Chapter 1
7:30 PM
October 29th, 2020
Kurain Village
It had been years since Franziska last set foot in Kurain village, and the memories of her previous investigations came flooding back as she walked through its quiet streets. The moon hung low in the sky, casting eerie shadows over the buildings, and the air was thick with the scent of burning incense.
As she turned a corner, Franziska caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance. Maya Fey, the village master, was waving excitedly in her direction, her long black hair whipping around her face in the breeze. Maya had grown up since the last time Franziska saw her, but she still exuded the same energy and enthusiasm that had always been her trademark.
"Hey, Franziska! Long time no see!" Maya called out as she approached. "What brings you back to Kurain?"
"I'm here on official business," Franziska replied curtly. "I'm investigating the disappearance of Naomi Nakashima."
Maya's expression darkened. "Oh, that poor woman. I heard she was seen heading towards the old karaoke bar on the outskirts of the village."
Franziska raised an eyebrow. "Karaoke bar? What kind of place is that?"
Maya shrugged. "No one really knows. It's been abandoned for years, but every once in a while, someone sees strange lights or hears music coming from inside."
Franziska hesitated. She had a bad feeling about this, but she knew she couldn't ignore the lead. "Take me there," she said to Maya. "I need to investigate."
As they made their way towards the bar, Franziska couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The trees rustled ominously, and the air grew colder with each step. Maya seemed unfazed by the eerie atmosphere, but Franziska was on high alert.
When they finally reached the bar, Franziska was surprised to see that it was still standing. The paint was peeling, and the windows were boarded up, but there was no sign of decay or neglect. It was almost as if the building was waiting for something.
Maya pushed open the door, and the two women stepped inside. The air was thick with dust and the smell of alcohol. Broken glass littered the floor, and the walls were covered in graffiti.
"Let's split up," Franziska said, drawing her whip. "We need to cover as much ground as possible."
Maya nodded, and the two women went in opposite directions. Franziska searched every room, every nook and cranny, but there was no sign of Naomi. As she reached the end of the hallway, however, she heard a faint sound coming from the karaoke room.
She pushed open the door, and was immediately hit with a wave of sound. The room was bathed in neon light, and a karaoke machine was blaring out a familiar tune. And there, in the corner of the room, sat Naomi Nakashima.
Franziska breathed a sigh of relief. "Naomi, we've been looking for you everywhere. Your family is worried sick."
But Naomi didn't respond. She just sat there, staring blankly ahead, her eyes glazed over.
Suddenly, the door slammed shut, and the lights flickered. Franziska spun around, her whip at the ready, but there was no one there.
"Maya?" she called out, but there was no answer. She was alone in the haunted karaoke bar, with a woman who seemed to be in a trance.
"I'm right beside you," Maya said.
"But I can't see you!"
9:30 PM
October 29th, 2030
Seiko Karaoke Bar
Franziska gasped and blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the dizziness. She found herself in Maya's arms, who had caught her before she hit the ground. "What happened?" she asked groggily.
"You passed out," Maya said, worry etched on her face.
"We just saw Naomi. We were in the bar. You vanished!"
"Umm... we've been walking this whole time," Maya said, panting loudly. "Then you collapsed all of a sudden." She took a few deep breaths to steady herself. "I'm sure we walked all that food off, I'm sure."
"With the amount you eat," Franziska said, trying to lighten the mood, "I'm not too sure."
Maya helped Franziska stand up, and they both looked up at the old shambled house. The building was covered in ivy and scaffolding and ivy over the scaffolding. On the door, there was a red glowing sign in bold letters: WELCOME TO SEIKO KARAOKE BAR!
"So this is the karaoke bar?" Franziska said, looking at the building with a mixture of fear and intrigue.
"It looks like it," Maya said, her eyes scanning the building. "Let's go find a way in."
Franziska walked up to the door and tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. She tried kicking the door, but it remained stubbornly shut. "I can't open the door!" Franziska hissed in frustration.
"Then there must be a key!" Maya pointed out. She ran over to the window and peered inside. She could see a small flame flickering in the darkness. "There's a candle in here, there must be someone in there!"
Franziska looked over Maya's shoulder and saw the candle moving closer and closer to the window. She felt a shiver run down her spine. Maya tapped her toes and began to sing, "I got chills, they're multiplying!"
The windows began to rumble, and the door started to shake. Franziska bent her knees and rested her chin on Maya's shoulder, feeling a strange mix of fear and excitement. Eventually, the door swung open, and Franziska gasped. "The door just opened! How did that happen?"
"It was when I started singing..." Maya trailed off with a grin.
Franziska pulled Maya into the building, feeling a surge of adrenaline. As they made their way through the dark corridors, Franziska felt a growing sense of camaraderie with Maya. "Come on! Let's go and find this Naomi Nakashima!"