Chapter 1: The Curse
Rain poured heavily across the city.
A boy stood on his balcony, watching the rainy night — the skyline filled with tall buildings scratching at the clouds like they were tearing holes in the sky.
"Oh wow... what an awesome view," he whispered. "I could watch this forever."
Then, a drop of water fell onto his hand — but it wasn't rain.
It was a tear.
His own.
His expression changed, pain filling his eyes. He leaned forward, resting his head on his trembling hands.
"I can't bear this anymore… I can't keep pretending I'm happy…"
His voice cracked.
"I just wanted to spend time with you, Dad… but why?"
He slowly lifted his head, wiping his tears away.
"I just wanted to be happy… but I can't suffer in this cruel world anymore…"
He climbed up on the balcony railing.
"Sorry, Mom. Please take care of yourself… I'm going to—"
He looked up at the sky one last time. His lips curved into a faint, broken smile.
Then—he jumped.
"Rei… Rei… wake up! It's already late for school."
A soft voice whispered in his ear.
"Rei… Reiii… REIIIIIIII!"
"Mom!"
Rei woke up screaming, his heart pounding so fast it felt like it would burst. He touched his body, breathing heavily.
"Where am I? Am I… dead? Or alive?" he muttered, still trembling.
The room was filled with children's drawings—covering the walls and even the ceiling. It felt strangely familiar.
Rei slowly stood up, scanning the room. "This place… looks familiar. But why?"
His eyes caught a faint sparkle of light coming from one of the drawings. He picked it up.
It was a picture of a small boy holding hands with his mom and dad.
And below it—
was his own name.
"REI."
His eyes widened.
"This… this is my old room? But… how's that possible?"
He looked around frantically.
"If this is really my old house… then Father should be here too…"
Suddenly, a loud scream pierced through the house.
Rei froze. "Who was that?"
He dropped the drawing and rushed out of the room. The hallway was empty.
"It… it's my old house," he whispered, his voice shaking. "What's happening here…?"
He slowly walked toward another room.
His hand trembled as he turned the doorknob.
Inside stood a tall man wearing a brown T-shirt.
Rei's face lit up instantly.
"Father!!"
He ran toward him — but stopped dead in his tracks.
His eyes widened in horror.
His mother was on the floor — stabbed.
Blood spreading beneath her lifeless body.
Rei froze.
"Wh… what… what did I just see? What's happening? Why did Dad—?"
He couldn't move. The world around him turned dark.
Blood spread across the floor, and a deafening noise echoed through the house.
Rei covered his ears, trembling.
"Stop it! What's happening to me!?"
His body turned cold. His skin began to peel.
"Wh… what's… happen—"
SUDDENLY—
Rei opened his eyes again.
He was lying on the roadside, covered in blood.
His vision blurred. His breath grew faint.
No one was there.
Near a tree, he saw a girl standing and smiling at him.
Her smile… was unnerving.
"Wh… who… is she?" he whispered weakly. "Why… is she smiling… at me…?"
As she stepped closer, her body began to distort—
changing into something inhuman.
Rei's face turned pale. He tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond.
His eyelids grew heavy. His breath slowed.
The girl leaned closer to his ear, her voice soft yet chilling—
I hope you loved that journey."