Several days in that chilling mart Ghost Story.
Day after day filled with my mind shriveling up, my arm being cut off, cold sweat, tension, shock, and fear.
‘Ah.’
My arm hurts.
But it’s okay. I’m out of there now.
From here on, I can finally relax and—
That doesn’t seem right.
……
Huh?
I think I’m still there.
I raised my head.
I looked around.
I could see the second-floor food court of the dark, eerie, lights-out mart.
I was… still standing there.
“……”
Still here?
Had escaping been a dream?
Was escape… impossible?
Did I make the wrong call?
Then why did I cut off my arm?
I…
“Oh dear, you’re having a nightmare, friend!”
“…!!”
I opened my eyes.
Sunlight stabbed into them.
It was a clean, peaceful hospital room. Clear late-winter sunlight was pouring in through the window.
…Not the mart.
I drew a ragged breath.
It was peaceful.
‘…This is reality.’
Right.
After successfully getting out of Looky Mart, I’d been transferred in an ambulance the Disaster Management Agency sent.
And then I’d lost consciousness….
“Ah, you’re awake.”
“…?!”
When I turned my head, I saw someone in an agent uniform sitting in a caregiver’s chair, peeling an apple.
……?
“You sleep okay? Looked like you were having a nightmare.”
He had the appearance of an ordinary office worker, neat and unremarkable, except for the strangely conspicuous scar around his neck… a face I didn’t recognize.
Who was he?
When…