The Ones Who Survived

Chapter 7: Seiko

On the back of the bookmark an address was written in small letters along with two object descriptions in neat hand writing.

"Find some way into this apartment and get a shiny wrist watch with a twist on it, and a small red box. About the size of the palm of your hand. After you get these items come visit me again". The address written was an apartment near the school .

Seiko stood at the door, she couldn't believe she was about to do this. Whatever, she had to, this girl was her only lead. She walked up the the apartment door, taking a deep breath raising her fist.  Holding her breath she brought her fist down onto the oak wood door.

The knock rung around the corridor. No answer... she turned the door knob... locked. Kneeling down she felt around the floor and noticed a plant in the corner of the corridor near by. She stood up and walked over having an idea, pushing the leaves to the side. There it was, shining brightly sorta dirty .

Making her way to the door and holding her breath she slid the key into the door. Luckily, it fit. Unlocking it she hurried inside not wanting to be caught, slamming the door behind her.

The apartment was messy, files stacked up to her knees, bookshelves with books shoved in with no pattern, and an empty shoe cubby decorated with dust and cob webs. It was empty , the slightest sound echoed. From the look and smell it was obvious no one had been inside this apartment for a long time.

She felt the list in her pocket and remembered her task. She removed her shoes and made her way around the small apartment looking around and searching through the papers. No box, no wrist watch. The living room had nothing in it.

She made her way to the kitchen, each step muffled by her socks . The kitchen was as dusty as the rest of the house, the smell of rotten food covered the room almost making Seiko sick. She held her breath looking around the small kitchen and found nothing, nothing besides pictures on the fridge. Looking closely she noticed one was of a pretty woman in a kimono, a man in a suit with a stern face, and a little girl with long black hair and a cute dress to match.

The photo was oddly unsettling so she didn't spend long focused on it, instead she made her way to presumably the bed room. Opening the door confirmed her guess as she saw a graceful bed. She saw the bookcase was filled with nicknacs. Eyeing them she noticed a stuffed cat, glasses, an odd book, and a diary with the name 'Shinozaki' written on it.

She froze. 'Shinozaki..?' Seeing the last name in front of her made the class reps face appear in her mind. Unconsciously she walked over the to book and picked it off the shelf. "It cant be" she murmured opening the book. Flipping through the journal she confirmed that it was not Ayumis, but it was signed by a young girl named Sachiko, it seems to had been started in 1961.

Even if this wasn't Ayumis home it felt wrong to be in the apartment of someone she was related to.. she took a breath and noticed one of the things she was looking for, a small red box. She picked it up slipping it in her pocket not caring what was inside. All she needed was the watch now. She looked around the room and finally came across it , the watch itself was hidden inside the drawer.

Picking it up was soothing as the metal was smooth and cold, she wanted to put t on her wrist but decided it was best not to as she slipped it into her pocket with the red box. She turned to leave the room but as she turned the knob it was obvious that the door had somehow locked.... the room went cold... ice cold...