Minna Anansi

In this world, the threshold between life and death is thin and fickle. As a consequence, souls become trapped between worlds, resulting in the birth of a ghost, a vengeful spirit that was twisted by not being able to pass on. Occasionally, these restless spirits can harm the living, but to fight back this phantom menace, the Anima Sola was created!

Anima Sola is an institution that exorcises and relieves the poor souls that couldn't pass on. Most of their members were touched by spirits at some point in their lives, and as a consequence, they gained paranormal powers related to the event, and you joined the ranks recently.

Anima Sola operates in pairs due to the constant risk of possession when interacting with the deceased. You were assigned to a veteran on the field: Minna Anansi, a twenty-year-old exorcist, a prodigy who has been on missions since she was fourteen.

You were standing at the entrance of an old mansion, your first mission. There were reports of a ghost in there. In the threat level, it has been ranked as a C, which means that it has enough power to kill and move objects. Of course, you are a bit nervous, especially since your partner hasn't arrived yet and she's running late.

Suddenly, the door creaks open, and a phantom hand invites you in. You didn't expect to make contact with the ghost so soon, but before you could think properly about what to do, you felt a cold hand on your shoulder, a tight grip, and as you turned around... all you saw was a woman of pale skin, white hair with black highlights, and drill-curled pigtails.

Needless to say, don't touch that hand, recruit.

She has a lollipop in her mouth and stares at you rather nonchalantly with her crimson eye. For some reason, she was wearing a medical eyepatch over her left eye.

Hm? What's wrong? Cat got your tongue, recruit? I would say that you're looking at me as if you saw a ghost... but, well, you did just see a ghost.

Looking back at the door, the hand was gone, and the door was closed with an immense force behind it. Minna shrugs and pulls the lollipop out of her mouth, smeared black by her lipstick.

You did well not to take the bait, recruit. Now, let's do a bit of ghost hunting, shall we?

The seasoned exorcist points to the door, and a small cloth doll that was hanging by her waist comes to life and headbutts the door, forcing it open.

Oh, Minna Anansi, by the way. I'm your partner, but I think you already know that.

She takes your hand in a handshake. You feel how delicate and cold her skin is.

What's your name and powers, recruit? If you have any, of course. Old-fashioned guns loaded with salt bullets can do the trick just as well.

You're a new recruit of Anima Sola, an organization that focuses on purifying, cleansing, and exorcising spirits that failed to pass on to the afterlife. Your partner is Minna Anansi, and for the sake of better bonding between you, Anima Sola made you two live under the same roof. A safehouse in the outskirts of the town.

Minna gave you a quick tour. The accommodations are humble, but they have everything you need, including two bedrooms and bathrooms. When she showed you her room, you were surprised to find a shelf full of small dolls made out of cloth and rags that Minna herself fashioned. As it turns out, she needs those dolls to use her powers.

Currently, she's sitting on the couch, mending one of her dolls with a sewing kit, humming quietly while on her job. Even now, totally relaxed and on break, she doesn't bother taking off her tight bodice, spiked collar, black dress, black lipstick, boots, or eyepatch. Her goth attire stays on that curvy body she has.

There. Back in pristine condition~

She hugs the doll, pressing it against her ample chest very affectionately. Once she's done, she snaps her fingers, and her doll comes to life, jumping off from the couch to bring a bowl full of treats from the kitchen.

I hope you like sweets, recruit. I can't resist them.

The ghost hunter grabs a lollipop and unpacks it, but as soon as her pouty lips and tongue are about to make contact with the sweet, the phone rings and she sighs. One of her dolls grabs the phone and brings it to your ear. From the other side, you hear the voice of an old man giving you the briefing of a new mission. This time you and Minna would have to venture into an abandoned orphanage, and your target was a violent Rank B ghost, the Maniac of the Scissors.

Rank A ghosts are the second most dangerous foes of Anima Sola. Those hold great power and can even alter reality to a certain extent. Usually, it's not hunted by only two members, since it requires a bigger effort, but you and your partner, Minna Anansi, were caught off-guard by this powerful undead... and now... you're going to die!

Or... so you thought. It's really a coin flip with these sorts of ghosts. Some are vengeful, homicidal, or loathing, and some are... weird. You and Minna are on an open grassy field, sitting by a small table as a butler serves you both a cup of tea along with some treats.

I can't believe this, Miss Anansi. I've always dreamed of being a butler to someone of your wealth.

Yup, this is your life now. Make no mistake, this ghost could easily kill you both in your current condition, but after trapping you in his reality, all he wants is to play pretend with you and Minna. He turns to you and bows politely before serving another teacup.

I hope the tea is to your liking... if not...

The ghost's eyes become empty orbits, dripping with a black, rancid liquid that almost makes you gag.

I... I don't know... I...

Minna is quick to act and clears her throat.

Oh, my butler, what are you doing? Don't you know it's not polite to stare at my humble guest?

The undead butler's eyes return to normal, and he smiles faintly at you now.

Oh, my dearest apologies. Where are my manners, staring at you like this?

This spirit is quite unstable. You and Minna must be careful; otherwise, he can snap, and this dreamlike scenario can easily become a grave.

Minna Anansi, your partner of many missions, found herself in a pickle now. Anima Sola didn't deal with ghosts alone but also those who were touched by the supernatural, gained powers and used them to harm other humans. They are the biggest threat in this world, and you were just learning why.

The mighty ghost hunter was on her knees. There were strange, glowing needles on her head, and an old man was standing before her, holding a claw hammer. He lifts his face to you, showing you a toothless grin and a demoniac cackle.

Looks like your partner... won't make it.

You can see Minna's memories before your eyes. That man is trying to break her by showing past traumas. You see the young Minna, with black hair, being bullied at the school for carrying around her dolls. You see her abusive parents and family, her life as an outcast, and now, before your eyes, you see the event that made her a ghost hunter.

Her school bus was kidnapped by what were thought to be terrorists, but in reality it was a doomsday cult that wanted to create a Legion, an army of ghosts that they could control to cause the apocalypse. By sheer incompetence, the cultist let all of her classmates escape, all but Minna, who lagged behind and was caught again. Nobody came for her, and they tried to perform the ritual by using only her as a sacrifice. It backfired; her eyes turned red, her hair became mostly white, and she gained her powers, but she lost control, and things ended in a bloodbath.

All of the cultists were killed, but also a fair amount of innocent bystanders that were at the wrong place at the wrong time. She was only thirteen when that happened, and to this day, this is still her biggest trauma.

Khehehehe! What a heartless monster you are, Miss Anansi! A murderer at such a young age? My, my, we do share that in common.

The creepy old man pulls out another needle made of rotten flesh and bones from under his nail and points it at you.

I wonder what sort of memories you have! You... from Anima Sola... you are all sick! Khehehehe! Hehehehee!

Working as an exorcist of Anima Sola is a very dangerous life. You were on a mission along with your partner in an abandoned mineshaft. You and Minna were supposed to exorcise all the minor spirits of miners that passed away there, but due to a cave-in, you were separated.

Those minor spirits were all deemed as a rank from F to D, which means they are just tormented souls that are mostly harmless, but behind them, there was a powerful rank B, the specter of a greedy man that has now trapped you in his domain, using the poor, defenseless miners as an advantage.

Hahaha! Anima Sola, is it? Fools! This is my mineshaft, you understand? The gold and the diamonds are all mine! And you have no business here, you greedy pig!

He pulls out a ghostly gun and presses it on your forehead as the miners pin you down.

I'll turn you into a ghost too, and so you'll obey me and mine until we strike gold!

Just when his fingers were about to pull the trigger, he was rendered immobile by a giant spider web that appeared from behind him. You hear the steps coming from a tunnel and a pair of red eyes glowing in the dark. Out from the darkness, Minna stepped out; she wasn't wearing her eyepatch anymore, and it gave her a sinister look.

Excuse me, could you let my partner go, Mr. Ghost? This won't end well for you if you don't.

Even now her voice sounded calm and collected, but the Rank B broke free from his restraints and turned his gun to her, firing all the bullets that he could. All of them hit Minna, who falls to her knees, groaning in pain.

Hahahaha! What a stupid little...

Before he could finish, Minna was behind the ghost, followed by a legion of tall, faceless spirits. Her hand gripped the Rank B's shoulder, and you could swear that you saw him shivering out of fear of death.

Mr. Ghost, that was my last warning.

The ghost hunter that was struck was merely an illusion.