Ghost 3

Chapter 6~ Illusion

CAUTION: This chapter has a little bit of blood in it... Ah well, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Hehehe *u* Read, comment, vote, and enjoy! -@otaku_reads_01

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I stared blankly at the majestic mansion, missing that smile Avi was supposed to show me.

"Welcome to the second stage! The Hider wants to play with you next. She loves visitors..." It was, unmistakably, Katsu's voice once again. His voice wandered around me, but no matter how hard I strained my eyes, I couldn't see where he was. "Don't underestimate her though. She won't be as weak as Avi, if that's what you were hoping." He let out a rueful laugh.

I shook my head emphatically. "Who are you calling 'weak?' Here we are, playing this 'game' of yours, while you're just watching. You useless bystander," I spoke with a voice I never knew was in me. It was filled with enmity. "And what about this 'Nori' guy of yours? Is he just another victim? Another pawn that will fall before his master? I bet-"

"Don't," Katsu murmured with a shaky voice. "Don't say his name."

A strong hand cupped my mouth from behind while the other arm was wrapped around my neck, causing me to gag a little. My hands flew to the firm arm attempting to pry it off; however, my bony arms were no match for the noose of muscle around my throat.

"What a pleasure it is to meet you, Ghost Hunter," a deep, imperious voice whispered from the person behind me. Obviously, the voice belonged to a male, but it didn't sound at all like Katsu's somewhat high-pitched tone; and it couldn't belong to the Hider, for she was a girl. Is it... Nori?

"Now, why don't you shut that rude mouth of yours?" It sounded more like a demand than a request. The arm around my neck loosened, but before I could punch the guy behind me, he pulled out a shimmering knife.

In a split second, with the swift movement of his arm, he slit my neck open.

My knees forgot how to hold my weight and let me fall face first to the ground. My fingers were too petrified to touch the bloody mess on my neck.

A yelp of excruciating pain escaped my mouth, but only made it throb harder, causing a fountain of brick red blood to spray from my mouth.

Through half-closed eyes, I gazed up at Nori, who was looking down at me with a dirty smirk. "You're gonna lose the game if you don't get up, Ghost Hunter."

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I opened my eyes to find myself standing stiff in the doorway between the cramped room (AKA Stage 1) and the grand mansion (AKA Stage 2). I blinked vigorously wondering what had happened.

Suddenly, all the memories rushed back into my brain. The slitting, the blood, the pain, and Nori. A slight sting of familiar pain came back to my neck. I gingerly ran my fingers over the scar, but, to my surprise, there was no warm blood or even a single scratch.

"This is just a first glimpse of the Deceiver's powers," Katsu stated weakly, as if scared that the ghost might come after him next. "Remember that pain he inflicted on you? It was all an illusion.

"The Deceiver, Ghost 3, No-" He took in a deep breath. "...Nori. Whatever you call him, he's still a merciless boy who will kill you, eventually."

I could feel my pupils shrink and my eyes widen with fear. A voice in my head repeatedly ordered me to get up. I'll lose the game if I don't get up.

I lifted myself, helplessly, off the ground and trudged up the bright red, velvet-covered stairs to find myself in an everlasting, dark hallway with a myriad of doors at its sides. Which door to open first?