Slowly, Nurul opened her eyes.
"W-where am I…?" she whispered.
She was in a vast room, and at the far end of it, there was nothing but darkness. The floor beneath her feet was covered with thin black mist.
She looked around, observing her hands, her feet, her entire body. Nothing had changed.
Her memory was still clear—just moments ago, she had been at school, attending an extracurricular activity. Then she went to the restroom… and that was where the strange incident began.
A girl—someone unfamiliar—did something impossible. She pulled Nurul into a dense black mist… and now she was here.
Nurul tried to think.
What is this place?
What's going to happen?
How can I get back?
…Or am I already dead?
And that girl… who was she?
Nurul had never seen her at school before. How could she suddenly appear like that?
She tried to walk, but she didn't know where to go.
Fear slowly filled her mind.
"This… isn't school…"
"I was in the restroom… So where is this place now?"
Suddenly, a cold wind blew. It felt strange—where could the wind possibly come from in a place like this?
Gathering her courage, she called out, half-shouting, hoping someone would hear her.
"Hello?!"
"Is anyone here?!"
"What's going on?!"
"Japanese girl?! Where are you?! Can you hear me?!"
"Who are you?! What do you want?!"
No answer.
Woosh… Woosh…
Suddenly, about five meters in front of her, a swirl of black mist appeared. It started small—no bigger than a fist—then grew larger and larger until it became the size of a door.
From within it, a teenage girl stepped out.
She wore a white-and-gray vocational school uniform. Her shoulder-length wavy hair framed her face. She had an Asian Mongoloid appearance—fair-skinned and beautiful, with clear, captivating eyes.
The black vortex behind her slowly shrank… and disappeared.
Nurul shivered. Her heart began to pound rapidly.
She recognized her immediately.
The girl from the restroom.
"You…!"
Nurul stepped back.
"What did you do?"
"Who are you?"
"How did I end up here?! This is your doing, isn't it?!"
The girl smirk.
Her eyes flickered—glowing red.
"My name…"
"Hanako."
Her voice was soft, yet piercingly clear.
"I am a creature of darkness."
"I feed on human souls."
"I turn them into my servants… my toys… or simply devour them."
"It's all up to me."
"I am the consequence of all the evil you humans have done."
"The fear, anxiety, and despair I once endured… I will return it all to you."
"Now, you will feel my suffering."
"Next, your friends… then their friends… your family… everyone close to you."
"All of them will take their turn."
"This world is filled with injustice."
"With oppression, deceit, and corruption."
"All for personal gain. All for selfish greed."
"You humans have destroyed this world for your own benefit."
"Now… I will make it equal."
"I will make you feel suffering and fear."
"It is the fruit of your own actions."
"Now… suffer, human."
Nurul trembled.
She didn't understand. She didn't know why this girl was venting her anger on her.
She had never wronged her.
Who is she…?
What is she…?
A spirit? A demon? A vengeful ghost?
"What are you going to do to me?!"
"Please! Don't hurt me! Let me go!" Nurul begged, her voice trembling.
Hanako did not answer.
She only stared coldly.
"Black Vortex!"
A swirling black sphere appeared in her palm—rotating slowly like a bottomless void.
Nurul panicked.
"Wait! Please… let me go!"
"I didn't do anything to you! I… I'll do whatever you want… please…"
"Just tell me! Please… let me go!"
But Hanako only grinned. A pair of small fangs appeared at the corner of her lips.
"Don't worry… I will let you go."
"But first… I'll take something from you."
"Something valuable."
She let out a chilling laugh.
Nurul was confused.
"What do you mean…? I don't understand…"
The black vortex in Hanako's hand released a stream of dark mist. It moved like a living creature—slithering like a snake.
It grew larger. More aggressive.
"Your soul… belongs to me!"
As soon as Hanako finished speaking, the black mist lunged toward Nurul.
It wrapped around her body—bursting and writhing.
Her body suddenly trembled violently. Moments later, she was lifted into the air.
"Aaaah!!"
She tried to resist—but it was useless.
The mist seeped into her body, penetrating through her pores and openings, invading every cavity within her.
"Help…!" she screamed in agony.
Moments later, the black mist returned to Hanako's hand—pulling something with it.
A white light… drawn out from Nurul's body.
"Aaaaaaaah!!"
Slowly. Like mist being forcibly extracted.
That white light… was her soul.
It was absorbed into Hanako's right hand, along with the thick black mist.
Nurul's body fell to the ground.
And her consciousness faded.
Moments later… behind the school restroom.
The third stall door slowly opened.
Nurul stood inside.
Her eyes were empty. Her face was expressionless.
She walked out slowly.
Her gaze fixed forward—hollow. Lifeless. Like a doll without a soul.
She took a few steps… then suddenly collapsed.
From the shadows, Hanako stood silently.
Her red eyes flickered as she watched Nurul.
"Yes, it's feel good"
She whispered softly… then smirked.
And slowly vanished into the darkness.
Meanwhile, in the computer lab…
The students were busy working on their assignments.
Not long after, group tasks were assigned.
Sri, who had been sitting alone, felt uneasy. Nurul, her seatmate, hadn't returned yet. It had been over half an hour—far too long for a restroom break.
She glanced toward the window, hoping to see Nurul.
"She's taking too long… where is she?"
"I should go look for her… what if she skipped class?"
"No… that's not like her. She's a model student."
Sri stood up and walked toward the door.
"Mrs. Fauziah, may I go to the restroom?" she asked politely.
"Alright. Oh, your friend hasn't returned either. Please tell her to come back quickly—I'm about to assign group tasks."
"Yes, Mrs."
Sri quickly left the classroom and headed toward the restroom.
After walking through several corridors, she arrived at the back area of the school.
It was quiet. No one was around.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves and buildings.
As she stepped onto the small pathway leading to the restroom, she saw something from a distance.
A body!
Lying on the ground.
Nurul.
Sri froze—then ran toward her.
"Nurul! Nurul! Wake up!"
"What happened to you?!"
She tried to lift her, struggling as she leaned Nurul against the wall.
Sri screamed hysterically for help.
Moments later, other students began to gather around them.
***