Anni walked home in a haze. The air was cool against her skin, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were too focused on the stream and the crushing feeling of failure. 400 views. Is that really the best I can do?

When she finally reached her apartment, she tossed her school bag onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh. The room was quiet—too quiet—and the emptiness of it only seemed to amplify her disappointment.

She kicked off her shoes, heading straight for her room without saying a word to her parents. The sound of her own footsteps echoed in the hall as she opened the door to her bedroom. The walls were covered with posters of her favorite streamers and gaming setups, a constant reminder of what she was trying to build.

The familiar hum of her computer greeted her as she sat down in front of it. She powered it on, watching the screen flicker to life. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, but she wasn’t sure what to do next. The thought of streaming again felt exhausting, especially after the low numbers.

But Anni wasn’t one to give up. She clicked open her browser, staring at the search bar. Maybe it was time to research some new content ideas—something fresh to boost her channel. She typed in a few keywords: “spooky places,” “ghost hunting,” “creepy locations.” Anything that could spark an idea for something viral.

She scrolled through a few websites, clicking on random articles and forums, but nothing stood out. She was about to give up and search for something else when a title caught her eye.

"Kuroshima Asylum—Will You Survive?"

Anni blinked, her eyes narrowing. She had heard the name before, but she didn’t know much about it. The article was filled with eerie pictures of an old, decaying building, surrounded by fog and darkness. The title alone sent a shiver down her spine.

"Kuroshima Asylum."

The name sounded almost... haunted. Something about it piqued her curiosity. She clicked on the link, and a forum post appeared with numerous comments from people sharing their chilling experiences or warnings about the asylum. Some claimed it was cursed, others spoke of strange noises and sightings inside the walls.

As Anni read through the posts, she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. One post in particular grabbed her attention:

"People who go into Kuroshima never come back... not the same, at least."

Anni’s eyes widened. That’s... intense.

She scrolled further, finding a section about the history of the asylum. It was once a psychiatric hospital, notorious for its cruel treatments and shady experiments. The place had been abandoned for years, but rumors about the ghosts of its former patients still haunted the area.

The more she read, the more intrigued she became. The place seemed perfect for what she had in mind. A haunted asylum? Ghost stories? This could be her big break. The ultimate challenge, the kind of content that would get people talking.

"This is it," Anni whispered to herself. "This could be my next stream."

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard again. She quickly typed out a few words into the search bar:

"Kuroshima Asylum – How to get there."

Her heart started to race as she found information about how to access the asylum. It wasn’t far from where she lived, just a few hours' drive. But the warnings on the site made her pause for a second—there were rumors that the asylum was dangerous. That it was cursed. That no one had gone in and returned the same.

But Anni wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, especially not when it came to her dream. The idea of walking through those crumbling halls, exploring its dark corners, capturing everything on camera—it would be exactly what she needed to get her channel noticed.

She leaned back in her chair, staring at the screen, the excitement slowly building up inside her. This could be her chance.

But as she sat there, staring at the screen, something gnawed at the back of her mind. What if it’s real? The stories. The warnings. The whispers.

Anni shook her head, brushing off the thought. "No," she told herself firmly. "I’m going. I’m doing this."

She began typing a message to her friends:

“Hey guys, I found something amazing. Ever heard of Kuroshima Asylum? I think we should go. It’s perfect for my next stream.”

Anni hit send before she could second-guess herself.

The excitement built up again as she imagined the possibilities: the eerie atmosphere, the thrill of capturing something ghostly on camera, the views rolling in as she explored the asylum. This was going to be her big break.

But deep down, a small voice whispered something else. "What if you’re in over your head?"

Anni ignored it. She was ready. This was it.