I asked her,

“Then we have to cross the road.”

We are on the left side. If we walk along the road on the right, the dirt path will be more visible.

“Come on, let’s go right.”

Both of us moved to the right.

We slowly started walking forward along the footpath.

A long time passed.

Still, not a single dirt road could be seen on the right side.

The discomfort kept growing.

In a low voice, I said,

“How much farther do we have to go?”

Mayoki gave a light smile, as if it was nothing.

Looking at me, she said,

“Hey, just keep following me. You’ll see the road anyway. It’s right ahead. Come on, hurry.”

Seeing her confidence, I started walking again.

But as we got closer, we stopped.

Like unlucky fools, we just stood there staring ahead.

Darkness.

Silence.

An empty dirt road.

My throat went dry.

Suddenly I shouted,

“What, do we have to walk through this road now? This doesn’t even look like a road… it feels like a ghost area!

Mayoki, can you see anything? I can’t see anything at all.”

Mayoki was trembling.

Her lips were dry, sweat rolling down her body.

She took out her phone and started matching the address.

“Wait… let me check… if this is the road.”

After a while she said,

“Yes… the map is showing this road. We have to go this way. Then we’ll find the house just ahead.”

There was hesitation in her voice now.

How will we go through such darkness…

My feet wouldn’t even move… frozen like ice.

In a trembling voice, I said,

“Isn’t there any other road? Do we really have to go this way?”

“No… the map isn’t showing anything else.

This is the only path.”

Hearing that, chills ran through my body.

Inside my mind there was only one warning—

Don’t go… if you go, something bad will happen.

Still, Mayoki forced herself to be strong.

With a shaky voice she said,

“I’m scared too. But Hiroshike, after coming this far, we can’t back out now. Just a few more steps and we’ll reach our destination.

Do you want to sleep on a soft bed, or dance with ghosts all night? Tell me.”

Hearing her words, a strange courage came to me.

Maybe really… just a few more steps.

I took a deep breath.

Looking at her, I said,

“Yes, you’re right. There’s no chance to turn back now. Tonight we’ll sleep on a soft bed.”

Suddenly she put the phone in my hand.

A tense smile on her face.

“Alright, then take the phone.”

I was surprised.

Didn’t understand anything.

“What? Why are you giving me the phone? You were giving directions all this time. What happened now?”

She bent down pretending to tie her shoelaces.

Laughing, she said,

“Oh, the lace came loose. You go first, I’ll tie it and follow you.”

Hearing that, my head caught fire.

“What! Now you’re telling me to go first? Meaning if something happens, I’ll be the scapegoat?

Wow! You were talking big all this time, and now you’re staying behind?

Did all your courage just vanish?”

My body started trembling with anger.