Asuka bolted upright in her bed, gasping for air. Her sheets were soaked with sweat. She checked her phone:
"Five pieces," the Red Person whispered, tilting her head. "But you won't find the last one tonight." The world turned to crimson.
The grandfather clock in the hallway struck midnight, but the sound didn't echo—it thudded, as if the air itself had turned to lead.
"We have the left arm," Takahiro whispered, his hands trembling as he gripped a blood-stained bundle. "That’s four pieces. We still need the torso and the head."
A wet, dragging sound scraped against the linoleum flooring outside. Shhh-clack. Shhh-clack. It was the sound of small, bare feet stepping through a pool of something thick. Then came the humming—a sweet, childlike tune that made the hair on Asuka’s neck stand up.
It was the same day as yesterday. And the day before. She looked at her palm and saw a faint, red smudge that wouldn't wash off. The search wasn't over. It was just beginning.


Asuka bolted upright in her bed, gasping for air. Her sheets were soaked with sweat. She checked her phone:
"Five pieces," the Red Person whispered, tilting her head. "But you won't find the last one tonight." The world turned to crimson.
The grandfather clock in the hallway struck midnight, but the sound didn't echo—it thudded, as if the air itself had turned to lead.
"We have the left arm," Takahiro whispered, his hands trembling as he gripped a blood-stained bundle. "That’s four pieces. We still need the torso and the head."
A wet, dragging sound scraped against the linoleum flooring outside. Shhh-clack. Shhh-clack. It was the sound of small, bare feet stepping through a pool of something thick. Then came the humming—a sweet, childlike tune that made the hair on Asuka’s neck stand up.
It was the same day as yesterday. And the day before. She looked at her palm and saw a faint, red smudge that wouldn't wash off. The search wasn't over. It was just beginning.