In a hurry, we ran up the inactive escalator to reach Level 1.
I could've sworn we hadn't really changed floors at all. It looked suspiciously similar but my curiosity still pulled me toward the shop across the way.
From the dozens of overturned chocolate-brown tables and matching cushioned chairs, it could only have been a small restaurant.
The scattered silverware on the dark red carpet confirmed it.
"Well, welcome to the home of a cursed spirit redecorating its new place in style," I mumbled to myself.
To my delight, several of the wooden planks on the window front had loosened, letting in some glorious, bright daylight.
I stuffed my phone back into the pocket of my skirt and took a quick look around.
Carefully, I navigated around the toppled furniture, making my way deeper inside.
At first glance, there was no creepy figure to be seen here either.
After my minor success earlier, I tried once more to focus on random objects in hopes of spotting more cursed traces but unfortunately, I failed again.
I hadn't truly believed in miracles anyway... but it had been worth a shot.
But what did I see there?
The stainless-steel commercial kitchen.
Who could claim to be able to look around one completely uninhibited without wandering around drenched in awe? Sure, employees, cleaning staff, and those trained to use the equipment but I certainly wasn't one of them, and my interest had just been lovingly piqued.
Curious and grinning broadly, I stepped closer to the large ovens and couldn't resist the temptation to peek inside.
"What do you think, Mio? Will we find a corpse, food leftovers, or maybe even our opponent in here?"
Strangely enough, it calmed me that Mio didn't suddenly dart toward anything again, so I allowed myself to believe that the cursed spirit wasn't hiding inside one of the ovens.
3... 2... 1... and – open!
"Ugh!" burst from my lips like a shot, "someone hasn't cleaned this in ages, but at least there aren't any moldy food scraps inside. Nope, no corpse either," I reassured Mio with a giggle and couldn't resist peeking into the next oven.
Good thing I wouldn't be eating anything served from this place anymore.
You could tell from the ridiculously expensive appliances that they hadn't been in operation for quite some time.
I moved past the huge mixers and refrigerators, all presenting the same dusty, abandoned appearance. Of course, I couldn't resist taking a closer look at them too, including the cobwebs gathered in the large bowl of the industrial mixer.
Since the hallway ended with large kitchen cupboards, I guessed the staff rooms must be located on the other side of the restaurant, and since there was nothing left for me to find in the kitchen, I headed back into the messy service area, following the sign marked Private.
But suddenly, a short chiming sound echoed from the main hall.
I froze instantly, looking down at Mio, who also stood stiffly. His hackles immediately rose.
Dead silence.
My loyal companion began to growl softly in the direction of the restaurant's exit.
The blood froze in my veins as I didn't even dare to take a breath.
What the hell was that?!
Did it come from the right? Or from the left?
Almost painfully, I gripped my scythe tighter and crept step by step toward the exit.
I took shallow breaths, as quiet as possible, trying to listen intently to my surroundings. Nearly impossible, with my heart hammering in my ears.
Still, I heard no other sounds. No footsteps. No rustling. No voices.
Yet, it was my task to exorcise the curse haunting this place, so I had to go back to the main hall anyway.
Watching the approaching glass doors of the restaurant with eagle eyes, I moved forward.
My personal horror scenario would have been this cursed thing jumping out at me from the side.
My first step back into the main hall.
I quickly glanced left – nothing unusual – then finally to the right, from where I suspected the ringing sound had come, and held my breath.
Nothing.
No cursed spirit in sight.
Shakily, I let the trapped air escape through my lips while already gripping my weapon with both hands. What on earth was that? Strangely, it didn't sound threatening, more like sweet and suggestive, but I could also be terribly mistaken.
…!
Once again, the bell rang more clearly to my right.
I sharply inhaled again, looking in the direction of the sound, and I could make out a tiny, extremely bright lilac butterfly on the broken-down ground, losing barely visible, same-colored particles.
I swallowed hard. A never-before-felt goosebumps surged through me, almost painful. I didn't trust this one bit.
Was that the cursed spirit?!
A butterfly?
It was sure to turn into that hideous cursed spirit any second and charge at me!
But the butterfly took flight, and I swung my scythe defensively in that direction, only to watch it fly, bell ringing, into the shop behind it and dissolve into thin air at the last moment.
Mio, on the other hand, continued to growl menacingly, making it clear that this couldn't have been an ordinary creature.
And if I didn't completely misunderstand, the butterfly had just given me a clue I would have to follow, whether I liked it or not.
"Shit," I whispered shakily, as my stomach twisted and turned five times in every direction.