Menace Association Chapter: 1

Berlin, Germany

A sliver of sunlight, like a mischievous finger, poked through the gap in Agatha's window blinds, tracing a path across her cheek. She stirred, the warmth a gentle nudge from slumber. A yawn escaped her lips, a lazy, drawn-out sound that stretched across the quiet orphanage room.

Agatha sat up, the scent of old wood and dust clinging to the air. She stretched, her limbs popping with the familiar crackle of a body waking. The orphanage was her haven, her prison, a place of both comfort and confinement. She rose from her bed, the worn mattress sighing beneath her weight.

She made her way to the garden, a small patch of green amidst the grey of the orphanage. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and blooming roses. The world seemed to breathe, a symphony of quiet sounds that filled the space where her memories lived.

But then, a sudden jolt of memory, a forgotten obligation.

"Silly me, how could I forget to feed my pets? They must be starving right now," she muttered, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She rushed back inside, the echo of her footsteps a frantic drumbeat against the silence. She grabbed a pair of buckets, their metal clanging against each other, a jarring sound in the otherwise peaceful morning.

"Ugh, this stuff smells so bad," she grimaced, her nose wrinkling at the pungent aroma of the food she was carrying.

As she made her way to the basement, a crumpled newspaper caught her eye. It lay forgotten on the floor, the headline screaming in bold letters: "The 3 Nuns of Stephanus Orphanage are still missing. It's been a week since they disappeared, and they're still nowhere to be found."

A single tear traced a path down her cheek, leaving a glistening trail. She choked back a sob, the memory of the nuns' gentle smiles and comforting voices a painful ache in her chest.

"I hope they'll come back soon. I miss them so much," she whispered, her voice cracking with unshed tears.

"Shoot! I almost forgot again," she muttered, wiping away the tear. She had to finish what she started.

She stood before the basement door, a heavy wooden barrier that concealed a world of darkness. The doorknob turned with a rusty groan, and the door creaked open, revealing the musty, shadowy depths within.

Agatha hummed a song, a lullaby she had learned as a child, its melody a soothing balm to her troubled mind. She tossed the buckets into the darkness, the sound of metal clanging against stone echoing in the silence. She leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the shadows that danced in the flickering light.

"Tili Tili Bom, close your eyes now.

Someone's walking outside and knocking on the door."

Her eyes scanned the basement, her stomach churning at the sight of the writhing mass of worms and flies that carpeted the floor. The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, a suffocating reminder of the horrors that lurked beneath the surface.

She continued humming the lullaby, its melody a haunting counterpoint to the grotesque scene before her.

"Tili Tili Bom, the night birds are chirping.

He's inside the house to visit those who can't sleep."

A twisted smile stretched across her lips as she watched her "pets" devour their meal with savage hunger.

"You guys liked the songs I prepared for you, huh? My mom used to sing this to me whenever I had nightmares when I was a toddler," she said, her voice laced with a chillingly sweet tone.

"He walks, he is coming closer."

The three nuns, their eyes wide with terror, screamed. But their screams were muffled, their tongues long gone, victims of Agatha's twisted whims. Only ragged sobs escaped their lips, a testament to their utter helplessness.

"You guys must love the song, am I right, old hags?" she asked, her voice dripping with cruel amusement.

"Tili Tili Bom.

Can you hear him coming?

Lurking around the corner, staring at you."

The three women cowered, their bodies trembling with fear. Agatha's eyes gleamed with a dark satisfaction.

"Aww, you guys are hurt? You need help?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock concern.

The nuns nodded, their eyes pleading for mercy.

"Help somebody help them, please," Agatha screamed, her laughter echoing through the basement, a sound that sent shivers down their spines. She pointed at the woman in the middle, her gaze fixed on her with a predatory intensity.

She walked towards her, her steps deliberate and measured.

"Ya'll dumfuck, help me scream so you can call for help," she said, her voice laced with cruel mockery.

"Oops, pardon Meine Dame (My lady), I forgot that your eyeballs and tongue are gone," she added, her voice dripping with feigned sympathy.

"By the way, I have a present for you guys since I loved y'all."

She turned, her eyes scanning the shelves. She grabbed a bottle of gasoline, the metal glinting in the dim light. She poured it onto the three women, the liquid seeping into their wounds, causing them to scream in agony.

"Don't worry, I'm gonna end all of your suffering."

The women heard the click of the lighter, a sound that sent a wave of terror through their bodies. In a blink of an eye, they were engulfed in flames, their screams piercing the air.

"Tili Tili Bom.

The silent night hides all.

He sneaks up behind you, and he's going to get you.

He walks.

He is coming closer."

Agatha finished the lullaby, her voice a chilling whisper in the silence. She stepped out of the basement, leaving the orphanage consumed by flames. The air was thick with smoke, carrying the acrid scent of burning flesh.

"Ihr seid Aschaum (You guys are all scum)," she whispered, her words a chilling epitaph for the victims of her twisted game.

Nördlingen, Germany

Agatha walked through the cobblestone streets of Nördlingen, its medieval architecture a stark contrast to the modern world she had left behind. The city was a place of both beauty and history, its ancient walls whispering tales of a bygone era.

She remembered her mother's words, how this city had been their haven, the place where they had found love and solace.

"This place never fails to amuse me every time I visit. Still fascinating," she said to herself, her gaze tracing the intricate details of the buildings.

As she walked, she bumped into someone, the impact sending a jolt through her body. She looked up, her eyes meeting his. He was a stranger, yet his gaze held a familiarity that made her heart skip a beat.

He gently grabbed her hand, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.

"Liebling, bist du verletzt? (Darling, are you hurt?)" he asked, his voice a smooth caress.

Agatha was surprised by his fluency in German. She shook her head, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Mir geht es gut, Herr (I'm good sir)."

He caught her hand, pulling her closer, his eyes burning into hers.

"Du bist wunderschön (You're beautiful)."

He kissed her hand, his lips lingering on her skin. She felt a strange mix of fear and excitement, her body tingling with a strange energy. He lifted her chin, his thumb tracing the curve of her lips.

She could feel his gaze, a piercing intensity that seemed to see right through her.

He smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. He turned, his back to her, and said, "Well, let's meet again sometime, Agatha Schneider."

Before he could disappear into the crowd, she whispered, "See you next time, hottie," her voice a husky murmur.

Tokyo, Japan

Agatha's POV

I planned this a long time ago – killing those scums, learning different languages, escaping the country at the age of 20. It was time to move on, to embrace a new chapter in my life.

It was midnight, the city bathed in a soft, neon glow. I arrived in Japan, a land of mystery and intrigue, a place where I could finally shed my past and embrace my destiny. My next destination was Saitama, where Tsutomu Miyazaki lived.

I walked through the city, the air thick with the scent of exhaust fumes and blooming cherry blossoms. The city was alive, a symphony of sounds and lights, a place where anything was possible. But as I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

"I'm just tired, maybe," I said to myself, shaking my head, trying to dismiss the feeling.

After hours of searching, I finally found his apartment building, a nondescript structure nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood.

I pressed the doorbell twice, the sound echoing in the silence. The door opened, revealing a woman, her face etched with concern.

"Can I help you?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

"Does he live here?" I asked, showing her a picture of Tsutomu Miyazaki.

"Uhm no sorry..."

She started to close the door, but I pushed it open with force, my body surging forward with a primal instinct. I slammed her against the wall, my hand clamping over her mouth, silencing her scream. I used my foot to slam the door shut, sealing us in.