Chapter 5: The Footprints Inside the Apartment
Airi couldn’t breathe.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the mirror.
WELCOME BACK, AIRI.
Water slowly dripped down the glass, distorting the words little by little.
Then—
Drip.
A second wet footprint appeared on the wooden floor.
Not outside.
Not near the door.
Inside.
Directly in front of the mirror.
Airi instinctively stepped backward.
“No…”
Her voice barely came out.
Her apartment was small.
One bedroom.
A narrow kitchen.
A small living room.
Nowhere for anyone to hide.
She had locked the door.
She was sure of it.
Her hand slowly reached for her phone.
Her fingers shook so much that she nearly dropped it.
Call someone?
Police?
And say what?
Hello, a ghost wrote on my mirror?
Ridiculous.
Another footprint appeared.
Then another.
Wet marks slowly moved across the floor.
Toward the hallway.
Toward her.
Airi immediately grabbed the umbrella near the entrance.
Not because it was useful.
Because holding something felt better than holding nothing.
The apartment suddenly became quiet.
Too quiet.
No rain.
No neighbors.
Nothing.
Then—
Tap.
From inside her bedroom.
Airi froze.
Tap.
Tap.
Like fingernails touching wood.
Her body screamed not to move.
Her curiosity moved anyway.
Step by step, she approached the hallway.
Wet footprints continued ahead of her.
Toward the bedroom.
The bedroom door stood slightly open.
Just enough to see darkness inside.
Tap.
Again.
Airi slowly pushed the door open.
Nothing.
Empty room.
Bed.
Desk.
Boxes from moving.
Normal.
Then her eyes moved toward the window.
Open.
She was sure she closed it before leaving.
Cold air entered the room.
Rainwater covered the floor near the curtains.
Something white was placed on her desk.
A paper.
Slowly, Airi approached.
Three words were written on it.
You remembered me.
Suddenly—
CRASH.
The bedroom door slammed shut behind her.
Airi screamed.
The lights went out.
Darkness.
Complete darkness.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her hands searched desperately for her phone flashlight.
Click.
Light returned.
Empty room.
Door still closed.
Nothing moved.
Nothing there.
Then why did she feel watched?
Her phone vibrated violently.
Unknown Number.
She opened it immediately.
Do not stay alone tonight.
Another message.
It entered already.
Airi immediately unlocked the bedroom door and ran outside.
She checked every room.
Kitchen.
Bathroom.
Closet.
Nothing.
Still—
The apartment felt wrong.
Like someone was standing in her blind spots.
Watching.
Waiting.
Her eyes moved toward the mirror again.
The message had changed.
Now it said:
FIND THE PHOTO.
Photo.
The bridge photograph.
Her bag.
Airi quickly opened it.
The photograph was gone.
“No…”
She searched again.
Nothing.
Then she noticed something.
One corner of old paper was sticking out from beneath the sofa.
She pulled it out.
The same photograph.
Except—
Different.
Before, only three children stood there.
Now there were four.
A fourth child stood in the background.
Face scratched out completely.
Airi’s chest tightened.
On the back side, new handwriting appeared.
Not faded.
Fresh.
Come tomorrow. Old music room. 6 PM. Alone.
Her phone rang suddenly.
Not a message.
An actual call.
Unknown Number.
With shaking hands, she answered.
Silence.
“Alo?”
Static answered.
Then a voice.
Soft.
Broken.
The same voice from the bridge.
“Airi…”
Her blood froze.
“You left us there.”
The call ended.
At the same moment—
Someone knocked three times on her apartment door.
Slowly.
Patiently.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Airi looked toward the entrance.
It was nearly midnight.
Nobody should be there.
Then Ren texted her for the first time.
Do NOT open the door.
Immediately after—
Someone outside whispered:
“I know you’re awake.”
[End of Chapter 5]
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