Attention: The images should always be viewed in the oriental reading style.

“Sleep… sleep… sleep…” Viktor murmured to the emptiness of the room.

He couldn’t sleep. And when he finally did, it was little and very poorly.

In an automatic gesture, Viktor tossed a pill into his mouth, swallowing it without water. Minutes later, he was running down the building’s stairs, the sound of his shoes echoing as he blended into the compressed crowd inside the subway.

If his job weren’t so monotonous, everything would be easier.

Every day was the same: receive data, fill in spreadsheets, pass them along. An endless cycle.

Day… after… day…

Viktor had a pale and visibly exhausted appearance. His pallid skin contrasted with the black hair that fell to his shoulders. His sunken, drooping eyes betrayed the lack of sleep.

Coffee was what kept him on his feet — or at least tried to. Sometimes, Viktor felt less human and more like a walking undead.

The lack of sleep only increased. Anxiety grew with it.

What if one day coffee simply stopped working?

That thought haunted him as he filled his large mug at the machine. He had always liked his coffee without sugar.

Seated in his small cubicle, surrounded by the computer, loose notes, and the steaming mug, Viktor mechanically reviewed data.

That was when something caught his attention on the side news screen.

Just that week, at least fifty murders had been reported — not counting the disappearances.

The news grabbed him hard. However, before he could keep reading, a shadow interrupted his view.

“Boss?” Viktor looked up.

Curiously, no one knew the man’s real name. Thinking about it, it was strange. Everyone simply called him “boss.”

“Viktor, how are you?” he asked, with a smile that showed his gums.

What a stupid question. Just look at my face, Viktor thought.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired,” he replied.

“Viktor, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“This company was founded by a man who left his country to get an opportunity here.”

“Unlike people today, he never begged anything from anyone, and he never leaned on anyone,” he continued, sounding proud of his speech.

“Do you know where I’m going with this?” the boss asked, narrowing his eyes.

Viktor merely nodded.

“People today are complacent. Lazy. The company needs strong people. People willing to give their own flesh for progress.”

As he spoke, something in Viktor’s world distorted. The walls seemed to move. Dark shapes writhed outside the window.

“If you do that… you’ll do very well,” the boss concluded.

Viktor hadn’t heard almost anything.

“Ah… yes. Of course. Thank you,” he replied automatically.

Insomnia wasn’t enough anymore. The hallucinations were getting worse too. Sometimes, Viktor no longer knew what was real.

Hours later, he clocked out and left the building.

The streets were empty. Strange. At night, the city seemed to sink into a denser darkness, especially in the narrow alleys. The moon was the only point of light, lonely in the sky.

But there was something even more beautiful than the moon.

That woman.

Viktor saw her daily around the city; that night she was standing in front of an old amusement park, staring at the rusted gates.

She had white hair and had narrow black eyes. She wore a long-sleeved shirt with a delicate opening at the clavicle, revealing her neck and part of her chest. Three buttons adorned the front of the garment, which fell to the top of her thighs, softly split into two parts. She wore shorts, leaving her legs exposed.

She noticed Viktor’s presence and cast him a look.

Then she pointed at the park’s enormous gate.

“Want to take a look?”

Viktor’s brain seemed to shut down. Without thinking, he jumped over the gate along with her.

Inside, the park had a dull appearance, corroded by years of abandonment. Even so, the rides were surprisingly well preserved.

“My name is Kaori,” she said.

She smelled good. Too good.

“Are you from around here?” Viktor asked.

“No. I’m a foreigner,” Kaori replied. “I arrived not long ago.”

“Bad time to come. Some people have disappeared lately.”

She laughed.

“I guess so.”

“Aren’t you scared?” Viktor asked.

Viktor shrugged.

“I don’t think about it much. I work so much there’s no room left for that kind of thing.”

“And you?” he asked back.

“No,” Kaori smiled. “I’m more dangerous than I look.”

“I’m sure,” Viktor laughed. “Only someone dangerous would break into an abandoned park with a stranger.”

“Look over there,” Kaori said, pointing.

Ahead, a dark door marked the path to the hall of mirrors. Beside it, a sinister clown decorated another attraction. To the left, a strange game displayed an illegible sign.

Kaori ran toward the entrance and disappeared into the darkness.

“Kaori!” Viktor went after her.

The darkness swallowed him. Then, the lights turned on.

“Kaori?”

The room was formed by mirrors from floor to ceiling.

“Wow… what a creepy place,” Viktor murmured.

He ended up bumping into a reflection. As he regained his balance, he heard a laugh.

“HAHAHA!”

A dark figure ran between the mirrors, disappearing.

Viktor’s eyes widened.

“Boo!”

He jumped forward.

“HAHAHA!” Kaori laughed. “You look like you’ve seen a devil.”

“No… I just wasn’t expecting it,” he replied, out of breath.

“You’re very cute, you know?” Kaori said, stepping closer.

She was very close.

“You know, Viktor… I know you watched me from afar.”

— “A-and I… I…” he stammered.

— “Viktor… I was too…”

Kaori hugged him tightly.

Too tightly… She’s going to kiss me…, Viktor thought.

— “…Watching you,” Kaori said.

To be continued…