.ghostlydesire

1. SCARY MANSION ENCOUNTER

Loud creaking came from each step, the wooden stairs left unmaintained like the rest of the building had been for years. It was dark at night, and Asaka walked terrified, her friends had dared her to visit an abandoned mansion at midnight. Red bookshelves lined many hallways, long green carpets covered with layers of dust, and brown wooden floors stretched into darkness.

Asaka was merely a young lady, just eighteen years old. She loved crafting puppets, they would speak what she imagined and acted how she wanted them to be. Others believed her hobby was perhaps a little childish.

EGG: Ma’am, may I ask where we may be? (nervous)

ASAKA: Um! Well! I… I lost a dare. I had to.

EGG: A dare you say!? Asinine thinking. (shaking head in disapproval)

ASAKA: They’re waiting for me outside! They said I had to find a book… but they didn’t say which book.

EGG: Have you lost your mind? Look at the bookshelves here. We’ll be here for days no less! And! You don’t know which book!?

In the middle of all the darkness with just a flashlight, Asaka combed through several books on one of the bookshelves.

ASAKA: I-I found a weird book… (confused)

EGG: Huh! Weird indeed. Someone must have torn the front and back of this book.

ASAKA: Uh… Egg? Do you? Know what this means?

EGG: Oh yes, historic language. I, I am afraid I don’t know what that says.

Could it have been this simple for her? It could’ve been the book she wanted but she wished to make sure it was the correct one. For all she knew, it could’ve been Polish or German. But the state of the mansion continued to torment her.

ASAKA: I can’t do this anymore… (crying)

EGG: I order an escape from this accursed building!

ASAKA: Yes… please…

It had only been ten minutes but Asaka was already too scared to continue with the dare. She walked down the stairs, away from the hallway with all the bookshelves, excited to leave the mansion. Only to find out, when she attempted to open the tall wooden door, it was locked.

ASAKA: Wh-what? (trying to open the door)

ASAKA: What? Huh?

EGG: Ma’am? Are we outside?

ASAKA: I… I can’t open the door.

EGG: Maybe you’re just a bit weak there. (trying to open the door)

They hadn’t been able to open it—somehow, it was locked. Whether it was a sick prank by Asaka’s friends, or a curse, she didn’t know. She fell to her knees, tears spilled out of her eyes, shocked by the horrifying realization that she was stranded in an abandoned mansion.

ASAKA: What… what… what… are we… (shaking)

EGG: I assure you ma’am, there must a way out. It is an abandoned building after all, many fellows find ways to be in and out.

ASAKA: I’m. I’m going to die…

She hugged Egg tightly, sobbing, convinced it was her last night on earth. She had no hope in herself. She wondered why she even accepted such a stupid dare.

ASAKA: I’m… It’s over. My life. Egg. We’re… Dead! (crying)

EGG: We will find an exit ma’am!

EGG: Huh…? Madam Asaka, what is that?

ASAKA: It’s over… It’s over…

EGG: Ma’am? That’s! Behind you!

ASAKA: I wanted to make you a new suit but I didn’t have the money for the materials, I was going to get a job, we were supposed to have a party with the others soon. It’s over. All over.

EGG: Madam! (yell)

She looked behind her—and what she saw was unavoidable. Long, glossy black hair, a pale, otherworldly face, and dark eyes that pierced through her as if seeking revenge. Asaka’s back slammed against the door and she scrambled away with her feet, screaming at the top of her lungs.

ASAKA: I don’t want to die. Please. (hand covering mouth)

ASAKA: I will do anything. Please. Please. I have a friend with me. (pointing at Egg) We… have friends waiting for us outside. We. We weren’t trying to do anything! We swear!

It was a woman clutching onto a torn book, her body stitched together at the joints. Unlike Egg, she was quite tall and eerily dreadful.

ASAKA: Egg… Talk to her…

EGG: Well, hello. I am Sir Egg. Your name?

ASAKA: …

EGG: Well as you see, Madam Asaka and I-

KIKU: Kiku. That’s my name.

EGG: Madam Kiku?

KIKU: Yes. I am the mansion’s servant.

Asaka remained on her guard, her heart pounding, unable to form full sentences.

EGG: You are the mansion’s servant? Magnificent! Will you help us?

KIKU: How may I serve?

EGG: Oh, so cordial. Well, we were looking to leave-

KIKU: Leave?

ASAKA: Ye…yeah? Can we leave? (confused)

KIKU: What does that mean?

ASAKA: …

EGG: …

2. BOND IN THE SCARY MANSION

Growing up, Asaka never really had true friends, someone she could express herself with, someone she could vent to, someone she didn’t need to be scared of. Asaka left the flashlight she carried inside the mansion on top of an assortment of books to fill the main living room with enough light.

ASAKA: That dress looks so good on you! I love tulips so so much.

KIKU: Really? The dress looks good.

ASAKA: You! You make the dress look… good.

EGG: Beaut!

KIKU: … (blushing)

Many people called Asaka an embarrassment for playing with puppets at her age. A lot of her “friends” didn’t even want to be seen around her in public. She lived on her own and had no support from anyone despite still being so young.

KIKU: Eggs, salt, cooking, filling… we have an omelet.

ASAKA: What! Kiku? You are… so dang talented…

EGG: (claps) Madam Kiku is quite talented indeed.

KIKU: It’s not a lot. It’s my job.

ASAKA: Thank you for teaching me… I am so happy… (hugs Kiku)

KIKU: … (blushing)

Her puppets were her only friends, she created a family of puppets starting with Sir and Miss Egg. Typically, only Sir Egg wondered outside with Asaka for the sake of their protection.

EGG: Ma’am! Madam Kiku has given me a gift.

ASAKA: What!? It’s… it’s the suit you’ve always wanted!

KIKU: We had all the resources and machinery needed to quickly put it together. You said you wanted to make Sir Egg a new suit.

ASAKA: Yes!? I did! I was scared… note… was. But you are amazing.

EGG: Indeed. Madam Kiku is an expert in many fields.

ASAKA: You’re making me want to cry Kiku. You… you are the best friend I’ve ever had.

Her parents were always busy, unable to be with her even on her youngest years. She had to learn how to grow up on her own, how to be Asaka.

ASAKA: This goes on the back… I learned this from a video. It makes your hair look really cute. Look! I got a mirror for you!

KIKU: How did you do this?

ASAKA: Oh.. Um! (blushing) Nothing! It’s just… just a trick.

EGG: Madam Kiku is beautiful. Very stunningly beautiful.

ASAKA: Hey! I’ll tell Miss Egg!

EGG: I am simply saying the truth. Madam Kiku is beautiful.

KIKU: I am beautiful?

Asaka played hide and seek with her no longer fazed by the darkness.

ASAKA: Found… you!

KIKU: (scream) You scared me.

ASAKA: Now you know how I felt earlier... (laughing)

EGG: I didn’t feel scared. Always knew Madam Kiku was on our side.

KIKU: I apologize.

ASAKA: No! No. Here… (hugging Kiku)

3. REALITY IN SCARY MANSION

A century ago, a woman by the name by the name of Kiku worked as a servant in that very mansion. There were other servants working alongside her at the time.

SERVANT A: Did you finish the dishes yet?

KIKU: It was the next task on my list.

SERVANT A: How are we going to serve food for later? Are you insane? Get to it, now.

KIKU: I apologize. (bowing)

The other servants weren’t kind to her, but she always tried her best.

SERVANT B: Who in the hell did this?

KIKU: I did.

SERVANT B: I’m telling master to fire you.

KIKU: I can fix the bookshelf.

SERVANT B: You tore the front of the book. The back as well. This is one of his favorite books.

KIKU: I didn’t do that. I simply arranged the books.

SERVANT A: Who else would do that? My mother? We’re the only three in charge, if I did it I would’ve come forward. But I’m not a ragged mess, unlike you.

KIKU: I can find a way to fix it.

SERVANT B: Fix it? It’s fully torn off. Ugh. Good luck.

Kiku wasn’t sure how she would fix the book, but she always tried to mend whatever she could. She wandered through the mansion for hours, but had no luck. She tried to find tools to put it back together, but she didn’t know what she could use.

After doing the laundry, she came up with an idea. She could use her scissors to cut the front and back from her own book and attach them to the mansion’s book. It felt like a genius idea—at least, to her.

KIKU: Should be easy to do.

SERVANT A: What should be easy to do huh?

SERVANT B: Hold her arms.

SERVANT A: Got it. (restraining Kiku’s arms)

KIKU: What? What is this about?

SERVANT B: Surprisingly calm for what we’re about to do to you.

SERVANT A: Where did you get those scissors? (grabs onto scissors)

KIKU: I got th-

SERVANT B: Hahahahaha.

The first servant held Kiku down while the second raised her scissors, her hands shook. She struck again and again, blood spilled fast, staining Kiku’s clothes and the floor beneath her. Kiku screamed, her voice tore through the mansion, tears mixed with tears flying across her face. She fought back as hard as she could, kicking, trying to break free, but her strength faded away.

The second servant’s eyes glowed from the thrill, as if she always wanted to do this. Kiku’s body went still, her breathing weak. For a moment, there was only silence, then the steady drip of blood echoed through the cold empty room.

ASAKA: I’m… I’m sorry. How could they do that to you? What the hell. (tears)

EGG: That must’ve been horrible ma’am. I shall be of service whenever you need me.

ASAKA: We’ll be here for you whenever we can. I’m sorry.

KIKU: It’s okay. It happened a long time ago after all. I just wanted to share the story, after all, I have no one to talk to.

ASAKA: It’s not okay. You were killed… by those evil girls…

EGG: (bell rings) 5AM. We have been up for quite a while Madam.

ASAKA: Oh.

KIKU: You should leave. It’s late.

ASAKA: We can’t stay here? I… I don’t mind staying here and… skipping school!

KIKU: You can’t do that for me. You can visit me. But you need to go to school and sleep well too.

ASAKA: But! I really liked hanging out with you!

EGG: Yes. In fact, we loved our time with you.

KIKU: I understand. But, you can always come here at night. I can make you food as well when you do come.

ASAKA: Why don’t you come with us? I live on my own I have plenty of space…

KIKU: I can’t.

ASAKA: …Oh, I see…

KIKU: Your friends are also waiting outside. Come on.

ASAKA: Oh yes! You’re right. I’ll come visit. I promise!

4. OUTSIDE WORLD

Asaka stepped outside of the mansion, to her surprise, her friends were waiting for her just beyond the gate.

FRIEND 1: Whoa, you’re back? The book too?

FRIEND 2: Ugh. That bitch is alive. Oops! Didn’t mean to say that part out loud.

FRIEND 3: She has a book with her, she really searched the whole place…

ALL FRIENDS: (laughing)

FRIEND 1: You were there for too damn long. Throw that thing away, let’s leave, you won the dare.

FRIEND 2: I thought you found a place that was really haunted, people died or something.

FRIEND 3: Yes… I did. I don’t know why she looks so happy.

EGG: Madam Kiku. Meet our friends!

FRIEND 2: Madam Kiku?

As soon as they saw Kiku, all of Asaka’s friends scattered, their fear mirrored the scares Asaka had felt the moment she met her.

ASAKA: What! Where did they go!? I just wanted… to introduce them to you Kiku.

KIKU: It’s okay! We can meet another time.

EGG: Correct! It’s about to be daytime, we need to head home ma’am. We appreciate you for everything Miss Kiku.

ASAKA: Oh… Yeah, um.

ASAKA: I LOVE YOU KIKU!

KIKU: … (blushing)

…SPOOKY END!