Departure

The scarlet hue gave place to the deep blue of the nocturnal sky, while the three did random things to pass the time.

"All is ready, backpacks stocked, special charms stored… Let's go!"

"Let's go..."

The two say simultaneously, equally uninterested… Because for some reason, she always left the explanations for when they were on the way.

"So, I'll explain this time's investigation..."

Sheila starts reciting the details of the case.

In the middle of the night, walking near the station.

Be it in the forest, the park, or the stairs of said station…

The presence of kids is noticed.

Even if hesitant, the people felt a strong allure, and went towards them.

The people are then noticed, and come to their senses just in time for the next train.

If you compare everything, you will notice… they also always awaken in the same area of the station.

Without any memory of what happened after approaching the kids, and only being able to remember the features of one.

"Which means, we only need to walk around the place until we see those kids!"

"At least there's no abandoned house invasions this time..."

Kyou seems relieved after noticing that.

"But won't we just forget what happened?"

Makoto points out the obvious logic flaw.

"Do not worry, my dear Makoto… For this is what the special memory protection charm is for! It should also help with other things, apparently."

Sheila points to her own charm, put in her neck like a necklace and hidden below her shirt.

"...This cute thing?"

Makoto lifts his charm to see it better. It was hard to believe an omamori made with cute and colorful fabric would protect them from something like that.

"Ah! No, you need to keep it hidden Makoto!"

He reluctantly puts it back inside his gakuran.

"You must not leave it exposed, I already put them inside the omamoris, but even so it's best to hide them well..."

"So the real deal 's inside this?"

Sheila then notices Kyou did the same as Makoto. She stares at him for a second, and he hides it below his shirt.

Even if they didn't believe those things, Sheila did. Not doing what she asks in times like that just brings headaches, and so they just accept what she demands, usually.

"In my case, the bow should hide it well… The ideal would be you closing the gakuran, but I guess there should be no problems like this."

She sighs.

"If they notice our charms, they might not appear..."

"So that's why..." the two thought.

"Ah, we're here. From this point onwards, do not say anything about the legend or club, ok? Just chatter and idle talk~"

The station was around 15, 20 minutes from the school. Since the tale included the place surroundings, they were already inside the area of effect.

Since it was a poorly lit place, they turn on the flashlights.

For a while, no one said anything.

The path beside the forest was dark even with lights around, and they were the only ones there.

As they reached the park just beside the station, there were more street lights, and they turned their flashlights off.

Kyou finally broke the silence right after.

"I think I've never seen this place so empty before..."

That station was used daily by students and workers, and that park had toys and was popular with kids.

They themselves had already used the station many times, and played with those toys when younger.

For such a bustling place, seeing it lifeless, surrounded by silence and darkness, was somewhat shocking.

"I know things get calmer after rush hour, but here's… Really hella quiet."

You couldn't even hear animals, or the sound of the wind blowing.

Even their own voices were somehow muffled by the quietude.

No one tried to start a conversation, they just stayed still or looked around, waiting for time to go by.

But then…

"Hey, why don't we go home?"

Makoto said something unexpected. Sheila and Kyou look at him, surprised by this.

That man, who would even dye his hair blond and pick a fight with cops if his courage was doubted, wanted to go home early.

"Hey bro, I get that the mood here's kinda weird, but I don't think we gotta get outta here or anythin'."

"..."

"And stayin' here's much better than invadin' abandoned houses..."

From Makoto's point of view, he agreed going home now would have consequences.

Kyou really disliked invading abandoned places and old tunnels in the name of "investigations".

Going home earlier than expected would leave Sheila unsatisfied, and she'd most likely choose such a place as the next "target".

...She certainly would.

They were lucky until now, but if criminals or drug addicts appeared it'd be a disaster.

Makoto understands what Kyou means, but…

"There's something weird in the air. I don't think we should stay here."

Sheila, who was listening, noticed Makoto had goosebumps.

She made a smile as brilliant as a star, and playful like a joker.

"Makoto, that means we have even more reason to stay here..."

That changed to a provocative smile.

"Looks like the time you two will have to admit I was right all along is about to come!"

"..."

He stayed serious, and looked down at the ground with an apprehensive expression.

"Makoto?"

Sheila's smile vanished, and gave place to a confused face.

She never saw Makoto like that.

"Sheila, maybe we should listen to Makoto? Maybe there's a good reason why they did 0 investigations here till now… Ain't it better if we check that first? Or at least go home for today."

She never stopped to think about that.

She only thought no one got interested in the case till now.

After all, there was nothing dangerous in it, or exciting-

You would just go somewhere, and be unable to remember what happened...

She thought she'd be the difference, the first person to regard that case as a possible paranormal activity.

But maybe, that was not the reason?

"Yeah, let's just-"

Makoto lifted his head to agree, when he saw something in the forest.

"Kids?"

Without giving it a thought, he said out loud what he saw.

"Hihihi..."

"Hahahaha..."

As if that was the only noise permitted there, the laughter echoed through the park.

The other two looked in the direction.

At that moment, Makoto could only think of one thing.

That they should get out of there.

"Hey, let's get out of here. Please."

His pleas were useless.

Maybe due to the effect of the charms, none of them felt the weird urge to go that way...

But one of them never needed such things to brave the unknown.

Sheila was already heading there, with Kyou right behind so as to not leave her alone.

It was too late to escape.

Makoto ignores the growing sensation of discomfort, and runs after them so he won't be left behind.

The air felt colder the closer he got, and the shivers went from only his neck to the rest of his body.

Was he the only one who could feel that? The other two didn't seem to be affected the same way.

When he reached them, the three had just gotten right in front of the kids.

Or rather, the masses of darkness in the form of kids.

You could see them perfectly, even in the lightless forest, where you couldn't even see your own hands.

Maybe it was like a flashlight being used on your eyes during the day, a stronger light can be noticed and blind you, and a stronger darkness can be seen even in the gloom.

Their eyes and mouth were like holes of an even deeper darkness.

Their clothes were made of the same dark matter, that moved as if it was smoke.

In the group of five kids, there was a single girl.

Among the shadows, there was a single one without any face.

None noticed them, and just kept laughing.

The laughs, that from far away felt like they were from normal kids, from close up they are…

"Hihihihi"

"Hahahaha"

They are horror movie worthy.

Ignoring all that, acting as if it was the most natural thing, Sheila walked a step, then another.

Until she reached the only exception.

Makoto was stunned by the scene, while Kyou tried to stop her.

"Sheila, don't-"

But it was too late.

She puts her hand on his shoulder, the only person not made of shadows.

The common boy, with the bowl haircut, and empty eyes, that was quiet.

"Yo, youngster!"

Maybe she was the only person who'd be able to smile in that situation.

Seeing that made Makoto get a grip, and go in her direction, like Kyou.

The distance of a few steps felt so far away.

Ever since Sheila spoke, all the shadow kids looked their way.

Their laughter stopped, and the abyss that made their smiles became distorted.

Makoto felt like he'd pass out, but he kept going forward.

Kyou was right behind Sheila, and was about to grab her hand and get away from there…

But the youth with the bowl cut turned their way first.

"Who?"

He asks, looking straight into Sheila's eyes.

He was in front of them, but his voice sounded far away.

Makoto, who was farther away than the others, could see well-

The kids exploding, leaving only the faceless and the common looking one.

Were those truly "shadows"?

It was like putting an egg inside the microwave.

Because everything looks…

It all looks…

Shadows that were like organs, shadows that looked like clothes, until all that's left were the distorted smile and eyes like the abyss intact, before dissipating, and...

It was like seeing a person being disintegrated. Torn apart. Exploded.

Slowly.

Graphically.

Every part of the body, in a few seconds…

Those… shadows…?

And then, as if it was liquid, as if it was smoke, that darkness expanded.

It swallowed everyone there.

There's no way to see your own reflection without a mirror or reflective surface, this much is obvious.

So why?

Why can I see my own despaired face even so?

And everyone vanished.

Leaving no trace.

As if from the beginning, there was no one there