Neizo ran.
His footsteps echoed violently against the pavement, uneven, desperate, his breathing breaking apart with every second. The streetlights stretched into long distorted lines in his vision, the world around him bending, warping, like reality itself couldn't keep up with him.
"You told her…"
The voice followed.
Not from behind.
Not from ahead.
Everywhere.
"No…no…no…" Neizo muttered under his breath, his legs trembling but refusing to stop. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest. He didn't dare turn around. He couldn't.
Because he knew.
If he looked—
She would be closer.
His mind screamed at him to stop, to think, to breathe, but his body had already chosen survival. The cold air cut through his lungs as he turned sharply into a narrow lane leading toward his apartment.
"I just need to get home…just get home…"
Home.
That word felt wrong now.
But it was the only place he could go.
His steps slowed as the familiar building came into view. The old paint, the dim lights, the cracked walls—it all looked the same as always.
Too same.
Neizo stopped at the entrance, bending slightly, trying to catch his breath. His entire body shook. Sweat dripped down his face.
Silence.
No footsteps behind him.
No whisper.
Nothing.
"…It's gone…?" he whispered.
Slowly—
very slowly—
he turned his head.
Empty street.
No one.
Neizo let out a shaky breath. "…I…made it…"
But something felt wrong.
The silence.
It wasn't normal silence.
It was heavy.
Watching.
Waiting.
He swallowed hard and stepped inside.
The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering tube light above buzzing faintly. The air felt colder than outside.
His footsteps echoed.
Each one louder than it should be.
Then—
"Oi, Neizo."
Neizo flinched.
He turned.
The landlord stood there, leaning against the wall, his usual disgusting grin on his face. Same unbrushed yellow teeth. Same foul presence.
"Running like that at night? Someone chasing you?" he laughed.
Neizo forced himself to stay calm. "…No…just late…"
The landlord narrowed his eyes slightly. "You look like shit."
"…Didn't sleep."
"Hah! Young people these days…" he chuckled. "Anyway, your rent—"
"I'll pay it," Neizo cut him off quickly.
The landlord paused, then smirked. "You better."
A brief silence passed.
Then the landlord leaned slightly closer. "Oh, and that new neighbor of yours…"
Neizo's body stiffened.
"…What about her?"
The landlord scratched his chin. "…Weird girl."
Neizo's heart skipped.
"…Weird…how?"
The landlord frowned slightly. "She moved in… but I never saw her bring any luggage. No bags. No boxes. Nothing."
A cold sensation crawled up Neizo's spine.
"…What?"
"And her room…" the landlord continued, "…it's always locked. But sometimes… I hear sounds from inside."
Neizo's throat went dry.
"…What kind of sounds…?"
The landlord shrugged. "Like… scratching. Or something moving around."
Silence.
Neizo couldn't speak.
The landlord laughed it off. "Probably just rats or something."
But Neizo knew.
It wasn't rats.
"…Yeah…" he forced a weak response.
The landlord walked away, muttering about rent again.
Neizo stood there for a few seconds.
Frozen.
Processing.
No luggage.
Locked room.
Scratching sounds.
"…What are you…?" he whispered under his breath.
His eyes slowly shifted toward the end of the hallway.
Mizimi's door.
Closed.
Still.
Silent.
Neizo stared at it.
Don't look.
Don't think.
Just go inside your room.
Miss Alena's voice echoed in his mind.
Do not respond.
Neizo clenched his fists and forced his legs to move. One step. Then another. Each step heavier as he passed her door.
Something felt wrong.
Like—
something was right behind it.
Listening.
Waiting.
His hand trembled as he reached his own door. He quickly unlocked it and stepped inside, immediately locking it behind him.
Click.
Silence.
He leaned against the door, breathing heavily.
"I'm safe…"
But the words felt empty.
His room looked the same as always. Sofa. Table. Phone on the desk. Everything normal.
Too normal.
Neizo slowly walked toward his bed and sat down. His body felt exhausted, but his mind refused to rest.
"…Do not respond…"
He repeated the words in his head.
"…Don't respond…no matter what…"
His eyes slowly moved toward the corner of his room.
Nothing.
Good.
Then—
A faint sound.
Tap.
Neizo froze.
Tap…Tap…
It was coming from the wall.
No.
Not the wall.
The other side.
Mizimi's room.
Neizo's breathing slowed.
Don't react.
Don't respond.
The tapping continued.
Slow.
Rhythmic.
Like something was knocking.
From inside the wall.
Tap…Tap…Tap…
Neizo clenched his jaw.
Ignore it.
Ignore it.
The sound stopped.
Silence returned.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
A whisper.
Soft.
Muffled.
From the wall.
"Neizo…"
His eyes widened.
His body locked.
That voice—
It wasn't Mizimi.
It was—
The same voice.
The one from the hallway.
"You're there…"
Neizo covered his ears tightly.
No.
No.
No.
"Open the door…"
The whisper grew clearer.
Closer.
As if it was right next to him.
"Neizo…open it…"
His breathing became uneven.
"…Don't respond…"
His voice shook.
"I won't respond…"
The whisper stopped.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Neizo slowly lowered his hands.
Nothing.
No sound.
No presence.
"…It stopped…"
Relief slowly crept in.
Maybe it works…
Maybe ignoring it—
BANG.
Neizo jumped violently.
The sound came from his door.
Someone—
No.
Something—
was knocking.
Hard.
BANG.
"Neizo…"
The voice came again.
This time—
from outside his door.
His eyes widened in pure terror.
"…No…"
BANG.
"Open the door…"
Neizo backed away slowly, his entire body shaking.
"It's not real…it's not real…"
BANG.
The door shook.
"Neizo…"
The voice distorted slightly.
Deeper.
Wrong.
"You saw me too…"
Neizo covered his mouth to stop himself from screaming.
"…Don't respond…"
His mind screamed.
Don't respond.
Don't respond.
Don't respond.
The knocking stopped.
Silence.
Neizo stood there, frozen.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Nothing happened.
Slowly—
very slowly—
Neizo relaxed his shoulders.
"…It's gone…"
A weak breath escaped his lips.
Maybe it really works…
Maybe ignoring it—
Click.
Neizo's heart stopped.
The sound came from his door.
The lock.
Turning.
But—
he didn't move.
He didn't touch it.
The door handle slowly twisted.
Creak—
The door began to open.
Neizo's entire body froze.
"No…"
A cold wind entered the room.
The door opened wider.
And there—
standing in the doorway—
was Mizimi.
Her head tilted slightly.
Her hair covering part of her face.
She was smiling.
But—
not like before.
This smile—
was wrong.
Too wide.
Too still.
"Neizo…" she said softly.
Her voice—
was not hers.
"You didn't respond…"
Neizo's vision blurred.
"…Stay away…"
Mizimi took a step forward.
Her movements were slow.
Unnatural.
"But you still opened the door…"
Neizo's eyes widened.
"I didn't—"
His words stopped.
Because deep inside—
he realized something.
He didn't remember unlocking it.
He didn't remember opening it.
"…No…"
Mizimi stepped closer.
Her shadow stretched unnaturally across the floor.
"You saw me…"
Her head tilted more.
Too much.
"You told her…"
Neizo stumbled back, hitting the wall.
"…This isn't real…"
Mizimi stopped.
Right in front of him.
Her face slowly lowered—
closer to his.
Her hair parted slightly.
And for the first time—
Neizo saw her eyes.
Completely black.
Empty.
Smiling.
"You're the last."
Neizo's body gave up.
His legs collapsed.
Darkness consumed his vision.
The last thing he heard—
was her whisper.
Soft.
Cold.
Right next to his ear.
"There is no waking up now."
Everything went black.