PROLOGUE

  Hundreds of years ago, there was an inn located in the rocky, isolated areas of Tokyo, Japan. This property was inherited by the Himuro family—a traditional Japanese family that, despite appearing much like any other, harbored a sinister secret.

  The Himuro family practiced a Shinto ritual known as the “Strangling Ritual,” in which the family patriarch would select a young girl from their lineage to be completely isolated from the outside world, forbidden from any contact to ensure she remained pure and untainted until the day of the ritual.

  This girl was called the “Maiden of the String Shrine.” When a girl reached the designated age, she would be taken to the mansion’s garden, where there was a gate said to hold the pathways to hell, which harbored “Malice” in the world. To shield their descendants from misfortune for the next several years, they believed the girl needed to be offered as a sacrifice to prevent karma from falling upon them.

  The maiden would be tied with ropes around her legs and wrists, which were then fastened to horses (or oxen, depending on some accounts). The patriarch would conduct the ceremony, and the horses would be made to run in opposite directions, tearing the girl apart.

  The ropes, drenched in the maiden’s blood, were used to seal the gates of hell, ensuring that karma was kept at bay. The blood was spilled over the portal to seal away the malice, guaranteeing the Himuro family’s prosperity for the next 50 years, at which point the ritual would need to be repeated.

  However, during the last recorded ritual, something went horribly wrong. The chosen maiden fell in love with a young man she saw through a window. Her soul, meant to remain pure, became tainted, unleashing an inexplicable wrath upon the family patriarch.

  From that moment on, none of the Himuro were safe from karma—or, perhaps, from its physical manifestation.

  EPISODE 1:

  “THE MAIDEN OF THE STRING SHRINE”

  HIMURO MANSION, JAPAN, 1954

  The Himuro estate is designed like the ancestral homes of feudal Japan, from an era when kimonos were still worn. It features halls, rooms, grand staircases, and red accents on the walls, as well as at the main entrance.

  It’s nighttime at Himuro Mansion. Another strangling ritual is supposed to take place, but something has gone wrong.

  We see feet in sandals and socks running down a long corridor toward us. Then we see a white garment, and as it passes the kitchen door, we catch sight of a beautiful young woman holding up her white kimono to run more easily.

  Her name is Mino, 18 years old, with long black hair and bangs.

  Mino is fleeing from something. She stumbles to the kitchen floor and sees her mother—a woman appearing to be around 60 years old, dressed in a golden kimono with geisha makeup—hiding under the table.

  — Mother?

  — Shh! Child, karma has fallen upon us, and now your father has gone mad.

  — Why is Father doing this?

  — You know very well the rules of the ritual, my daughter. You should never have met that young man!

  — But I love him, Mother! It’s not fair—I’ve been trapped in this house for so many years, only to find out it’s all for this family’s whims.

  A furious male voice echoes through the mansion:

  — MINO, WHERE ARE YOU?

  The mother grabs Mino’s arms and whispers:

  — Child, your father will never forgive you for what has happened. But you still have a chance to escape. Go and find the man you love—run away with him!

  — But… what about you? What about my brothers and uncles?

  — Don’t worry about me, Mino. I am strong and will endure anything. Now go!

  Mino gets up, but her father appears at the kitchen doorway.

  He looks to be in his early 60s, with gray hair tied in a samurai-style bun. He is holding a bloodstained katana, presumably already used on others earlier that night.

  — MINO-CHAN!

  — Father?

  — You have brought disgrace upon this family! And now you will pay dearly!

  — Father, please!

  The mother rises from under the table and tries to calm her husband.

  — My husband, if you have even a shred of compassion left in your heart, spare the life of your poor daughter.

  — She has tainted the ritual! This family is now cursed by karma!

  Mino notices the blood dripping from her father’s katana.

  — What have you done? Why is there blood dripping from your sword?

  Her father gazes at the katana, admiring his reflection in the crimson-stained blade.

  — Your uncles and brothers dared to defy me, so…

  — You killed them? What harm could they possibly have done to you?

  — This is the only way to save our family from the curse. Blood must be spilled tonight!

  — Don’t you dare touch my daughter! You’ve gone mad! Pray to the kami (神, gods or deities in Shinto) to forgive us and free us from this malice.

  — It’s too late, woman. Tonight is the last chance to perform the ritual. And I will make sure it is done perfectly.

  — MINO, RUN!

  The mother steps between Mino and her father. He swings his sword brutally, decapitating her.

  — MOTHER!

  Mino watches in horror as her mother’s head rolls across the kitchen floor. Without hesitating, she runs.

  She slides open the doors to another room and hears a young man’s voice.

  — MINO-CHAN!

  — YORO-KUN?

  Yoro, 21, with straight black hair styled in a mushroom cut, reaches out to her.

  — Hurry! Come with me!

  — You can’t stay here! My father has lost his mind—he’ll kill us both!

  — Quickly! Let’s run away together!

  Mino grabs Yoro’s hand, and the two dash across the mansion’s front garden, heading for the exit. But her father follows, sword in hand, seething with rage.

  The couple reaches the gate, and Yoro tries desperately to open it.

  — Hurry! He’s coming!

  — Listen to me, Mino-chan. No matter what happens, you will always be the best thing that ever happened to me. I’ll never forget you, my sweet maiden.

  — Yoro-kun, I… I love you.

  — I love you too… Mino-chan.

  Yoro kisses Mino tenderly, but they are quickly interrupted by her father’s enraged voice.

  — CURSE YOU! YOU’VE DISHONORED THIS FAMILY!

  — Mr. Himuro, please, have mercy! Your daughter is innocent!

  — NO! My daughter was meant to be the pure example that would seal the malice for another 50 years. DAMN THE DAY YOU CAME TO THAT WINDOW, YOU WRETCH!

  — Mr. Himuro, if you cannot have mercy on me, then please have mercy on your daughter.

  — Father, please!

  — NO! I must complete the ritual. Mino must die.

  Mr. Himuro prepares to drive the sword into Mino’s chest, but Yoro steps in front of her. The blade pierces not only Yoro but also Mino, going straight through both of them.

  The two bleed and collapse to the ground, writhing in agony.

  — Mi… Mino-chan.

  — Yoro-kun.

  They embrace, lying face-to-face on the ground, waiting for death to take them.

  Mr. Himuro returns to the mansion. Standing alone in the main room, he gazes at a family portrait on the wall—likely the previous patriarch.

  — Forgive me, Father! I offer myself as a sacrifice to honor our family.

  Mr. Himuro places the tip of his sword on the floor, points it upward, and falls onto it, driving the blade through his body. Thus, the Himuro patriarch falls.

  Legend has it that to this day, the spirits of those who perished in Himuro Mansion continue to try to complete the ritual with anyone who dares to enter. Over time, the mansion “disappeared from the map.” No one knows where it is anymore. Perhaps it’s better that way—for the story of the Himuro family to be forgotten.

  At least… for now.

  TOKYO, JAPAN, PRESENT DAY

  Morning arrives on a dirt road winding toward a mountainous region on the outskirts of Tokyo. A car is making its way along the path, carrying the Miyazaki family.

  Driving is the father, Kaiba—55 years old, 1.60m tall, with graying hair and glasses. In the passenger seat sits the mother, Mei—50 years old, 1.56m tall, with dark brown hair always tied back and a robust face, knitting quietly.

  In the back seat is Saori, the eldest daughter—17 years old, 1.65m tall, with short black hair reaching her chin and bangs framing her face. Beside her is her younger sister, Kato—7 years old, with long black hair and bangs, holding a bunny-shaped teddy bear in her hand. Clearly bored, Kato pipes up:

  — Papa, Mama, are we there yet?

  — Sweetheart, please don’t rush us. You know your father can’t drive too fast because of his heart.

  — My heart is just fine, dear. If I wanted to, I could speed up and get us there faster.

  — Oh, please, darling. What kind of example are you setting for your daughters? Right, Saori?

  Saori, wearing headphones, is lost in thought, gazing out the window at the passing scenery.

  — Saori? Saori, honey?

  Startled, Saori notices her mother calling her and quickly removes her headphones.

  — Sorry, Mom. What did you say?

  — You’re off in another world, young lady.

  — No, it’s nothing, I just...

  Kaiba interrupts:

  — She’s probably missing some boyfriend she left back in Kyoto, isn’t that right?

  — Dad? Of course not! That’s horrible!

  — Come on, tell the truth. A pretty girl like you must’ve been popular at school.

  — Ugh, here we go.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Mei interjects:

  — Don’t worry, sweetie. At your new school, you’ll make new friends, finish high school, and head off to college soon.

  — Mom, it’s not that. You know I was the first one to agree we should move to Tokyo.

  — Then what’s been on your mind, honey?

  — Nothing. I was just... thinking about Takeru.

  ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL, HONG KONG, CHINA

  A classroom full of uniformed students listens attentively as their teacher explains something on the board. The bell rings.

  — Alright, see you all in tomorrow’s class!

  In the back seat by the window sits Takeru Miyazaki—17 years old, 1.70m tall, with straight dark brown hair. Takeru, Saori’s twin brother, had been sent to boarding school after allegedly being reported for drug trafficking in Kyoto.

  As the other students leave the classroom, Takeru remains seated, lost in thought, staring out the window.

  The teacher notices and approaches him.

  — Miyazaki? Mr. Miyazaki?

  — Huh? (startled) What is it?

  — Class is over.

  Takeru looks around and realizes the room is empty.

  — Oh... Right. Sorry, I’m leaving now.

  He packs his notebook and other materials into his bag and walks out, visibly disoriented.

  Cut to Takeru in the school bathroom, splashing water on his face. He pauses to look at his reflection in the mirror, but then hears a sound coming from one of the bathroom stalls.

  Takeru turns his head, finding nothing unusual. Looking back at the mirror, however, he notices, in the reflection, a pale white female foot stepping down beneath the stall door. A second foot follows.

  As he glances upward, a bluish-white hand grips the stall door. Takeru begins to sweat, his heart racing with every second. When he hears the stall door creak open, he doesn’t hesitate—he bolts from the bathroom.

  The scene shifts back to the stall. There is nothing there.

  In the hallway, Takeru walks unsteadily, bumping into a classmate.

  — Hey, Takeru-kun. What’s up with you? You’ve been acting weird all week.

  — It’s nothing, Sato. I’m fine.

  — Are you sure? You look pale—like you’ve seen a ghost.

  — I told you, I’m fine.

  — Alright, if you say so. Oh, by the way, Director Li wants to see you.

  — Me? What did I do this time?

  — Don’t ask me, man. You’d better find out yourself.

  — Damn it.

  DIRECTOR LI’S OFFICE, 10 MINUTES LATER

  Director Li, a 55-year-old man with half-gray, half-black hair and glasses, sits at his desk as Takeru knocks on the door.

  — Come in, Mr. Miyazaki.

  — Director Li, you called for me?

  — Yes, please take a seat.

  — I... uh... (sitting) I’m sorry.

  — Sorry for what?

  — I haven’t been paying attention in class lately. I’ve been so distracted; maybe the teachers are complaining about my performance.

  — No, young man. Quite the opposite. I didn’t call you in to reprimand you but to give you good news.

  — Good news?

  — Yes, yes. The school board and I have reviewed your recent behavior and... we see no reason for you to stay here for another entire year.

  — Wait... Really? But, Director Li, what I did in Kyoto was...

  — ... The past is the past, young man. We all know what you did was wrong, but you’ve shown remorse and came to this boarding school seeking redemption and discipline. And, frankly, you’ve performed better than students who’ve been here for over two years.

  — So, does this mean... I’m going home?

  — Yes, but for now, don’t mention it to anyone. We don’t want to jinx good news, do we? Wait for final approval from the board, and I’ll notify you of your departure date. We’ll also inform your parents.

  — Thank you so much, Director Li! (He bows deeply in traditional Japanese fashion) This has made my day. Thank you, truly!

  — You’re welcome, young man.

  As Takeru exits, Li leans back in his chair with a sigh.

  — Poor boy, so young and already burdened with so much. It’s best for him to be with his family.

  HIMURO MANSION, TOKYO, JAPAN – HALF AN HOUR LATER

  The Miyazakis’ truck pulls into the driveway of the grand mansion. Over the years, the house has undergone renovations, adding new rooms, floors, and features such as an old service elevator and a barn at the back of the property.

  Saori steps out of the car, mesmerized by the mansion’s grandeur.

  — Oh my God! Why didn’t you tell me it was a place like this, Mom?

  — It was meant to be a surprise, dear.

  — This must’ve cost a fortune!

  — It’s the result of my commissions and the sale of our shares in Kyoto. We even got a huge discount to finance this mansion—interest-free, too. — said Kaiba.

  Kato gazes at an upstairs window and says to her mother:

  — Who’s that lady?

  — What lady, sweetheart?

  — That one in the window.

  Mei looks at the upstairs window but sees nothing.

  — Oh, honey, it’s just the curtain. We really need to get your eyes checked, don’t we?

  Saori takes out her phone and snaps a few pictures, aiming at the same window Kato had pointed out.

  Kaiba interrupts her.

  — Hey, hey, influencer. You can snap pictures later. Let’s get the luggage inside. Come on!

  — Fine, Dad.

  Saori slides her phone into her jean skirt pocket.

  ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL, HONG KONG, 11:30 PM

  In the boys’ dormitory, with several bunk beds lined up like a barracks, Takeru lies on one of the beds, staring at a photograph. Only a bit of his hair and possibly another person in the photo are visible.

  He sighs, tucks the photo under his pillow, turns to the side, and begins to think. Voices of past memories echo in his mind. A nostalgic yet lonely look crosses his eyes as small tears start rolling down his face.

  In the dead of night, he muffles the whispers of longing in his chest, hiding his emotions so that none of the other boys know what’s on his mind.

  MIYAZAKI MANSION, TOKYO, MORNING

  Saori is finishing getting ready in front of her vanity mirror when she hears her mother’s voice.

  — Girls! Come on, or we’ll be late!

  — I’m coming, Mom!

  Saori grabs her backpack, slings it over her shoulders, and leaves her room. As she approaches the staircase, she feels a slight dizziness and fragments of memory involving a staircase flash in her mind.

  She steps back, leans against the wall, closes her eyes, and her hands begin to tremble. She struggles to breathe but finally regains some control, though she doesn’t dare take a step.

  Still with her eyes shut, she feels the small hand of Kato holding hers.

  — Come on, Sis. I’ll help you!

  — Kato?

  — Mom said sometimes you’re scared of going down the stairs, so she told me to help you whenever that happens.

  Kato holds her sister’s hand and helps her down, step by step. Saori feels a mix of embarrassment and deep emotion at her sister’s caring gesture.

  The two make it to the bottom of the stairs. Mei appears and looks at them.

  — Is everything okay here?

  — Mom, I helped Saori down the stairs like you asked.

  Mei looks at Saori, who says nothing but nods, still somewhat flustered by her sister’s action.

  YAMATO HIGH SCHOOL, TOKYO, MORNING

  A teacher in the classroom asks the students to quiet down. They all sit in their chairs and fall silent.

  — Students, today we have a new student who just transferred from Kyoto. Please come in, dear.

  Saori enters the room, clutching her backpack with both hands in front of her. She is already wearing the school’s traditional uniform.

  — This is Saori Miyazaki. She recently moved to Tokyo and will now be studying her final year with us. Saori?

  — It’s a pleasure to meet you all! I’m Saori, 17 years old. I live with my parents and my younger sister, Kato. It’ll be a pleasure to study here with you.

  The class responds in unison:

  — Welcome, Miss Saori!

  — Saori, dear, please find an empty desk and settle in.

  — Thank you!

  Saori scans the room for a free seat. A girl near the back, with light brown hair tied in a ponytail and bangs, waves to her.

  — Over here!

  Saori walks over to the desk next to the girl. She sits down, and the girl greets her.

  — Nice to meet you! I’m Aeka Shijimori. My parents are from Kyoto too. Welcome to Tokyo!

  — The pleasure is mine, Miss Aeka. Thank you so much.

  — Don’t worry. The students here are pretty friendly. You’ll do just fine.

  — That’s a relief.

  ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL SPORTS COURT, HONG KONG

  The boys are finishing up a soccer match. One of Takeru’s teammates waves to him.

  — Takeru, pass the ball to me!

  Takeru tries to dribble past an opponent to pass the ball but decides to take a chance and shoot. Unfortunately, his shot is off-target and hits the post. The game ends as the referee blows the whistle.

  — GAME OVER, BOYS!

  Takeru leaves the court, disappointed with his performance. Sato approaches him.

  — Why didn’t you pass the ball, man?

  — I don’t know. Forget it. I’m heading to the showers.

  ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL LOCKER ROOM

  Takeru is taking a hot shower before the others arrive. He stands still for minutes, letting the water cascade over him, before turning off the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist.

  The bathroom is filled with steam, and Takeru hears a noise.

  — Sato? Is that you?

  There’s no response.

  — Hey! Guys, is it one of you?

  Takeru walks barefoot through the bathroom, trying to locate the source of the noise. He’s confused, unable to see clearly because of the steam. Clearing a space on the fogged mirror, he looks closely. A message is written in the condensation.

  “IT WAS YOU.”

  Takeru stumbles back in shock, falling to the floor. He breathes heavily for a few seconds until the other boys burst into the locker room. The thick steam is gone, and the boys are puzzled to find Takeru on the floor, wrapped in a towel, staring wide-eyed at the mirror.

  Sato approaches him.

  — Takeru-kun? Are you okay?

  Takeru looks at Sato, gets up, and leaves the locker room without a word.

  YAMATO HIGH SCHOOL, TOKYO

  During recess, Saori sits on the outdoor hallway steps with Aeka, chatting.

  — … And that’s how I ended up with a retake in Math. You should’ve seen me; I almost lost it.

  — Oh, Aeka. That’s rough! It’s the worst having to redo a subject.

  — Tell me about it!

  Two other girls approach them, standing nearby and talking.

  — Ugh, stop it, Sakura! You know I hate those stories.

  Aeka asks:

  — What’s going on, girls?

  — Ugh, Aeka, Sakura here is telling me these horror stories again. I won’t sleep tonight!

  — No, but I’m serious. This one actually happened.

  Aeka turns to them, with Saori silently listening.

  — What is it, Sakura?

  — It’s about a case of demonic possession that happened two years ago in a nuns’ asylum in Ireland. I heard that one night, all the elderly residents there became possessed by some demonic force.

  Saori couldn’t help but feel intrigued by what she heard.

  — That’s terrifying! Where did you hear that? – Aeka asks.

  — How can you not know? It was all over the news. Look!

  She shows them a news article on her phone, featuring a photo of several nuns gathered together, with bold headlines such as:

  MACABRE INCIDENT AT ST. AGATHA ASYLUM IN NORTHERN IRELAND – VATICAN INVESTIGATES CASE OF DEMONIC POSSESSION – MOTHER SUPERIOR ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING COLLEAGUES – ST. AGATHA ASYLUM FIRE: WAS IT THE WORK OF SATAN?

  — And here, in another article, there’s a photo of this woman. They say she performed an exorcism on her own.

  WHO IS OLIVIA BROWN? NURSE, 32, PERFORMS SACRED RITUAL WITHOUT PRIESTLY AID – SAINT OR FRAUD?

  Saori, after hearing and seeing all this, asks:

  — Do you believe in these stories? Couldn’t it just be exaggerated marketing to promote the asylum?

  Kaoro responds:

  — Honestly, I don’t know. But just thinking about ghosts and demons gives me the chills. I’m going to binge-watch “Baby Looney Tunes” and forget we ever had this conversation.

  Kaoro walks away, followed by Sakura. Aeka turns to Saori.

  — Wow, that’s wild! You don’t believe in this stuff, do you, Saori?

  Saori stays silent for a moment, staring into space.

  — Saori? Saori?

  Aeka calls her a few more times, and suddenly, her voice grows deep and harsh, with a chilling tone.

  — SAORI!

  — AHHHH!

  — Hey, calm down. What’s wrong?

  — It’s nothing, Aeka. I just… I haven’t been sleeping well these days. But I’m fine.

  MIYAZAKI MANSION, TOKYO, 7 PM

  In the dining room, Kaiba had arrived earlier to have dinner with his family. Kato excitedly recounts her first day at school to her parents, while Saori stirs her pasta without eating or saying a word.

  — … That’s great, my little angel! Daddy is proud of you. And you, Saori? How was your day?

  Saori seems lost in thought.

  — Saori!

  — Huh? Oh, Dad!

  — What’s wrong, dear?

  Mei interjects:

  — She’s been like this since I picked her up from school.

  — No, I’m fine, it’s just...

  Mei’s phone rings.

  — Who could it be? Excuse me for a moment, everyone. I’ll answer this.

  Mei steps out of the dining room to take the call by the door.

  — Hello? (T) Yes, it’s me. Who’s speaking? (T) Oh, of course, of course. Is there a problem? (T) Oh my God! Are you serious? (Glancing at her family at the table) (T) No, that’s perfectly fine. Don’t worry; we’ll take care of everything. Thank you so much! (T) Okay, I’ll wait for your call. Goodbye!

  Mei hangs up and returns to the dining room with a smile. Kaiba looks curious.

  — What happened, Mei?

  — I have wonderful news! Takeru has been released from his boarding school in Hong Kong for good behavior. He’s coming home!

  Kato cheers enthusiastically, while Saori reacts indifferently, as if it doesn’t matter to her whether her twin brother returns or not.

  ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL, HONG KONG, 9 PM

  Takeru brushes his teeth before bed. He spits into the sink, washes his face, and begins drying it with a towel when he hears that same sound coming from one of the bathroom stalls and a distorted voice calling him.

  — Please, not again, not again, not again.

  Takeru lowers his head to the sink, his hands trembling.

  — It’s not real, it’s not real, it’s not real.

  As something approaches him from behind, Takeru continues whispering to himself until a hand touches his.

  — AHHHHHHHHH!

  — Calm down, Takeru. It’s me!

  — Sato-kun?

  Takeru crouches against the bathroom wall, struggling to breathe. Sato kneels beside him, holding his hand. Another dormmate joins them.

  — Calm down, Takeru. You’re having a panic attack. Ryota, help me with him.

  — On it.

  Sato, tall with a long neck and bleached blonde hair, and Ryota, shorter with dark brown hair and glasses, sit on either side of Takeru.

  — Why are you doing this? Why are you here?

  — We’ve noticed you having these episodes before, Takeru, – says Sato.

  — Yeah, sometimes we hear you crying at night.

  — You… you’ve heard me?

  — A few times. We never said anything because you always act tough, and we didn’t want you to think we were jerks, – answers Ryota.

  — Please… Sato-kun, Ryota-kun… Don’t tell Director Li or anyone else. If they find out about my panic attacks… they won’t let me go home.

  — You can count on us, Takeru-kun, – says Sato.

  The three stay in the bathroom until Takeru finally calms down.

  MIYAZAKI MANSION, KATO’S ROOM, MIDNIGHT

  Kato sleeps peacefully in her comfortable bed until a strange voice calls her.

  — KAAATOO… KATO!

  Kato stirs, her eyes fluttering open.

  — KAAATO… COME PLAY WITH ME!

  Still groggy, Kato sits up, confused.

  — Big sis? Is that you?

  — I’LL SHOW YOU SOMETHING REALLY COOL, KATO.

  The closet door begins to open slowly. Kato’s eyes widen as the creaking door grates on her ears, an involuntary dread gripping her young heart.

  The little girl is paralyzed, staring into the darkness of the closet.

  — Sa… Saori-chan? Is it you?

  She continues to gaze into the blackness until an eye suddenly opens in the shadows. Kato screams and cries uncontrollably.

  — AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!! DADDY, MOMMY!

  Saori hears her sister’s screams and bolts out of bed, running to her sister’s room. She yells for her as she rushes down the hallway.

  — KATO! KATO!

  Saori bursts into the room to find Kato crying on her bed, clutching her stuffed bunny.

  — KATO, WHAT HAPPENED? (Sitting on the bed and hugging her)

  — A BOY! THERE’S A BOY IN THE CLOSET!

  — What?

  Saori looks at the closet, its door now closed. Kaiba and Mei enter shortly after.

  — What’s going on here?

  — Saori, what’s wrong with Kato?

  — I don’t know, Mom!

  — Mommy, there’s a boy in my closet.

  — What? Sweetheart, you must have had a nightmare.

  — No, it wasn’t a nightmare. I heard his voice. He said I shouldn’t be in this house, that I’m an intruder, and if we don’t leave willingly, they’ll force us out.

  Saori stares at Kato, then looks at her mother, who exchanges a troubled glance with Kaiba.

  ZHANG LI BOARDING SCHOOL, DORMITORY

  Takeru tosses and turns in his bunk bed, sweating profusely, as if trapped in a nightmare. Voices echo in his mind until one grows louder and clearer:

  — GO BACK AND PROTECT YOUR SISTERS!

  Takeru wakes up with a start, screaming:

  — SAORI-CHAN!!!

  MIYAZAKI MANSION, KATO’S ROOM

  Kaiba stands by the closet, addressing Saori.

  — Saori, take your sister out of here. I’ll handle this.

  — But Dad?

  — Honey, what are you going to do?

  — If there really is someone in this house, it’s my duty to protect my family. Hurry, Saori! Take Kato!

  — Okay.

  Saori picks Kato up and leaves the room.

  — DADDY, BE CAREFUL! HE’S IN THERE!

  As they flee, in the dark corridor, a woman in white glides past in the distance, vanishing from sight.

  — Sis, I’m scared!

  — Don’t worry, Kato. Everything will be fine.

  The two enter Saori’s room. She places Kato on her bed.

  In Kato’s room, Kaiba counts down.

  — Ten…

  In Saori’s room, she searches for her phone.

  — What are you doing, sis?

  — Calling the police. If there’s an intruder, they need to be caught.

  Back in Kato’s room, Kaiba continues.

  — Seven… six…

  In Saori’s room, the lights flicker. Kato looks up, increasingly terrified.

  Saori nervously fumbles with her phone, accidentally opening her photo gallery. Her eyes widen in horror at the last photo she took outside the mansion. She gasps, her hand covering her mouth as her world begins to crumble.

  In Kato’s room, Kaiba flings open the closet. His brave expression falters into one of shock.

  — Oh my God!

  In Saori’s room, she remains frozen, staring at her phone, her throat tightening with fear.

  — My… my God.

  Kato points and screams:

  — SIS, LOOK OUT!

  Saori drops her phone, turns, and screams in terror at what she sees.

  — AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

  The nightmare of the mansion had only just begun.