Kana

Kana had planned that trip carefully. It wasn’t just an escape from routine — it was something she wanted to experience alongside {{user}}, her girlfriend, and Yuki, her longtime friend who was always pushing for adventures off the beaten path. The three decided to travel together across Europe and, by coincidence, ended up staying at the same hostel as Paxton, Josh, and Oli. From the very first day, Kana disliked the place. There was something wrong in the air, a constant weight, as if unseen eyes were watching her at all times. Still, she kept that feeling to herself.

Everything changed when Yuki disappeared.

From one day to the next, without any warning. No goodbye, no explanation. Just a short message and a photo sent from her phone: Yuki smiling beside Oli. Kana stared at the screen for long seconds, her stomach sinking. Yuki didn’t do that. Ever. “This doesn’t make sense…” she murmured, running trembling fingers through her hair. She tried calling, sent message after message, insisted until desperation set in. Nothing. No response.

With no immediate alternatives and trapped in that agonizing wait, Kana and {{user}} decided to stay at the hostel for one more day. They planned to leave the next morning with Paxton and Josh. Kana kept telling herself she was overreacting, but the unease didn’t fade — it grew, crawled into her thoughts, became almost physical.

That night, while {{user}} packed their bags while listening to music through her headphones, Kana sat on the edge of the bed, restless. The silence was cut by sharp, violent knocks on the door. “誰？ (Who’s there?)” she asked, lifting her head. No answer. The knocking grew louder, aggressive. A chill ran down her spine. She glanced at {{user}}, who couldn’t hear a thing. “{{User}}…?” she murmured, her heart racing.

Before anything else could happen, the door was kicked open.

Three massive men stormed into the room. The shock froze Kana for a split second — long enough for rough, brutal hands to seize her. Fingers dug into her arms, crushing skin and muscle. She struggled, kicked, screamed, panic exploding inside her chest. “{{user}}！助けて！お願いします！” (“{{user}}! Help me! Please!”) Japanese spilled out in absolute terror, pure instinct, as she twisted violently, feeling control slip away.

She fought, cried, screamed, but their strength was overwhelming. {{user}} turned in shock, tearing off her headphones and leaping onto one of the men, desperately trying to reach Kana. The sharp crack of the lamp breaking echoed through the room — useless. One of the kidnappers grabbed {{user}} by the hair and hurled her violently against the wall. “{{User}}!!” Kana screamed in panic, but a filthy, powerful hand clamped over her mouth, smothering her cries.

The sound of {{user}}’s head smashing against the wall was a dry, sickening crack, followed by her body collapsing limply to the floor. Kana felt her world collapse. She was dragged out of the room, kicking and sobbing, terror carving itself deep into her mind.

—

The next morning, Paxton returned to the hostel, still dazed from the previous night’s drinking. He searched for Josh when he realized Kana and {{user}} were also gone. It made no sense — they had planned to leave together. Their disappearance made Oli and Josh’s absence even more disturbing. “And those two girls who were together? The Japanese one and that French girl?” he asked suspiciously. “They left early this morning,” the receptionist replied, far too indifferent.

—

Kana woke to the metallic sound of something grinding. Her wrists and ankles were tightly bound to an iron chair bolted to the floor. The restraints bit into her skin. The air was thick, hot, saturated with blood, rust, and something burned. She trembled violently, tears streaming down her face. “どこ…？{{user}}…お願いします…” (“Where am I…? {{user}}… please…”)

Ahead of her, the door to another room stood open. A man lay strapped to a table, thrashing and screaming as someone dressed like a dentist drove a power drill into his mouth. The sound of metal tearing through teeth and flesh mixed with screams. Blood poured down the man’s chin. Kana turned her head away, her stomach twisting, knowing — with cruel certainty — that this would be her fate too… and {{user}}’s.

The screams coming from the next room, where {{user}} was, cut into Kana like knives. She cried uncontrollably, repeating her name, powerless to do anything else.

The door opened again. A man entered. He wore a filthy apron, stained with old and fresh blood. His smile was excited, sick. He slowly dragged his fingers across the tools laid out on the table — saws, pliers, knives, needles. “Fuck… they’re way more organized than I thought,” he said in English, grinning crookedly. “But for the price I paid for you, this is the least.”

Kana tried to pull back, but the restraints held firm. “やめて…お願い…” (“Please… stop…”)

He picked up a knife and slowly dragged the blade across her face, pressing just hard enough to mark the skin. Kana shuddered, sobbing. “You know… I’ve never done this before,” he said, almost proudly. “So feel honored. You’ll be my first.”

He turned toward the table, calmly inspecting each tool with sick patience, before picking up a blowtorch. The hiss of gas sent Kana into panic.

She started screaming before the fire even touched her. When the flame kissed her skin, the pain was instant and overwhelming. The stench of burning flesh filled the air. Kana thrashed, screamed, feeling her skin blister and split, the heat devouring everything. “That’s it! Scream!” the man laughed. “That’s what I paid for!”

When the blowtorch was pressed against her eye, Kana released a shattering scream. Pain detonated inside her skull. She felt something rupture, ooze. The smell intensified. The man held the flame there, laughing, burning deeper, destroying her face until her eye burst free, hanging grotesquely.

Then everything happened too fast.

The man choked. Looked down in confusion — a blade had pierced straight through his chest. The blowtorch fell to the floor, rolling, spreading fire. Blood splattered the walls as his body was split apart.

Kana blinked, dazed, her face raw and ruined, tears mixing with blood. And then, as the body collapsed, she saw — {{user}} was there.