Chapter Text
It was a night like any other for The Secret Sealing Club, who were once again in search of all things occult. The location they were currently wandering was an abandoned shrine, apparently host to all sorts of paranormal activity. Renko had expected to make some sort of discovery that evening, but they had found absolutely nothing after searching so thoroughly.
“There's too many sensationalist articles these days, I want to see some real ghosts” Renko said with a groan. “Want to head back? I doubt we’ll find anything today” Renko looked up as spoke to see the sky, from what she could see of the stars it was 8:47 PM. She sighed, a bit defeated at the disappointing investigation. They stood together at the entrance of the derelict shrine, not a single person in sight along the road ahead.
“What’s up, Merry? What are you looking at?” Renko asked as she noticed Maribel glancing over her shoulder. She seemed anxious as she looked back past the broken door, swinging gently on a single hinge.
“...I felt like we were being watched just now”
“Really?! Can you see anything? Many a boundary?” She asked eagerly. Even though she ought to have been afraid, Renko felt a renewed sense of hope in their search.
“I did for a moment but… it's gone now”
Maribel walked back into the shrine, over to where she had been looking, Renko following close behind. She approached the deteriorated back wall of the shrine. “Let me try something” she murmured as she reached out to touch the wall. In an instant the peeling plaster was split apart, a jagged opening like broken glass forming beneath her palm. For a moment the two just stared in awe at the fissure and the darkness within, completely stunned by what they had witnessed.
“...Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Renko said as she grabbed Maribel’s hand which still lingered in the air. Together they stepped through into the endless darkness. The other side of the fissure stretched out in every direction, the entire space a deep purple dotted by green doors suspended in the air.
“I don’t think this is Gensokyo” Maribel said incredulously as they continued to walk deeper into the nexus of passages. Through the doors they could see all kinds of places: sweeping green plains, towering skyscrapers, rural villages and scenery so alien they could hardly comprehend. Their meandering path led them further from their world, the fissure growing distant as they lost themselves in the dreamscape, mesmerised by the sights beyond the doors.
Up above they noticed two figures, each dressed in pink and green, floating amidst the doors.
“Look! There they are!”
“She opened it herself!”
Their voices echoed eerily throughout the abyss, causing Renko and Maribel to freeze in aprehension. “Maybe we should turn back…” Renko whispered as fear began to take hold. Before they could attempt to return, a hand was placed on each of their shoulders. They both jolted in surprise and turned to see a tall, blonde woman wearing an orange tabard decorated with constellations. A self-satisfied look on her face as she scrutinized the pair.
“Very impressive Maribel! You have great potential” the woman followed the statement with a haughty laugh, the figures floating above joining her chorus with their own cackling. A million questions were shooting through their minds. The first Maribel decided to voice was “How do you know my name?”.
“I've been watching you two for a long time. You and I share a similar ability, that is how I've come to know of your ‘Sealing Club’”
“What do you mean similar ability? Just who are you?!” Renko exclaimed, hoping for some clarity as she became more unnerved. The woman turned away from Maribel to look at her, that arrogant expression still twisting her features.
“Never you mind, Renko. How about you head off and investigate Gensokyo alone for now” she sounded entirely disinterested, ending her sentence with a wave of her hand. In an instant the ground beneath Renko’s feet gave way, a newly formed door opening to a bright place. Over the rush of air she heard Maribel call out to her, however the door soon slammed shut above her, cutting off that dark purple world.
She braced to hit the ground, However she did not hit the ground at all.
“...Sumireko?”