---
He was caught up in an all too real dream.
Darkness.
A huge, unending emptiness extended in all directions.
The cold winds carried distant, broken cries. Weak, fragmented voices, their desperate pleas swallowed by the abyss.
They were calling for something.
Calling for him.
Ishin stood frozen in fear. His feet sank into an invisible ground, engulfed by the emptiness. Everything was silent—until, in an instant, the invisible floor turned into a blood-soaked battlefield, and then, equally swiftly, everything vanished again.
And then
"Help us!"
The silence was broken by a shrill Fear tightened his chest and his breath caught.
His heart thumping against his ribs, he turned to face the voice.
Before him, blurred figures started to emerge, their shapes changing and unsteady yet uncanny.
With a voice full of pain and despair, one of them extended a quivering hand.
"Ishin. please."
His throat tightened with breath. That voice he knew it.
But who were they? Why couldn't he remember?
Ishin tried to move, tried to run to them
However, his body disobeyed.
He was rooted in place by invisible chains that coiled like serpents around his arms and legs. The pressure was too much, and the cold crept into his bones. Before his eyes, the figures vanished as they were drawn farther into the shadows.
"You must take responsibility."
A whisper.
A command.
Echoing from behind him.
The last of the light was sucked up by a huge shadow that loomed over him.
And then
CRASH!
---
A Sudden Awakening
Ishin woke up and thumped loudly to the floor.
Gasping for air, he moaned and rubbed his head. His skin was slippery with cold sweat, and his heart hammered against his ribs. His shirt was wet and stuck to him.
Darkness still surrounded him but this was different. This was his room.
His old study desk cluttered with schoolbooks.
His half-open wardrobe filled with his usual clothes.
Safe. Familiar.
It's just a nightmare. Wasn't it just a nightmare?
He reached for his phone, his hands vigorous shaking.
7:42 AM.
His eyes widened.
"Crap! I'm late again!"
Throwing his blanket aside, he hurried to get ready for school.
He tried to wash the fear from his face by splashing it with cold water.
But then
A voice.
"You must take responsibility."
His heart nearly stopped.
---
The Whisper in the Mirror
Ishin slowly looked up at the mirror over the sink.
He saw his own reflection staring back at him, his piercing red eyes, pale face, and disheveled black hair.
And then
The red in his eyes glowed brighter.
A sharp, electric sensation ran down his spine.
His throat tightened.
And then his reflection smiled.
"Ishin ukaski."
In his ears, his pulse roared.
"W-What the hell"
The reflection tilted its head, its grin widening unnaturally.
"You must take responsibility."
Ishin's entire body locked up in terror, frozen in place.
The reflection moved on its own not mirroring him, but acting independently.
His fingers gripped the edge of the sink so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"This isn't real. I'm just imagining things."
He blinked rapidly.
The red glow vanished.
Only his own frightened face remained in the mirror.
He stumbled backward, gasping for breath.
"No time for this. I need to get to school."
Grabbing his bag, he slammed the door shut behind him.
---
A Rough Start at School
By the time Ishin arrived at school, the courtyard was already packed with students.
Laughter and chatter filled the air, but a lingering unease clung to him like a shadow.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake it off.
"Forget it... It was just a dream. Nothing more."
He headed to his classroom and took his usual seat.
"Well, look who finally showed up."
A familiar, mocking voice rang out.
Ishin stiffened.
A group of boys turned toward him, smirking.
"Ghost hunter's late again. What happened? Did you see another spirit on the way here?" one of them taunted.
Another boy chuckled darkly.
"Or maybe the ghosts finally caught him last night."
Laughter followed.
Ishin ignored them, staring ahead at his desk.
He had heard it all before.
But today…
Today, it didn't feel like a joke.
Because deep down
Something was watching him.
---