2nd August
4:15 PM
Gasping for breath, Yuki tore through the evening, his heart a frantic drum solo against his ribs. The once-familiar street had morphed into a grinning nightmare, houses transformed into skeletal claws reaching for the bruised sky. An unnatural fog, thick and hungry, clung to the ground, swallowing the world in an oppressive silence. Every desperate turn led him back to the decaying brick wall, a mocking reminder of his confinement. “Naomi!” he screamed, his voice lost in the swirling mist. This twisted labyrinth, this suffocating darkness – “It has to be her doing.”
His frustrated roar died in his throat. Every path ended the same, every sprint a futile circle. He slammed against the wall once more, the damp bricks offering no comfort. Panic clawed at him, a cold sweat clinging to his skin. Then, a horrifying realisation dawned. No matter which direction he took, he was trapped.
Defeated, Yuki sank to his knees, retracing his steps with shaking hands. But the world seemed to mock him. Streets stretched and twisted, morphing into an endless maze. The air grew thick and heavy, a suffocating pressure that stole his breath. Whispers, like the rustling of unseen beasts, skittered through the alleyways.
Consumed by fear and a simmering rage, Yuki roared into the oppressive silence. “I know you're here! Just come out already!”
His desperate plea hung unanswered. The silence that followed wasn't empty, but alive with unspoken horrors, chilling him to the bone. Just as despair threatened to consume him, a sound pierced the silence – calm footsteps approaching from behind.
Slowly, Yuki turned. Naomi emerged from the swirling fog, a shadowy figure framed by the sickly streetlamp. A wicked grin stretched across her face, sending a fresh wave of terror through him.
“You were shouting pretty loud, you know.” she remarked, her voice laced with a chilling amusement. “I could hear you from metres away.”
Yuki's body trembled, the world tilting on its axis. It was her. She had done this.
“I don't care about that.” he croaked, his voice hoarse with fear. “Just let me go.”
Naomi tilted her head, her smile turning playful, yet laced with a dangerous edge. “Oh, but Yuki,” she said, her voice a chilling whisper, “how can I trust you now? You disappeared without a word, leaving me hanging. In this world, trust is a luxury we can't afford, wouldn't you agree?”
The weight of his actions, his fear, slammed into him with a force that rivalled the terror of the twisted streets. He opened his mouth to explain, but the words wouldn't come. The scene before him dissolved as the past rushed in, a memory waiting to be untangled.
✳ ✳ ✳
The hands of the clock ticked relentlessly as the room grew eerily silent. It was 3:45 PM, and Yuki found himself standing in Naomi’s house, his mind still reeling from the unsettling revelation she had just disclosed. "So, you're saying you can take me... to Avalon?" Yuki questioned, his voice trembling with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.
Naomi's eyes shone with a sincerity that calmed some of the nervous energy swirling in Yuki's stomach. "Yes, Yuki. I can take you to Avalon." she replied, her voice carrying a touch of awe.
Doubt still lingered in Yuki's words. "Wait, are you serious? This sounds like something out of a fantasy novel."
A soft smile played upon Naomi's lips. "It may seem unbelievable, but trust me, Yuki, this is real."
Yuki's breath hitched, his mind struggling to grasp the magnitude of what he was being told. "Assuming this is true... How do we even get there? Is there some kind of magic door?"
Naomi's gaze held a quiet intensity as she nodded slowly. "There is a way to reach Avalon, Yuki. A hidden gateway that links our world to that extraordinary place."
Yuki's voice quivered as he ventured further. "So, like a portal? A bridge between worlds?"
Naomi's laughter filled the air, a light, melodic sound. "Calling it a portal might not be the most accurate description. Avalon isn't a separate dimension; it's more like a hidden pocket world coexisting with ours."
Yuki's heart pounded in his chest as he pressed for more details. "And where… Where is this gateway?"
Naomi's gaze held his, filled with a quiet understanding. "It's a place you've been before," she murmured.
A surge of dread coursed through Yuki's veins. "You mean... the storeroom?" he uttered, his voice barely a whisper.
Naomi's smile softened. "Indeed, the storeroom serves as the gateway to Avalon."
Yuki's mind spun with a concoction of fear and curiosity. "I... I'm not sure I'm ready for this. It's all so much to take in."
Naomi's smile remained, but a hint of concern flickered in her eyes. “Take all the time you need, Yuki. In the meantime, would you like something to drink some water? That will calm your nerves.”
Yuki's gratitude was evident as he replied, “That should do. Thanks.”
“Coming right up.” Naomi responded cheerfully as she made her way to the kitchen, leaving Yuki to process the astonishing possibilities that awaited him in the hidden realm of Avalon.
Naomi returned with the water, expecting to find Yuki waiting for his drink upon her return. However, to her dismay, he was nowhere to be found. Frustration welled up within her. "That goofball... I should have known he would do something like this." she muttered under her breath.
She peered out of the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Yuki in the distance. The advantage of her window's position provided her with a clear view of the surrounding area, making it relatively easy for her to spot him.
With a determined expression, Naomi retrieved a small card from her pocket. It seemed ordinary at first glance, but she knew its true nature. Manipulating the card's surface as if it were a touchscreen smartphone, she accessed its hidden features.
Meanwhile, Yuki, struggling to process the events unfolding around him, sprinted through the neighbourhood in the direction of his house. The streets were suddenly shrouded in darkness, the familiar houses transforming into eerie silhouettes. An unsettling fog seemed to cling to the air, distorting reality.
✳ ✳ ✳
5:20 PM
The memory of Naomi's words, spoken just before the world warped into this nightmare, flooded back. Her words about a hidden world, Avalon, a place of magic… a place he wasn't sure he believed in. The look of hurt and betrayal on her face as he bolted…
Now, back in the suffocating reality of the twisted labyrinth, Yuki stood face-to-face with Naomi, her eyes gleaming with an unholy light. "You really want to go?" she whispered, sending shivers down his spine.
“YEAH!” Yuki's voice cracked, a mixture of terror and determination.
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The eerie silence hung in the air as Naomi's gaze intensified, her features contorted with an unsettling mix of amusement and menace. “This might be your last chance to visit Avalon. You should think about it.” she urged, her words laced with a chilling undertone.
The weight of his actions slammed into him with a force that rivalled the terror of the twisted streets. He hadn't meant to run. Panic had taken hold, the information overload overwhelming. Shamefaced, he stammered, “Why would I want to visit a place that I don't even know if it exists?”
Naomi's smile widened, but a flicker of understanding replaced the earlier amusement. “Because,” she said, her voice softening slightly, “it might be real. And if it is, it could change everything.”
The oppressive atmosphere seemed to ease a fraction. Curiosity battled with fear within him. Processing the overwhelming information was a daunting task, his thoughts a labyrinth of uncertainty and trepidation.
In the depths of his mind, a warning echoed, urging him to turn away, to flee from the encroaching darkness. Yet, a spark of something else ignited - a yearning for the extraordinary, a chance to escape the mundanity of his life. “If this turns out to be another twisted prank, I'll confront her like never before.” Yuki vowed silently, his grip on reality tenuous at best.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of torment, Yuki made up his mind. “Fine.”he blurted, his voice laced with caution and a glimmer of newfound resolve. “But this better not be some sick joke.”
Naomi's eyes gleamed with a mix of satisfaction, but not malice. “It's not a prank unless you try to run away again.” she teased, a hint of a playful smile returning to her lips. As the last word left her mouth, the world lurched. The oppressive darkness receded, replaced by the familiar twilight. The skeletal houses morphed back into their ordinary shapes, the unsettling fog vanishing into the cool evening air. Yuki blinked, his heart still pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. The twisted labyrinth had disappeared, leaving behind the comforting normalcy of his neighbourhood street. A shiver ran down his spine, a chilling reminder of the bizarre experience he'd just barely escaped... or perhaps, a taste of the extraordinary that awaited him.
✳ ✳ ✳
6:15 PM
The darkness started enveloping the school campus as Naomi and Yuki strode around it towards the woods. The twilight slowly darkened in the sky. The woods slowly morphed before Yuki's eyes, away from any artificial lights it looked no more like a picture stood still in history but rather like a horror morphing into something even more terrifying as the light escaped the horizon.
As they ventured into the abandoned residency the houses that were once bleak, covered with moss and overridden by trees now looked like they had come back from the dead to resemble the mountain gods. The shed was soon in their sights. Naomi broke the silence and said tauntingly, “Won't you run away, Yuki, like you always do?”
“No. I need to know the truth and get this over with once and for all.” He declared.
“Well that's great, but do you believe in ghosts?” Naomi asked. The question sent a chill down Yuki's spine.
“Don't tell me that there are now ghosts in this area.” He said.
“There aren't, not that I know of anyway.” Naomi said teasingly.
“Stop scaring me.” Yuki complained.
“Aww! You're scared? Should I call your mommy?” She joked.
Yuki stopped in his path and stared at Naomi, his face devoid of any emotions. “...what happened?” She asked, scared.
“My parents are dead.” Yuki said, then looked into the distance, towards his old house. His eyes looked like that of a dead man.
Naomi flinched, the playful smirk on her face replaced by a flicker of genuine concern. Regret flickered in her eyes for a fleeting moment before a determined glint took its place. She clenched her fist slightly, a silent apology battling with the urgency of her mission.
"Yuki," she said, her voice softer now, "I... I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
Whether she was truly apologetic or simply trying to regain control of the situation, Yuki couldn't tell. He remained silent, his gaze unwavering as it fixed on the horizon. The weight of his grief, a dull ache that had become a constant companion, threatened to consume him.
“Whatever.” Yuki mumbled, his voice devoid of emotion. He turned and moved on towards the shed, a resolute stride belying the turmoil within. “We've reached the place. Now show me, Naomi. Show me what you've been wanting to show since day one.”
Naomi watched him go, a wave of worry washing over her. Taking a deep breath, she hurried after him. “Yuki!” she called out, her voice laced with a hint of apprehension, “Wait, what awaits us inside... Are you sure you're ready?”
“Are you kidding me? After all of this you ask me if I'm ready for it? Stop it, Naomi. Just show me what's inside.” Yuki aggressed, a flicker of anger momentarily igniting in his dull eyes.
“Fine. Here you have it.” Naomi sighed, her determined glint momentarily wavering. She approached the creaky shed door, her hand hovering over the rusted handle for a beat longer than necessary. Taking a deep breath, she slid the door open with a groan that echoed through the stillness.
Yuki followed close behind, his gaze darting around the cramped space. Cobwebs draped from the rafters like ghostly tapestries, and the air hung heavy with the musty scent of disuse and decay. Naomi retrieved the letter from earlier from her pocket, its edges now frayed and the ink slightly smudged.
She held it up, her voice barely a whisper, “Vocare!”
シーンー
Yuki opened his mouth to question Naomi, but before words could escape his lips both of them were bombarded with light. It felt as if a huge beam of rainbow had penetrated the roof, tearing it off completely and fell over their bodies, oppressing them to the ground. Yuki moaned in pain as he fell to his knees, he looked at Naomi only to realise she was unaffected by all of it. “I forgot to tell you, this will be painful the first time around.” She smirked, as if getting back to him.
Yuki's heart pounded in his chest as he watched in awe and trepidation. The room transformed before his eyes, the walls dissolving into a swirling vortex of darkness. The very fabric of reality seemed to warp, revealing a blinding light that forced him to shield his eyes.
A sharp pain seared through Yuki's head, causing him to stagger. The room spun around him, colours merging and shifting in a dizzying whirlwind. He clenched his teeth, fighting against the overwhelming torment, as if his mind and soul were being subjected to a malevolent force.
As abruptly as it began, the chaos ceased, leaving Yuki gasping for breath and blinking away spots of light. Disorientation washed over him, a sickening sensation that left him swaying on his feet. The air, thick and strangely sweet, carried a faint melody, a chiming of unseen bells that vibrated in his bones. A moment passed, his vision slowly clearing, and Yuki found himself staring upwards in stunned silence.
He was in a colossal hall, a cathedral of sorts, bathed in an ethereal glow that seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once. The source, however, remained a mystery. Gazing upwards, his neck craned back until it ached, he marvelled at the immensity of the space. The architecture was unlike anything he'd ever seen. It was a testament to a bygone era, a style both elegant and imposing. Gothic in its pointed arches and ribbed vaults, it was built entirely of white marble, its smooth surface polished to a mirror sheen that reflected the otherworldly light in a hundred fragmented gleams. The vastness of the hall stretched before him, its floor a polished expanse of the same white marble, devoid of any markings or imperfections.
The vastness of the hall stretched before him, its ceiling a breathtaking expanse dominated by a large dome. High up on the walls, out of reach, a series of high-rise windows were filled with stained glass.
But these were no ordinary stained glass windows. As the sunlight streamed through, the colours exploded into a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues. The intricate designs depicted fantastical scenes unlike anything Yuki had ever encountered in books or museums. Myths and legends, creatures both majestic and monstrous, unfolded in panels of vibrant blues, fiery reds, and emerald greens. The craftsmanship was breathtaking, the stories they told both captivating and unsettling.
The air itself felt charged with an otherworldly energy, a subtle hum resonating through the vast space. A sense of awe mingled with trepidation washed over Yuki. This was Avalon, a place hidden beyond the veil of reality, and he was finally here.
Yuki tore his gaze from the breathtaking spectacle above, a desperate need for answers overriding his awe. But Naomi, instead of offering clarity, stood beside him, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. It was a smile both alluring and unsettling, like a beautiful flower with thorns hidden beneath its delicate petals. “Welcome.” she murmured, her voice a soft caress that sent shivers down his spine.
The air crackled with a strange energy, a potent mix of magic and something more primal, something ancient and unknown. It felt like they had crossed a threshold, not just into a new place, but into a new reality, one that defied human understanding. A primordial fear gnawed at Yuki's gut, warring with the insatiable curiosity that bubbled within him. Every question that had swirled in his mind since Naomi first mentioned Avalon roared to the surface.
But before he could voice a single one, Naomi shattered the silence with a question so unexpected it stole his breath. "Are you ready to face your truth, Yuki?" she inquired, her voice laced with an eerie undertone that sent a jolt through him. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, a spectral promise of revelations both thrilling and terrifying. Teetering on the precipice of an unknown fate, Yuki could only stare back at Naomi, his mind a whirlwind of uncertainty and a single, burning question: What truth awaited him in this hidden realm?
<6 - It's a Mad Mad WorldーEpisode 3 - Fin>