Beyond, With a Yokai

Yesenia had never liked camps. The whole idea of gathering a bunch of people in one place—supposedly to rest and have fun—felt too loud, too forced, and entirely pointless. For her, true rest was a quiet evening at home with a cup of tea and another teen drama, where characters agonized over their made-up problems.

But her parents saw things differently. They were convinced that the last summer before graduation—the summer, the one everyone calls special, important, unforgettable—had to be full of color and energy. So, without even asking her, they made the decision for her: she was going to camp.

To say Yesenia was excited would be a lie. But when she found out the camp was located in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, her resistance began to fade. She had always dreamed of going there. To see the mountains. To feel how they stretched up toward the clouds like ancient guardians watching over the land. To breathe the mountain air and feel her whole soul fill with its clarity and freedom.

People said mountain air was crisp, pure, and endless. But others claimed it smelled like death. And there was a grain of truth in that.

Mountains are dangerous. Beautiful, graceful, but treacherous.Many have met their end chasing after that beauty, seduced by the promise of something wild and eternal.

Still, Yesenia felt she had to see them for herself.

Her parents took care of everything—packing more than she’d ever need. They were sure they knew exactly what was essential for camp life. Yesenia didn’t argue. She simply thanked them. After all, it wasn’t her who’d be dragging the luggage... it was her friend. Or maybe, by now, she should just call him her boyfriend.

There had been no official confession. But whatever they were was slowly slipping past the bounds of friendship.

Svyatoslav.

Sweet, kind the boy Yesenia had noticed back in freshman year when he transferred to their school. Fair-haired, calm, with striking blue eyes—he was the opposite of her usual type. Quiet. Withdrawn. Never taking the first step.

And yet, she couldn’t stop noticing him.

Even if she didn’t understand why.

Maybe it was the way he didn’t chase her, didn’t flirt or try to impress. He answered her texts with short replies, barely engaging.

Then, in next year, a girl transferred from his old school..

And in the locker room after gym class, her friend Roza, nosy as always, began questioning the girl about him. The new girl didn’t hold back—she told them everything.

Turns out, many girls had tried to get close to him.

And just like with Yesenia, he remained distant, cold, more interested in his studies and a small circle of friends than any kind of relationship.

Maybe he was just too young for all that.

Or maybe... girls weren’t his thing at all?

After that conversation, Yesenia only wanted his attention more.

It became a challenge. A matter of principle. If no one else could do it, then she would.

At least, that’s what she told herself.

By late May, when spring was in full bloom and the air was thick with flowers and sunlight, Yesenia made her move.

She approached Svyatoslav and told him everything.He didn’t reciprocate her feelings. Not right away. But something changed after that. He became a little more open. She started catching his glances, noticed how he smiled at her. Slowly, something began to shift.

She was the first to text.The first to ask him out.The first to hold his hand.And the first to kiss him—always chalking it up to his shyness, his inexperience.

At first, it was fine.She even liked knowing she was his first.But over time, waiting for him to take any initiative grew tiring.She wanted—just once—for him to reach out first.

And eventually… he did.

When Yesenia mentioned she’d be going to camp, he surprised her by asking his parents if he could go too.It was unexpected—and kind of sweet.Not every guy would trade a summer of home comforts for a spontaneous trip just to be by her side.

Now they had the chance to spend real time together.

Most people go to camp hoping for a summer fling.Yesenia was going with her boyfriend already in tow, hoping this summer might become their moment.

The journey began with a flight.Two hours in the air—Vladivostok behind them, Sakhalin ahead.Yesenia even managed a short nap, though a jittery anticipation kept her from fully drifting off.

When they arrived, the counselors split them into rooms.Since Yesenia was the first to arrive, she got to choose her bed.Naturally, she picked the one by the window.It looked newer, sturdier than the others—and it let in the most sunlight. Yesenia loved sunlight.

The room was small.It was hard to imagine how five girls were supposed to fit in here. One wardrobe. One mirror. At least each of them got a personal shelf beside their bed.

Back at school, everyone thought Yesenia was friendly, even outgoing.But the truth was, she didn’t like meeting new people.Opening up to strangers, showing them her real self, made her uncomfortable. It was easier to pretend—easier to be someone else. Someone more confident. More likable.

Only a few people knew who she really was underneath the mask.

The days at camp went surprisingly well.Though her roommates were all completely different, Yesenia still managed to find a point of connection with each of them—small things, maybe, but enough to bridge the gaps. She had always been curious about everything, dabbled in different interests, and that gave her plenty of topics to keep the conversation flowing.

To her own surprise, she even began enjoying the camp contests and evening discos. Normally, that kind of thing wasn’t her scene at all.

But all of that was just background noise.There was only one thing she had truly been waiting for—the hike.Yesenia had dreamed about it for weeks: reaching the peak, breathing in the crisp mountain air, and seeing nature in its untouched, overwhelming beauty.

Finally, the day came.They were taking a trip to Mount Lopatina.

It was over 86 degrees outside, and a lot of the campers chose to stay behind, opting for their beds and the promise of the evening dance instead.

That genuinely baffled Yesenia.How could anyone willingly pass up a chance to climb the mountains, to be that close to something so grand, so ancient?

Without a second thought, she grabbed Svyatoslav and headed out.

For those who did go, the camp staff arranged a short safety briefing. Then, with eager eyes and backpacks slung over their shoulders, the students followed the guide—a man who seemed to know every twist and turn on the trail by heart.

With each step, the view grew more and more breathtaking.The world below stretched endlessly.The air got cooler, purer, infused with the breath of the earth itself.It was the air of freedom—of something deeper than the sky.

Despite the early wake-up, Yesenia didn’t feel tired.In fact, the higher they climbed, the lighter her body felt.Her heart started beating in sync with the world around her.

At their first break, while everyone caught their breath, Yesenia and Svyatoslav wandered a bit away from the group to enjoy the view alone.

“Just look at that,” she whispered in awe. “Isn’t this one of the most beautiful things in the world?”She turned toward him. “Next to these mountains, I feel like an ant.”

She took a step forward, not noticing that one of her shoelaces had come undone.

In the next second, she stumbled—and fell.

Luckily, she managed to throw out her arm just in time, breaking the fall.

“Yesenia! Are you okay?” Svyatoslav was at her side instantly, helping her up.

“You didn’t break anything, did you?”

“I think I just scraped my arm,” she said, pulling back her sleeve. A small but nasty-looking cut glistened with fresh blood.

“How could you be so careless?” he exhaled, rifling through his backpack. He took out a Band-Aid and carefully placed it over her wound.

“We’ll disinfect it properly once we’re back.”

Then he crouched down and tied her laces tight.It wasn’t like him to do something so thoughtful, so... gentle. But Yesenia appreciated the gesture all the same.

The hike was a success.Yesenia took in as much of the scenery as she could, snapped dozens of photos to remember it by. And the air… it really was impossibly clean. She couldn’t get enough of it. After this, the “normal” air back home would probably feel fake, filtered, second-rate.

But one thing stuck with her more than anything else.Death had reached for her.And yet, someone—something—stepped in just in time to pull her back.

Yesenia didn’t want to leave.She had melted into the moment, her soul in rhythm with the wind, the sky, the earth. But the guides weren’t as enchanted.They kept glancing at their watches, reminding everyone they had to be back before dinner.

The next few days at camp began to blur together.The contests started repeating themselves, the same people kept winning, and the disco playlists never changed—creating the eerie sense of a loop she couldn’t break out of.Yesenia found herself counting the days until it was over, slowly losing interest in everything around her.

The one thing that kept her going?Her relationship with Svyatoslav had noticeably improved.He was finally opening up to her more than he ever had in the two years they’d known each other at school.

But there was something else.Something that wouldn’t leave her alone.

For the past few days, Yesenia had been noticing a guy in the crowd—someone she was sure she hadn’t seen before.Maybe she’d just missed him?And what if she had? He looked like any other guy.Except… every time their eyes met, he didn’t just look—he watched her.He held her gaze, always with that same amused smirk, like he knew something she didn’t.

And that?That was starting to scare her.

He was clearly older—definitely didn’t look like a student.That only made it worse.And today, he even waved at her, as if teasing.

There was no way she could just walk up and ask who he was.So instead, she tried to fish for answers from her roommates.

“He’s pretty tall,” Yesenia said, trying to sound casual. “Like, a full head taller than me. Definitely Asian. Looks older. He’s got a lip piercing, and half his hair’s always tied back. Maybe he’s a counselor?”

She hoped someone would recognize the description.

Anna, one of the girls, just waved it off.“No way. There are only two Asian guys here, and they’re brothers. And they’re younger than us. I think you’re imagining things.”

But her words only made the unease worse.

Yesenia could picture the guy’s face perfectly.The shape of his eyes. The sharpness of his features. The way he moved.And even if she ignored all that—he looked older. Clearly older.

So why had he smiled at her? Why had he waved?Maybe… maybe he hadn’t been looking at her at all.Maybe someone else had been standing behind her?

She wanted to believe that.

But the feeling of dread had already taken root—and it wouldn’t let go.

That night, after lights out, a headache began to pulse behind her eyes.Yesenia had learned her lesson long ago: don’t wait it out.Take a pill now—or nothing will help later.

She swallowed the painkiller, then decided to head to the bathroom to splash her face with cold water.She moved carefully, silently—her roommates were already fast asleep.

The bathroom greeted her with its usual sterile chill.Dim fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead, casting a cold glow over the tiled floor. Her footsteps echoed dully.The air smelled faintly of damp cement and cheap soap.

A breeze drifted in from somewhere, brushing her skin with a sudden chill.

She stepped up to the sink—and immediately spotted a huge zit on her forehead.

Probably all that chocolate again, she thought with a groan.

Turning the tap, she let the cold water run over her hands before splashing it on her face.To her surprise, the camp’s water was actually cleaner and fresher than back home.Because of that, she’d stopped using her usual skincare and just washed with tap water.

She repeated the motion, leaning in, when a low creak shattered the silence.

The door.

It swung open slowly… and then clicked shut.

Footsteps. Soft. Barely audible.But there.

Something inside her twisted.

So what? Anyone could need the bathroom at night, she told herself.

But for some reason, the unease didn’t pass.

Her headache had started to fade when she reached up and turned off the tap.Lifting her eyes to the mirror—

She froze.

Behind her, half-shrouded in the dark, stood the massive outline of a man.

Her body jerked as if shocked, spinning around on instinct.She didn’t scream.Didn’t even speak.

She just gasped, like all the air had suddenly left her lungs.

“Don’t freak out. I’m just here to wash my hands,” the stranger said with a smug grin, stepping out of the shadows.

It was him.

The same guy who’d been smirking at her in the crowd for days.

He looked about twenty-five.Long black hair, cut in cascading layers, shimmered under the bathroom’s harsh light like strands of polished glass.Thick brows framed slightly narrowed eyes, where lazy amusement danced just beneath the surface.

His features were sharp—high cheekbones, a pointed chin. His full lips curled into a smile that, somehow, felt more like a threat than a greeting.

He was close to six and a half feet tall, and his massive frame seemed to fill the entire room. Even Yesenia, standing at five foot eight, felt tiny next to him.

“The men’s bathroom is down the hall,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. But inside, everything trembled.

He only smirked, eyes never leaving hers, and casually began washing his hands like they’d just run into each other by chance.

“So what?” he said. “You gonna report me?”

“And what if I do?” she snapped, trying to stay composed, though her voice betrayed her tension.

His smile vanished, like it had never been there.

His eyes darkened—deep and cold, like a storm was brewing behind them.

The room suddenly felt ice-cold.Goosebumps prickled across her skin.

“You’re shaking. Did I scare you that much?” he asked with terrifying calm, as if he already knew the answer.

Yesenia straightened up, forcing herself to look taller.“Little girls use this bathroom. You’re clearly not one of them.”

He rolled his eyes.“Ugh. I’m too lazy to come up with an excuse,” he said, stepping back from the sink and leaning casually against the cold tile wall.

“What do you mean come up with?” A new kind of fear bloomed in her chest. “Who are you? Are you stalking me or something?!”

Her voice rose, cracking at the edges.Tension crashed over her like a wave of ice water.She instinctively backed against the sink, as if it could protect her somehow.

He only smiled.

“I could say I’m a camp counselor,” he began, voice low and dripping with something poisonous. “That I arrived a few days late. That I thought no one would be here this late at night...”

He tilted his head.“But you’ve already figured it out, haven’t you? Even if you’re trying so hard to convince yourself otherwise.”

Her heart clenched.

She didn’t know what scared her more—his words, or the way he said them.Each one slipped into her mind like thick, black oil—clinging, suffocating.

She began inching back slowly, doing her best not to make any sudden movements.If she could, she would’ve vanished into the air just to avoid being alone with him.

“And what exactly have I figured out?” she asked, drawing the words out, trying to buy herself a few more seconds to reach the door.

He watched her with amused detachment, like her fear was mildly entertaining.

“That I’m not a counselor. Not a student either,” he said, voice dropping into a dangerous whisper. “And that this isn’t a camp. Everything around you is fake. Just a set I built.”

Yesenia froze.

She didn’t understand what he meant. But every word sent a sliver of ice down her spine.

“What the hell are you talking about?” She could barely breathe. He’s not just a creep—he’s insane! If she didn’t run now, this could end very badly.

“The truth,” he shrugged, like it was no big deal.

His eyes—dark as a moonless sky—locked onto her.Watching. Studying. Peeling her apart from the inside.

“This is a rare thing,” he added. “You should be grateful.”

Then his tone shifted—mocking, playful.

“You’re kind of boring, you know. No screaming? No panicking? No running away?”

Yesenia clenched her fists.

“That slow shuffle toward the door, hoping I won’t notice?” he chuckled lazily.“Pretty dumb. But hey, I’ll count it.”

Her jaw tightened.

“So you want me to run?”

He didn’t answer.

But he didn’t have to.

Yesenia turned on her heel—and bolted for the door.

In the same second, the hallway erupted with the sound of her footsteps.She felt one slipper fly off mid-sprint, and then the other.Her bare feet slapped against the cold floor, echoing louder and louder in the silence, as if amplifying the panic inside her head.She didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.Fear was shoving her forward.

She sprinted through the corridor, the walls seemingly closing in—alive, squeezing, trying to trap her.Every shadow thrown by the dim overhead lights looked sinister, ready to swallow her whole.Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might rip through her chest.Each beat echoed in the endless, hollow corridor like a war drum.

Yesenia gasped for breath, but the air felt thick and heavy—like she was inhaling pure darkness.Her vision swam. Her legs nearly buckled as she glanced over her shoulder, praying he wasn’t following, that she’d somehow shaken him.

“She gets the hint. Didn’t even have to say it twice,” his voice drifted from behind her, calm and amused.“She did exactly what I asked.”

She didn’t look back.

The farther she ran, the farther the camp office seemed to stretch away.The corridor lights were dimmer than usual, and the shadows thickened—twisting, reaching for her.

Why haven’t I reached the office yet?Why is this hallway never-ending?

Her heart slammed against her ribs, and only one thought remained:Run. Don’t stop. Just run.

Yesenia looked back once more—hoping he wasn’t there.There was nothing.No footsteps.No figure lurking in the dark.

Only her own frantic breathing and the sharp echo of her feet.

Maybe he really was just messing with me, she thought desperately.Maybe it was all a sick joke.

Even if it was... she wasn’t about to stick around to find out.

Her panic surged, making her run faster, even as her brain screamed that it wouldn’t help.

She turned her head back around—and slammed right into something solid.

The impact knocked the wind out of her.She stumbled back, barely catching her balance.

She looked up, praying it was a counselor.

But no.

It was him.

The same guy.Calm.Smirking.The corners of his mouth curled in a smug, satisfied grin.

He grabbed her shoulders, holding her in place.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he said, voice low and mocking. “I know we just got started. And honestly? I liked the way you tried to run. But unfortunately... we’re not alone.”

Yesenia struggled, but his grip was iron.Her ears rang.All she could hear was the frantic thud of her own heartbeat.

Her eyes darted around, looking for anything—anything—to help her escape.

Why hadn’t anyone heard her? Where was everyone?

Then, she saw it.

A door, cracked open just down the hall.

Her heart leapt.That tiny sliver of hope surged in her chest.She gathered everything she had left and lunged toward it—

But he threw her.

Hard.

Yesenia winced, bracing for impact.

She expected cold tile.Expected pain.

Instead... she landed on something soft.

Grass?

Eyes flying open, Yesenia found herself outside.In front of her cabin.

The night air was still.Only the faint rustle of leaves disturbed the silence.

She blinked, breathless, struggling to make sense of what had just happened.

“What the hell...?” she whispered, pushing herself to her feet.

She looked down at her hands, her arms, her legs—expecting bruises, cuts, something.But there was nothing.She was completely unharmed.

It’s just a dream, she told herself. I’m dreaming. I just need to wake up.

She took a deep breath and pinched her arm.Nothing changed.

Frantically, Yesenia looked around.

Everything looked familiar—and wrong.Off.

The darkness was thicker than before.The single lamppost barely lit the edge of the camp.Hadn’t there been more lights before? Where were they all?

A sudden crash made her flinch.

Something heavy launched from a second-story window and hit the ground with a deep, sickening thud—just inches from her feet.

Yesenia let out a sharp scream and stumbled back, her heart exploding in her chest.

Yesenia squinted into the dark and saw the outline of… a dog?

It twitched, like it was just now coming to.A sharp stab of dread hit her chest—Was it still alive?

She took a step forward, about to check, when a voice behind her rang out:

“Don’t move. Not unless you want to die.”

Yesenia snapped her head up.

There he was—the guy from the bathroom, now framed in the pale yellow halo of the lamplight.He was walking toward her, slow and lazy, like he knew she had nowhere left to run.

“What’s going on?!” she gasped, voice cracking into a shout.

Her hands trembled.Breath came in short, sharp bursts.Her eyes darted from the dog to the stranger.Who was he? What had he done to that creature? Was she next?

“What did you do to it?” she asked, instinctively taking a step back.

The guy let out an annoyed sigh.

“That idiot’s just playing dead. He’s fine. For now.”He crossed his arms, scowling.“And I, by the way, just saved your pathetic little soul. A thank-you wouldn’t kill you.”

Yesenia stood frozen, fear turning her muscles to stone.She didn’t know what to believe—his words, or her own eyes.

Then came a sound that sliced through the silence:

A raspy, unnatural laugh.

A chill ran down her spine, raising goosebumps across her skin.

Slowly, with mounting dread, she turned her gaze back to the dog…

The creature was rising to its feet.And now, in the faint light, it was obvious—this wasn’t a dog.

It looked more like a wolf.Emaciated. Hunched. Its jaw grotesquely long and twisted.

“Ahh... I’m starving,” the beast rasped.

Its voice was torn and broken, leaking from a mouth that dripped with thick, viscous drool.It didn’t blink.Didn’t move.

Just stared at her.

Yesenia’s stomach twisted into a knot.That thing—it wanted to eat her.

And then it hit her:If this is a dream, maybe dying will wake me up.

The beast lunged forward, jaws stretching open far too wide.

Yesenia didn’t even flinch.She accepted it.Closed her eyes.

“You’re really not all there, are you?” the stranger’s voice cut through the air like a blade.

He appeared in front of her in the blink of an eye—just appeared—and in one smooth motion, snapped the beast’s neck.Its body crumpled to the ground.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Yesenia shrieked, stumbling back.

“Either you hit your head harder than I thought when I threw you out that window, or you’ve always been this dumb,” he muttered.

“If you hadn’t interrupted, I’d probably be awake by now!Not that you’d get it—you’re just a figment of my imagination.”

The guy raised a brow, smirking.“You think your imagination could cook up this level of good looks?”

Yesenia snorted, unimpressed.“I’ve seen better in my dreams.”

“Hmm. Maybe I shouldn’t have saved you from that psycho Yakan,” he said, feigning offense.

“From who?”

She didn’t get an answer.

Because the “corpse” began to move.

The wolf rose slowly, its head twisting at an unnatural angle, as if its neck had never been broken at all.Bones cracked like dry branches as it turned to face them.

“You can still give her to me,” it croaked.

The scent of burning fur and rotting flesh filled the air, making Yesenia gag.

The stranger sighed.

“You know… now I’m starting to get hungry,” he said, voice dipped in menace.

Flames flickered to life at the tips of his fingers.The fire spread, glowing red and wild—lighting up his frame and reflecting in Yakan’s dead eyes.

“Fine, fine! I get it!” the beast hissed.

And just like that, its body evaporated into the night—leaving behind the stench of sulfur and a high-pitched ringing that exploded in Yesenia’s ears.

She clutched her head, trying to stop the piercing sound.Yesenia looked around, trying to process what the hell was happening.If this is a dream, why does it feel so real?Her heart pounded so violently she thought it might burst through her chest.

That rotting stench still hung in the air, thick and suffocating, clinging to her skin.The air itself felt heavy, like it belonged in a nightmare.

She clenched her fists to keep from panicking.But what if this isn’t a dream? What if he’s not just some figment of my mind?

“Who are you people, and what do you want from me?” she asked, trying to sound calm—but her voice shook, betraying her fear.

“I already told you,” he said casually. “That was a Yakan. A dangerous kind of kitsune. The type that’s too proud to ever take a human form. But trust me, they’re disgusting. Especially compared to the others. He smelled a weakened soul—yours. For him, it’s like blood to a vampire. And he won’t stop hunting you until you’re dead.”

He said it like he was explaining the weather.The fire on his fingertips slowly faded, and his expression remained eerily calm—which only made her feel worse.

Yesenia furrowed her brow, that icy stone of dread growing heavier in her chest.A weakened soul? Wants to kill me? But… this has to be a dream, right?

Everything felt so off.So surreal.

“You said kitsune... You mean like the fox spirits from Japanese mythology?” she asked, reaching for any sense of normalcy, something real.

“Exactly. Hideous. Hunchbacked. Still a fox. You people have a saying, don’t you? ‘Every family has its freak.’ Or do you not believe in Japanese mythology?”

Yesenia took a step back.Her thoughts were spiraling.He compared himself to that thing?Is he saying... he’s not human either?

Questions piled up, but none of them brought comfort.Her chest tightened. Her thoughts started to slip.

“Alright then—what do you want from me?” she snapped, changing the subject in a desperate bid to regain control.

“You talk too much,” he grumbled.

“Oh, right. You still haven’t figured it out yourself,” she said with a snort, hiding her rising panic behind sarcasm.

“What?” He frowned, his expression twisting in irritation.

“Nothing. Just… tell me where I am,” she deflected.

“You’re definitely not dreaming, バカ.”His voice went cold.He threw her a sharp glance, like he was studying her reaction.

Baka? Did he seriously just call me stupid in Japanese?

“You’re in the astral,” he added, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Astral? Like... in movies? Astral, kitsune, baka—what kind of nonsense is this?”

“Not exactly. The astral is the thin world—where hidden forces dwell. It’s the bridge between your world and where the soul goes after death. Before heading to heaven or hell,” he said lazily, as if none of it really mattered.

“So... I’m dead?” Her voice trembled.

“No. You’re alive—for now. But your presence here? That’s an anomaly.”His eyes darkened with something more intense—something curious. “Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Everything you’re saying is insane! If I’m not dreaming, how the hell did I get here? Did the bathroom turn out to be some portal to the astral plane? Is this all because I got out of bed?”

He ignored the sarcasm.

“Your mistake wasn’t getting out of bed. It was climbing that mountain.”

“What does the mountain have to do with anything?” she asked, confused.

“Oh, right,” he said, like he’d remembered a detail too trivial to mention.“I messed with your perception. You remember things the way I wanted you to. In reality, you hit your head on a rock and passed out. Caused a brain hemorrhage. You’ve been in a coma ever since.”

Yesenia froze.His deadpan tone made it ten times worse.Brain hemorrhage? Coma? Is he making this up?

She couldn’t breathe.

“If that’s true... why do I remember something else?”The words barely made it out.Her body began to shake under the weight of it all.

“I told you—I distorted your perception. Your soul was too weak to fight back. I built illusions around you to capture you before someone—or something—worse did.”

“If that’s true... then why?” Her voice cracked. “To use me like those others would? Or...?”

He gave a slow smile.Something flickered in his eyes. Something sharp.

“I can do whatever I want with you. And you don’t need to know why.”

The air grew cold.Her throat tightened.

What does he mean? What does he WANT from me?

And worst of all—what she’d seen so far made her question whether this was just a dream after all.

“So all the days I spent at camp… after I fell… that was your illusion? Then what were you doing this whole time? Just watching me? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I was curious,” he said with a shrug. “Wanted to see what you’d do. But it got boring. So I stepped out of the shadows for a little fun.”

“So stalking me in a bathroom and scaring a schoolgirl—that’s fun for you?”

“Technically it wasn’t a bathroom. Wasn’t even real. It was part of the illusion,” he said, like it was obvious.

“Then why save me?”

“Because I want to use you. Like I already said.” He rubbed his temples like she was giving him a headache. “I’ve told you enough. Stop being so greedy.”

“Pinch me.”

“What?” His eyes widened.

“Just do it!” She shoved her hand toward him.

He hesitated—then pinched her.

Nothing.

She grinned, practically bouncing in place.“See? No pain! Ha! Explain that.”

“Want me to make it hurt?”

“Go ahead, imaginary man. Shock me.”

He rolled his eyes—then flicked her forehead.

“OW!” she cried, clutching her head.Tears sprang to her eyes.“That was the worst flick I’ve ever felt!”

“I didn’t want to hurt you before,” he said smugly. “But you asked. I’m nothing if not polite.”

“You could’ve been gentler.”

“I wanted to make sure you really got the message: you’re not asleep.”He gave a half-smile.But her own smile started to fade.

The fear… was creeping back in.

“What about that thing? You said it would come for me again. Since you apparently ‘need’ me, how are you planning to protect me?”

He scoffed.“You’re really full of yourself. I’ll deal with it—but not because you asked. I’ve got my own reasons.”

“Well I didn’t exactly ask,” she muttered, watching him carefully. “What’s your name?”

“You know what they say. The less you know, the better you sleep.”He leaned back, lips curling into a mocking grin.But the cold glint in his eyes never left.

“Yesenia? Why are you outside at this hour?”

The voice came from behind.She jumped.

Another horror? Or something real this time?

She turned—and saw a camp counselor approaching with a flashlight.

But something about him was wrong.

His movements were too stiff.Too robotic.His face… blank. Like a carved mask with no expression.

And he didn’t seem to notice the guy standing right beside her.

“Go,” the stranger whispered, his breath warm against her skin. “When he comes for you again, don’t show fear. Act like you’re expecting nothing.”

And then—he vanished.

Everything looked normal.

But the moment Yesenia really focused—ice-cold fear wrapped around her chest.

People moved too perfectly. Too predictably.Their words were flat. Rehearsed.

Like someone had pressed a button labeled “play scene”, and now they were just looping the same script over and over.

She tried to remember the fall.Every tiny detail.

But the harder she tried, the more everything fell apart.

She hadn’t fallen on her arm. So why did it feel like she had?Was it just suggestion?Then why had this “dream” lasted so long? Why did it feel so real?

Yesenia spent the next two days waiting. Dreading.

She tried talking to people, but their answers stayed mechanical, scripted, artificial.The only exception… was Svyatoslav.

Did the fox leave him like this on purpose?

Maybe because they’d known each other the longest.But even then... he wasn’t the same.Everything he’d said or done after her fall felt fake.

Until that point, she’d believed he was finally opening up to her.

If this isn’t a dream… will I ever go home? Will the fox help me once he gets whatever he wants?

Those questions haunted her.

After lights-out, Yesenia sat on her bed and glanced out the window.

Two yellow eyes stared back.

He was here—just like the guy said.If someone had told her days ago that she’d one day stare down a creature who came for her life and then calmly get into bed afterward, she’d have laughed in their face.

She swallowed the panic, pulled the blanket over her body, and squeezed her eyes shut.She prayed—desperately—that the fox would keep his word.

Her heart pounded like a war drum, ready to burst from her chest and land in front of the monster on a silver platter.

Yakan stood at the second-floor window.

Yesenia heard his ragged, labored breathing—even though the glass was closed.She could smell him—foul and moldy—right against her face.

How?He was outside.

He couldn’t have snuck in silently… could he?Then again, if all this was just an illusion, then maybe the rules didn’t apply.

“There you are, sweetheart. I almost thought you’d grown a brain and decided not to come back,” came the fox’s voice, slicing through the silence.

Yesenia’s eyes flew open.

The room was gone.Her roommates—gone.

Only him and the brunette remained.Standing by her bed.Facing each other.

“Still playing with her?” Yakan sneered, never taking his predatory eyes off the guy.“You must really like this one.”

“Keep talking,” the guy muttered, smirking. “Those might be your last words.”

Yakan’s grin widened.

“You’ve convinced me. I’ll kill you first—then I’ll deal with her.”

He looked terrifying.But he was scared.

Yesenia could see it.

No matter how hard he tried to mask it with bravado—his tension gave him away.Still, it didn’t stop him.

With a roar, Yakan lunged.

Yesenia scrambled off the bed and threw herself into the nearest corner, shaking harder than she ever had before.It was like a horror movie playing in real life.

She clung to consciousness.As strange and terrifying as the guy was… she prayed he would win.The idea of being ripped apart alive was something she’d rather avoid.

Yakan lunged, jaws open, aiming for the guy’s throat.

But the brunette flung him into the wall like it was nothing, leaving a deep dent in the concrete.

Yakan didn’t stop.He attacked again, this time launching bursts of glowing energy.

One of them hit.

The guy staggered, letting out a low groan.

“No… please no…” Yesenia whispered, curling tighter into the corner.

He couldn’t lose. He couldn’t.

“That hurts,” the brunette growled.

Yakan’s face lit up with twisted satisfaction.

“Perfect. Now I’ll take what’s mine,” he hissed, stepping forward.

But then—laughter.

The guy chuckled.And Yakan froze.

“You really are stupid,” he said.

In a blur, he was in front of Yakan.His hand plunged straight into the creature’s chest.

Yakan gasped, choking.

“Your impulsiveness and idiocy… were your undoing,” the guy whispered—and ripped his hand free.

Still beating in his palm… was Yakan’s heart.

Blood dripped onto the floor beside Yesenia.

“Oh my god…” she gasped, clapping both hands over her mouth, shaking.

“Whoa. You do know how to react,” the guy said with a smirk, casually tucking the heart into his pocket.

Despite her natural curiosity, Yesenia didn’t dare ask why.

She was too paralyzed with fear.

“Stay here. I’ll be back,” he said, grabbing Yakan’s lifeless body by the scruff.

And just like that—he was gone.

Yesenia was alone again.

Her mind bounced between relief that the danger was over… and a new kind of fear—

What if he’s even worse than the monster he just killed?