Summer Memories [Part - 1]
I'll miss the playgrounds and digging up worms
I'll miss the the comfort of my mother and the weight of the world.
The university's first year was over before they knew it, and now it was the summer break. Chuuya and Dazai found themselves back in Yokohama, their hometown where the ocean breeze carried whispers of adventures yet to unfold. The sun was high, casting golden rays that danced on the surface on the water, beckoning them to come out and play.
As they strolled along the familiar streets of Yokohoma, Dazai's curiosity piqued. "Hey, Chuuya, remember that old abandoned warehouse near the docks? I heard some rumors that it's haunted."
Chuuya raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Haunted, huh? Sounds like the perfect place for us to explore."
Dazai's eyes lit up with excitement. "You are on! Let's see if those rumors are true."
They made their way towards the abandoned warehouse, the once-grand building now a shadow of its former self. Graffiti adorned the walls, and broken windows hinted at years of neglect. Chuuya pushed open the creaky door, the sound echoing in the empty space.
"Creepy," Dazai muttered, stepping inside cautiously.
Chuuya chuckled. "Don't tell me you are scared, Dazai."
Dazai scoffed, trying to play it cool. "Of course not. I'm just... Cautious."
They explored the dark corridors. Their footsteps echoing in the silence. Dusty old crates and forgotten machinery filled the space, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
"I think I heard something," Dazai whispered, his eyes wide with fake fear.
Chuuya rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to scare me, Dazai. It's probably just rats or something."
They continued their exploration, coming across an old office filled with dusty files and faded photographs. Dazai picked up a photo, squinting at it in the dim light.
"Hey, isn't this your mom?" Dazai asked, pointing to a young woman in the photo.
Chuuya took the photo, studying it closely and wondered why her picture was in that forgotten place. "Yeah, that's her. And this must be the warehouse back when it was still in use."
They spent some time going through the old documents, piecing together the history of the warehouse. It had been a bustling hub of activity once, but now it was nothing more than a forgotten relic.
"Imagine all the stories this place could tell," Dazai mused, his curiosity getting the best of him.
Chuuya nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Yeah, it's kind of sad to see it like this."
They decided to venture deeper into the warehouse, their curiosity driving them forward. The further they went, the more they uncovered about the place's past. They found old machinery, broken crates and remnants of what seemed like a makeshift living area.
"This place is like a time capsule," Chuuya said, running his hand over a dusty table. "I wonder why it was abandoned."
Dazai shrugged. "Maybe the owners ran out of money. Or maybe something more sinister happened here."
Their imagination ran wild as they explored each corner of the warehouse. They stumbled upon an old journal, its pages yellowed with age. Dazai flipped through it, reading snippets of entries that spoke of hard times and desperate measures.
"This journal belonged to someone who used to work here," Dazai said, his voice filled with intrigue. "Listen to this entry: The machines are failing seemingly without any reason, and the shipments are delayed again. If we don't fix this issue soon, we will lose everything."
Chuuya leaned in, reading over Dazai's shoulder. "It sounds like they were struggling to keep this place running."
As they delved deeper into the journal, they found mentions of a mysterious figure who supposedly haunted the warehouse. According to the entries, workers would heard strange noises at night and find tools misplaced in the morning.
"Do you think it's true?" Dazai asked, looking around as if expecting the ghost to appear.
Chuuya chuckled. "I highly doubt it. Ghost stories are just that. Stories."
But despite his skepticism, a small part of Chuuya couldn't shake off the eerie feeling that lingered in the air. The combination of the abandoned setting and the journal's tales created a sense of unease that he couldn't ignore.
They decided to take a break and sat down near a cracked window, the sunlight filtering through the dust particles. Chuuya took out a bottle of water from his backpack and offered it to Dazai.
"Thanks," Dazai said, taking a long sip. "You know, this is kind of fun. Exploring an abandoned place like this."
Chuuya nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, it's like we are on a little adventure."
As they rested, they heard a faint sound coming from one of the adjacent rooms. Chuuya tensed, his senses on high alert. "Did you hear that?"
Dazai listened intently. "It sounds like... Footsteps?"
The two exchanged a glance before cautiously making their way towards the source of the noise. The sound lead them to a staircase that descended into darkness.
"Should we go down there?" Dazai asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Chuuya hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Let's check it out. It's probably just a stray animal or something."
They descended the staircase, the air growing colder with each step. The dim light from their flashlights barely illuminated the path ahead. At the bottom of the stairs, they found themselves in a vast underground chamber filled with more abandoned machinery.
"This must have been where they stored their equipment," Chuuya observed, shining his light around the room.
Suddenly, they heard a loud clang from the far corner of the chamber. Both Chuuya and Dazai froze, their hearts pounding in their chests.
"What was that?" Dazai whispered, his eyes were wide with genuine fear this time.
Chuuya gripped his flashlight tighter. "I don't know, but let's find out."
They approached the source of the noise, their footsteps echoing in the silence. As they rounded a stack of rusted equipment, they came face to face with a figure standing in the shadows.
For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension palpable in the air. Then, the figure stepped forward into the light, revealing a middle-aged man with a weary expression.
"Who are you?" Chuuya demanded, trying to keep his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.
The man looked at them with surprise with surprise before sighing heavily. "I could ask you the same thing. What are a couple of kids doing in this old place?"
"We are just exploring," Dazai replied, his voice slightly shaky.
The man nodded, his gaze softening. "Well, be careful. This place is not safe, especially with all the rumors going around."
"What rumors?" Chuuya asked, curious despite the situation.
The man glanced around as if checking for eavesdroppers before leaning in closer. "They say this place is haunted by the ghost of the former owner. Some nights you can hear him wandering these halls, searching for something he lost."
Chuuya exchanged a skeptical look with Dazai, but the man's words sent a shiver down his spine nonetheless.
"We will keep that in mind," Chuuya said, signaling to Dazai that they should leave.
As they made their way back to the surface, Chuuya couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. The encounter with the man and his eerie story had added a new layer of mystery to their adventure.
"I don't think I want to come back here," Dazai said once they were outside, the sunlight warming their skin.
"Me neither," Chuuya agreed, relief flooding through him."Let's stick to less haunted places next time."