Prologue: Ayu sees them

Ayu wonders why the lady in a red dress refused to go inside.

The rain was terrible and so sudden that people scramble to find the nearest shade or open their umbrellas. Cars passing by honked loudly to alert the pedestrians crossing the street.

She and her friends luckily inside the small convenience store before the downpour. Matsuda, her classmate, insisted in staying here until the rain subsides. Mido just teased her that she just doesn't want her brand new pair of socks to get wet and the two got into into one of their mini squabbles again for that day.

While the two are busy exchanging snarky comments over cups of noodles, Ayu idly turned her attention to the people outside. That's when she saw the woman in red dress.

The woman is standing across the street directly opposite them. The torrential rain made it hard to see her face at first, only that the lady is tall and that red dress with thin straps is not certainly the type of outfit you'd like to be soaked on a downpour. Ayu leaned closer to the glass, squinting her eyes for a clearer look.

"Hey, Ichinose. What are you looking at?" Mido heartily slapped her back and Ayu almost sputtered out the noodles she's chewing. Being the fourth batter and shortstop of Itsukushima Middle School's softball team, Mido's arm is definitely not a joke.

"That woman…" Ayu murmured. Somehow, she can't take her eyes away from the mysterious girl. "Why'd you think she doesn't want to go inside?"

"What woman?" Matsuda demanded. "Hey, you're not teasing us again, aren't you?"

"I can't see a thing with all this rain," Mido said, peering at the window. "With rain this strong, I doubt anyone would be outside."

They can't see it. Ayu realized with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Again. Ayu schooled her face into a carefree smile before turning to her friends.

"Oh, sorry. I thought I saw someone out there. It's just a reflection of the convenience store sign on the puddles, see?" She pointed at the neon lights reflected on the road. "Hehe, it must be because I stayed up half the night watching dramas."

"On a school night?" Mido rolled her eyes. "I swear, Ichinose. If you fail your exams and left us on the semi-finals, I'd have coach make you run two extra miles during our morning practice. No way you still have energy left watching those dramas."

Ayu feigned shock, not that it could get any harder to look frightened. She could feel the icy spikes on her cheeks when the woman in dress is still standing right there, her long black hair covering her face.

"Hey, Mido. Cut it out. You're going to give her a heart attack," Matsuda teased, noting Ayu's ashen face. "Tell you what, why don't you leave the softball club and join the Drama club instead? You don't have to spend long hours sweating under the sun-"

"Pssh! There's no way Ichinose would think of joining your boring little club when she can shine in the field as an ace pitcher."

While her two friends talk, Ayu slowly turned her eyes outside, heart thrumming. Breathe, she told herself. Remember what Miu-neechan said. Breathe slowly and open your eyes. They won't harm her. They can't harm her.

The woman is nowhere to be found.

Ayu let out a sigh of relief. She realized she gained control of her fingers once again and she dipped her chopsticks to the now cold noodles.

The broth reflected her face and a tall, red figure standing on the opposite of the glass wall.

Ayu gasped and looked up. Both Mido and Matsuda stared at her in surprise.

"Are you really okay, Ichinose?" Matsuda touched her shoulder. "My goodness, you're pale as a sheet."

"Maybe she's coming down with a flu." Mido suggested. "Look, we can walk you back to your house when the rain is over…"

Ayu ignored them, her attention focused on the glass where a handprint is slowly forming on its surface right in front of her. Another handprint soon follows, just across the first one.

"....Can you see me?" A tiny, cold voice moaned in her ear. Ayu struggled not to shiver, careful not to avert her eyes from the handprints.

"It...hurts. I want you to see me.."

"No…" Ayu mumbled. "I can't.."

The handprints suddenly disappear. Ayu realized she's holding her breath far too long and exhaled. She's about to assure her friends when she heard the sound of glass cracking near her.

CAN YOU SEE ME?

Now standing against the glass wall, the woman's bloody face glowered at her, mouth hanging wide as blood gurgles out of her mouth. Her head, nearly split in two, sway unsteadily as if her neck had been broken and cannot bear its weight. Her blood-red eyes pierced through, her grotesque mouth trying to move as she struggles to speak.

CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?

Ayu can only sit there in muted shock.

The woman brought her hands down against the wall, destroying it in into a thousand shards. Ayu couldn't take it anymore. She closed her eyes and screamed.