The point where everything started to go wrong.

It was nighttime, the time of our test.

The golden lights of the hotel gave it a majestic feel. It looked like an event, with all of us gathered in the central room, checking our diving gears and finding if there's any problems, checking the oxygen tanks and cleaning up the goggles.

"Is everyone here?", Sensei called, before he went on calling all of our rolls. I eyed to the old receptionist. Seems like I got caught, or maybe I caught her looking keenly at my direction. Her small glasses, the sagged up cheeks and the mix of white and black hair gave off an eerie aura. It made me uncomfortable.

"Katsuhito? Isn't Katsuhito here?" I almost forgot that sensei was calling my name.

"Yes yes! I am here!" It felt awkward.

We followed sensei to the outside. A giant bus was ready for us. To be honest, it was overkill for us. It was too big. Sensei was looking proud as ever. But who is complaining? We are getting our money's worth in uni.

Everyone was surprisingly quiet during the bus journey. Is slumber catching up to them? They were all looking outside the window, without talking. It was weird, seeing them this quiet.

We were passing by the watchtower. It was my first time getting so close to it- wait, why do I feel like I have seen the watchtower this close before? Without noticing, my forehead wrinkled. I looked towards others, I felt like they were staring at me. It was weird.

My heart throbbed at the sight.

The waves of the sea looked like blood. The bloody sea. It was dancing on the reflection of the blood moon.

The blood moon looked even creepier. I don't recall blood moons being this red. Those who have heard the story looked hesitant for the test. What if it is true? The story that they have been told?

"Alright! Everyone take out your diving gear!", our teacher clasped his hands together, drawing our attention.

"But sensei... don't you think it's a bit dangerous?", Maya-san seemed to be shaking in fear. She was soft hearted about these stuffs.

I looked at Airi-chan, she looked fine.

"What are you talking about? Don't tell me you seriously believe in those rumours! I have heard them too, and the moment I heard I knew it was nothing but fake! You are grown ups, so act like one-"

"But it's true though." A group of the townsfolk gathered around us.

"Who are you guys?"

"We guard the sea during this time so that none goes out in there."

"Pfft. Mister, we have our rights to swim here.", Sensei showed the pass card to them, discarding their opinion. It was a government sealed card, they couldn't do anything about it.

"You have to believe us, those stories were true! People really die like that!", they pleaded.

"Mister, we live in the modern era now. Those stuffs can never happen. Trust us, we have been swimming in the seas for our whole life."

"No! We won't let you out there-", a young man stood amongst the crowd and blocked our path.

"There is no use. So come here. You can't stop them. They will die.", an old man ordered him.

"But-"

"They have permission from the government. It would be dangerous for us to intervene. We cannot do anything about it."

"Tsk..."

Well, that was a weird interaction. My classmates now looked even more hesitant for the test. But our sensei was not budging a bit. We could not do anything but take it. But sensei was diving with us too, so theres no problem.

The sea at night is nothing compared to the sea under the sun's rays. The daytime sea underwater looks majestic. Especially if it's a crystal clear water. Those explorations remind me why I wanted to study marine biology in the first place. The sea at night was a different story.

It now looks like a horror movie. It perfectly depicts the other side of the sea, the scary side that is. Now its the endlessness, the void-like environment that sends chills down my spine...

But somehow, it still has its majestic look. It looks so beautiful... the sea now looks like the space outside the earth if it were inside, the second space.

"That's all for today!", our sensei exclaimed, removing the oxygen mask from his face the moment he got out. "Is everyone here?"

"Yes!"

Sensei took us out one by one from the sea. Seems like it rumour was actually a rumour after all. Nothing happened. The test was fun too.

"Isn't that right, Airi-chan?", I looked to my left. "Airi... chan?"

She wasn't beside me...

I looked around, panicking. My heartbeat was becoming unstable by the second. Where is she? Where is she??!?!?

WHERE IS SHE??!?!?

"SENSEI!", I screamed. "AIRI-CHAN IS MISSING!!!"