Eve squinted through the dim light of her hotel room, watching the green blinking dot on her camera as she fumbled to record her thoughts. It was well past midnight, and the faint hum of Tokyo nightlife seeped in through the closed window. Despite the warmth in the room, she felt an odd chill that had settled deep in her bones. This chill wasn't just in her room—it was inside her. It had started as fleeting sensations, barely a shiver, but tonight it lingered, wrapping around her heart like cold iron.

"So... last night I had another one of those nightmares," she whispered, her voice trembling as she leaned into the camera, reluctant to speak too loudly in case the dark was listening. Her pale reflection in the lens revealed wide, haunted eyes. "Same... same shadowed figure, same feeling of being watched." She swallowed. "I don't know what it means, but..." Her voice trailed off.

The sound of a soft knock startled her, and she quickly shut off the camera. Eve crossed the room and opened the door to find Hiroshi standing there, his face somber, his own camera hanging loosely around his neck.

"Eve, can we talk?" he asked quietly, glancing down the hall as if expecting someone—or something—to be lurking in the shadows.

She nodded, feeling a familiar unease settle over her as she motioned him inside. Hiroshi took a deep breath before he spoke.

"I think you've attracted some... unwanted attention," he said, struggling to find the words. "You remember the myth I mentioned? About Amatsu Mikaboshi?"

Eve nodded, suppressing a shiver. She had heard the name before—a malicious deity, the August Star of Heaven, an ancient Japanese god of chaos and malevolence.

"That presence you've been sensing," Hiroshi continued, his voice low. "I think it might be him."

Eve felt a cold spike of fear lodge in her chest. "Amatsu Mikaboshi? But... that's just a story, isn't it?"

"In most cases, yes. But in rare cases, certain... energies can call to ancient entities," Hiroshi explained. "It's like a beacon. And I think, somehow, he's sensed yours."

Eve blinked, her mind reeling. Her energy? How could something so innocuous have drawn the attention of an ancient god?

Hiroshi set down his camera, pulling out a small black satchel filled with stones, dried herbs, and incense sticks. "I know this sounds insane, but we're going to perform a protective ritual. It might not be enough, but it could shield you. Just for a little while."

Eve sat in the middle of the room, letting Hiroshi set up a circle of protective symbols around her. He placed stones and herbs in a precise formation and lit the incense, filling the room with a dense, earthy aroma. He guided her through breathing exercises, asking her to visualize a barrier around herself.

As she closed her eyes, Eve tried to focus on feeling safe, envisioning a shield around her. But when she closed her eyes, the voice in her mind only grew stronger—a low murmur, distant yet insistent.

Eve...

She jolted, snapping her eyes open and looking at Hiroshi. "Did you hear that?"

Hiroshi's brow furrowed, and he shook his head. "Hear what?"

The voice again, louder this time. It was calm, yet every word dripped with menace. "I see you, Eve."

Eve's heart raced as the room seemed to darken, shadows stretching long and cold from the corners. She clutched the fabric of her jeans, trying to steady herself as Hiroshi chanted softly in Japanese, words she couldn't understand but found strangely comforting.  Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō (南無妙法蓮華経)

The incense smoke curled around them, dense and ethereal, casting shapes that writhed like serpents. She shut her eyes again, gripping her camera as if it were her lifeline, recording the ritual. She wanted proof—proof of the strange sensations, the eerie voices that invaded her thoughts, the fear that crept over her like frost on a windowpane.

After several minutes, Hiroshi fell silent. He looked at her with concern, his normally bright eyes clouded. "I've done what I can. But..." he hesitated, his gaze drifting to her camera. "I'm not sure it will be enough. You need to be careful."

The words lingered between them, heavy and suffocating. He packed up his items and left her with one last reminder. "If you feel him, if you hear him... don't acknowledge him. It only strengthens his presence."

Eve nodded numbly, her mind still spinning from the ritual, and returned to her bed. She tried to push the thoughts away, to let sleep claim her, but her mind was restless, her dreams dark and twisted.

The next morning, Eve found herself wandering through Shibuya with her friends, the crowded streets and vibrant neon lights a stark contrast to the eerie quiet of her nightmares. She clutched her camera, documenting every moment with Luke, Soo Jun, and Sakura, letting the familiarity of their voices pull her back to reality.

As they made their way to the famous Shibuya Crossing, Eve tried to shrug off the night's events, focusing instead on the exhilaration of the city. Yet, there was a nagging sensation she couldn't shake, a feeling that they weren't alone.

"Let's get a shot of the crossing!" Luke shouted, waving his camera around to capture the throngs of people moving in every direction.

Eve joined him, laughing despite herself as they filmed each other amidst the bustling crowd. But as she panned her camera across the swarm of faces, she felt a familiar chill slide down her spine.

In her viewfinder, she caught a glimpse of something—or someone. A dark figure at the edge of the crossing, their face blurred, their gaze fixated on her.

Eve lowered the camera, blinking. The figure was gone, swallowed by the crowd.

"Hey, Eve! You okay?" Sakura asked, nudging her with a concerned look.

"Yeah," Eve mumbled, forcing a smile. "Just... felt like someone was watching us."

Soo Jun chuckled, throwing an arm around her. "Eve, we're in Tokyo! Everyone's watching everyone. It's probably just in your head."

But even as he laughed, Eve couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The voice she'd heard last night echoed faintly in her mind, chilling her to the core.

"I see you, Eve."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, they ventured into a quieter part of Tokyo, the bustling sounds fading into a serene, almost eerie silence. They found a secluded temple, ancient and majestic, nestled within the heart of the city. It was beautiful and quiet, the perfect backdrop for capturing more footage.

"Let's film a bit here," Luke suggested, his eyes bright with excitement as he adjusted his camera settings. "This place has some serious vibes."

Eve's fingers tingled as she lifted her camera, panning around the temple's courtyard. She felt a pull toward the shadows, where darkness seemed to thicken and dance. Her friends laughed and explored, but Eve's focus shifted to the far corner of the temple, where shadows grew dense and deep, almost as if they were waiting.

"Eve."

The voice was close this time, almost at her ear. She whipped around, expecting to see someone standing behind her, but there was only empty air.

Hiroshi's warning played in her mind: Don't acknowledge him. It only strengthens his presence.

With a shaky breath, she lifted her camera, filming the darkness. But her hands were trembling, and the image blurred. In her mind, she heard a low, sinister laugh, the sound reverberating through her like the toll of a funeral bell.

"Guys," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We need to go. Now."

Luke frowned. "What? But we just got here."

"Eve?" Sakura's eyes widened as she noticed her friend's pale face. "What's wrong?"

Eve took a shaky step backward, feeling the weight of an invisible gaze pressing down on her. "Please. We need to leave," she insisted, her voice cracking.

Luke, noticing the urgency in her tone, nodded. "Alright, let's go."

They made their way down the temple steps, their footsteps echoing in the quiet. As they neared the street, Eve risked one last glance back at the temple. Her breath caught.

Standing at the entrance was the dark figure she'd glimpsed before, watching her. This time, there was no mistaking it. The figure was real, solid, and staring at her with eyes that glowed faintly in the dark.

She lifted her camera instinctively, capturing the sight, her heart racing. But as she did, the figure vanished, dissolving into the night like smoke.

She stared at the empty spot, clutching her camera, feeling the weight of the encounter settle heavy on her chest. Whoever—whatever—it was, she knew now it was no longer just in her head.

As they hurried back to the crowded streets, Hiroshi's words lingered in her mind: "It may not be enough to deter an ancient god."

Eve had tried to convince herself that it was all a nightmare, a product of her imagination. But as they moved deeper into the city, she felt it—an insidious presence weaving through her thoughts, watching her from the shadows.

And the voice returned, soft yet unyielding, a whisper that would haunt her long after the night faded into dawn.

"I see you, Eve. And I am coming."

There was an unsettling silence that lingered long after the camera stopped rolling, a chilling reminder that they were no longer alone.

Author's Note:

Hey, lovely readers! 🌙

How did you enjoy this chapter, Unwanted Attention? Things are getting intense as Eve starts to feel the weight of something far more dangerous than she ever expected. 😱 

I'm curious to know what you think—is Amatsu Mikaboshi already here, or is this just the beginning of his dark influence? And what about the strange bond he's forming with Eve?

Your feedback means everything to me, so please take a moment to share your thoughts and theories in the comments! 

If you enjoyed the suspense and mystery, don't forget to hit the vote button to support the story and help it reach more readers! 😊 Your votes and comments keep the story going and help me know what you love most about it.

Thanks so much for being here on this journey with Eve and her friends. 

Let's see where this nightmare leads...

Love 

The Anime Writer