Chapter 1: The Third Bell Rumor

Part 6: Yellow Hearts 

(Yui) 

               The claws came at them again, this time zeroing in on Maaya. Yui knew she had to act fast, or Maaya might be done for. Without hesitation, she shoved Maaya out of harm's way, taking a fraction of the clawed assault herself. The sheer power of the creature's attack sent it crashing through the walls, its claws briefly stuck in the structure.  

               Yui examined her injured arm. It was badly torn, marked by the creature's vicious claws. The pain and the sight of her own blood were overwhelming, yet Yui remained surprisingly calm. Maaya was safe, and that was all that mattered. But the relentless creature showed no sign of giving up easily. Yui realized that if she could lead it away, Maaya might have a chance to live. So, she made her choice. Swiftly, she removed her raincoat, wrapped it around her injured arm, and yelled at the creature, trying to get its attention. She needed it to follow her. 

               Maaya watched the entire harrowing scene, her shock deepening as she saw Yui's blood. Yui was torn about leaving her newfound friend behind, but unlike her, Maaya would face real-life consequences if she perished in this nightmare. Just as Yui was about to sprint into the darkened hallways, she glanced back at Maaya and managed a brave smile. 

               "Thanks for being my friend, Maaya-san. Let's hang out again," Yui declared, her voice filled with determination, before turning and dashing away, with the relentless creature hot on her heels, both disappearing into the shadows of the twisting corridors. 

(Maaya) 

               As Yui sprinted down the hallway, Ryo tore through the walls with his razor-sharp claws, beginning his relentless pursuit. Maaya found herself utterly paralyzed, incapable of taking even the simplest action. Whether it was the gruesome sight of blood or the harsh reality of the situation, she remained rooted in place. With Yui gone, it was only a matter of time before Ryo returned for her. Trapped and defenseless, she faced the looming threat with despair settling in. In this desperate moment, a question echoed in her mind. 

               "So, that’s it? You’re just going to sit here and die?" 

               Maaya's response was tinged with hopelessness. "What can I do? Nothing makes sense, and even if I try something, that thing out there, it’ll kill me." 

               Her inner voice chimed in with a different perspective. "Come on, haven't you picked up anything from that girl? Whether you fight back or hide, staying here won't do a damn thing. If you ask me, you got yourself here because you fought with a friend. If you’re going out anyway, I think you should go out while fighting for one." 

              A momentary silence lingered in the air, accompanied by the echoes of screeching and a fading roar in the background. Maaya released a brief sigh, colored by a mixture of annoyance and acceptance, as she chuckled. "God, I hate it when you're right, even if it's utterly stupid."

               "Heh, we really are nailing that part recently, aren’t we?" came the response. 

               Although Maaya realized that her course of action might be recklessly daring, she knew she had to act. After all, she owed that much to herself and her friends. 

               "You were both right, Miyo, Hana. Oh, how I wish I could see your stupid faces again. Here goes nothing," Maaya muttered, arming herself with her textbooks filled backpack. It might not be much, but it was better than nothing. With cautious determination, she followed the creature, hoping against hope that she wouldn't be too late. 

(Miyo & Hana) 

               Standing there in their own classroom, it all felt strangely surreal, even though it really shouldn't have. Miyo absentmindedly fiddled with Aunt Sato's old, musty scarf, which was causing her an unexpected bout of sneezing. Meanwhile, Hana struggled with an attempt to make the broom stand upright, a task more challenging than it should have been. 

               Apart from the faint chatter drifting in from the neighboring classroom, the room remained eerily quiet. Except for Aunt Sato's incessant tapping sounds on her small Nokia cell phone. She had been out there for what felt like an eternity, shouting at anyone who ventured near, and making rounds. Just as the first bell chimed, she leaned into the classroom through the window to go over the plan. 

               "So, you two at least remember what you're supposed to do, right?" she asked, her eyes betraying a hint of uncertainty. 

               "I think so. Find Maaya, wrap this scarf around her with us, and wait. But what if we can't find her?" Miyo voiced her concerns with a followed-up sneeze. 

               "Then it's too late. The scarf will merge the dreams whether you find her or not. Let's just hope that you do find her before that," the elderly woman replied as she gazed intently at the crimson bell. 

               Hana couldn't help but asked, "Aunt Sato, umm, why are you helping us?" Her suspicion about Aunt Sato's motives lingered.  

               As the old woman cleared her throat with a deliberate cough, her gaze grew more solemn as she spoke, 

               "Because, naive children, just as every dream has its beginning, so too an end. Your friend's entanglement with one is prolonging its true nature. The waiting, it's an agony for both the dream and the dreamer," Aunt Sato continued while letting out a soft sigh, "And this dreamer, they have dreamt for far too long." 

               And so, the bells started to toll. It was weird because while the first and second bells were clear as day, the third one wasn't. With each mellow chime, the walls seemed to shift, going from pale white to a worn, dirty look. Clusters of claw marks slowly etched themselves into the walls, and the clouds outside began to change colour. Aunt Sato's spot glitched and flickered with bursts of orange light, until she herself disappeared into thin air. As Miyo took a step, she found herself on the floor, surrounded by a cascade of hair. 

               "Holy hell, so this is that dream Aunt Sato was talking about. Looks more like a nightmare to me," Miyo remarked as she wandered around the disjointed classroom. 

               "Yeahhh ... Miyo, let's just quickly find Maaya and get out of here," Hana suggested, using her broom as a makeshift shield. 

               As the two girls embarked on their search, a loud noise from down the hall grabbed their attention. They paced swiftly but cautiously and stumbled upon a spray of blood across the wall and floor. 

               "Could this be Maaya's? Oh God, please let her be safe," Miyo prayed, her face a mix of horror and concern. 

               "Could be. We better watch our steps; whatever did this can't be too far. Also, look! The blood left behind footprints, they look like Maaya's shoes," Hana pointed out as she examined the nearby bloodstains. 

               "She must be hurt. We need to hurry, fingers crossed we find her in time," Miyo said, taking the lead without hesitation. 

               As they strolled down those spooky, shadowy hallways, a scarf began to give off a gentle glow that illuminated their path. Gradually, that faint light grew stronger, going from candle-like dimness to the brightness of a flashlight. With every step and the increasing radiance, the grimy walls began to morph into something more familiar. It was like a mix of dreams and reality, but Maaya was still nowhere to be seen. Just when things felt hopeless, a bold shout shattered the silence. 

               "HEY! You! You ugly thing! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" It was unmistakably Maaya's voice, and she sounded furious. 

               Both Miyo and Hana recognized the voice and rushed to her aid, only to be met with a sight they couldn’t comprehend. It was a vision of an abyss, a vast expanse of flesh and bones beneath the slumbering star and the fractured sky.

Part 6: End