A Love Stronger Than Whispers of the Past

CDMX Madness

Stuck.

40 hours after the WBC Finals

University Hall

Ruka's phone buzzed, snapping her out of the contemplative silence with Kiri.  It was a message from Hana, accompanied by a single, shaky photo.  The photo showed four figures crammed into a dimly lit elevator, their faces a mixture of fear and confusion.  The caption read simply: "Stuck.  Blackout.  Elevator.  Help!"

Ruka's eyes widened.  "It's Hana-san, Kiri!  They're stuck in an elevator in Mexico City!"

Kiri snatched the phone, his earlier worries momentarily forgotten.  "What happened sis?  Is everyone okay?" he asked, scrolling through Hana's frantic texts.

"Massive blackout," Hana explained.  "Apparently, there was a gang fight near the hotel.We got stuck in the elevator during it.  Chizuru's freaking out, and Kazuya keeps chanting some weird mantra."

A shiver ran down Ruka's spine.  She knew Hana wasn't one to exaggerate, and Chizuru's ability to see glimpses of the future filled her with dread.  "Is Shinichi-san with them?"

"Yeah, he's trying to stay calm," Hana replied.  "But even he seems spooked.  The elevator keeps jerking, and the emergency light is flickering.  On God, I think I just saw something..."

The message ended abruptly, leaving Ruka and Kiri staring at the phone in horror.

In Mexico City's Pullman Hotel

Meanwhile, in the Mexico City hotel elevator, pandemonium was brewing.  The half-hour confinement had taken its toll.  The air grew thick with panic, the flickering emergency light casting grotesque shadows on the walls.

"This is getting ridiculous!" Chizuru shrieked, her voice cracking with fear.  "We've been stuck here for ages!  Kazuya, do your magic thing again!"

Kazuya, ever the optimist, closed his eyes and began chanting his bobolawo mantra in a low monotone.  "Om mani padme hum...  Om tare tu tare ture mama..."

"Kazuya's being serious, innit?" Shinichi scoffed, rolling his eyes.  "We need to think logically.  There must be a backup generator or something."

As if on cue, the elevator lurched violently, the flickering light dying completely.  They were plunged into absolute darkness.  Claustrophobia gripped them all, a collective gasp filling the cramped space.

"Hana, are you okay?" Shinichi called out, his voice trembling slightly.

A choked sob was his only response.  Suddenly, Hana shrieked.  "There!  Did you see that?  A giant man with a golden crown!  And another guy smoking a bong with him!"

Chizuru whimpered.  "Hana, stop it!  Don't make things worse!"

"But I saw them!  They're right there by the doors!" Hana insisted, her voice laced with terror.

Shinichi, despite his skepticism, felt a cold sweat prickle his skin. He remembered Ruka mentioning Hana's ability to see the supernatural.  Could there be something to it?

Yes, it was Gadjah Mada and Timur Lenk smoking weed. They just wave their hands to the two couples and gestured in Japanese Sign Language "DO NOT GET OUT AT THIS MOMENT".

Just then, a faint blue light emanated from Kazuya's hand.  He'd managed to light a small incense stick he always carried.  The meager light revealed the terror etched on each of their faces.

"Look," Kazuya whispered, his voice barely a croak.  "There's something written on the wall."

He pointed to the elevator door, where faint glowing symbols had inexplicably appeared.  Chizuru gasped.  "I recognize those!  It's Aztec script!  It says..."  Her voice trailed off, replaced by a look of pure horror.