Chapter 4: Funhouses And Corridors
I
Minami and Takara enacted their plan of attempting to catch the ghost or shadow that they saw. They both split up at an entry way that divided in a T Section, going on opposite ends of the hallway and going past rows of windows that showed the slanting angles of the reddening sun. Minami shook her head, letting her blonde-tipped pigtails fall in soft curled tufts around her ovular face, a white-toothed grin spreading across her high cheek-boned face as she looked toward the end of the hallway, where shadows lay.
“If you’re done there, Shadow…then your target is me!”
There was silence, and for a moment, Minami thought nothing was going to happen. She peered into the darkness beyond, stepping forward cautiously as she used the flashlight on her phone to catch sight of any unusual shifting in the darkness or an oncoming unnatural chill that came into the room. Her footsteps clicked against the tiled floors, resounding throughout empty corridors and hallways and entryways, where they echoed and rebounded like maddening, cacophonous footfalls of an approaching stalker in rhythm to her frantic heartbeats.
Minami bit her lip, wondering where the shadow would jump out from. It could be hiding in any of these shadows, which she flicked her light over as she scanned the walls and ceilings and floors and crevices for anything that might indicate anything strange. She hadn’t found anything yet, though she kept on looking through the corner of her eye, wondering if she saw something amiss. The shadows, though still, had the potent energy of a predator stalking in the gloom of the jungle underbrush, waiting to pounce and snap its jaws against the jugular of its prey.
Minami swallowed before she flicked her light on one last final place she hadn’t investigated. The abandoned piano parlor. Sometimes people said that people could hear someone playing the piano in the dead of night in this room, and no one was in there. Minami didn’t believe in such stories, but after seeing the shadow, and everything else that she witnessed today and heard about from the librarian and Hotaru, she was beginning to re-conceptualize her version of reality and piece together a new understanding of what veils the underneath and secrets and mysteries of the supernatural.
Minami, with a thudding heart, flicked her light over toward the piano.
A chill seemed to fall over the room, and she saw something flicker toward the light. The thing, the darkness, and the moving shadow struck against the keys of the abandoned piano, a tremor of ghostly degrees of shrieking soprano while various octaves of moaning and groaning came from the shadow.
Minami high-tailed it out of there as fast as she could, making it toward the library. She texted Takara while she ran, saying that she found the shadow and pocketed her phone in her school cardigan before she did some parkour against the school walls, bouncing off the walls and leaping from ceilings and flipping across the floor and sliding down railings toward her destination. It was an impressive athletic feat that bespoke of Minami’s years of training to keep her body in tip-top condition.
However, the shadow managed to keep pace, seeming to be urged by a sense of bloodlust as it hounded her like a dog chasing a scent.
“You gotta be kidding me,” Minami said in disbelief before she tried to elude the shadow more by taking a different route, as the shadow tried to block all her paths of escape. “This thing just won’t give up!”
Luckily, along the way, she ran into Takara, who was running toward Minami for assistance. He made the shadow chase after him instead, in this elaborate game of tag, saying, “Come over here, spooky!”
The shadow hesitated for a few seconds before it detected something on Takara and started to follow after him.
Minami let out a pent-up breath of relief before she started dashing on her way toward the library.
However, luck wasn’t on her side, as the shadow that was currently tailing Takara decided to come back after her, spiraling and shooting through the hallways in a quick streak of ink black, leaving a trail of cosmic dust behind it.
Before she could elude it, it was already too late. The shadow stretched and engulfed her, leaving her in complete shadow. Minami gasped, choking on the miasmic shroud that surrounded her, before she noticed that she was no longer in the real world, but somewhere else entirely. The world that she was in was a distorted fun-house of mirrors where she heard the echoing footsteps of some stalker coming closer and closer. Minami caught her panicked reflection in various fractals of the fun-house mirror before she ran somewhere in the funhouse to hide. However, no matter where she ran in this twisted corridor of distorted shapes and sizes of her doppelgangers, the footsteps only approached and became louder.
Panting, Minami thought she heard some quiet breathing in the room. She dared not look behind her. She knew that it would be a mistake to do so, and she didn’t dare glimpse at the fun-house reflections to see what it was that pursued her.
Her heart pulsed to an all-time high, and sweat started to form a fine film across her body and drenched her clothes as she doubled back and around, trying to find an exit from this place. She was sure that she stank of fear. Whatever that shadow was, it was stronger in this world than it was in the physical world.
The footsteps paused.
Minami paused.
Her heart thudded in her throat, her eyes widened, and she tried not to hurl out of fear.
Then the footsteps continued.
Which Minami would continue this game of cat and mouse until she would find an exit.
But if I’m in this funhouse and I make it out, Minami thought. I wouldn’t make it outside of this world, would I?
Minami-san? She heard Kaede’s voice penetrate through her panic-induced mind. Are you all right?
I’m in the middle of something here, Minami thought, intuitively picking up on the fact that Kaede was speaking with her telepathically and she should not breathe a word. Where is Takara? Is he all right?
He is fine, Kaede said. But seems like you’re in a bit of a pinch. I’ll relay a message from him to you, though, while you’re toughing out what you’re going through.
What is going on? Minami thought in a daze, as she found a hiding place in a corner where her reflections didn’t show up on the funhouse corridor mirrors. What is this place?
It is a place known as the cognitive world, Takara explained. A dreamlike world that people delve into when they slip into the Phantom Realms, a psychic border between the living and the dead, dreams and physical reality. Whatever happens in the cognitive world can change you in the physical world. And if you die in the cognitive world or Phantom Realms, you go into a coma in the real world.
For real? Minami thought, swallowing and finding nothing in her throat except parched dryness like sandpaper. Who is the person that is trying to stalk me? Who would do this to me?
We’re not sure, Takara said. We’re in the middle of that investigation. However, we need to help you out of here, right? The reason why you’re unable to escape from this mental realm is because you’re overcome with fear. Fear is controlling you.
Of course, it is! Minami thought with a bit of tartness in her tone, before she realized how she was acting and flushed a little in embarrassment. Sorry. I’m a little on edge. Nothing’s happened so far, but it’s gonna be a matter of time before that thing gets to me.
Not to worry, she heard Yukiko’s voice echo through her mind amusedly. You have Kaede-chan and I here with you. We’re in the Phantom Realms as we speak, and you can say that I’m an expert at exterminating Apparitions or shadows such as these.
Is that what Weird Shadow is called? Minami wondered. An Apparition?
They try to catch and lure people into the Phantom Realms and feed on them, Takara explained. Humanity is filled with emotions. Love. Hatred. Fear. Hope. Despair. These are the many myriad emotions that humanity feels, and Apparitions thrive on them.
Great, I probably stink of sweat and fear and the lavender wash I used last night, Minami thought with a dejected sigh, before she said. Man, I have the worst of luck.
We’re here with you, Takara said comfortingly, trying to walk Minami through her fear. Remember, psychics, psionics, and magic are based on imagination and visualization, so whatever you visualize or imagine in the Phantom Realms becomes much stronger. You can rewrite the narrative into a happier one, or give yourself a weapon to fight against the creature if you choose. That is if you steady your nerves.
A weapon, huh? Minami thought, trying to visualize a weapon into her hand, something like a gun or a sword, but feeling nothing but the empty palm of her hand, which was clammy with sweat.
What happens if nothing is there when you visualize something?
Hm… Takara intoned, sounding perplexed. Curious.
Minami furrowed her brow. What is it that you’re not telling me, Takara?
Be quiet, Minami, he whispered. Be very, very, very quiet.
Minami hushed, daring not to breathe. Her eyes widened when she saw a flicker of a shadow wisp curl and form a tendril in the funhouse mirrors, and even though Minami couldn't see the thing that was encroaching upon the area, she knew that there was something dreadfully, dreadfully wrong, and she was about to be in serious trouble if she didn't do something. Could she rely on Takara on the others to save her before then? Damn it, she hated being so passive and having to be the one being rescued--normally she was the one that was doing the rescuing, though now that she was weakened and put in a position of vulnerability, she hated being seen as weak and in trembling fear.
The footsteps stopped, and the shadows started to form and surround the area like mist. Minami clasped her hands against her mouth as though the shadows were miasmic fumes that would threaten to choke her, and then the footsteps edged closer, taking their sweet old deliberate time. Minami wondered what would happen if this thing captured her, would it eat her, devour her soul, spirit her away into a personal purgatory or hell that would torture her endlessly over and over again? She didn't know, though she knew that she couldn't stay where she was.
Yet she couldn't move, or else her reflection would show up on the funhouse mirrors which would alert this entity to her presence. She had to hope that Takara and the others knew what they were doing, and that they would rescue her.
Suddenly, she heard Kaede in her head, who said, Bad news, Hotaru is in the dreamworld with you.
Ha? Minami thought in her head. How did she get in here? Did the shadow get to her too?
I'm afraid that Hypnos has lured her into the dream world to get you out of your hiding place, Minami-chan, Kaede said. So stay where you are, I know it's really tough, but whatever you do, don't look that shadow thing in the eyes, whether directly or through the funhouse mirrors. Yukiko-chan and I are working to dispel the shadow creature while Takara is working out a hostage negotiation with Hypnos to free Hotaru.
You gotta be kidding me, Minami said helplessly, though she winced as she noticed the miasmic vapors of the shadow becoming stronger and more pronounced. She wondered if she should do something like shatter the funhouse corridor mirrors and let them rain everywhere, but without a weapon of some sort, she couldn't do that. Was it possible that this creature could teleport through mirrors?
It was a shadow, it could maneuver and manipulate itself through the unlikeliest of places. So maybe she should break the mirrors to prevent the devilish Apparition from chancing upon her and eating her soul, though there might be one mirror that she thought she saw that was different from the others.
Kaede? Minami said. There was a mirror I saw that was different from the other ones. Is that the way out?
Yes, Yukiko said. We're allowing you to slip out, and once you're out of the funhouse mirrors, we're going to seal that mirror shut and trap the creature within. Then we'll work on the hostage negotiation tactic with Hypnos on your friend Hotaru. We'll rescue you both. We promise.
Damn it, Minami thought in despair. I'm so damned useless!
Takara remained silent for a few moments, before saying, Remember the happy narrative, Minami. That even in the greatest fear, in the greatest despair, the Hero overcomes the Dark Night of the Soul and overcomes evil and injustice and makes it through to the end a stronger person? This world was created by your fear--subconscious fears that you haven't quite realized. The shadow is playing on that, and Hypnos is gambling that you will give in and will become his willing puppet. Don't let him control you!
Minami gulped, swallowing dust. I...
Minami-chan, Kaede said. Make it to the mirror. Straight across. It will be through the monster, but if you don't let your fear control you, it can't hurt you. I promise.
It's playing mind games with you, Yukiko said. Trying to control and manipulate your fear into inaction and not making time to escape for yourself. You can make it out through the window of opportunity that we gave you--you just have to seize the chance and run and grab it. Will you fear everything and run...or will you rise to the occasion, Minami?
I...Minami thought dejectedly, thinking it through. I've always had to be strong. This is the first time that I've been cowed into submission by something that I would've found enjoyable as a ghost story. But you know what, if I reframe it, this thing is an Apparition--it's not even real. It's a ghost story. And ghosts CAN'T hurt you.
Minami slowly stood up, hands clenched into fists, visualizing a bow and arrow in her hands. Her hands and palms still sweated, though as her belief in herself and her newfound friends became stronger, she decided that she would rather rise up to the occasion rather than living life as a coward. She needed to save Hotaru! Wasn't she always there for her? Didn't she promise that she would protect Hotaru, no matter what?
I can do this, Minami thought, before a bright shining light enveloped her hands into vibrant warmth. A pink light eventually materialized into an intricate cupid-like bow, and Minami closed her eyes and nocked the arrow. The creature, which was alerted to her presence now, started to roar in unchained rage and swirled the entire funhouse in a deep maelstrom of shadow and mist and ghostly ectoplasm, though Minami could handle this. She had to.
She shot the arrow, straight and true, through the creature's heart. It let out another cry, one of agonized pain, and that was when Yukiko and Kaede came into the scene, with Yukiko slapped a tag on the shadow creature and folding her hands in a prayer-like position to evoke an element of light to dispel the shadowy creature into several, disintegrated pieces of sparkling illumination, tearing apart the whirling mists and miasma as a ray of light shot up toward the center of the funhouse.
Run with us, Minami, Kaede said. We can exist out of the funhouse mirrors, though we will stay behind in the cognitive world to rescue Hotaru. Though I have to say that you've done some fine shooting with your bow and arrows.
I was quite impressed myself, Yukiko said as she clapped her hands together and initiated another spell as they made their way toward an abandoned neighborhood that eerily resembled Tokyo except in reverse colors. Minami's house was somewhere nearby, and through a superliminal distortion, they made their way toward that house, which Yukiko explained was a Memory Palace.
That is your Memory Palace, Yukiko explained. These are constructs in the cognitive world that resemble an anchor or harbor of safekeeping, usually resembling an important place or image of one's own design through imagination to house their most important memories and secrets. We'll board up and guard there while Takara handles the hostage negotiation with Hotaru.
But I gotta do something! Minami said in despair before Kaede clapped a hand on Minami's shoulder and shook her blonde head.
That is a no can do, Minami-chan, Kaede said. I know it's hard, but Takara knows what he's doing. He will get out Hotaru safe.
I sure hope so, Minami said, though some doubt lingered. At least she was able to get over her fear of the Apparition which was feeding on her fear in the funhouse mirrors, though the fact that Hotaru came in to rescue HER was her fault, and Minami had to take responsibility for it. She made a promise, and if she couldn't keep that promise...what good was she?
She heard Takara somewhere through Kaede's telepathic relay as they boarded themselves in Minami's memory palace, watching with bated breath as Takara was buying time for Hypnos to reveal himself so that Takara can assemble his crack team investigators to rescue Hotaru and eventually make their way out of the cognitive world.
"I'm sure you understand the situation we're in, Hypnos," Takara said, trying to take on an agreeable tone that was nonthreatening and wouldn't trigger a dangerous bomb waiting to explode. "If you let Hotaru go, we will give you compensation that you won’t be able to deny."
"What I want is the girl that you're trying to protect," Hypnos intoned through their head, a rich, mellifluous chocolatey-rich voice that resonated with malice. "If you don't give in to my demands, then I may do something drastic."
"Don't do it, Minami-chan!" Hotaru shouted before Hypnos covered up her mouth with a hand.
"Silence, woman!" Hypnos said before a grin flashed across his face. "I know that you're hiding in your memory palace, Minami-chan. Why don't you come out and we do an exchange? You in exchange for Hotaru? You said you would protect Hotaru, wouldn't you?"
Takara remained silent for a few moments, before saying, "What is your aim, Hypnos? Why Minami? Why involve an innocent girl in this? You're better than that, right?"
Hypnos chuckled before he said. "You know, Takara, you seem like an agreeable man. I know that you would do anything to save that girl, but it's futile. Now we will see what happens in this standstill, and how destiny plays out, Takara."
Yukiko took out a magic mirror and showed all three of them the showdown between Hypnos and Takara, who were grandstanding among the street with the various wires and streetlights and stroboscopic lights flickering and flashing everywhere in this reverse color world. Takara looked white-faced and tense, though he tried to keep his composure and slowly unclenched his fists.
"I believe in Minami," Takara intoned. "I will not become your willing puppet either, Hypnos. Not without a fight."
"That's too bad," Hypnos said, looking amused more than anything. "I hope that you've said your prayers...I will give you time to say them."
"If there is a God, then I won't rely on him to save me," Takara said. "I trust and believe in myself."
