The cold breeze of evening blew past the four girls as they made their way down the lantern-lit streets. Shops glowed softly on either side, the scent of street food wafting in the air, the faint chatter of people adding life to the night. Despite the chill, their hearts were warm– after all, tonight is about laughter and joy.
Soon, the girls arrived at their destination: a cozy karaoke shop nestled between a café and a convenience store. The neon sign flickered slightly, casting a colorful glow on their faces.
"Finally!! We are here!!"
Yuki exclaimed, bouncing on her feet like a child who had just reached an amusement park.
"Let's go inside,"
Ami said with her usual calm tone, though even her eyes carried a spark of excitement.
The shop's interior greeted them with color, walls decorated with band posters, artificial flowers dangling from the ceiling, and shelves of glowing discs and karaoke albums. Soft instrumental music played in the background as they stepped forward.
Fumiko and Rin walked up to the receptionist to book a private room, while Yuki and Ami stayed behind, whispering about what songs they wanted to sing first.
"Let's go, girls. Room booked!"
Rin announced, waving a small ticket.
They were escorted to their room– a small but cozy booth with couches, a table, and a giant TV screen on the wall. The machine was already humming, waiting for them.
"ME FIRST!"
Yuki snatched the mic before anyone could object, grinning like she had been waiting her whole life for this moment. She scrolled through the playlist and selected a cheerful pop song.
The screen lit up, the music started, and Yuki began to sing with all her heart. Her voice wasn't perfect, but it was filled with joy, and that joy was contagious.
"Wooohhh!! Go, Yuki-chan!!"
Ami clapped, Fumiko and Rin joining in with playful cheers.
By the end of her performance, Yuki struck a dramatic pose.
"Thank you, thank you! Autographs later!"
"IT'S SO FUN! Rin-chan, your turn! Please sing for us too!!"
Yuki shoved the mic toward Rin.
Rin smirked.
"Fine, fine. I'll go with something upbeat."
She tapped the machine, chose a pop track, and began. Unlike Yuki, Rin's voice carried surprising depth, smooth and strong, enough to make them blink.
"Woooow! Rin-chan, you sound like a pro!"
Fumiko clapped.
"Don't tell me you secretly train in the shower every day,"
Ami teased.
"Maybe I do?"
Rin said with a wink as she finished the song.
While they laughed, Ami casually picked up the small telephone on the table and ordered snacks. Soon, trays filled with fried snacks and soft drinks arrived, filling the room with a delicious aroma.
With food and music, time melted away. Fumiko found herself laughing, singing duets with Ami, cheering for Yuki's silly ballads, and even joining Rin in a surprisingly heartfelt song. For a few blissful hours, the shadows that had been haunting her mind seemed far away.
"It was so FUN!!"
Yuki flopped dramatically onto the couch, hugging a cushion as if it were her audience.
Rin sat beside her, sipping a soda.
"You burned all your energy. I don't think you'll survive another song."
While checking her phone, Ami's eyes widened.
"WOAH! It's 8PM already!"
"WAIT– WHAT?!"
Fumiko nearly dropped her drink.
They all froze in disbelief.
"Guess we enjoyed ourselves way too much,"
Rin said with a laugh, setting her empty can on the table.
"Let's go home! I can't miss my favourite J-drama episode tonight!"
Yuki jumped up, stretching.
As they stepped out into the night, the crisp air welcomed them once again. The moon hung high– a full, luminous circle, casting a silver glow on the streets.
"Aww, the moon is so beautiful tonight…"
Yuki whispered, her eyes locked upward. Gazing at moon.
Ami smirked.
"Beautiful enough to make you forget about that drama you just panicked over?"
"I KNEW you'd say that! I'm walking, I'm walking!! I won't miss it!!"
Yuki puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms like a sulking child.
"Aaachoo!"
"Caught a cold, Yuki?"
Fumiko asked softly.
Rin noticed it and without hesitation, she removed her blazer and draped it over Yuki's shoulders.
"Don't let the cold get you sick. Your bodyguard, me, won't allow it."
She smiled with playful pride.
"Rin-chan… waaahhh, you're so nice!!"
Yuki squealed, hugging her tightly like a kid clinging to her mom.
"Who needs a boyfriend when we have Rin?"
Fumiko laughed.
"Haha, more like a bodyguard. And we're the princesses here,"
Ami added.
Their laughter echoed under the moonlight as they walked together, side by side.
---
Later that night, Fumiko collapsed on her bed after changing into her pajamas. She pulled the blanket over herself, exhausted.
"Hah… I'm so tired. I don't think I could even run right now,"
She mumbled, half-asleep. Within moments, her breathing slowed.
And once again, she found herself in that place.
---
The dream. The endless watery ground. The clear, starless sky. Days and nights change in this dream too, she never noticed it.
"Not again…"
She muttered, frustration in her tone.
"Maybe tonight… I'll finally meet that glowing figure again, and will get my answers"
But instead, her ears caught the soft sound of paws splashing.
Her heart dropped. Slowly, she turned.
The cat. The same cat from before. Its white fur glowed faintly in the darkness, silver-red eyes reflecting her fear.
"This… cat… here? What are you doing, kitty? This isn't a place for you– "
She reached toward it, but before her fingers could touch, the cat turned and bolted. Running away from her.
"Wait– don't run!!"
Fumiko called, chasing it.
The chase felt endless. But then she noticed something that froze her blood.
Every pawstep the cat made… turned the watery ground into blood. Dark, sticky paw prints trailed behind it.
Her stomach churned. Something was wrong. She stopped running and turned back to go back to the place from where she started.
That was when she heard it.
"You… have it… don't you?"
The voice was shrill, layered with malice, coming from behind her. Fumiko froze.
She tried to ignore it. Just walk. Just don't acknowledge it. That's what people always do wrong in horror movies, after hearing even a slightest noise, they turn around and face the ghost.
"I would say… you're very brave, pretending you didn't hear me. But you actually did. Didn't you? Child of Dawn."
Her heart plummeted. How did it know? She thought she acted good enough to pretend she didn't heard anything.
Soon she could feel her body is stiffened. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Like her body is paralyzed.
That thing spoke again.
"You thought you could escape me…?"
"I don't have any business with you, so please stop talking to me... I'm already busy–"
"You dared to talk back to me? How interesting..."
Suddenly her lungs tightened painfully, like someone is crushing it. She coughed, and crimson liquid spilled from the corner of her lips.
In a blink of eye, the world around her shifted. The watery floor turned into a sea of blood. The sky burned crimson, wailing silently. The metallic stench filled her nose. Left her shocked and speechless.
Her trembling eyes turned back–
And the cat was no longer just a cat.
Its body stretched, warped into a monstrous shadow. Blood dripped from its fanged maw, its silver-red eyes glowing like twin crimson flames. Its claws scraped the bloody ground with a screech that pierced her skull.
"I wonder…"
It hissed, voice gurgling.
"How would the Child of Dawn taste? Your powers in my mouth… they must be... Delicious."
It's one sharp claw lifted, gently stroking her hair like a mockery of tenderness. It's crimson eyes filled with excitement in thoughts of devouring her.
Fumiko shivered violently, every nerve in her body screaming in terror, but not a single word escaped her mouth.
The creature's eyes gleamed with hunger.
"Let's start… with your head first."
Its second claw rose, aiming directly for her skull– swift, merciless, inevitable.