Beyond, With a Yokai

Chapter 1: Who Are You?

"That slow shuffle toward the door, hoping I won't notice?" he chuckled lazily.
"Pretty dumb. But hey, I'll count it."

Her jaw tightened.

"So you want me to run?"

He didn't answer.

But he didn't have to.

Yesenia turned on her heel—and bolted for the door.

In the same second, the hallway erupted with the sound of her footsteps.
She felt one slipper fly off mid-sprint, and then the other.
Her bare feet slapped against the cold floor, echoing louder and louder in the silence, as if amplifying the panic inside her head.
She didn't stop. She couldn't stop.
Fear was shoving her forward.

She sprinted through the corridor, the walls seemingly closing in—alive, squeezing, trying to trap her.
Every shadow thrown by the dim overhead lights looked sinister, ready to swallow her whole.
Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might rip through her chest.
Each beat echoed in the endless, hollow corridor like a war drum.

Yesenia gasped for breath, but the air felt thick and heavy—like she was inhaling pure darkness.
Her vision swam. Her legs nearly buckled as she glanced over her shoulder, praying he wasn't following, that she'd somehow shaken him.

"She gets the hint. Didn't even have to say it twice," his voice drifted from behind her, calm and amused.
"She did exactly what I asked."

She didn't look back.

The farther she ran, the farther the camp office seemed to stretch away.
The corridor lights were dimmer than usual, and the shadows thickened—twisting, reaching for her.

Why haven't I reached the office yet?
Why is this hallway never-ending?

Her heart slammed against her ribs, and only one thought remained:
Run. Don't stop. Just run.

Yesenia looked back once more—hoping he wasn't there.
There was nothing.
No footsteps.
No figure lurking in the dark.

Only her own frantic breathing and the sharp echo of her feet.

Maybe he really was just messing with me, she thought desperately.
Maybe it was all a sick joke.

Even if it was... she wasn't about to stick around to find out.

Her panic surged, making her run faster, even as her brain screamed that it wouldn't help.

She turned her head back around—and slammed right into something solid.

The impact knocked the wind out of her.
She stumbled back, barely catching her balance.

She looked up, praying it was a counselor.

But no.

It was him.

The same guy.
Calm.
Smirking.
The corners of his mouth curled in a smug, satisfied grin.

He grabbed her shoulders, holding her in place.

"Sorry, sweetheart," he said, voice low and mocking. "I know we just got started. And honestly? I liked the way you tried to run. But unfortunately... we're not alone."

Yesenia struggled, but his grip was iron.
Her ears rang.
All she could hear was the frantic thud of her own heartbeat.

Her eyes darted around, looking for anything—anything—to help her escape.

Why hadn't anyone heard her? Where was everyone?

Then, she saw it.

A door, cracked open just down the hall.