped outside, a blast of cold air hit her face, and her feet sank into the muddy ground. The rain immediately soaked her hair and clothes, but she didn't go back to the bus. She knew that the breakdown, in this exact spot, had to mean something. She began walking slowly along the road, battling against the wind and the cold rain that seemed to press down on her from every direction. The two men fixing the bus whispered something to each other, glancing at her, but their words were drowned out by the howling wind and the incessant drumming of the rain.
Rei slowly approached the first buildings of the town. The lights from the windows of nearby houses were her only beacons in a landscape drowned by an unrelenting wave of rain. She was drenched, chilled to the bone, and angry at herself for leaving the warm—and most importantly, dry—interior of the bus, though she couldn't quite understand why she had done so. The road had turned into a river of murky water, and the ground along the roadside had become a muddy quagmire that made each step a struggle. She paused to push the wet strands of hair from her face.
At that moment, her attention was caught by a wooden house hidden among the trees, which seemed to appear suddenly before her, as if out of nowhere. Light glowed warmly from its windows, and on the porch, someone was standing. Surprised, Rei stepped closer and saw that it was an elderly woman. Something deep inside urged her to approach the stranger. As Rei drew nearer, the old woman hurried out onto the porch, arms outstretched.
"Mei, Mei! Is that you? You've come back!" the old woman called out, her voice filled with joy.
Rei quickened her pace, reaching the woman and gently guiding her back onto the porch.
"You shouldn't be out in this downpour " Rei said, trying to lead her into a dry spot.
The woman looked into Rei's eyes, and her face suddenly fell, the joy fading into sorrow.
"You... you're not Mei…" the old woman whispered, her voice quivering as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry I'm not the one you were expecting," Rei replied, feeling a bit relieved to have at least found some temporary shelter from the rain. "Are you waiting for someone?"
"Yes, yes... my granddaughter Mei! She's coming back! Tonight, she'll definitely return. I've made all her favorite dishes..." the woman said, her voice trembling with longing and hope.
Rei opened her backpack and pulled out a map of the area. She wanted to enter the woman's house and warm up, so she tried to engage her in a longer conversation.
"Aren't you cold on a night like this? Maybe it'd be better if you waited inside..."
"No, no! I can't leave! I can't! What if I miss her arrival?" the old woman insisted, her voice edged with desperation.
Rei was taken aback by the woman's insistence but tried to remain calm. "But she knows the way to your house. It doesn't matter if you wait here or inside..."
"That's not true! I can't risk missing her! I can't!" the old woman insisted, her voice filled with desperation.
"If that's what you believe..." Rei sighed, glancing at her map. Just then, she noticed the rain had stopped, and the air had grown warmer and more pleasant. She picked up her backpack and decided to continue on her way.
"Goodbye, ma'am"
"Goodbye, and safe travels" the old woman called after her as Rei walked away.
"What a strange person..." Rei murmured to herself. She began to sneeze, feeling that the rain had taken its toll on her health. She thought to herself that it was her own fault; she should never have left the bus in such a downpour or come to this place at all.
After a few more minutes of walking, she stopped at a crossroads. She looked up at the sky. The clouds had parted, revealing a large silver moon. As she gazed at its luminous face, she felt a strange sense of calm and relaxation wash over her. In the distance, she noticed a brightly lit building. According to the map she carried, this was the hotel where she was supposed to stay. It meant she had finally reached the town. Smiling, she quickened her pace toward the building.
As she walked toward the hotel, Rei noticed that one of the side alleys was darker than the rest of the town. Suddenly, her attention was caught by a strange, melodic sound coming from the alley. The sound was hypnotic, reminiscent of a merry-go-round tune, gently floating through the air. Intrigued and a bit uneasy, Rei decided to stray from her path and follow the sound. The alley was narrow and dark, flanked by tall buildings that cast long shadows. Rei walked cautiously, her footsteps echoing off the walls. The closer she got to the source of the sound, the louder the tune became. It was a cheerful melody, contrasting sharply with the gloomy atmosphere of the town. Eventually, Rei reached a small square, where she found an old, rusted music box lying on the ground. Its appearance suggested that it had been there for years, yet it was still playing its tune. Rei crouched down beside the music box and carefully picked it up. The moment her fingers touched the cold metal, the music box stopped playing, and the silence that followed was deafening. A shiver ran down Rei's spine. She examined the music box more closely, noticing faded but still visible paintings of a carousel and a funfair. There were also worn inscriptions on its surface that Rei tried to read, but they were too eroded to make out. Suddenly, she had the unsettling feeling that she was being watched. She looked around, but the square was empty. Only the shadow of a tall building seemed to move, as if someone or something was hiding behind it. Rei decided to return to the hotel, taking the music box with her.
As she stepped into the hotel, the warmth and dryness of the interior immediately contrasted with the cold and dampness outside. The reception area was small but cozy, though the decor could be described as minimalist. The narrow room, with walls painted a pale beige, was lit by a few warm, yellow lamps. A dark carpet covered the floor, muffling footsteps and adding to the intimate atmosphere. On the reception desk were a few potted plants—a tall ficus and several smaller shrubs—bringing a touch of life to the space. In the corner, a small table held some old newspapers and tourist brochures. At this late hour, the reception was nearly deserted, except for the receptionist on duty, sitting behind the counter. Rei approached her, trying not to leave too many wet footprints behind. The woman, dressed in a modest but elegant uniform, lifted her eyes from the monitor and looked at the drenched figure standing before her. She smiled faintly, though it was hard to tell if it was out of kindness or slight amusement.
"My name is Rei Hino. I have a room reserved here," Rei said, trying to mask the exhaustion in her voice.
The receptionist looked her up and down, noting her soaked clothes and backpack.
"How did you get here in such rain?" she asked, trying to make eye contact.
"Bad luck," Rei replied curtly, sighing with irritation. "Can you just give me the room key? I need to change," she added, clearly impatient.
"Of course. Please follow me. I'll take you to your room," the receptionist said, standing up from behind the counter and leading the way toward the stairs that led to the upper floor. Rei followed her, passing a large potted tree, behind which a man was sitting. He was completely bald, wearing dark sunglasses despite the late hour, and dressed in a light short-sleeved shirt and white trousers. He was holding a newspaper, which he now set aside to carefully observe Rei as she moved deeper into the building. His gaze was cold and penetrating, as if he wanted to memorize every detail of her appearance.
Rei entered her assigned room and quickly shut the door behind her. Without turning on the light, she nearly stumbled her way to the bathroom. With relief, she peeled off her wet clothes and stepped into the shower. The warm water brought her some temporary relief, washing away the chill and fatigue. After a few minutes, she returned to the room wearing a light purple pajama set. She was exhausted from the journey and didn't have the energy or desire to dry her hair. She lay down on the bed, trying to fall asleep as quickly as possible, though her mind was still racing with thoughts of the strange old woman, the music box, and the man in the lobby whose gaze she could still feel lingering on her. She finally fell asleep.
Rei dreamed an extraordinary dream. She was alone in a city square enclosed by a high concrete barrier, separating it from the rest of the city. She was a little girl, and everything around her seemed enormous. She looked around, trying to spot someone. She was lost, wandering from building to building, searching for a familiar sight or a person who could help her find her way. The houses she passed were gray and dirty, the streets filled with dust and debris. From a distance, someone called her name - the voice of another child, breaking, desperate, pleading for help. Rei walked towards it, faster and faster. She ran, passing ghostly passersby with terrifying, grotesque smiles who looked down on her. She reached a small gate where a blonde girl stood. The girl smiled at the sight of Rei and reached out her hands. At that very moment, the child's body caught fire. A powerful flame consumed the stranger and spread to the gate and the nearest buildings. Rei couldn't move. She began to cry, witnessing the tragic death of the girl. The fire was getting closer, so the black-haired girl started to run. The flames consumed everything in their path - the towering gray structures and the motionless phantoms, which, even as they perished in the tongues of fire, retained the horrifying smiles glued to their pale faces. Rei stumbled, and the flames engulfed her body too.
The girl woke up abruptly from a nightmare. The room was already filled with light, and the sun was slowly rising above the horizon. Rei turned over onto her other side, feeling the onset of illness creeping over her. Her head throbbed with pain, and her throat burned with every swallow. She slowly sat up in bed, pushing the damp hair from her sweaty forehead. Her heart, which had been racing, gradually returned to its normal rhythm.
"What could that dream mean?" she thought, trying to calm herself after the disturbing images that lingered in her mind. She stood up and glanced at the wristwatch lying on the nightstand. It read 5:45. "Great... I've only slept for maybe three hours," she muttered under her breath.
Realizing that a cold was beginning to take hold, she knew she couldn't afford to get seriously sick. Determined to take some medicine, she reached for her backpack and began rummaging through it frantically. But her efforts were in vain—she couldn't find either the bag of medicine or the box containing her ofuda, which she used to combat supernatural forces. A wave of anxiety swept over her, and combined with the rising fever, it made her feel even worse. She recalled the night encounter with the old woman and realized she might have lost her things when she took off her backpack. But she tried to reassure herself that she was safe. She was confident that the old woman wouldn't know how to use her magical items anyway.
Rei felt the weakness taking over her body, so she decided to lie back down in bed. Exhausted, she allowed herself to drift off into a few more hours of peaceful sleep, hoping it would help her regain her strength. She woke up after nine. Feeling somewhat better, she decided to get dressed and return to the old woman's house to retrieve her belongings. She put on a pair of new jeans and a blue shirt. As she left the hotel, she noticed the bald man sitting on a bench outside, reading a newspaper. He was wearing white pants and a T-shirt with the slogan "Fuck Communism." Just like the previous night, he watched her with evident interest as she walked away.
Rei quickly found the house she was looking for. Before knocking, she paused for a moment to observe the place in the morning light. The building was in a sorry state; its walls were cracked, and the windows were boarded up. The path leading to the door was overgrown with grass and weeds. She spotted her belongings lying in the underbrush. After picking them up, she decided to try speaking with the woman. She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She tried again, with the same result. Wanting to peer through the window, she found that she couldn't see anything through the narrow gaps between the boards. Leaning against the wall, she felt the chill of her cold creeping back into her body.
"It's a wreck! No one's lived there for years!" Suddenly, she heard someone speaking. She turned around and saw a young guy standing nearby. He had brown hair and was dressed in jeans and a black shirt.
"What do you mean no one lives here? Just last night..."
The young man interrupted her mid-sentence. "Rei!? Rei-chan?!"
"Do we know each other?" she asked, surprised.
"Rei, I recognized you right away! Don't you remember me? It's me, Masanori."
"Masanori...? I don't know anyone by that name..."
"You've forgotten... Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's been so many years since we last met. You were just a little girl then, we both were children."
"I must have been really young because I don't remember anything. Besides, this is my first time here," Rei replied, a bit reluctant to keep the conversation going.
"Listen, how about we go somewhere and talk? I'm sure once I remind you of the fun we used to have here, it'll all come back to you," the stranger suggested.
"I'm not sure... I'm coming down with a cold, and I don't feel great."
"I know a good café nearby. They have the best hot chocolate — you'll feel better, I promise."
Rei stowed the items she'd found into her backpack, getting ready to leave. The events of the past day seemed so strange: meeting the mysterious woman, the odd nightmare, the old woman's disappearance, and now this guy who claimed they used to be close friends. She couldn't shake the feeling that all of it was connected to the premonition that had brought her to this town.
"Okay... I'll go with you to the café... but first, tell me one thing... why did you say the house we're standing in front of is an abandoned ruin?"
"Because it is! An old woman used to live here, but she died years ago. I don't remember much about her, but people say her granddaughter disappeared in the mountains. They say she waited for her until the end, and eventually died of heartbreak."
Rei went pale and swallowed hard. "This is getting weirder by the minute..." she thought.
"Rei... are you okay?" the guy asked.
"No, it's nothing... I just felt a little dizzy. I think I'm starting to run a fever. Maybe we should head to that café?"
"Sure, let's go," he agreed readily.
"I can't tell him I talked to the ghost of that woman last night. He'd think I'm crazy," Rei thought to herself, deciding that she would return to the house later, armed with her tools to deal with supernatural forces.
Masanori and Rei arrived at a small café with a garden. Due to the early hour, the place wasn't crowded; only a few patrons sipped their coffee quietly, lost in conversation or absorbed in their reading. In the corner of the garden, under one of the large umbrellas, sat the bald man Rei had seen earlier in front of the hotel. Once again, he had a newspaper in front of him, probably the same one he had been reading that morning. Rei paused at the entrance to the café and looked around. The café was surrounded by a small forest of slender pine trees that cast a cool, soothing shade over the paths. The café's exterior was covered in ivy, giving it a natural charm, while the wooden shutters, painted a light color that had long since faded, looked like they belonged to a bygone era. Near the entrance was a small, hand-painted menu board, and in the garden stood several simple tables with chairs, each with its own pastel-colored umbrella.
"It's lovely here," she remarked, taking in the surroundings.
"I'm glad you like it. Let's go inside," Masanori replied.
They entered the café and headed to the garden, where they chose a table in a more secluded spot, shaded by the trees and away from the road. The place had a tranquil, almost idyllic feel, a stark contrast to the unsettling events of the past few days. Soft instrumental music drifted from small speakers, discreetly hidden among the plants, creating an atmosphere perfect for conversation. While Masanori ordered their drinks, Rei noticed out of the corner of her eye that the bald man had finished reading his newspaper and was preparing to leave the café. As he walked past her, he gave her a fleeting glance, which she didn't miss. She was surprised to see the same man again, unsure whether it was just a coincidence or something more.
„Rei-chan? Is something wrong?" Masanori asked, his voice filled with concern.
"No… I just got lost in thought," Rei replied, her tone distant. "And don't call me '-chan,' okay? I don't know you, or at least I don't remember you!"
Masanori sighed, a hint of disappointment in his expression. "I was hoping maybe something was starting to come back to you…"
"Nothing," Rei said, her voice growing tense. "This is my first time here. I don't even know why I agreed to meet you!" Her voice rose slightly in frustration as she pushed back her chair, ready to leave. Masanori gently placed a hand on her arm to stop her.
"Why did you come here?" he asked, his eyes searching hers for answers.
"I don't know… I mean, I do know, but I don't think you'd understand," she replied, her frustration giving way to resignation as she sat back down.
"I think deep down, you remember this place… and me."
"Tell me about it. Tell me how you know me and when we met," Rei suggested, her curiosity piqued despite her initial reluctance.
"It was years ago, when we were both just kids. You came here with your grandfather for the summer. I remember the first time I saw you; you were bored in a nearby park because your grandfather was meditating in the mountains, and you didn't know what to do with yourself. I showed you around the local woods, the hidden paths, and other places that fascinated you back then. The next day, you came back to the park, and it became our routine until you left. We played together, you, me, and Mei-chan. Do you remember her?"
Rei felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, she couldn't shake the suspicion that Masanori might have concocted this strange story just to get close to her, to ask her out for coffee. On the other hand, the way he spoke about Mei-chan, coupled with the strange feelings and visions that had led her to this town, made her think there could be something more to his story. The recent events—the old woman waiting for Mei-chan, the boy who claimed the woman had died long ago, and now this bald man who seemed to appear wherever she went—were all too strange to be mere coincidence. Rei decided to stick close to this boy, to believe in his story for now, thinking that perhaps it would help her uncover the truth behind everything. She also knew that if it all turned out to be some elaborate ruse, she'd be prepared to defend herself.
"Unfortunately, I can't remember anything, I'm sorry," she said after a moment's thought.
"That's okay. Maybe if you stay here a few days, something will come back to you," Masanori replied calmly. Rei shifted in her chair, feeling the cold creeping through her body.
"Maybe… I could show you one of the places we used to visit together. It might jog your memory," Masanori offered.
"No… not today. I told you, I'm sick, and my throat hurts."
"It'll only take a few minutes, I promise. After that, I'll get you some medicine."
"Okay, but let's make it quick…"
Masanori nodded and led Rei out of the café. She glanced around, searching for the bald man, and felt a wave of relief when she saw he wasn't following them this time. As she and Masanori walked into the nearby park, the sun had risen high, casting warm rays across the landscape. The increasing heat was starting to wear on Rei, who was already feeling weak from her cold. She approached a stone wall running along the path, seeking out the shade it provided. For a moment, she stopped, running her fingers over the rough surface of the wall. Masanori noticed and walked up to her, concerned by the way she seemed to be struggling.
"Is something wrong?" Masanori asked, noticing the change in Rei's demeanor.
"I told you, I'm not feeling well. I think this cold really got to me," she replied, feeling the fever intensify.
Suddenly, a vision flashed in her mind — a memory from long ago. She saw herself as a little girl in a red dress, standing by the same stone wall. A smile graced her face, and the sunlight gently bathed her in a warm glow. She wasn't alone; a boy and another girl were with her.
"Rei… Rei! What's happening?" Masanori's voice broke through, filled with concern.
"I don't know… I just remembered being here before… It's so strange," Rei said, looking at Masanori with confusion, as if searching for answers in his eyes.
"See! I told you! Of course you remember, this is where we used to meet every day," he said with enthusiasm.
"If you say so… Is this the place you wanted to show me? If it is, let's head back to my hotel. I need to lie down, I'm too exhausted to keep going," she said, feeling that her condition wouldn't allow her to continue the investigation that day.
"Okay, but let's take a shortcut. Alright?" Masanori suggested, noticing her fatigue.
"Fine, you know this town better than I do. Lead the way," she agreed.
Masanori led Rei down a narrow side path that quickly turned into a dirt road, winding through a densely wooded area. The surroundings were lush and green, the tall trees providing a soothing canopy of shade that protected them from the harsh summer sun, which still managed to peek through the leaves, casting a dappled pattern of light on the path. Rei felt a small wave of relief as the coolness of the forest began to ease her symptoms, if only slightly.
After a short walk, Masanori stopped and looked at her seriously. "Wait a moment," he said, pointing to a trail that disappeared into the thick underbrush. "Let's go that way; I need to show you something," he added, his tone mysterious.
Rei hesitated but eventually agreed, though a sense of unease began to settle in. Soon, they found themselves on a forest trail, narrow and steep, flanked by tall grass on both sides. The path, slick with mud from the recent rain, was treacherous. Rei had to tread carefully to avoid slipping. Even though Masanori was leading the way, she struggled to keep her balance.
"I'm really not liking this," she announced, not bothering to hide her irritation.
Masanori raised his hand, signaling for her to be quiet. After a moment, they reached a fence overgrown with thick bushes, looking almost forgotten by time. Instinctively, Rei grabbed onto the fence for stability as she navigated the slippery mud beneath her feet. Masanori stopped in front of her and began to pull aside the brush, revealing what appeared to be an old, decayed entrance to an abandoned place.
"Look, Rei, do you remember?" Masanori asked, coming to a stop just before the thicket of overgrown plants.
Rei lifted her gaze and was met with the sight of an abandoned amusement park. The scene was both melancholic and unsettling. Wooden buildings, once lively and filled with laughter, now stood decayed and weathered by time, lining both sides of the overgrown path. The ground was choked with wild weeds, which had slowly taken over the place, their roots snaking through cracks in the pavement. The walls of the buildings were warped and rotted, the paint peeling off in long, faded strips, revealing the bare wood beneath, now gray and splintered from years of exposure. Scattered across the ground were colorful plastic toys and fragments of old attractions. Their once vibrant hues had dulled over the years, leaving them as ghostly remnants of what had once been a place of joy. One such remnant was a rusting carousel, which now creaked mournfully in the wind, its painted horses frozen in time, their bright eyes now faded and lifeless. Nearby, a tattered poster hung limply from a pole, depicting a very fat woman in a pink dress—likely a former attraction of the park. The poster was torn and frayed, the ink faded and washed out, clinging to the pole as if resisting the inevitable decay that surrounded it. In the distance, the rusting frame of a Ferris wheel loomed over the scene, its metal struts corroded, while the cabins hung precariously, swaying gently in the breeze. Further beyond, almost hidden by a sea of ivy, was the skeletal remains of a rollercoaster. The once imposing structure was now almost completely engulfed by thick vines, as if the forest itself was reclaiming what was once its own.
Rei felt a strange sense of familiarity, as though she had been here before, though she couldn't grasp any specific memories. There was something about this place that tugged at her, a mix of curiosity and unease.
"Do you remember, Rei?" Masanori asked her again, pulling her from her thoughts.
"No, but I like this place. When I feel better, I'll have to come back," she replied, still unsure why she felt drawn to this eerie scene. Masanori nodded, and then guided her back to the main road that led to the town and her hotel.
As they walked, Masanori stopped by a nearby pharmacy to pick up the promised medicine for Rei. After a brief journey, they finally reached their destination.
"Thanks for the coffee and the short tour," Rei said, preparing to head back to her room.
"It was nice to see a childhood friend again," Masanori replied with a smile.
"I think I should go... My throat feels like it's on fire. I need to take this medicine," Rei added, feeling her illness worsening.
"In that case, take care, Rei," Masanori said as she started toward the hotel. But just as she crossed the threshold, he called out to her again. "Listen... don't open your window at night. It can get really cold here sometimes, and you don't want to catch a worse cold... And one more thing... if you have trouble sleeping, I bought you a sleeping aid. Please take it, okay?" His voice was serious, almost concerned.
"Okay..." Rei answered, surprised by his concern, but too exhausted to dwell on it.
As Rei climbed the stairs, she once again passed the bald man, who had also just returned from his wanderings around town. This time, she barely noticed him. Her head was buzzing, and a persistent cold had settled in. The moment she stepped into her room, she kicked off her shoes and quickly took the medicine Masanori had given her before collapsing onto the bed. It felt as if her face were submerged in hot air, her skin feverish.
For a moment, she lay still, listening to the muffled sounds drifting through the partially open window. Voices from a conversation below reached her ears, but she could only catch fragmented sentences, incoherent and disjointed, making no sense in her foggy state of mind. She could feel herself slipping into a feverish sleep, the boy's words about closing the window for the night still echoing faintly in her subconscious, but she was too exhausted to get up. Sleep overtook her, dragging her into a restless slumber filled with chaotic and meaningless images.
When she awoke, it was the dead of night. The room was engulfed in darkness, broken only by the faint glow of streetlights outside. Their light cast unsettling shadows on the wall opposite her bed, the shapes twisting and shifting in her drowsy mind. Rei turned onto her back, staring up at the ceiling where the shadows of tree branches formed black streaks against the pale plaster. For a long time, she lay there, trying to find patterns in them, her mind wandering through strange, fevered thoughts. Though the fever had finally broken, her body was still waging a war against the lingering cold. Unable to sleep, she sat up in bed, straining to hear any sounds from outside. Somewhere, someone was still watching television, the faint murmur of voices seeping into the stillness of the night. Far off, she could hear the plaintive cry of a stray cat. Rei lay back down, her gaze returning to the shadows on the walls. Her thoughts played tricks on her, giving the shadows new forms and meanings, which kept her occupied for what felt like an eternity. Sleep remained elusive, and the dull ache in her head from the cold only grew worse.
"Insomnia, I welcome thee" she muttered to herself, pushing herself up from the bed once more. She wandered aimlessly around the room, picking up the digital clock from the nightstand. The glowing numbers read 1:21 AM.
"Perfect hour..." she murmured sarcastically to herself. She glanced over at the window and then made her way to the bathroom. Upon returning, she noticed the curtains swaying gently in the breeze. She paused, a slight shiver running down her spine as she realized she had forgotten to close the window. Crossing the room, she grabbed the sleeping aid Masanori had given her from the table. She knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep without it. Slowly, she approached the window and leaned out slightly. The street below was completely deserted, not a single light illuminated any of the nearby windows. The silence was profound, almost suffocating, as if the world outside had come to a standstill.
"Places like this really do sleep at night," Rei thought, comparing the serene view to the bustling city where she had grown up. She rested her head on her arms and decided to sit by the window a little longer. The soft rustling of the wind gently stirred the curtains, creating an unsettling calm in the room.
As her gaze wandered over the empty street, she suddenly noticed a shape darting between the buildings. She furrowed her brow and focused her eyes, trying to catch more details. After a moment, she made out a short figure dressed in a circus clown's costume. Its colorful outfit, though faded and stained, stood in stark contrast to the night's darkness. The figure moved with an odd, unnatural lightness, as if it wasn't fully touching the ground. Surprised, Rei followed the enigmatic figure with her eyes until it disappeared around a corner, leaving behind a growing sense of unease. Barely having time to process what she had seen, another figure appeared on the street, this time even more blurred, as if moving through a fog that wasn't there. Rei's heart quickened, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. Something was wrong. She held her breath for a moment, then retreated slightly into the shadows of the window, watching the surroundings with growing uncertainty. Soon, strange sounds began to reach her ears—laughter, chaotic singing, as if someone was reciting something in a language she didn't understand. With each passing second, these noises grew louder, as if they were slowly creeping closer to her room, swelling with an escalating sense of dread. Suddenly, an extraordinary sight unfolded before her eyes. A parade of bizarre figures was marching down the street. Circus clowns in colorful yet tattered costumes, their faces painted with grotesque smiles twisted into something that resembled madness more than joy. Beside them walked oddly contorted acrobats, their bodies bending and twisting in unnatural ways, as if they had no bones. Fire-eaters illuminated the area with bursts of flames from their mouths, casting terrifying shadows on the walls of the buildings.
Rei watched all of this, feeling her consciousness begin to blur. The sleeping pill she had taken was starting to take effect, and the line between dream and reality was growing increasingly thin. The laughter and conversations of the mysterious procession took on a more sinister tone, like the echo of some long-forgotten tragedy reverberating off the walls. She thought she heard someone in the crowd call her name. Her heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran through her, but despite her fear, she couldn't tear her eyes away.
In the crowd, there was a bearded, obese woman in a pink dress, her face twisted into a nightmare-inducing grin. Beside her, a giant was carrying heavy weights, and tied to his legs by several ropes were tiny dwarfs dressed as children and gnomes. Their small faces bore expressions of strange, exaggerated seriousness, as if they were prisoners in this grotesque masquerade. On the sidewalk, a three-legged dancer glided by, leading a two-headed dog on a leash. Each head snarled in different directions, as if the creature was torn between two worlds. In the crowd, she spotted men in tuxedos, from whose hats strange, undefined shapes kept popping out—too quickly for her to identify them. Everything around her felt surreal, like it had been pulled from the most unsettling of nightmares. Strange, childlike voices reached Rei's ears, but they seemed to come not from the street, but from behind her, from within the hotel room. She turned her head, terrified of what she might see, but the room was empty. Only the shadows on the walls danced to the rhythm of her fears, and the murmurs and whispers refused to be silenced.
Rei watched the parade, and the images from her drowsy mind increasingly blended with reality. The procession of figures seemed endless. Three clowns appeared on the street, each with an eerily wide smile and long, white gloves that looked as if they were sewn onto their bodies. Their eyes, black as bottomless pits, seemed to be staring at Rei, sending a shiver down her spine. Suddenly, the clown at the back of the trio bent in half and began pulling an endless ribbon of blood-red fabric from his mouth. Mad laughter and applause accompanied the spectacle, echoing in her ears. Next came a group of men with unnaturally elongated necks, their bodies seeming to stretch upwards like marionettes controlled by invisible hands. On their shoulders rested a large, creaking cage containing a creature that was a grotesque mix of human and bird. Its body was feminine, but covered in feathers, and where a nose should have been, there was a small, grotesque beak. It emitted strange, piercing sounds that cut through the air like a metallic echo, shaking Rei to her core. Behind them followed a band of children with the faces of old men, their skin wrinkled and their eyes filled with deep, indescribable sorrow. These child-elders danced in a chaotic, almost desperate rhythm, their movements unnaturally stiff, as if their bodies were being controlled by invisible strings. With each step, they seemed to lose the boundary between life and death, as if they were merely shadows, memories that should never have returned. Next, a troupe of jugglers came onto the street, but instead of traditional objects, they tossed illuminated lanterns into the air. As soon as these lanterns touched the air, they transformed into grotesque masks with twisted grimaces of pain and joy. Each mask hovered in the air for a few seconds, seeming to observe the world from another, darker reality, before disappearing without a trace, leaving behind only a menacing shadow. Suddenly, a tall man with unnaturally long limbs appeared before Rei, moving with mechanical precision like a puppet without strings. His eyes were covered with a black cloth, yet it seemed he could see everything around him, penetrating walls, space, and time with his gaze. Dressed in a magician's outfit, various objects appeared and vanished in his hands—cards, knives, mirrors that reflected distorted images of the street and the circus figures, creating a terrifying kaleidoscopic vision. Behind him slithered a giant snake, but it was not an animal; it was a man wrapped in shimmering green fabric, writhing on the ground with an eerie grace, like a real reptile. His eyes gleamed ominously in the darkness, but his face remained completely motionless, as if it were a mask hiding something even more unsettling underneath. The procession seemed to go on forever, and Rei began to lose track of time. Each new figure was more terrifying than the last, and the voices—growing louder and more unsettling—flooded her mind until her consciousness began to slip away, drowning in darkness.
"Rei, Rei, Rei..." the voices chanted, as if caught in a trance, their sound carrying the echo of some unknown ritual. Drawn by the eerie cadence, Rei glanced out the window and saw a dozen figures dressed in richly decorated, colorful robes. Their heads seemed unnaturally small, almost grotesque, as if someone had attached masks to bodies that were too large. In their hands, they carried an ornate litter, upon which rested a young woman with long, golden hair that shimmered in the moonlight. Her hair cascaded down, enveloping her body like a silken cloak. Each strand seemed to sparkle with its own delicate light, creating an aura of ethereal beauty around her. She wore a stunning golden gown that flowed around her slender figure, as if it were a living part of this world. Her eyes, large and almond-shaped, were like two deep lakes that held the secrets of this world. She gazed directly at Rei, and in that gaze, there was something more than mere curiosity—something that made Rei's heart race.
"Rei-chan, join us..." the dark-haired girl heard, the words sending a shiver down her spine. The words were soft, yet they echoed as if they filled the entire space around her. She could feel the pull of sleep beginning to take over, her eyelids growing heavy, but she knew she had to escape these voices, these ominous calls. She stepped away from the window and struggled to close it, as if the glass could somehow protect her from what was happening outside. Her heart pounded wildly, and her hands were damp with sweat. She took a few steps toward her bed, feeling the chill of the night slowly filling her room. Finally, she collapsed onto the bed and pressed her head hard into the pillow, as if that could drown out the children's laughter and nonsensical rhymes that still echoed from beyond the window.
Slowly, sleep began to envelop her body, the weight of exhaustion becoming too much to resist. The sounds from outside grew quieter and quieter, until at last, they fell silent altogether, leaving Rei in the embrace of darkness, where dreams and reality merged. As the eerie parade disappeared around the corner and the mysterious whispers finally faded away, Rei heard a soft, delicate sound that seemed to come from within her room. Confused, she looked around, trying to locate the source of the melody. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized the sound was coming from inside her backpack. With trembling hands, she pulled out the old music box she had found earlier that day. The lid was closed, yet the mechanism inside was playing a tune, even though Rei had never wound it up. The sound was hauntingly gentle, almost as if the music box had come to life in response to the strange procession outside. With each note, Rei felt something elusive and unsettling draw closer to her. The melody seemed increasingly familiar, as if it were calling forth forgotten memories or buried emotions. She had the eerie sense that the tune carried echoes of a past she couldn't quite grasp. Finally, the music box fell silent, leaving the room in a thick, heavy stillness. Placing the music box on the nightstand, Rei noticed her hand was shaking. She knew the object held some significance, but she couldn't yet understand what it was. Closing her eyes, she tried to fall asleep, but the unsettling presence lingered. The music box remained still, but its melody echoed in Rei's mind, as though it were part of a dream that was only just beginning.