The Rules of dimensional travel Book One: A Story Among Ghouls

Chapter 2: Ghoulish first trip

Whenever you find yourself traveling to a new place, you may find yourself wondering what got you there, or the people you might see. I honestly could only guarantee seeing one person when I walked through the portal, and that was Erica. So what surprised me about dimension 662 wasn't the fact that within this bustling city, there were billboards covered in asian characters. Nor the fact that everyone spoke a language that was different from my own. No, what really scared me was Erica's terrified look that fell upon the entire city. She seemed nearly frozen looking at the people as they walked by. "Erica, stop freaking out." I said. She didn't respond. "Erica?" I called. Still no response. "I'm your Master goddamn it, you have to respond to me!" Then, Erica's look a fear faded, and she gave such a slight smile as she chuckled, hiding her mouth behind her hand. It took me a moment to realize what was happening. "I didn't think you would care." She said. I blushed and wildly stomped away. "Yeah well I don't! You're just some whore who's forced to follow me around, you think I care about that?!" I yelled. She still chuckled behind her closed fist. "Quit laughing alright?! I don't wanna hear it anymore!" I yelled. Then, just like that, Erica stopped laughing, her smile fading with it. The air was suddenly tense between them. Erica's smile was now her normal expressionless face. She trudged behind me, I think then she thought it was better to not laugh or smile around me, just because I had said so. Can you believe that? I reached into my satchel and pulled out the headset. The moment I put it on all the foreign voices became familiar ones, ones I could understand. I pressed the button on the side of the headset, and looked around me. "Tell me about this place." I said. Erica looked around. "I believe Mistress Blackbird only just recently traveled to this dimension."

"What does that mean?"

"It means she hasn't given me too much information on it yet, only that this is what she refers to as a 'Otaku Dimension'."

"Don't mention it if you're not going to explain it Erica." I said impatiently. Erica looked at the big screen television that sat on the side of a large building. "An Otaku Dimension," Erica explained. "Is a dimension, typically similar to an anime or manga, in which everyone speaks japanese and Americans are stupid."

"I'm taking offense to that Erica." I said impatiently. Erica looked back at me. "Sorry Sir, but that's what they believe here and therefore that is what exists."

"So if I live here, I'll be an idiot." I said. "Got it."

"Sir, I meant that people look down on Americans here, and that you should at least come up with a japanese name." She looked as though she were losing her patience as she said that. I smiled. "Wow, didn't know you could lose your cool like that." Erica ignored him. "I can give you a japanese name if you can't think of one." I found my gaze landing on the television above them. "Sure." I said dismissively. Television isn't always accurate. In this instance, however, television was very accurate. On the TV, was a newscaster, he said: "Reports indicate that the recent murders in the 20th ward, were ghoul incidents. The ghoul in question is supposedly a binge eater. The CCG is looking into the matter as we speak."

"Ghouls?" I thought trying to figure out what they were. "Binge eater? What are they talking about?" It didn't really matter, all I really focused on in that report was murder. Supernatural murder at that. “Ah well.” I thought. “What're the chances I'll actually see one anyway?”
"Erica?" I called. "Yes sir?"

"Can you tell me what Ghouls are?" I asked. She shook her head. "Not in relation to this dimension, but in neighboring dimensions, some are humanoid and eat humans to survive, others are the most powerful level of ghosts."

"So it could be anywhere from a spectre to a damned Skrull." I said getting a grasp on what she was saying. "Real helpful Erica." Erica didn't respond. I searched the crowd of people looking for someone trustworthy looking. Then, I saw a young man with bright yellow hair and headphones around his neck walk by. "Excuse me." I called. When he didn't turn around, I tapped his shoulder. He turned to face me. "Yes?"