Chapter 2 — Village Without Birds
After the van engine shut off, no one spoke for a few seconds.
Only fog… and the ticking sound of cooling metal.
The driver turned the key again — nothing.
“Battery dead? Impossible… I just checked it.”
Kenji said irritably, “Everyone out. Take the equipment. The village is within walking distance.”
As soon as the door opened — cold air rushed inside.
Not normal cold. The kind that goes straight into your bones.
Aiko immediately noticed — there was no sound.
No insects.
No leaves rustling.
No birds.
“When is it ever this silent in the mountains?” sound engineer Park said quietly.
Ren answered directly, “When the upper area is occupied.”
“By what?” Park asked half-joking.
Ren: “By something that doesn’t like witnesses.”
No one laughed.
They started walking along the trail. In the dirt were old footprints — but all of them in one direction — inward. Not a single one leading out.
Researcher Mei took a photo.
“These look recent…”
Kenji said, “Good. That means there’s been movement here.”
Ren replied plainly: “Or no one ever left.”
After a 20-minute walk — the fog thinned.
The village stood ahead.
Traditional wooden houses. Broken roofs. Paper doors hanging halfway off. Wind chimes dangling — but not ringing despite the wind.
At the entrance gate was a faded board:
“Hanamori Settlement — Population: 312”
Below it, someone had written in blood-like red paint:
“Population: Offered”
Medic Ryu murmured, “Not funny.”
The camera turned on. Kenji began recording the intro.
“Day one. Crimson Lotus site. Locals call it the Love Offering Village—”
Suddenly — camera glitch.
On the monitor, everyone appeared normal…
Except Ren.
In his place — a static blur shape.
The camera operator checked the lens — normal.
Monitor — blur.
“Tech issue,” he said — but doubt filled his voice.
They entered House #1.
Inside, everything was arranged — as if people had simply gotten up and left.
Bowls on the table.
Tea cups — dried dark residue inside.
Framed couple photos on the walls.
In every photo — a red thread tied between the couples.
Aiko’s throat went dry.
She picked up one frame.
Inside the glass — scratched into it — a symbol. A crimson lotus.
Something crunched underfoot.
Mei looked down.
“Teeth…”
Human teeth. Dozens.
As if someone had spilled a bowl.
Park let out a nervous laugh. “Okay, that’s staged. Definitely staged.”
Ren replied plainly:
“Teeth decay pattern — real. Different ages. Different people.”
Silence.
In the back room, a sliding door was locked.
Ryu pushed it — it opened.
Inside — just a single room… and a chair in the center.
Ropes tied to the chair.
Hanging from the ceiling — a dried flower chain.
Closer look — not flowers.
Dried human fingers.
Mei ran outside vomiting.
The camera was still recording.
Kenji whispered, “This is it. This is the story.”
Aiko said softly, “This isn’t a story… it’s a ritual site.”
Suddenly — a loud metal clang echoed from the other end of the village.
Everyone froze.
“Who’s there?” Kenji shouted.
No answer.
Then — another clang.
Like a temple bell.
Ren said immediately: “There shouldn’t be a temple here according to the map.”
“Let’s check,” Kenji said.
On the way — they found a well.
The cover was half open.
Park shined a torch inside.
“There’s no water…”
Pause.
“…just clothes.”
The torch moved deeper.
Not clothes — skin strips.
As if bodies had been peeled.
Park fell backward.
The temple bell rang again — this time closer.
Through the fog, a structure appeared — a half-buried shrine.
On the gate it was written:
“Only Bound Hearts May Enter”
Aiko’s red thread bracelet suddenly tightened — as if someone pulled it.
She reacted in pain.
Ren immediately grabbed her wrist.
The moment they touched — both saw a flash:
The same temple — but new.
Candles lit.
People chanting.
Both of them in white clothes.
Hands bound together.
Flash gone.
Ren released her — breathing heavily.
“You saw it too?” Aiko whispered.
Ren lied: “No.”
But fear had already reached his eyes.
The team decided to set up base camp in the village center.
Headcount.
They arrived as 12.
Count — 11.
“Wait… where’s Sato?” Mei asked — the drone operator.
They assumed he might be back at the van with equipment.
They called on the radio.
Static.
Then — a faint voice:
“…don’t come back for me…”
Signal cut.
Ren looked directly toward the temple gate.
The bell rang again.
This time — without wind.
