Die Geschichte von Prinzessin Song in Heian-kyo

Kapitel 1

The Shining (first chapter)

(1)

“Entering forbidden territory will bring evil.”

The long, narrow highway winds its way up the mountain, stretching as far as the eye can see. Dense thickets of trees rush towards you on both sides, creating a suffocating sense of oppression. Winter is approaching, and gray and white dominate the landscape. A biting cold, carrying a peculiar, fishy smell, assaults the lungs.

Ahead lay a tunnel. The further he went, the more intense the surging, agonizing sensation became, but this uncontrolled catharsis was something 35-year-old Jack Talens found enjoyable. He'd driven his beat-up car through the desolate streets for an afternoon to apply for a job at a secluded mountainside lodge. Since his drunken assault on a student, no university had dared to let him set foot on campus; this was his last chance for a change in his life. Jack was breaking through the pressure...

He gasped for breath amidst the suppressed pleasure, the fishy smell stimulating his nerves. The car roared and accelerated, crashing into the gaping black...

tunnel.

This area was once a Native American cemetery. In the early 20th century, a group of white people drove the Native Americans out in their own unique way and built this magnificent hotel over the burial grounds of their ancestors.

Interview.

As its name suggests, the Overlooking Hotel is indeed a great place to enjoy panoramic views. Built halfway up a snow-capped mountain, the hotel opens its doors wide in a fan shape, welcoming all guests. Isolated among the mountains, with no other buildings around, it provides an ideal resting place for travelers seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of life. In front of the hotel is a large parking lot, large enough to accommodate a large convoy of cars, a testament to the hotel's former grandeur. However, at this moment, only a few cars were scattered around the parking lot.

Jack Tarrance walked into the spacious Overlook Hotel, where the environment was refreshing. The bright glass, the open lobby, and the high-society people coming and going made Jack feel as if he had returned to the respected high society.

“I am Jack Tallens, and I have an appointment with Mr. Uman,” Jack said to the hotel receptionist. This professor, who had once captivated students at university, began his first steps in integrating into his new environment with impeccable manners. His neat attire, snow-white collar, and the faint bluish tinge on his freshly shaved chin suggested nothing of alcoholism or violence.

"His office is the first one on the left." The foreman smiled as he watched Jack's elegant figure from behind. A gentle gentleman always wins people's favor at first glance.

Following the foreman's directions, Jack arrived at Mr. Ullman's office. A neatly dressed middle-aged gentleman was working inside, with a large window behind him letting in sunlight, creating a warm and reassuring atmosphere. Jack composed himself. Having taught at the university for many years, he knew how to gain people's trust. If it weren't for that drunken night, he would be sitting in that spacious office right now. He had been sober for six months, but the thought of alcohol still gave Jack a fleeting sense of pleasure.

“Mr. Uman? I am—”

"Please come in!" Before Jack could finish speaking, Mr. Ullman recognized him and welcomed him into his office with a smile. "It's a pleasure to see you!"

“Me too.” That’s a good start, Jack thought.

“This is my secretary, Susie,” Uman introduced to Jack, showing him the woman standing next to him.

"Hello, Susie." Jack gave a slight bow.

"Is it easy to find?" Mr. Uman asked.

"It was easy to find, only took three and a half hours." Confident Jack started to joke, the relaxed atmosphere being the key to victory.

"It'll be ready soon. Would you like some coffee?"

“If you’d like, I’ll have one too.” Jack turned to Susie. “Thank you.”

Susie walked toward the door, but Uman called her back: "Please let Bill Watson in."

"OK."

Jack quietly adjusted to a comfortable position; he was determined to get this job.

A tranquil home.

Twenty-eight-year-old Wendy held a coffee cup, reading a magazine about how to furnish a comfortable home on a budget. Jack had been unemployed for over six months, their savings were nearly depleted, and if her husband couldn't find work soon, the family of three would have to rely on welfare. But poverty and anxiety hadn't affected Wendy's good nature; no matter the difficulties, life had to go on. She glanced at the other end of the table; her five-year-old son, Danny, was eating a sandwich while intently watching television. Danny was a good boy, but he often displayed a maturity beyond his years. Everything would be alright once the family crisis was over, Wendy thought.

"Mom?" Danny suddenly looked up and called to Wendy.

"how?"

"Are we really going to that hotel in the winter?" Danny asked.

“Of course, it will be a lot of fun there,” Wendy tried to make a good impression on the child. If Jack got the job, it would certainly be a good thing; a change in circumstances would bring hope to people in difficult situations.

“…Yeah, I think so too.” Although he said that, Danny was clearly very reluctant. “Anyway, there’s no one there to play with me.”

"I know it takes time to make friends."

"Yes, I think so too."

"What does Tony think? I think he'll be looking forward to it too." Wendy wanted to change the subject to something lighter. Tony was a friend Danny had imagined; in reality, he was just one of Danny's fingers.

“Mrs. Tarrances, I didn’t,” the child said, raising a finger to speak for Tony. Although the voice came from Danny’s mouth, it sounded like someone else’s voice—deep and hoarse.

Wendy often thought that the child had a talent for performing. "Tony, stop being so temperamental," Wendy said gently.

“I don’t want to go!” Tony’s refusal was firm and decisive, unlike Danny’s gentle and tactful manner. Tony’s attitude sent a chill down Wendy’s spine, but the doubt vanished quickly. Wendy smiled; he was just a five-year-old child!

Why don't you want to go?

"I just don't want to." There was a barely perceptible fear hidden in that voice.

In the hostel's office.

The meeting had been going on for a while, and it was clear that the three people in the room were having a very relaxed conversation. The lush green trees outside the window, bathed in sunlight, put Jack in a good mood, and he spoke with ease in front of Mr. Ullman and Mr. Watson, the head of the household.

"Did the people in Denver tell you what the job entails?" Mr. Uman asked Jack.

"I gave you a rough outline."

“Very good. Winter is ruthless. We need to check all parts of the hotel regularly every day, check the boiler pressure, and repair any damage that may occur. Only by repairing things in a timely manner can we keep the hotel running.”

“No problem,” Jack answered without hesitation. For a university professor, this was hardly a job. But now, he had no choice but to use this job to get through the crisis his family was facing.

"Actually, this job is not hard. The only hard thing in winter is that it is very lonely here."

Jack smiled. For someone like him who had just calmed down from a period of frenzy, solitude was the best medicine.

"I just need some peace and quiet. I'm preparing to write and need five months of quiet time."

“That’s great, Jack. Because some people…can’t…face loneliness and solitude.” Mr. Ullman seemed very careful with his words, as if afraid that his choice of words might frighten Jack.

"I'm fine."

"What about your wife and children? Can they bear it?"

“I think they’ll like it,” Jack replied after a moment’s thought; it was the only answer he could think of.

“Very good.” Mr. Uman smiled with satisfaction. “Before I hand you over to Mr. Watson, there is one more thing to discuss.” Mr. Uman’s tone gradually lowered, as if he were having some difficulty speaking. “It’s not terrifying, but it will make people hesitate when accepting the job.”

“I’m very curious,” Jack said with a smile.

"I don't think they told you in Denver... about the tragedy of the winter of 1970?"

"...I don't think they did."

Bill Watson, who had been sitting next to him with a smile, turned his head and looked at the optimistic Jack with a serious expression.

"The previous hotel manager hired a man named Debbie Greta to look after the hotel in the winter. He, his wife, and their two young daughters, one eight years old and the other ten, were all there. He was qualified, and he was perfectly normal."

Jack looked at Uman, whose emphasis puzzled him.

“But in winter, he must have had a mental breakdown… he went mad.” Uman laughed awkwardly to ease the horrifying atmosphere in the room, trying to downplay the incident. “He killed his whole family with an axe. He dismembered them in the west wing and committed suicide by putting two guns in his mouth. The police believe it was due to old-fashioned claustrophobia—a phobia caused by being confined to a room for a long time.”

“Oh…that’s…an interesting story.” Jack maintained his smile, trying to keep a lighthearted tone. He wasn’t a coward; these things didn’t frighten him. Besides, there were things more terrifying than horror in the world, like an economic crisis.

“Yes, it’s hard to believe something like this could happen here, but it did.” Uman laughed. “You should understand why I told you.”

"Of course, I understand, and I know why the people in Denver asked you to tell me."

“Clearly, some people are afraid to stay here because of this.” Uman carefully observed Jack’s reaction.

Jack smiled and met Uman's gaze: "Don't worry, this won't happen to me. As for my wife, when I tell her, she'll absolutely love it; she loves ghost stories and horror movies."

The bathroom inside the children's room.

Danny, a tiny figure, stood on a stool, talking to Tony, a child made of his fingers, in front of a mirror.

"Tony, do you think Dad will accept this job?" Leaving home, leaving the familiar environment, and going to a strange place with no friends and no entertainment is hard for a 5-year-old boy to accept, but he is powerless to change the fact.

“He’s already accepted it, and he’ll call Wendy right away to tell her,” Tony replied, mimicking his friend’s hoarse voice.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the phone rang. Wendy, who was washing dishes, dropped what she was doing and ran to the phone. The call was indeed from the hotel, and Jack was confidently reporting the good news to his family in the lobby: "Hi, baby."

"Honey, how's everything going there?"

“Great! I’m in the hotel now, and I still have a lot of work to do. I can’t get back before 10 o’clock.”

Wendy was overjoyed: "It sounds like you've found a job." Thank goodness, the family finally had hope.

“Yes, it’s beautiful here! You and Danny will definitely love it.” Jack looked at the beautiful hotel, confident that a new life was about to begin.

While his parents were excited about his new job, Danny, who already knew the news, was extremely disappointed in the bathroom.

"Tony, why don't you want to go to the hotel?"

"I have no idea."

“Tell me, please?” Danny pleaded.

"I don't want to."

Please.

“No.” Tony refused very decisively.

“Tony, tell me.” Danny really wanted to know why his best friend wouldn’t go with him; he wasn’t usually like this. This friend had been by his side since he could remember, whispering secrets to him. In the days when his family wasn’t around, Tony was Danny’s everything.

After Danny made his request, Tony fell silent. It seemed his friend had agreed to tell Danny why he didn't want to go to that hotel. Danny looked in the mirror, waiting for Tony to give him a hint.

Suddenly, Danny froze. He smelled a bloody odor in the air. Danny looked around but couldn't find the source of the smell. However, a picture flashed through his mind. Danny's eyes widened and he couldn't move. He saw two large streams of blood gushing out from both sides of a huge red door and rushing towards him!

Two little girls, dressed in matching blue dresses, stood hand in hand in front of the massive red gate, gazing at Danny. It was a sight to behold.

What's chilling is that the two little girls are slowly smiling at Danny! In the girls' eyes lies an inescapable captivation, and those smiles suffocate Danny!

Crimson blood gushed out, splattering onto the walls...

Rest day.

The valley in early winter has a special kind of tranquility.

Gazing vaguely at the trees rushing past on either side, Wendy felt a little dizzy. This place gave her a vague sense of unease, but she didn't want to voice it. Today was the day the family of three moved into the hotel, and it was her husband's first day at work. She didn't want anything to spoil their long-awaited happiness.

This road is the only highway into the mountains, so there's no way to get lost. This is Jack's second time driving to the hotel, and he's already tired of it. This kind of unskilled work always makes him drowsy; he really should find something more interesting to do on the trip. Thinking this, Jack turns around and sees Wendy's slightly uncomfortable expression, and his earlier excitement fades.

“We’re very high up, the air is very different,” Wendy explained, noticing Jack’s expression.

Jack responded with a sound from his throat.

Danny remained silent in the back seat. The terrifying scene he had witnessed a few days ago still sent chills down his spine whenever he thought about it, but he couldn't tell his parents because they wouldn't believe him, and it wouldn't change the fact that they were going to the hotel. Fear and anxiety overwhelmed young Danny, but he discovered a desire within him, a real need to fill his stomach, that gave him the courage to face anything.

"dad?"

"What?" Jack looked at Danny in the rearview mirror.

I'm very hungry.