Booth 21

Ban is an employee at Metro Courier in Ikeshima, tasked with investigating a growing urban legend. He was initially reluctant, considering that the subject matter differed from what he had written about. After interviewing a few people, Ban reviewed the information. Unfortunately, there was no consistent story, which may mean they made up their versions of Booth 21. Ban decided to do further research at the library.

At the library, he walked to the front to talk to an attendant named Kouta.

"Excuse me?" Ban spoke softly so as not to disturb the people around them.

"Yes, how may I help you?" Kouta smiled and turned to face Ban.

“Do you know anything about Booth 21?" Ban asked, taking out a notepad and pencil from their pocket. "Oh, you mean that urban legend." Kouta's smile faded, and he looked around to see if anyone was listening before adding, "You should stay away from there." he added.

Is Booth 21 cursed?

"Then do you know the true story behind it?” Ban asked.

Kouta was silent before beckoning Ban to come closer.

In 1999, three high school friends named Toki, Jun, and Ousei frequently hung out in the Kino residential area after school. They would often challenge each other to hide in Booth 21 and jump out, startling unsuspecting passersby. One friend would remain hidden inside, while the other would discreetly record the frightened person's reaction using their cell phone.

Jun and Ousei watched as Toki waited inside Booth 21 when a man a local thug threw open the door of the booth let out a noise of disgust. Looking around he spotted Jun and Ousei. "Hey! Did you two do this?" pointing inside the booth to a puddle of blood and a bloodied handprint on the glass. The boys froze looking at each other before running away scared that the man would beat them up.

They left without even checking to see if Toki was there.

"If what you're saying is true, then the booth itself is an entity," said Ban, jotting down notes in a notepad. "If I had to agree with any of the stories that have been told, it would have to be this one," said Kouta.

"Did they ever find Toki?" asked Ban, watching Kouta's face become grim.

Kouta shook his head. "No, they never found him, but the blood was his."

Ban shivered at the thought of Toki being spirited away without a trace.

Thanking him for his time, Ban turned to leave. "Stay away from Booth 21," he warned. Ban nodded, but it would not mean he would stay away. The next stop would be to the Kino district, where the fabled phone booth is located. The sun had just begun to set, casting dark shadows over the tall buildings of Ikeshima. This would set the perfect mood for his investigation.

The outside of the phone booth appeared normal, with its chipped paint and old police caution tape wrapped around it. The only thing that looked to be intact was the privacy film on the inside. Ban slowly reached out and opened the door to look inside. The old overhead light flickered to life, and the smell of old blood invaded Ban's nostrils, causing them to step back to cover his mouth and nose.

Stepping inside, he closed the doors behind him as he looked around in the cramped space that the phone booth offered. Ban looked up and noticed many talismans taped to the ceiling. Except for one that was torn off. Did Toki peel it off back then, or was it someone else? A shaman must have placed these here to seal the entity.

Taking out his cell phone, Ban began taking pictures of the inside. The call box phone rang, startling him from his task. Looking at it, he wondered if he should answer it since something was telling him not to. Ban picked it up, reached out, and put the receiver in his ear.

"Hello?" Ban answered, his voice wavering.

Help me…help me the raspy voice spoke in a hushed whisper.

"Who is this?” Ban questioned.

The call ended with a click, and the dial tone beeped as if the line was busy. Ban tried pressing the buttons and listening to the receiver again, but it still sounded busy, so he hung up. A soft creak rocked the phone box, causing Ban to stumble in place, and when he looked up again, he saw it.

The very thing that had been spiriting away all those who stepped into Booth 21. The pale face of a young man a little younger than Ban reached out with his long-clawed fingers.

"Why won't you help me!?" the young man pleaded, gripping Ban by the shoulder before yanking him up into the ceiling of the call box, leaving behind a splash of blood with his cellphone camera still on, showing a pulsating ceiling above dripping droplets of red.

When Metro Courier noticed Ban had not been to work in a few days, they called his family to find out what was wrong. They were told that Ban had gone missing. When searching, the police only found Ban's blood cell phone inside Booth 21 in the Kino district. A particular newscast is on the TV of a family home. There is a young woman reading from teleprompter.

“A local citizen, Ban Ikumi, an employee at Metro Courier, was reported missing. He was last seen investigating Booth 21 in the Kino district of Ikeshima." She pauses to exhale, then continues reading. "Rumors are circulating that the infamous urban legend of Booth 21 spirited away Ban.”

“Many people have stepped into this booth but have never stepped out. Did someone kidnap these individuals, or is the urban legend a cover-up for murder? Police have advised everyone to stay away from Booth 21 in the Kino district as it is considered a crime scene. If anyone has any information on Ban Ikumi or his whereabouts, please call the station (03) 4233-8899 or the emergency number 119."

The couple turned off the TV, staring at the pitch-black screen. The woman sighs tiredly her expression full of worry. She looks over at her husband, who looks the same as her.

"Do you think they will find Ban?" she asks him.

Her husband Daiki sits up straight rubbing a hand over his face. "I don't know." he honestly admits. She stands up from her seat declaring that she is going for a walk. He nods, understanding that she needs some time alone. "Be careful out there," he tells her.

Reina, Ban's mother, and she knows that her son would never just disappear out of thin air. Reina had to check out Booth 21 for herself. So she made her way to the Kino District finding Booth 21 blocked off with police tape. Reina stood before it her heart thundering wildly in her chest making her eardrums thrum. She could sense that something was terribly wrong.

"I wouldn't open that if I were you." said a voice behind her causing Reina to jump. She slowly turned around acknowledging who this young man was. He is Kouta the one who told Ban about Booth 21. Reina clasped her hands together“Please can you tell me what happened to my son.” she plead.

Kouta shook his head. “I warned him about the curse, but Ban he didn't listen.”

Ban's mother felt uneasy about this young man. Something was off about his behavior. Behind her, the phone inside Booth 21 began to ring, and Kouta, with a strange smile on his face, pointed at the phone booth. "Don't you want to answer that, miss ? It might be Ban calling.” Kouta told her.

Ban's mother turned, curiously facing the booth. She opened the door and stepped inside, now facing the ringing phone. As with Ban, her hand slowly reached out and put the receiver to her ear.

“Hello…Ban is that you?" she whispered, her voice quivering.

Help me…help me a voice whispered to her. Ban's mother paled, visibly shaking, as her trembling hand hung up on the phone. Something dripped onto her shoulder. Reina slowly placed her hand there and felt a damp warmth when looking down at her palm, she saw the blood and screamed.

At home, Ban's father Daiki was worried that Reina had not come home yet, so he called the emergency line. Daiki tells them that he believed she had gone to the Kino District to check out Booth 21. The police assured Daiki that they would contact him once searching the Kino District. A knock at the door makes Daiki end the call. He looks through the peephole seeing the young man Kouta from the news.

“This is Kouta, sir. I am the one who told Ban about Booth 21. I'd like to discuss some information that may be of interest to you. May I come in?” asked Kouta.

Daiki shouldn't let him in…but if he had information that could help him find how to get his wife and son back. Then Daiki would just have to pretend to let himself be ensnared in Kouta's web.

He took a deep breath and opened the door, and Kouta smiled at him.

“Do you want to know about Booth 21?”

Daiki was hesitant, swallowing down the building dread. He locked eyes with Kouta and stood to his full height. “Yes, tell me everything you know.” Daiki responded and stepped aside to let the young man inside.