Chapter Text
Chapter 8
Atsushi Nakajima 10:23 p.m Unknown Vicinity
Atsushi’s anxiety was blasting off into space, and he didn’t know what to do about it. The darkness was egging him on, and he swore the tree’s were out to get him. Akutagawa didn’t seem bothered at all by anything, just marching through the thick snow and trudging forward.
Trying to find their way back would be hard, as neither had no idea where they were now. They didn’t know how long they’d been gone for, or how far off they were from their original location. So Akutagawa just started walking in a random direction, and they’ve been walking that way ever since.
Atsushi had no idea how long it’d actually been because he didn’t have a watch, nor was he some kind of clock man. Atsushi sincerely hoped that they’d been heading in the correct way, because walking in the cold snow for a long period of time and it leading nowhere would be really irritating. At this point Atsushi’s legs and feet were hurting from walking in the snow for so long.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Atsushi asked Akutagawa, looking at the back of his head, as Akutagawa was walking far ahead.
“No. But you don’t either, so it’s useless to try and go somewhere different.” Akutagawa’s reasoning was pretty authentic, so Atsushi didn’t say anything in fear that Akutagawa would beat him with a fallen tree branch.
Nothing was looking familiar and Atsushi was growing more worried. What if they never found their way back? What if he was stuck with Akutagawa in snowy mountains forever? The thought of it made Atsushi was to cry, and that was not good. It felt like they had been going in circles, and Atsushi swore on his life he’d seen that tree a little while back. Following Akutagawa without question had been a huge mistake on his part, and Atsushi was ready to take the blame for not just sucking it up and opposing him in the first place. Maybe they would’ve found something to lead them back to their cabin sooner.
Atsushi sighed, and his eyes grew tired. This was the fourth time he swore he saw that tree, and that was concerning. Akutagawa hadn’t said anything since earlier, and Atsushi didn’t complain. Akutagawa had slowed down a bit from when they first started walking, showing signs of being tired as well, who wouldn’t be tired after climbing out of a mountain hole almost too steep to climb and covered in snow.
“Akutagawa I think we’re going in circles” At this point Atsushi was so done. He didn’t even care if he got beat with a stick, he just wanted to go back to the cabin they started at. He wanted to lay down in a bed and sleep forever, because right now he was tired, cold, hungry, and the back of his neck hurt for some reason.
Akutagawa being the dick he was, completely ignored his statement and kept walking anyway. So Atsushi just decided to walk in another direction, I mean fuck Akutagawa right? Not literally.
Akutagawa only noticed a little bit later that Atsushi was no longer with him, but went in a completely different direction entirely.Akutagawa decided to just start following Atsushi, and Atsushi had no idea why he was following him in the first place if he was so adamant about his original trail.
The two came across a bunch of dead animals, not naturally killed though, which was strange. The animals had been completely ripped to shreds, some missing heads, arms, legs, or even half of their bodies. It was… disturbing to say the least, and both Atsushi and Akutagawa decided to just hop on around the dead grossness.
Atsushi didn’t see any of the moving figures in the darkness, neither did Akutagawa. As soon as Atsushi noticed something it was far too late for anything. Whatever the fuck it was almost stabbed through Akutagawa, missing by the slightest of centimeters, only grazing his size. The whole experience was all the much scarier knowing they had absolutely nothing to protect themselves with.
They were weaponless, their abilities were nullified, and punching this thing in close combat looked like it would only anger it more. Not a chance they were willing to take here and now.
Akutagawa leaped out of the way, and him and Atsushi made only the briefest of eye contact while holding still, before leaping into action and just running. Neither knew that if they’d just stayed still things would’ve gone a lot better.
The thing was fast as hell, and they didn’t know if they’d be able to get away from it in time. Their abilities would be of great use right now, if ever. The one time in their lives where their abilities are completely useful and needed, they aren’t working and available. The running continued and Atsushi’s legs burned, his lungs begged for air, and trees and leaves scratched and slapped his face arms and legs. Akutagawa ran next to him, and he looked like he couldn’t even breathe at all, he was wheezing and coughed weakly.
Atsushi ended up tripping on a tree root, and Akutagawa stopped to help him up. Atsushi looked over Akutagawa’s shoulder and His eyes widened, he turned Akutagawa’s body and then pushed them both into the bushes. Atsushi laid flat over Akutagawa and they both stopped breathing and just stood as still as they possibly could in this situation.
They heard nothing behind them, but decided to just stay there for a couple more minutes just to be safe. Who knows what or how that thing works, speaking of what the fuck was that.
Atsushi was convinced he was going insane when he saw it, he assumed he was just tired and cold and his mind was making things up, but when Akutagawa started running he knew something was definitely wrong with the setup placed before him.
Atsushi got off of Akutagawa and laid down beside him, just staring ahead for like thirty seconds, trying to process everything in his mind. Once both were sure whatever the fuck they just saw was gone, Atsushi settled his back against a tree right behind the bush he’d dived into in a panic.
“What kind of animal do you think that was?” Atsushi asked looking over at Akutagawa who looked dazed. Akutagawa looked over at Atsushi in his lying position and gave a face.
“It was a chipmunk Atsushi. Are you fucking serious, that was no animal. Did you see it?” Akutagawa looked so done. Atsushi really didn’t want to deal with his sarcastic and rude attitude in their current situation, he really didn’t.
“No, I didn’t see it Akutagawa, you just started running so I kinda looked ahead and ran behind you.” Atsushi looked at his knees, and the winter pants covering them. He realized how cold he was then, and that Akutagawa must feel even worse out in the weather. The whole reason they were here now was because they were trying to fix a boiler to get hot water. Which sucks even more when Atsushi thinks about it, he wasn’t going to say anything though.
“It looked bad, and it looked like it wanted a tasty snack.” Atsushi could hear Akutagawa’s loud breaths. Atsushi really just wanted to go home. Screw this vacation, he didn’t give a damn. He’d rather be back at home doing agency work and doing things besides this.
“What are we going to do? We don’t know where we are and were being hunted by a creepy crawly thing.” Atsushi said, raising his eyes from his knees and looking at Akutagawa, who’d sat up at this point and just kinda sat there looking unsure.
“I’m not so sure. We have nothing to go off of in this situation.” Akutagawa looked grim, like he really didn’t know what to do. Atsushi then realized holy shit he really doesn’t know what to do does he? Atsushi was convinced that they really needed to get back to their sucky cabin at this point.
“What do you suggest we do?” Atsushi asked, his voice was soft, even scared sounding. Akutagawa didn’t respond, and now they both sat there in silence, awkward vibes filling the air. Atsushi frowned, being in this situation was bad, being in this situation with Akutagawa was worse, but being in this situation with Akutagawa not saying anything and it just being extremely awkward was borderline torture.
Akutagawa took a deep breath and stood up, dusting his clothing off. Atsushi looked up from his knees where he’d been staring again.
“Maybe we should just try to find something out here to get us some help.” Akutagawa stepped out of the thick bushes they were in, and made his way back out to the land of the living. Atsushi thought he was insane, how could he just nonchalantly walk out like nothing happened? They were just chased down by a literal freak of nature. How the fuck could you be so chill after that?
“A-are you sure?” Atsushi jumped up from his sitting place and practically flew out of the bushes, which hurt by the by.
“No, I’m extremely doubtful. Yes I’m sure you dumb oaf, now let’s get moving.” Akutagawa walked ahead, the complete asshat. Atsushi was sure he’d be the one to beat Akutagawa with a fallen branch at this point.
“Where are we supposed to even go? We have no idea where the heck we even are, could be miles before anything even shows up to lead us back to the place we want to be.” Atsushi uttered out, trying to keep up with Akutagawa’s long strides. Seriously how fast could this mofo even walk, he was the one with the cough here too.
“According to where I was, and you probably were too, the top of the lift should be around here somewhere.” Akutagawa seemed certain, and Atsushi though he was crazy. The lift? That doesn’t seem remotely near here, how could he possibly gather that from just walking, then running, and walking some more in a forest.
“W-what… How…? I’m… I have no idea how you could’ve possible thought that the lift is anywhere nea- oh fuck me there it is.” Atsushi felt played, he felt betrayed by his own instincts. How could he have no notice it?
“See, I was right. Kiss my ass weretiger.” Akutagawa seemed to love the fact that he could totally rub this in his face later, and even now.
“I hate you.” Atsushi said, the resting bitch face put into action.
“I know.” Akutagawa replied, and they both made their way to the top end of the lift, hoping to find something that could lead them back home.
Kyouka Izumi 9:30 p.m Cabin basement
Kyouka was not in the mood to be dealing with ghost stories. Like really? Really . She wasn’t thrilled by the fact the she didn’t even know where they both were, or the fact they’d just been chased here. It wasn’t an amazing though and she really didn’t have time to deal with whatever b.s the stupid moving paintings and sliding chairs were throwing at her.
Gin didn’t seem as worried as she did about the current situation they were both facing. Which was understandable, she seemed like she would be better at these things honestly. Though Gin really did seem to be questioning why the fuck paintings were flying off the wall sporadically, it was all very confusing.
“What is going on here?” Kyouka asked confused before screaming and pointing to the end of the hall where she swore she saw somebody walking. Gin turned around in an instant.
“What are you talking about? There’s no one there.” Gin said, she refused the idea of ghosts and spirits in front of them now. It was all too complicated sounded for them to even try to figure out.
“I swear! There was someone walking at the end of the hall!” Kyouka’s eyes held darkness, and her mouth pressed in a firm line of seriousness. Kyouka truly believed she saw something, no, she know she saw something, someone. Someone was walking in the same halls as them and Kyouka outright denied it being anyone they knew, because nobody was wearing that much white clothing, in fact only one person was in possession of white clothing. Which was Atsushi, but they’d just seen him and Akutagawa being thrown off a cliff.
“Stop being such a scared child, there was nobody there. I would’ve seen them too.” Gin disregarded Kyouka and kept moving in hope of finding something to lead to someone. Someone familiar, someone they knew.
Edgar Allen Poe 10:07 Underground Mines
Poe’s foot had started hurting again, but he wasn’t about to just dump Ranpo and keep going. Another spike of pain shot up his leg as he took another step, looking down at his feet trying to keep focused and keep moving. He looked up to notice that no one was in front of him, or behind him. He was completely alone .
Besides the unconscious Ranpo there was nobody else there. Dazai and Chuuya had just disappeared, but they wouldn’t leave him right? Right? Poe wanted to cry. He wanted to just sit on the ground and cry. He’d missed Karl, and didn’t even know where he was or if he was ok. So Poe set Ranpo on the ground, and sat next to him pulled his knees up to his chest, and cried.
He cried for Ranpo, he cried for Karl who was probably lost and scared, he cried for being lost and alone. Poe sat and sobbed, not knowing what in god’s name to do. He was utterly alone, nobody was here to save him from either starving to death or just dying from hypothermia in the cold.
What a sad death that would be. What a sad life he had lived. Alone and in the dark most of it. Poe was having an existential crisis, questioning everything he’d ever done or said in his entire life. His breathing got sporadic and he lost control of his senses. Mental breakdown alert, this was bad, and getting worse. Every passing moment Poe’s crying and breathing worsened, and he didn’t know what was going to happen.
Worst of all, Ranpo was with him. Ranpo was hurt and with him and alone and possibly dying, and Poe couldn’t do a single thing to help him. He couldn’t run and yell to get Ranpo to safety, because he had no idea where anyone else was. There was no hope for him and Ranpo, and it made Poe cry even harder.
What was he to do? Where could he go? Was he going to die? Was Ranpo going to die? All questions that plagued his mind and being, clouding the rational thoughts trying to pierce through. To no avail, he still had no ideas as to how to figure this out, how to fix their current predicament.
Poe sat and stared at the dusty wall across from him. He had no idea what he was doing, his mind was still foggy and Ranpo was still unconscious on an old, dirty, dusty, and gross sanitorium floor. ‘What a great place for a physically wounded person’ Poe thought bitterly. Poe’s dark and dangerous roaming thoughts carried on for a while longer.
Ranpo stirred beside him, whining loudly before announcing that this sucked, and that he hurt all over. Poe looked over at Ranpo, tears rolling down his dirt covered face and laughed. Laughed at how sarcastic and uncanny Ranpo was being in this situation. Ranpo looked at him funny, Poe didn’t care he laughed anyway.
“W-what’s going on?” Ranpo looked in pain, and confused, but Poe didn’t answer, just continued laughing and crying at the same time. He was unsure what to tell Ranpo, how could he explain that they were left to die? How could he put that into words?
“Poe I’m serious, what’s going on?” Ranpo looked frightened by Poe’s sudden inability to stop crying and laughing. Poe’s face looked dark, his eyes full of fear and shock. Fat tears rolled down his cheeks as he continued to laugh, until his laughs turned into sobs, and he wrapped his arms around himself to cry. Ranpo winced as he tried to sit up, he didn’t look good.
“Poe you’re scaring me. Please tell me what’s going on.” Ranpo looked at Poe with a frown. Poe didn’t say anything. He was scared. Terrified. Poe wasn’t ok in any circumstance, he was slowly descending into his own dark thoughts.
Kenji Miyazawa 9:55 Outside Mountain Trail
Kenji sure was cold! Living in the country all his live ensured not being prepared for cold weather. He wasn’t sure how people could subject themselves to such torturous cold weather! It was already almost unbearable for himself. Kenji just wanted to curl up in a big blanket and go to sleep for sixteen hours. It was understandable of course, if you lived in hot environments your whole life would you do well in cold weather? No, the answer is no.
“This isn’t good.” Kunikida muttered, looking down.
“What’s wrong?” Junichiro asked looking at Kunikida, looking confused. Kenji almost didn’t want to know what was wrong, he knew in his heart that the problem could be fixed with ease.
“The trail we were taking to get here seems to have disappeared completely.” Kunikida looked around, as if they’d find the trail just randomly there. Kenji noticed it too, he swore they’d just stepped off it a second ago. Where did it go? It couldn’t just run away, it was a trail, a road, in the mountains no less. How could it just randomly dissipate?
“Wha- but how? We were just on it, how could it just be gone?” Junichiro asked, looking around in worry. Michizou didn’t seem like he could care any less, just acted like he wanted it to be over.
“You guys are just being dumbasses, you probably turned yourself around and lost it without noticing.” Michizou made some valid points, but Kunikida would soon make even better points that would slap Michizou’s in the face.
“But we just walked off of the trail not only a minute ago, we couldn’t have just ‘turned ourselves around’ as you said. I would’ve noticed had we been lost.” Kunikida completely burnt Michizou to a crisp.
“Now how are we supposed to get back?” Kenji asked, putting his hand horizontal against his forehead in a mock ‘looking’ position.
“I guess we’ll have to find our own way back.” Junichiro deduced, sighing because he knew that it’d become a problem soon enough.
They walked blindly for a long time. Kenji’s feet and legs were starting to numb from the cold, and so much marching in snow. He’d glad that even though it did snow in Japan, it wasn’t to this multitude, that would’ve sucked a great deal.
“How much longer do we have to walk before we realize we have no idea where we are?” Kenji had dragged out a lot of letters, to show he was tired and ready to just collapse in the snow already.
“We are not lost! We’re slowly finding our way back.” Kunikida had tried to argue, but it was in vain, he knew they were lost to. Kenji didn’t doubt for a moment that they could figure it out, there was always a way to make things better! Kunikida seemed frustrated with this whole thing. Not just getting lost, but also having to find the girls, being out here in the cold, and just having to leave the ‘safety’ of the agency back at home.