12:21 pm
'Any luck with Kawazaki?'.
The message was delivered 5 minutes ago.
He didn't read it still.
Then someone called my name,
"Brian? Watanabe kiro...Brian?".
I realised I had been staring at my phone longer than I thought.
It was already my turn to present in front of the CEOs.
With the resume in my hands, I got up and stepped inside the room.
...
"—And I believe together we can turn around the way tourism in our country operates. Not just for the foreigners but also for our own citizens", I finished.
There were three people sitting in front of me—three unreadable faces.
Tough crowd I guess...
I stood there awkwardly for a few seconds until they discussed something among themselves.
Finally the lady in the room addressed me while the other two men stared me down.
"So, Mr. Watanabe? Am I saying it correctly?", she asked, her eyes looked down at the paper in her hand.
"Yes, ma'am", I nodded twice for some reason.
"Alright then, let's keep our conversation straight, Ok, Mr.Watanabe?", she said and gestured me to sit down in front of them.
I sat down.
Even now, only the lady was speaking,
"About your ideas, Mr. Watanabe. Why do you find yourself so concerned with the tourism network in Japan?".
I had prepared many times for this question but something seemed off...again.
"As per the charts created through the annual police records, we noticed that at least 77% of the damage towards relevant infrastructure of tourist spots is done by those who hail from a different country and about more than 27% of that damage is focused towards our shrines or any other sacred spaces. So, as a—", finally the man in the middle raised his hand to speak.
"I think you misunderstood our question, Brian", he began and I knew where this was going.
"Why is it that YOU are concerned about the welfare of our tourism network? Do you believe that we don't see the problems as it is when the foreigners, such as yourself, break down the houses of our beliefs?".
His gaze pierced through my eyes.
I couldn't stand against someone like him - even if I wanted to.
He was a CEO of a company and a well-recognised citizen of Japan – and me?
I was just a white boy in this land – where people saw my surname as a stain on their culture.
I knew I was turned down from here even before I stepped inside the room.
So I thanked them for their time and took my leave.
...
The 'Interview' ended and I was back at my apartment.
As expected, only shibe was home and still no sign of him.
Shibe lunged on me and I noticed her bowl was empty as usual.
He forgot again.
I filled her bowl with whatever dogfood we had left and finally my phone rang.
But it wasn't him.
...
"They can't do that?!", her voice screeched my ears out.
Everyone at the cafe glared toward us.
"Tell me who they were. Do you remember their names?! I'll file a discrimination case against them right here–RIGHT NOW!".
I didn't say anything.
After all, it wasn't my first time.
She didn't stop though.
She kept throwing words–until her coffee arrived.
The waitress quietly placed her coffee and my tea before leaving in a rush.
She left as soon as she came.
"Weren't you born and raised here? Why didn't you bring that up at the interview? It would have helped", she said while adding sugar to her coffee.
"...Yeah", I replied and took sips from my tea.
Yes, it was true.
I was born and raised here.
Although my parents were not from this country, they served it like their own.
They were both firefighters.
I like to believe they died doing what they loved – Saving Lives.
Not long after that, one of their fellow firefighters took me in.
He filed for my citizenship, had me complete my studies and lastly – gave me his surname.
I later learned he was there too—
the night my parents...
"Brian? You heard what I said?", her voice reached my ears. My thoughts scrambled.
"You have booked the tickets, right?".
I checked my phone and nodded.
...
"You are telling me it's the fourth part in the series?", she asked me as the lights dimmed.
"Yes, and not to brag but I have watched the previous three at least twenty times", I replied and the huge screen lit up.
Several ads rolled up the screen for about 10 minutes until the movie actually began.
The screen was covered with the calmly hustling sea waves.
That sound always brings hope–if not peace–to my mind.
The waves that collide and hinder in a raging storm are the same over which the winds glide and the sun shines—creating a glow which everlasts regardless of everything around it.
It was a view that sparkled my eyes every time I saw it.
Only a few seconds later did I realise she was there beside me the whole time.
Her brownish hair glowed within the blue light.
She too had her eyes locked on the huge screen.
She looked...different.
"Tamamo..." my words stopped as she turned towards me.
I planned to speak but she did it instead,
"Uhh, Brian? Your phone's buzzing really loud."
She was right, I didn't notice my phone was shaking like an earthquake.
I pulled it out and read my screen—
[The contact "Mateo 3" is now reachable]
[The contact "April" is now reachable]
What have they done this time....?
∅———————————————∅
9:13 pm
"No! No! Don't come to get me!", Mateo squealed out at the phone.
"What? Why—You?...and April? You both knew a shishi package is just not it! don't you two pay attention to my words!?", the phone screeched out.
Mateo walked around the room with his phone by his ear.
His steps went back and forth as he kept watching the card on the flipped table.
Could she really be there...?
"If the delivery is wrapped up then come back. Both of you, I will—", the voice died down.
Mateo had opened the door and stood there frozen.
The corridor he stood in wasn't the same.
The lights were out, walls riddled with cracks and the ceiling bled out water.
"Hmmgh...", He covered his nose, a foul stench had crept in his nose.
Broken mirrors and nails paved the floor.
He turned around to a creaking sound in his ear and saw the room slowly degrade.
The paint scrapped off the walls, the floors withered and the ceiling began to collapse.
In the midst of everything, Mateo saw the card on the table.
It was there, lying without any feat.
The desolation slowly moved towards the center of the room.
His hands flinched.
Even the flipped table began to rot.
Holding his breath, he swept the card.
Sweat streamed down his seemingly huge forehead.
His body warmed up like fire but his fist burned the most.
He opened his clenched fist and looked at the card.
"She is waiting"
The words on the card had changed.
They seemed to float around in front of his eyes, until they vanished in thin air.
A chilling breeze went past his body and froze everything that once stood warm.
Soon the room perfectly matched the scenery of the corridor.
Dim, dull and desolated.
Mateo held up the phone to his ear,
"—re you listening?! Mateo!".
"Y–yeah, I'm here...", he replied, his steps carefully passed over the shattered glass on the floor.
"What? why are you still there? Get movin—", the call drowned in static and ended.
Mateo checked the screen and April's phone had died out.
He checked his own phone and the same happened.
Both phones were drained.
With nothing to confront anymore, he kept moving in the long corridor.
Rooms passed by one by one.
703, 603, 404....
The numbers began to fall quickly.
Quicker than his steps could keep up.
But the corridor didn't seem to end.
Every step screeched under his feet.
With a sigh he closed his eyes once and his feet were held back from stepping forward.
In front of him now stood a rundown wall.
Behind him—the corridor had shrunk with only a handful of rooms.
The doors were closed and taped down.
Everything around him seemed out of order until he noticed the stairs beside him.
...CLICK...
Once.
Twice
Then another.
Countless clicking sounds echoed and the corridor woke up.
The taped doors creaked open slowly.
Without thinking Mateo lunged on the stairs and ran.
He didn't bother to look back.
"This...fucking hotel...", gasping under his breath, Mateo jumped down the last few stairs.
Without stopping, he rushed back the way he came.
With every step forward, the decay followed behind.
He vaulted over a vending machine and found the counter.
His steps became slowed
Unlike the rest of the place, the counter wasn't just ruined.
It was pitch black.
A human-like figure sat there, embers glowed underneath its dark cover.
He couldn't help himself and stared at the figure.
The embers flared up.
Mateo broke into a sprint and burst out the door.
___________________________
The sky was covered in black clouds with no sign of the moon.
A heavy rumble filled the dark clouds and rain followed.
But his thoughts were still clear to him.
...Fuck! Fuck!...
He ran through the alley as heavy drops fell on him.
The view in his eyes filled with water and the neon lights shone ever so bright.
April...—!
His heavy steps stopped under the sound of sirens. Even with the drumming of the rain, the sirens still persisted.
Mateo slid him self in a dark corner and saw as red and blue flashed by him.
He checked the street for any possible bystander and moved on.
Not many were out in the street, only a few unfortunate ones—like Mateo himself.
Around every corner he felt a new surprise was waiting for him.
He stepped back and forth with the sirens.
Finally with only the rain in his ears, he sprinted away.
___________________________
He slid back the mat on the floor and a key lay underneath, he took it off the floor and carefully replaced the mat.
The keys jiggled inside the key hole but the handle didn't budge—footsteps filled the small hallway.
Mateo was dripping with water and his hands hastily moved to open the door.
His shivering hand twisted the handle over and over again.
The sound of the footstep ever so close.
"Comeoncomeoncomeon! This freaking—!"
Click
The door swung open and Mateo hopped inside.
He slammed the door shut and closed the latch on it.
"Huff...Hufff...", crashing down on the floor, he struggled for air.
In his tiring rest, a knock came from the door.
The handle twisted in front of his eyes and Mateo got on his feet.
He turned around and stepped forward only to trip on something.
Click
"Mind the 'welcome' mat next time, I like it dry."
Mateo instantly recognised the voice. He turned around.
A man with his umbrella and a bag stood there.
His brownish hair was wet and seemed much darker.
He closed his umbrella and placed it in beside their shoe stand.
Mateo also saw what he had tripped on.
A puffed up dog lay on the floor, He wagged his tail and began rolling around.
"...Brian?", Mateo sighed in relief.
"You seem surprised, you do remember I pay most of the rent here", he spoke and took off his coat.
Mateo picked up himself and checked on Shibe.
He was still rolling around like a ball.
"Brian? There's something I have to talk about", Mateo proposed.
Brian took off his shoes and scratched Shibe's belly.
"It better be about not feeding Shibe today", he replied and made his way inside.
"April? April! Where is that bitchy girl? Did she bail when I brought her favourite?".
Brian placed down his bag and Shibe sniffed it and poked it with her nose.
Mateo reached under his jacket and grabbed something.
He pulled out April's cellphone.
"Brian...about her...", he gasped under his breath.
Brian slowly looked over his shoulder,
"...not again..."
___________________________
"haha, phew, almost had me there", Brian chuckled and popped open a beer.
"Come on now, where is she really? She knows better than to leave her phone with you".
The TV lit up on Mateo's face.
His eyes stared straight into Brian's eyes.
"You can't be serious...come on now, April? You got me! come out no—",
Brian's smile faded as he saw the news channel on the TV.
"...And with the festive seasons past us now, let us look into what has been brewing in this storm."
The screen showed a building on fire in the raging storm.
Mateo also looked at the scene with wide eyes.
"...A large fire had been reported between what seems to be the dividing sectors of Shibuya and Shinjuku. The live authorities have reported no casualties so far expect a burnt corpse inside of the buildings..."
Mateo pulled out the card in his pocket,
"Brian, she is not here."
...
A silence took place inside the room. The lights were out and the fan slowly spun above them. Beside Mateo sat the puffed dog, he slept there with ease. He slowly rubbed his belly as he watched Brian.
Brian had his hand on the card with 'She is waiting' written on it.
He investigated the card over and over, flipping it and shining a UV torch on it.
His examination finally stopped when Mateo decided to speak.
"I'm telling you man, this isn't the work of those pimps. They would have got to her ten times over if they actually could."
Brian heard the words Mateo had said and placed down the torch.
He proceeded to turn on the lights, what he saw Mateo's covered in concern and uncertainty.
"Look I know you are probably believing everything you saw but are you even listening to yourself?", Brian spoke and took off his rubber gloves. He carefully disposed them in the trash can.
"Demonic spirits? Flying knives? and what? warping to a cave? Do you really believe what you saw weren't just some special effects?"
Brian placed down the card and Mateo spoke up,
"I know what I saw alright! Special effects won't be out there to kill people. Those things...those...freaking things were right there! You even saw it in the news, there is a fucking burnt body in that hotel."
He rested his elbow on the sofa and buried his face in his palm as he stared at the black screen of April's phone. He saw his own reflection for a second.
Then without a heartbeat—
He saw a terrified pair of eyes staring him from the screen.
Whispers rang in his head and the silence was compromised.
"Stay away!? STAY AW—!!!"
His hand hurled the phone in a quick flinch. It crashed on the wall and shattered into pieces.
Shibe jumped from his sleep and barked at Mateo, then he moved towards Brian across the room.
"Hey!", Brian lashed out and comforted Shibe who hid between his legs.
"You alright! look at me!".
Brian snapped his fingers.
Mateo stopped staring at the broken phone on the floor and looked at Brian. He could feel the loud pounding in his chest, as if his heart was about to burst out. Again, all he could hear was the fan above him and the TV beside him.
Brian got up and went to the kitchen, Shibe tailed him but his interest was caught by the broken phone by the wall. He sniffed and began growling at it as Brian called out.
"Shibe, don't mess with it, we don't need another visit to the vet this soon."
Shibe still stood there growling.
Brian returned with a glass of water and handed it to Mateo.
"You are sure you two weren't caught up in any product testing?", he asked again and Mateo chugged the water.
"Because taking a shishi package is stubborn, even for you and April joining you with all the risks, I find it hard to believe."
Brian sat down and his head was filled with thoughts. Mateo sat in front of him, still shook with what he had experienced just a second ago. He saw Shibe standing still, still growling against the broken cell phone on the floor. Brian's thoughts went on like...
...I never should have drag them like this...
Mateo stood up and went towards the dog and the broken phone. Brian still had his thoughts running and didn't notice him pass by.
...But then again, they are outsiders. They would have ended up all the same...
Mateo stood beside Shibe and looked the shattered pieces of glass on the floor. He pushed aside the puffed dog and began picking up the big shard. His hands forwarded to one of the shards.
...Just what have Mateo got her in—!
"FUCK!", Mateo groaned in pain and held his bleeding hand tightly.
"That fucking glass just attacked me!".
Brian's thoughts dispersed and he turned around to see Mateo with a bleeding palm. He jumped from his seat and began scouring through items shelves.
"You are really outdoing yourself today, Mateo!", his hands stormed through the items on the shelves. He finally stopped on having his hands getting a white first aid kit.
"Hold it still now, cleaning it is...", his voice faded when he saw the blood from Mateo's palm dripping down on the floor. The blood wasn't pooling in one place, it was slowly flowing and forming patterns. Mateo grabbed the first aid kit and rushed towards the sink where as Brian stood there and watched the spilled blood on the floor.
"Mateo? are you seeing this? Mat—?", he realised it wasn't moving like it's suppose to.
He looked away for once at Mateo, he was busy at the sink. His eyes again fell upon the bloody floor. It was no longer moving but that is what concerned him more.
The patterns made sense to him—it was words in Japanese.
He reluctantly read the words.
...Neglecting...her as well?...
Memories flashed in front of him, he began to feel the heat of a fire crawling within his skin. His lips went dry and sweats flowed down his whole body. The lights in his eyes grew brighter as to blind him. He found his whole body in an immovable state until he heard someone calling.
"Man! Help me out on this! It ain't stopping!", the lights dimmed again and the cold light breeze from the fan began cooling his whole body. He again looked down on the blood spilled on the floor, Shibe was licking it clean.
Brian quickly pulled back the dog.
After several minutes of patching up and cleaning the broken phone on the floor, they again positioned themselves on the sofa. This time though, none of them spoke a word.
Only the TV made any sound audible, a Sci-fi show investigating the topic of different realities was up. Mateo turned it off with the remote. He passed the remote to Brian.
"I am not blind, Brian.", Mateo proposed and leaned forward.
He lifted his bandaged hand towards him and raised his eyes. Brian saw this and picked up the card on the table.
...She is waiting...
Brian still took his time in silence and Mateo stood up,
"I am going tomorrow, you will too if you care".
With that, Mateo went to his room and started filling his bag.
Brian still sat there while staring at the card when the lights flickered. When the flickering stopped, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The words on the card were different—but still familiar.
'Neglecting her as well?', it read.
His hand holding the card fell on the sofa and his head leaned back, the fan above him still spun slowly.
The lights flickered and went out again—his thoughts didn't.
"I am not ...leaving her".