CreepsMcPasta Creepypasta Radio - "I am staying with a family in Japan. Something very wrong is happening here" Creepypasta

Episode Date: June 21, 2020

ゴゴゴゴAUTHOR'S SUBREDDIT► https://www.reddit.com/r/squishycabbage/CREEPYPASTA STORY►by SquishyCabbage: https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comm...Creepypastas are the campfire tales of the internet. Horror stories spread through Reddit r/nosleep, forums and blogs, rather than word of mouth. Whether you believe these scary stories to be true or not is left to your own discretion and imagination. LISTEN TO CREEPYPASTAS ON THE GO-SPOTIFY► https://open.spotify.com/show/7l0iRPd...iTUNES► https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...CREEPY THUMBNAIL ART BY- Sally Jackson:►https://www.artstation.com/artwork/EV...►https://www.instagram.com/sallyjackso...►https://www.sallyjacksonart.com/SUGGESTED CREEPYPASTA PLAYLISTS-►"Good Places to Start"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7YCb...►"Personal Favourites"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEa2R...►"Written by me"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX6RA...►"Long Stories"- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...FOLLOW ME ON-►Twitter: https://twitter.com/Creeps_McPasta►Instagram: https://instagram.com/creepsmcpasta/►Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/creepsmcpasta►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreepsMcPastaCREEPYPASTA MUSIC/ SFX- ►http://bit.ly/Audionic ♪►http://bit.ly/Myuusic ♪►http://bit.ly/incompt ♪►http://bit.ly/EpidemicM ♪-This creepypasta is for entertainment purposes only-

My name is Finn. Growing up, I was always the quiet one. I did my own thing, but had solidified myself in a friend group. None of us were popular, none of us outcasts. I took this with me into college, and it was there where I truly realized the part of my life I was missing. The friends I made there had an abundance of crazy stories and adventures that could silence a room, mainly Lexi.

She'd travelled the world, mostly for the world, mostly by herself, which opened her up to meeting some really interesting people and getting herself into some really crazy scenarios. I wanted that. Was it out of my comfort zone? Absolutely. But that's where we thrive, right? So, after college, I asked her for some advice on how to organise a solo trip.

I wanted a backpack, live it rough, stay with host families or in hotels, like she had done. She asked where I wanted to go and we got talking about my possibilities I chose to travel Asia It's somewhere I'd never been And the ranging cultures from country to country city to city intrigued me I loved the way Lexi had spoken about each country

India Uzbekistan Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea So she'd put me in contact with people She'd met along the way People to house me or offer me jobs and I planned my route. Lexi set me up with places to stay in most instances, despite the occasional hostel.

It brought out a side of me that I knew I had, but rarely showed. I was talking to strangers, trying to speak to locals in the respective languages, embracing the culture of wherever I was. I lived day to day, from sleeping on packed buses to hitchhiking with strangers who soon became new friends. I stayed with an array of host families

all providing me with different experiences and I am now on my way to stay with the final one before the end of my trip I pulled out the itinerary that Lexi and I come up with months prior this last family I'm staying with was one of the few that required me to be on time they lived in an isolated village

in the mountains of Japan and were expecting me on a certain date at a certain time whilst Lexi hadn't actually stayed with this family she had planned to. A trip had been cut short due to personal circumstances and she never got the chance to meet them.

She had communicated with the family through a mutual friend as the family didn't have much access to the internet and apparently spoke very little English. All the information I had was the name of the village and to go to the main square

where I would be greeted by the family and that's basically all I knew. That's what makes this so exciting I also knew the name of the family The Nomura family The journey here was exhausting I had taken a ferry from South Korea to Honshu, Japan From there I'd taken a series of buses

Before having to walk for about 30 minutes Up a small dirt road through the trees Thankfully the bus driver knew where the village was Because when I got off in the middle of nowhere I would have been useless with just my map And my very limited Japanese He pointed me in the right direction, but the journey was worth it. The village is beautiful.

It is large, situated on a grassy plain that rests alongside a small mountain which overlooked the traditional wooden houses. As I walk the streets, most people smile and nod. I'm guessing there haven't been many outsiders that visit this place. I feel privileged to be one of them. The houses are made of wood and clay, providing, a complementary rustic appearance against the bright green grass below. Some boasted large front doors,

while others opted for the more traditional sliding doors. I walked the streets in awe of the hustle and bustle going on around me, contrasted by the natural, overwhelming beauty of the mountain above. I soon see an area that is clearly the main square of the village, a clearing in the middle of wooden houses with a beautiful statue standing tall in its centre.

I go to inspect the statue when a girl approaches me, I guess, mid-twenties, and smiles. Finn? She asks, focusing on pronouncing my name correctly. Yes, hi, I respond. Are you the Nomura family? Yes, yes, she excitedly replies. Welcome, I am Ren. Hi, Ren, I introduce myself.

My name is Finn. Thank you so much for agreeing. to have me. English seems very good. I felt comforted that I would be able to speak with someone and be shown around, as I was under the impression that there would be a language barrier. Please, it's fine. We are very excited, she says.

Would you like to come with me? Of course, I agreed. I am excited to see where I'll be staying during this last week of my trip. On the way to her house, rental. tells me that her family doesn't speak English, except for her mother who she is teaching. Wren says that she lend English when she moved out of the village to Kyoto, where she was able to take classes. As we walk, the houses around me seem to grow larger and further apart. Ren says that her house is situated just outside the village, and essentially that we are in the area where the richer families live.

All in all, her house is about 20 minutes from the village square, down a beautiful green path overhung by shrubs and flowers. It is more isolated than the houses in the village centre, which I am happy about, as I'd be able to get the most out of both the village life and the natural beauty that surrounds it. Wren's house is beautiful. Indricate designs dance on the light brown rooftops

looming above its large front doorframe. The wooden walls are the outer house pristine, as if newly made. The isolation of the house enhances its beauty as there are no distractions to take you away from its bold presence I've hit the jackpot here Wren open the front door and welcomes me inside The house is split into two parts

The main area with the dining table and kitchen And an area with bedrooms and bathroom The two sections of the house are connected by a small walkway That takes you outside Providing a stunning view of a flowery garden below. The main area hosts a dining table that lays close to the ground.

Just off that, a kitchen area and an area with what looks like instruments in the far corner of the room, a small house shrine. Across the connecting walkway, the sleeping area, a long wide corridor hosting rooms either side

with a traditional sliding door made of what I think is rice paper. Wren shows me to my room, the third one down, My room is simple, a mattress laying on the floor and a small table perched below an open window too high to see out of. Like the rest of the house, the walls and floor are made of wood. I set my bag down and unpack before going to meet her family.

I meet the rest of the namuras over dinner. Wren has a sister, Hina, who is quiet. She is younger than Ren, around 17, and I feel she was shy around me. Wren's mother, Saiko, is very sweet. She tried to use what English she had to make me feel welcome and offered me more food than I could handle. Wren's father, however, seems less welcoming. He is a serious man,

speaking only to his wife throughout the meal after greeting me with a slight nod. Strangely, I am told to refer to him as Father Namora. Whilst I didn't expect this, I won't question it, as they were doing me a favour by letting me stay here. I assume it's a sign of respect. Dinner, however, is lovely. Psycho has clearly put a lot of effort into it.

I am already starting to feel comfortable when Wren pulls me aside when we all parked from the dining table. Finn? She grabbed my arm, locking eyes with me. The last room in the sleeping area. That's my grandparents' room. The room at the end of the corridor,

you aren't allowed to go in there. Oh, I didn't even realise your grandparents are staying here too, I replied, having not seen them. Yes, they are, she says. And you must make sure you don't go near their room, okay? Okay. I find that weird. Obviously, I'm not going to be going into anyone else's room.

But if she was going to warn me about that, why only warn me about the grandparents' room? I am just back from a walk around the village. Ren and I went. She gave me a quick tour Best she could before it got dark Before we headed back to her house I didn't see

Any of her family on the way through the main area Or in the corridor Housing my bedroom I thank Rin and say I'd see her tomorrow Exhausted from my long journey I lay down to sleep I wake to the sound of a whisper The whisper is a harsh, long one

I can't make out what is being said I think it's in Japanese. It's a fast whisper. Sounds like a chant. Someone is repeating something. I sit up and peer through the darkness at my sliding door. It's coming from the corridor, almost as if right outside my room.

It starts to speed up even more, repeating the same incoherent phrase over and over. What the hell? What's it saying? Suddenly, the whispering stops. I sit there in silence, waiting for something to happen. Footsteps. From the end of the corridor, the sound of the footsteps increase as they quickly approach my door,

before passing it, seemingly heading for the exit. As they pass my door, I make out a silhouette through the paper. It moved fast. Weird. I get out of bed and the edge to walk. the door. I slowly slide it open, peering into the dark corridor before me. It's empty. I look down one end, nothing, then down the other, also nothing. I'm about to close the door and head back to sleep when I see wet footprints. They appear to have come from the room at the

end of the corridor and lead all the way out to the connecting walkway outside. I can clearly see that whoever made them was barefoot. Some of the footprints are so clear that I could count each toe. I begrudgingly follow them. Just as I'm about to open the door onto the connecting walkway outside, I hear the door of one of the bedrooms

behind me slide open. It's Wren. Ren? I stutter. Someone just ran by my room. She hushes me. It is grandmother. she whispers. She has a problem at night. She runs into the village often at night. Father will get her. I figure she means night terrors or sleepwalking or something. Spooked, I apologise to Wren and head back to my bed.

The cold air wakes me up the next morning. The light streams through the open window above as I sit up in bed. I have no idea what time it is. I could have slept for ages after all that travelling. I should probably get up and see what's happening. I roll out of bed and sit on the floor whilst I go through my suitcase. I get changed and turn towards the bedroom door. I'm freaked out about last night, but it's my first time here,

so I'm definitely not going to bring it up. I walk out into the corridor, and as I take one last look at the room before sliding the door shut, I notice footprints. They are the same barefoot, wet footprints I had seen in the corridor last night. My heart flutters and I scan their route. These were different footprints. Like last night, these came out of the room at the end of the corridor.

But instead of leading to the exit, they led into my room, toward my bed. I see two wet footprints planted on the floor at the foot of the foot of the foot. my bed. Wren's grandmother had been watching me sleep. I decide not to talk to Wren about the footprint in my room last night. If they have a grandmother with these types of issues, it must be very hard to control, and they must be aware that this kind of thing happens. Although I am on edge, I'm not really the kind of person to completely waive something

off like this. Call it overthinking, but I always feel like something more sinister is going on. even where it isn't. So, whilst I'm not going to forget that it happened, I'm also not going to bring it up to Wren, especially not after my first night here. It might not even happen again. Wren is taking me around the village this morning.

It's just as beautiful in the early light as when I had arrived. The mountaintop glistening in the still rising sun. However, I do notice something is different. The people. When I arrived at the mountain-top glistening in the still rising sun. arrive in the village yesterday, they were smiling, waving, greeting me. Now they look in shock of my presence. A man who I clearly recognised as one who waved at me the day before just looks at me, then at Ren, then back at me, almost as if in fear, before turning back to his family.

Wren isn't speaking to anyone and they aren't speaking to her. Surely in a village this size everyone is friendly with everyone or at least Wren would recognise some of the people around us but apparently not we've been walking for around an hour mostly talking about my life when a man burst from his house

and grabs me his hands grip my shoulders and he stares into my eyes with an alarmed look on his face he is speaking fast his tone is one of urgency frantically speaking to me volume slowly rising

Wren quickly pushes him away I was too in shock to even react She speaks a quick sentence back to him Before grabbing my arm and leading me away He stays by his house Still shouting at me from afar What the? I exclaim What was that? What was he saying?

He is trying to sell you something Ren replies Eyes front as she continues to lead me away from the scene Sell me something I ask in shock Why would he What? Was that even a shop?

It is nothing She seemed different Sterner He is trying to rip you off Because you are not from here What the hell That's an aggressive way of trying to achieve a sale Almost unbelievably so

The first interaction I've had with someone else today Was that? I look back to other man Just before he disappears from my view He's on his knees, pointing at me, still shouting. We are just back from the village, and I'm going back to my room to show Ren a book I had told her about. I enter the corridor of bedrooms. At the far end, I see Father Namura with a very elderly man, Ren's grandfather.

The old man is frail, with strands of grey hair on his head and tired eyes. Father Namura appears to be helping him into his room One hand on his shoulder, the other hand locked in his Father Namura looks up at me So does the grandfather Father Namura shouts something at me in Japanese Waving his head to the exit behind me As if telling me to leave

He seems angry I freeze my tracks Do I continue to my room Is he actually telling me to go back the way I came My eyes start to the grandfather. He's staring at me. Eyes wide now.

His mouth is moving. He's muttering something. I can't quite hear what he is saying over the shouts. Not that I'd understand anyway. I turn to leave as Father Nomura's tone gets more agitated. As I turn, the grandfather speaks up, although still a rasp whisper. He is repeating something.

He is repeating the same phrase I had heard outside my room, last night, over and over. I shut the door behind me and stand on the walkway, staring blankly at the flowers below. I have just finished dinner. Other than Wren and Saiko and the weird exchange with Father Namura, I have seen none of the family today. Dinner was quaint but delicious. Saiko continued to force food on my plate throughout the entire meal.

Wren and I are sitting in the garden outside, teaching Saiko some English friends. It's been quite a strange day. I've been shouted at by a random guy and by Father Nomura, but it's been a really nice day too. I can't sleep. Last night is replaying in my head, freaking me out. I'm nervous that as soon as I fall asleep, someone's going to come into my room or something.

I've been lying here for a few hours and haven't heard a peep outside, but I'm still on edge. my brain won't shut up in fact my thoughts are so loud and overwhelming that I almost didn't notice my door begin to slide open it opens very slowly someone in the corridor

is sliding it quietly and carefully as if trying not to make a sound I am frozen I stare at the doorway as more of the dark corridor is exposed it's almost as if the darkness pours into my room bringing with it fear and uncertainty.

The door is soon fully open, but I see nobody. Just darkness. I heard nothing, see nothing. My door just opens, that's it. I'm not moving. I lay in bed on edge, ready to spring up at any moment should I need to.

But nothing has happened. It's been open now for a few minutes. and nothing. I build up the courage to go and shut it. I stand up, slowly and quietly, and edge towards the door. Curiosity

takes the better of me as I reach it, and I quickly peer down both ends of the corridor. To the left towards the exit, nothing, darkness. To the right, a light at the end of the corridor, a faint light coming from the open door,

of the grandparents' room, although the room is side on so I can't see inside. The light is clearly candlelit as it flickers in such a way. Screw that. I start to slide my door shut, and notice the footprints once more. Wet, bare footprints. They lead from the grandparents' room to mine, then go back the way they came. Had the grandmother come to my room, opened my door, then gone back to sleep. I was so in shock, engulfed by both the fear and the overwhelming darkness, that I almost missed it.

The opposite wall of the grandparents' room had a faint shimmer of light reflected onto it through the open door. As well as light, a shadow is reflected onto the wall. the shadow of a figure, a person standing just inside their room. It's just standing there, completely still. I feel like it is facing the corridor, but I can't tell for sure. All I know is that someone is standing right by the entrance to their room, barely inside it, but far enough that I can't actually see them. Are they waiting for me to investigate?

Do they know I can see them? They're so damn still. I quietly slide my door fully shut and get back into bed. It's around 3 a.m. now and I haven't slipped. I don't think I will. Well, sleep must have taken me last night. Although I don't know when, I sit up in bed fast, in a panic, looking around my sunlit room.

No footprints, my door is shut. Bag seems untouched. Wow. I'm so thankful of that, although I am damn scared. I'm scared about last night. I'm scared about tonight. Hell, I'm scared about even getting up and out of bed right now.

Tonight, though, I'm going to set my phone up, maybe in the corridor, and film what is going on. I'm going to hide it in the corner, perhaps in one of the protruding rafters. I'll make sure it's difficult to see. nobody will see it. I want to find out what happens here, at night.

So, here's my plan. Firstly, I'm going to tell Ren I'm exploring the village alone, except I'm not going to explore the village. I'm going to hike down to where the bus dropped me off, and hope that at the bus stop there's some sort of schedule. I had tried to find bus schedules on my phone,

but couldn't see any information. I'm freaked out right now. and will feel more at ease knowing there are ways that I can get out of here should I need to. The numoras have been nothing but kind to me. Well, Psycho and Ren have been. But I still feel I need to have an exit route

just in case. I'm not going to tell Ren where I'm going. I don't want to offend her, but a part of me also doesn't trust her. I don't want her to get suspicious. Secondly, the camera. I've downloaded an app on my phone that's used for overnight recording. I think it's advertised toward parents watching over their children's rooms or something.

I'll set it up and see what happens here at night. If I see anything I don't like, I'm out of here. I'm almost at the bus stop. Earlier, I had eaten breakfast with Wren and Psycho before telling them that I wanted to explore the village of my own. Wren insisted she joined me, but I assured her I'd be all right

and that I want a day to myself my walk through the village was similar to yesterday's nobody smiled at me or even acknowledged me the only difference was that nobody tried to sell me anything today

I reached the bottom of the hill it's been about 45 minutes since I left the Nomura's house I've been walking fast I see the rusty old sign that the bus stop at when it had dropped me off and paced toward it. Squinting my eyes to read through the rust, I see only two time slots.

Both the times are on the same day I was dropped off, separated by an hour. Damn, the next bus out of here is the bus I was planning on taking anyway. This was for nothing. There are no buses out of this place for days. I pray I won't need one. Fully fed. I sit on my bed after dinner. Other than finding out, there are no buses out of here.

It's been an uneventful day. But I'm dreading the night. I open up the recording app, turn my phone on silent, turn its brightness down. I don't want it to be seen. Everyone has gone to bed, but I still hear people occasionally walking around. I'll wait for everyone to be asleep before setting the camera up. It's been silent for an hour. It's time.

I quietly get out of bed and tiptoe over to my door. I slowly open it, looking down the corridor. Empty. I know where I'm setting this up. The far end of the corridor has a rafter I can prop my phone up on. It's the only place that it worked. The rafter by the front door would be too easy to spot by anyone leaving. I creep down the corridor, passing a series of rooms, including the grandparents.

Softly as I can, I jump and grab the rafter, pulling myself up and propping the phone so it films down the corridor. Awesome. I slowly lower myself back to the ground. I'm quite proud of myself for being so silent. When the grandparents' door starts to slide open. I freeze. I'm just beyond the door, at the end of the corridor. I don't move, hoping I'm not seen.

Father Nomura and Psycho walk out of the room, shutting the door behind them, deep in discussion. They don't see me. They hurriedly walk up the corridor before exiting onto the walkway at the other end. That was so close. Had I been walking past the grandparents' room where they exited? The walkway door slowly opens once more. They're coming back. Damn, I have no other choice.

The only place I can get in fast enough without them seeing me is the grandparents' room. I quickly open the door, slide myself in and shut it behind me, just as they re-enter the corridor. Stairs. That's what I see. A staircase going down. This isn't just a bed. room. On the edge of each step is a dimly lit candle. I can't see beyond the bottom of the

staircase. Father Nomura and Psycho's voices are now getting louder. I think they're coming back towards the grandparents' room. I hear their footsteps louder and louder. Their hushed voices now right outside the door I had just come through. I moved down the stairs, finding myself in a room with two sliding doors, nothing else. Just the small, square, wooden wall. Just the small, square, room with two traditional sliding doors on either side. Nowhere to hide, I have to choose a door. As I stare at each door, I see movement, a shadow, through the door on the right. My choice is made for me.

I go through the door on the left, shutting it behind me. I get swallowed by darkness. Shaking, I'm pressed up against the door I just went through. I hear Father Nomura and Saiko making their way down the stairs. The room I chose is completely dark. I tried to quickly scan it for somewhere to hide in case one of them comes in. But I can't see anything around me. I don't want to venture further into the room unless I absolutely have to.

I can't see and might knock something over. I hold my breath. Footsteps Father Namura and Saiko have just run. reach the bottom of the staircase. To my relief, their quiet steps and hushed conversation lead to the other room, and I hear the door slides shut behind them. I am still frozen and want to wait a second before making my move, but I can still hear something, something behind me. No longer disrupted by the sound of Father Numerra and Saiko, I can now hear something in the

room with me. I hear slow, quiet breathing, exasperated, rasping breaths coming from behind me in the darkness. Every breath sounds as if it's causing incredible pain. The breathing is quiet, but the anguish that comes with each breath is clear. I'm not finding out who or what is in the room with me. With no second thought, I open the door, shutting it behind me and bolt up the to my room, careful with every step. I tried to stay awake after what happened. I tried to be on alert, but I was exhausted. I had fallen asleep shortly after sneaking out of the grandparents' room.

I'm beyond freaked out. I'm trying to tell myself there's an explanation for last night that I had simply heard one of the grandparents' breathing, but I couldn't convince myself that what I heard was normal. Something about it terrified me, made me feel cold. Every breath was laced with pain, with suffering. I could almost feel it myself. And if I'd been in the room with the grandparents,

what did I see through the screen of the other room? There's something happening in this house. I go to collect my phone. Even in the morning light, it was almost impossible to see it. I had hidden it well. and I quickly grab it and bring it to my room to see if anything had happened during the night. Skimming through the recording,

the bright green filter or night vision provides a creepy view of the corridor. The shadows in the corridor dancing as the moon makes its cycle through the night. Father Nomura and Saiko left the grandparents' room late, going back to their room. Nothing out of the ordinary.

I reached 3.54 a.m. And, I see movement. Simultaneously, all doors slide open. All but mine and the grandparents. In sync, each of the family members step out. Hina stepping out of the room next to mine. Wren, the room opposite. Both parents also step out to their room at the same time.

All in unison. Further from the camera, Hina walks down the corridor first towards the end. As she passes Wren, she walks by her side. The parents then follow suit, walking behind the sisters. None of them seem to speak or acknowledge each other. They gather around the grandparents' room. Father Nomura opens it, and they enter before the door is slid shut. I fast forward.

4.40 a.m. Movement. The door of the grandparents' room is opened. The family walk out in the same. same order they had entered, sisters side by side, parents side by side behind them. Father Namura shuts the door behind them. They walk toward my room. They surround my door. Their mouths are moving, as if they are chanting something. They stand at my door, staring at it, for exactly 23 minutes. Father Namora then moves. He opens my door, slowly, carefully.

The family enter my room in the same order they'd maintained throughout, completely in sync. The door is shut behind them. My heart is racing. What the hell did they do in here? I look around my room. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. I even feel around my body. Nothing feels different.

I fast forward. Exactly 23 minutes later, my bedroom door is slid open and the family exit. parting ways. They go to the respective rooms, shutting their doors in unison. I'm leaving. I don't know where I'll go. Maybe I'll seek refuge in the village, or even brave the wilderness. I don't know.

I just have to get out of here. I quickly pack my things and open my door to see Wren on the other side. Finn? She says, a nervous look on her face as she looks at my fully packed bags. Where are you going? Uh, I stutter. Laundry. I don't know why I said that, but it works.

Finn, she calmly nods. Father wants to speak with you in the main area. Oh, why? My heart is beating out of my chest. I might just run. He wants to talk about something. She replies. He knows you went to my grandparents' room last night.

Father Nomura stands with his back to me. I'm in the main area of the house, backpack on, ready to run. The entire Namura family surrounds me, suffocating me. The only one doing anything is psycho, who's fiddling with something in the kitchen. The sisters, however, watch me. Father Namura turns to face me, then speaks. He sounds calm. Once he's finished, Wren translates.

He is unhappy you went into grandfather's room, she calmly states. Grandfather is very sick and should not have been disturbed. Tell him, I'm sorry, I stammer. I didn't mean to go in. I just, I got scared because of your grandmother's footprints. She came into my room and... Father Nomura starts to speak again. Ren hasn't translated what I said.

He said, does he understand me? He tells me you have to behave now, Ren explains. He says he will not punish you this time, but you must behave. As for grandmother, I'm sorry you are scared. She's old and sick. I'm, I couldn't be sorrier, I plead. Tell Father Numerer, it won't happen again. He nods, then leaves the room onto the walkway.

The door shuts loudly behind him. Hina then does the same, moving as soon as Father Namoa had left our sight. I turned to Ren. You must eat, she smiles. It is okay. Mother made you food to make you happy. My attention turns the psycho. Sure enough, she had made a lot of food.

She places the final plate on the table and invites me to sit. I had offended the family once. I won't do it again I don't want to be punished but after this I'm leaving I don't trust this family I wipe my plate down

and the first chance I get moved towards the exit nobody saw me leave I am quickly pacing along the path heading into the village I don't know my next move maybe try and find the man who was selling me something

try to determine what he was actually saying. I reached the village. I know roughly where the man's house is. Suddenly, my legs feel weak. I stumble, but keep my balance. Just... What is going on?

My steps get wider, my legs harder to control with every step. I fall down to one knee, but I can't feel the ground beneath it. Help, I stutter. Help me. I look to the villagers around me. They are all staring at me in shock.

But they are not helping. In fact, many are moving away. Hushed conversations and distant whispers surround me as I fall to the ground and black out. You are sick. Please eat. My eyes open. I am back in my bedroom, back in the house.

Zayko kneels beside my bed. holding a small plate of food, still piping hot, steam rising. What happened? I ask. I'm dazed, confused. You have fell, Psycho says. Please eat and rest. My mind is in haze.

I can't think straight. I eat some of the food as Psycho places it against my lips. I'm not sure why I do it, but it tastes so good. And I'm so hungry. As my eyes shut, my cloudy vision becoming blurrier by the second, I noticed something. Over psycho's shoulder, my door is slightly open. Peering through the gap, a tall, elderly woman looms above,

smiling as she watches me eat. I wake to the sound of my stomach churning. Hunger owns me. I need to eat. It's dark, but I get out of bed and slide my door open, heading to the kitchen. The cold night air and my skin doesn't phase me. I only want food. To my surprise, there is a meal on the kitchen table.

I stride over to it, then devour it. It's delicious, but I'm still hungry as I head back to my bedroom. I sit upright to my bed and eat away at the bits of skin. dangling from my fingertips. I wake once more. It's still night. Only now I'm myself again. I think back to earlier.

Had I really gone into the kitchen and eaten all that food? Why was it even there in the middle of the night? Was that a dream? I looked down to my fingers. Blood and loose skin cloak them. My fingernails almost completely gone. My fingers bitten so much that blood now stains my mattress.

What is happening to me? I have to get out of here. I get out of bed. I can't see my bag or phone, but I don't care. I slide open my door. The hallway is empty, so I make my move.

I quickly make it to the door connecting the two areas of the house and go through it with ease. Soon I find myself in the main area. I hurriedly move towards the front door almost breaking into a run. Once outside, I do run. I am almost at the village.

I can't see the path in the darkness. My bare feet are cut with every stride, colliding with the thorns and branches below. I should have reached the village by now, right? The house behind me is no longer in sight. Where's the village? Light. I see light ahead.

I'm almost there. It must feel further in the dark. I am relieved. I've made it. It's the house. I'm looking at the house. But how? It's a straight path. I haven't made any turns off of it either.

I turn to run the other way. The cold air hurts my lungs. I continue to run. Again, I reach the house once more. What's happening here? What is happening to me? I stray away from the path and run into the surrounding trees. I need to get away from here.

I must be turning around in the dark, accidentally taking the same path back to the house. I see it again through the trees ahead of me. This doesn't make sense. How am I back here? I can't seem to escape this place. So I grab a sturdy branch to use as a weapon and carefully move towards it.

The main area is empty. I scan for my bag, but see nothing. I walk across the wooden floor and open the door onto the walkway. Also empty. Crossing the walkway, I am struck by the cold night air. I open the door to the corridor ahead. Darkness. Either side of me, all doors are slid shut.

The house appears under the door. disturbed from when I left it, as if everyone is still asleep. Strangely, as I tread down the corridor, careful not to make a sound, the air gets colder. With every step, I feel a chill crawl across my skin. As I reach my room, I slide open the door and peer in. I see only my bloodstained mattress and a small table. I'm still missing my bags, my shoes, my phone. Without more clothing, I'd freeze outside.

I peer down at my feet, battered from my escape attempt earlier, and knew that if I wanted any chance of escaping here, I'd need my things. Most importantly, I need my phone to call for help. They're somewhere here, but I can't wake anybody up. One by one, I slide the doors at their rooms open. Hina lies asleep in a room decorated with a weird symbol I don't recognize a circular symbol with a horn-like figure in its centre A small shrine stands in the corner of a room

The same one from the main area The moonlight that shines through a window Makes it easy to quickly recognize that my bag isn't here Wren lies asleep in a simpler room She turns as I peer in but doesn't wake her Her table holds books, a lot of them. I make out a small shrine in the corner of her room, but no bags. Her parents' room.

My hand is trembling as I slide open their door and peer in. Similar to Heena's room, it's decorated in that symbol. Multiple shrines are laid out against the back wall, each with a candle in its centre. The parents are asleep on a mattress that lies in the middle of the room. Father Nomura grunts in his sleep and turns towards his sleeping wife, but doesn't awaken. This room is much larger than the two daughters. There is no back here, and I slowly slide the door shut. There's only one room left.

I open the door and walked down the staircase. the candles remain lit along it This room is the coldest of them all As I reached the two doors I opt again to go through the left one I'm going to grab a candle And quickly scan the grandfather's room He was unable to make a sound last time

So even if I wake him I feel I won't get caught I move towards the door And slide it open with a creak The smell hits me as soon as the door opens. It is putrid, a combination of rotting fruit and feces. I turn away and hold back a gag. Taking a deep breath, I turn back to the room. It's completely dark. I get low with my candle, illuminating only my surroundings a few feet ahead. I slowly crawl into the room. The smell is

ranted, only getting worse the further I delve. I'm holding the candle ahead, when I see a strap to my left. Oh my gosh. My bag. I carefully reach across the grab-it and soon realize my phone rests comfortably on its top. I just need my shoes. Then I can get out of here. Drip.

Drip. Drip. What is that sound? I need to hurry. I can't hear any breathing. Only hear a drip. Maybe I just quickly turn on my phone light and find my shoes. I don't think the grandfather is in here.

Drip. Drip. Drip. I'm going to do it. I'm going to quickly turn it on, then back off again. Just so I can establish where I am, where my shoes are. If my phone and bag are here, my shoes should be. I just, I need to hurry.

And it's too quiet for someone to be. sleeping in here. My heart beats in harmony with the drip. Drip, drip, drip, drip. Screw it. I flick my phone's light on. I look up. I wish I hadn't. Thin chains hang from the ceiling. At the end of each chain is a large hook. Above me, the hooks hold up a body. A man. They puncture his calves and the upper fatty bits of his arms. There is one large hook that wraps around his spine, pulling it partially out of his back. He is naked. His head droops lifelessly. Carved into his chest, the symbol I had seen in Heena and the parents' room.

I see no blood. It's almost as if it's been cleaned up or drained. My eyes turned to the dripping sound. From his nose and mouth. saliva or something slowly drips. But his face, as I look up at him, hanging lifelessly above me, I recognised this man.

It's the man who had pulled me aside and shouted at me. In the village, I hold everything back, tears, gags, screams. I need to get out of here. I need to not make a sound. My eyes lock with the dead man's as I leave. They are wide but lifeless. I notice part of his flesh are missing as if they've been ripped out randomly.

His fingers look as if they were chewed to the bone. I feel a strong sense of guilt as I slide the door shut and lose sight of him. He had died because he warned me. That was his breathing in the room with me night ago. He was dying and I didn't help him. but it's too late now. I sneak up the stairs.

The corridor looks undisturbed since my last venture and I quietly shut the grandparents' store behind me. I'm going to go into my room, quickly get my gear on and try to contact help. I enter my room and turn to my phone. Frantically, I type out the following message. It's Finn, I need you to come help me. I'm not safe.

I send it to all of my contacts, followed by the name of the village I'm in. Someone has to help me. The messages are sending slowly. I'll check again when I'm outside. I'll also try to call someone when I'm in a place that I'm safe and able to speak. My shoes are on.

I have proper clothes. I'm getting out of here. I sneak through the corridor into the main area and reach the front door with no hassle. I'm quiet, very quiet, and feel I've managed to get through the house once more without waking anybody. Now I just have to find the village at...

The silence is broken as the sound of footsteps ring through the house. Wet, fast footsteps emit from the sleeping area and I hear the door leading onto the walkway open. The steps slap against the wooden floor approaching the main area. Approaching me. Grandmother I broke up.

I propel myself through the front door and into the darkness ahead. I run into the nearby tree line, hide behind the large trunk, and turn back to look at the house. Standing just outside the door. A figure. A tall, spindly, frail shape towers over the frame of the door it had just come through. I can only make out its shadow in the night, shaped like a human, but proportionally wrong. This thing must be at least seven feet tall Despite its hunched back

Long skinny legs hold it up And its thin arms stretched down its side Its hands just beyond its knees I make out very large hands Long, bony fingers Take shape in the dark as my eyes adjust I stare in horror It appears to be wearing a gown of sorts

Although I can't make it out clearly The sole feature I can make it out clearly The sole feature I can make out from its head Or a few strands of hair protruding from its scalp It stands for a second Then breaks into long strides down the path toward the village Hunting its back further as it runs Is that the grandmother?

I am about to turn my attention back to reach in safety When I see a second figure exit the house I can clearly make out the figure of Father Nomura As he stands by the front of the front of the front of the first one. front door. He does not move. Just watches the creature run into the night. His stance is one of impatience. I fear that whatever that thing is, the grandmother is looking for me. I run through the trees, frantically trying to call someone. The police, my family, Lexi, anyone. The messages I typed out earlier had all sent, but I now lacked signal.

I find a large tree climbable I reach its top easily enough I ignore the branches that pierce my skin and draw blood I just have to get out of here still no signal but I see something else

that gives me hope I see the village I can make out the dimly lit houses and see a section of the main square I know which direction to move in just as I start to climb down The grandmother runs below my tree. I freeze.

I watch as her unnervingly long body passes my tree below. She doesn't see me, but I see her. She is old, very old. Her skin wrinkled and vainy, almost discoloured. Her grey strands of hair spreadically dangle from her scalp. Her eyes are wide, although I can't make out the case. color. Her mouth wide open as she runs, as if

she were screaming with no sound. I see no teeth, just reddish black gums. She wears a white gown, which appears to have been ripped short just above her knees. Each fast step is a lunge. Her arms reach out in front of her,

grabbing the trees as she passes them to move swiftly through the wooded area. Her head darts around. She's looking for someone. For me, As soon as she passes, I lower myself down. I move from tree to tree, but don't see her again, before soon, reaching the village.

I run to the first house I see and knock on the door. I don't want to be too loud. Grandmother is still nearby. A confused, cautious, Japanese man opens the door. He looks at me up and down, questioning my state, visually wary. help me I need help I pant

he speaks back unsure what he says he starts to shut the door no I put my hand firmly in the door help me help after some back and forth

he lets me in he leads me to a room toward the back of his house and points to a chair for me to sit his family stand cautiously by a woman and a child they do not speak to me. The man gestures for me to wait and he leaves the room, shutting me in. I try my phone

again. Still, no signal. His wife soon enters the room and gives me a glass of water. I drink it fast and she gets me another. The man comes back into my room and through a series of gestures assures me that help is on the way. There is a lady, a monster. I try to warn him. But as I speak, his calm demeanour assures me that he has managed to get help and that I am safe here. I am thankful and he leaves me in the room once more. Just as my heartbeat begins to slow, I hear the familiar voice of Father Namora at their door. I stand up, panicked. Father Namora, the man, and five or six other villagers enter the room.

No! I shout, pointing at Father Namura. This is him. Help, I can't. Father Namora say something. They walked toward me. No, what are you? Stop.

Help, get your hands off me. I continued to scream and resist as they hoist me onto the shoulders and, against my thrashing, carry me back along the path toward the Namura household. They carry me into the house, where Wren, he, Ina and Psycho wait. On the table, a feast of delicious-looking food. My struggles against them are useless as they sit me by the table and begin to force the food into my mouth. Psycho looks on, almost in sorrow.

Father told you to not misbehave. Wren calmly speaks from somewhere behind me. Now, eat the food mother kindly prepared for you. I wake in the night. I am hungry Wren's grandmother stands in the corner of my room her hunched body blocks the moonlight

from the window and she looks at me with a toothless grin her iris is black eyes wide I stare at her and I feel safe I am hungry I bite into the tips

my fingers drawing blood I am desperate for food for substance As I begin to eat The woman in the room with me Whispers a chant The little chunks of flesh I tear from my fingers taste good

I continue to bite Until I feel bone Then bite down some more I shoot awake I'm still in my room I scramble off my bed Away from where the grandmother stood But she's not there anymore

In her place The same small shrine I'd seen around the house My fingers throb with pain I look down and see the damage I had caused Most of my fingers look as if they'd met a shredder There is flesh missing Bitten into it dangling down my hands

My bones visible Many have slight cracks on their surface From where I bit down onto them What is happening to me I stumble up, desperate to escape this place I open the door there are candles placed along the corridor. As I staggered to the door, leading onto the walkway,

I see that most of the rooms around me are open. Nobody in sight, though. I try the main door, and it won't open. It has been blocked from the outside. I push hard through the pain of my hands, but to no avail. I turn back to the corridor and walk down it, peering into each room. I see nobody, but each room has changed. There are no beds in Ren, Heena or the parents' room,

just lit candles and the same shrine in the room's centre. But it is too small to fit through. There's no use. I go back into the corridor, and that's when I notice a large red X has been drawn on the outside of my door. Whatever was used to draw it still looked wet, but it is a clear X. There are red droplets from my door down the corridor's floor. I followed the droplets which lead to the last room, the room at the end of the corridor.

It gets colder as I approach. The candles are my only light. The door is shut, but there is something drawn on it. It is drawn in the same red suburb. On the door, a large red O. The grandparents' room had been drawn on for a reason, and I'm not entering it, not unless I'm armed. I quickly scour the empty rooms along the corridor, but only find the small shrines and candles. As I'm about to leave Heena's room, I see a lifeline.

Through her small window stands a low-hanging tree. hanging tree. I hoist myself up and with some struggle managed to pull off a sturdy branch. This one is even more solid than my last. Despite the pain of my fingers, I hold a tight grip. I leave a room and sit down against the walkway's door. I stare down the long candlelit corridor, waiting for something to happen. It's been over an hour.

No sound. I've tried the walkway door a few times and tried again once more as I decide to move towards the grandparents' room but no luck. I walked down the corridor and reached their room. Holding the branch high,

ready to swing, I quietly slide the door open. Candles are lined down the stairs and I can tell from the dim glow that there are many more on the floor below. I tread down the stairs carefully. Alert. At the bottom of the staircase, candles are lined up along the walls, highlighting the two doors I have faced before.

The door on the left has a large red eggs drawn on it, whilst the door on the right has a red O. What kind of sick game is this? I moved towards the door on the left, the room I'm more familiar with. I press my ear against its frame and listen. Upon hearing nothing, I start to hear. Slide it open. Inside, the same symbol I had seen in Heena and the parents' room, the horn-like figure in the centre of a circle. The symbol is everywhere, drawn in red all over the walls, the floors, the ceiling.

At the end of the room, a small table holds a book. I cautiously approach it, opening the book, which reads from right to left. The book is drawings, two per page. Page 1 The Village It is the village square Although much more old-fashioned People are smiling

Children playing The characters are all drawn wearing traditional Japanese clothing The next drawing is of an old woman Who appears to be in the woods Watching the village square from afar She looks normal and wears a white kimono I flicked onto the next page

page 2 The woman is now in the village square conversing with the children The next image they are following her into the woods I turn the page Page 3 Villagers are on their knees pleading to the old woman

No children are in sight The old woman is smiling Her lips now red The next drawing is identical Except the villagers bow to her instead. They are worshipping her. Page 4 The next page, people feasting at a long table.

They look young, although they aren't children. The old lady is watching from afar, smiling. The next drawing is of the same people, but they appear to be much fatter after the apparent feast. Page 5 I turn the page This page has one larger picture The drawing is of the old woman

Biting into one of the people from the feast Behind her the children she had taken Scratched into their chests The symbol They looked sad Frightened I jolt away from the book As I hear a child laughed behind me

A quick, innocent giggle breaks the silence Almost is at the sound with the cause the candles around me all extinguish at once. I plunge into darkness. Shaking, I stare across the room and out toward the staircase. I hold my branch high, ready once more to swing. I slowly walk towards the room's exit and see a child quickly run into my view

before disappearing up the staircase ahead. I edge out the room, my eyes slowly adjusting to the sudden dark. I am at the bottom of the same. staircase now, and turn my head to see where the child has gone, standing tall in the darkness at the top of the staircase. The grandmother. The creature that had chased me into the woods, now looking right at me. Behind her cow is a child wearing a white kimono, his chest exposed, scratched onto his chest, the symbol. He looks frightened, hiding behind the tall legs of the

grandmother as he looks at me. The grandmother appears to be eating something. She's holding something up to her mouth, although I can't see it beyond her large hands. She chews excitedly. The wet sound of her food meeting her lips ring through the otherwise silent house. She stares at me as she eats. The sound of a quick chewing soon stops and she drops a meal. It tumbles down the stairs, violently bouncing off each one on the way down. As it lands by my feet, it lets out a weak cry. It's a baby, carved into its tiny chest. The symbol, I look back up at the grandmother in terror.

Her hands no longer cover her blood-soaked mouth and, instead, stroke the hair of the young boy by her side. I take a step back. To my side, more part. people, young men and women, children, all looking at me. They look sad, frightened, and each of the symbol engraved into their chests. I back away from them as they begin to close in on me. I feel the door behind me and slide it open.

It's the door with the red O. I shut it behind me and turn to see the Nomura family. They wear traditional white kimonos. and are spaced around the walls of the wooden room. The candles in here are lit, two by each family member's feet. The grandfather stands at the far end of the room, staring at me, wide-eyed.

His lips are red, the remnants of blood. I'm unable to speak as I scan the family members, each looking at me, lips red. Psycho holds a plate with small cuts of meat on it. The meat looks to be drizzled with blood. They begin to quietly chant, the same chant I've heard throughout my visit. Psycho steps towards me. With a rush of adrenaline, I hit her as hard as I can with a branch.

It splinters upon impact with the side of her head. She falls fast. The plate of meat clatters against the floor. As I open the door to run, I noticed the rest of the family quickly moving to pick up the meat from the floor, ignoring Psycho. I turned to run But the grandmother stands tall in front of me She puts a cold hand of my head Her large fingers wrap around my skull

She whisper something And I fall unconscious I wake drowsy I lie nude on the wooden floor resting in the centre of a room It is the same room I did psycho with a branch in Father Namaura Wren, Ren, Heena and the Grand

grandfather stand around me. They whisper the chant. I am weak, almost completely unable to move. Father Nomura kneels by my side and draws a short, sharp knife. With a swift, expert-like movement, he grabbed some of my excess fat and cuts it from my stomach. I briefly thrash, but he's already done it. I lie on the ground, disoriented, weak in agonizing pain.

I am unable to properly move my body. My movement after the cut was brief. Father Namoa stands, clutching the cut flesh, and Hina hands him a large Japanese chalice. He holds the meat above the chalice and squeezes it. My blood drips from the flesh and into the cup, some oozing down Father Namora's arm. The chanting continues throughout.

He takes a sip from the chalice before passing it to rent, who does the same. She then passes it to the grandfather, who calmly drinks before moving to kneel by my side. He lifts my head and presses the chalice against my lips, pouring my own blood into my mouth. Too weak to resist his grasp, my desperate coughs are not enough to stop some of the blood

pouring down my throat. He then stands and passes it to Heena, who drinks. They continue to chant. Father Nomura wraps the flesh he had cut from me with a cloth and hands it to Heena Heena leaves the room with the chalice of my blood and the cut of my flesh The family stopped chanting

Almost as soon as this happens I feel unable to move adrenaline hits as Father Nomura kneels by my side to speak to me His face close to mine Finn His voice gruff I whip my elbow into his nose as hard as I can He kneels back

But not before I grab the knife I quickly sit up screaming in pain as the pressure pounds on my wound And I thrust the knife towards whoever is closest to me It cuts through the back Of the grandfather's knee Who screams and collapses backwards I stand up holding the knife

threatening to cut whoever moves next The family stare at me inside me in silence. Even the grandfather chokes back his cries of pain. I leave the room and run upstairs, clutching my stomach to slow the bleeding. The candles are all lit up here. In my state of panic, I grab one and settle out the shrines that are placed throughout the rooms. I don't know if they can exit to all this, but if this family worships them, I definitely don't. In each shrine was a small canister of oil that I was not aware of. This helps the fire,

and it quickly spreads onto the wooden floors. I run to the walkway door. Smoke fills the corridor behind me. Finn! I hear Wren scream from below. She needs young life, please. I ignore her and barge through the door, which, thankfully, is no longer jam-shot.

I cross the walkway, knife in hand. It is still night. I enter the main area. Psycho and Hina are by the table and look up at me in surprise. Psycho is bleeding badly, cut from where I'd hit her. I can tell she is drank from the chalice. Her lips red. I say nothing.

Holding the knife up toward them, I noticed Psycho is holding my flesh in her hand. She holds it above the pot and flame. She is going to cook it. my eyes don't leave either of them and I move toward the shrine in this room the largest one in the house I quickly set it alight as I reached the front door

Hina notices the flames from across the walkway she shouts something at a mother and they both run to help their family I burst through the front door and run into the trees I dart into the woods as the house lights up behind me. I run for no more than a minute

and turn around to see how far I've gone. The dim glow of the fire illuminates through the foggy night, enhancing the shape of the trees around me. I'm not far enough away yet. I turn to run and hear a screech from the house's direction.

It's a long, high-pitched streak, full of anger. I know that doesn't belong to a human. It echoes through the woods, bouncing off the trees around me, ringing in my ears. I keep running. I see children.

To my left, a young boy in a white kimono stands pointing at me from the fog. To my right, a young girl in the same attire point at me from behind a tree. There are soon children all around me. Every few steps I see one

pointing at me from the darkness. They're showing her where I am. They all whisper. The sound of their chant is carried by the wind, quietly reminding me that this is not over yet. Amongst the sound,

a baby's cry comes from deep within the woods. This is too much for me. The whispers of the children, the crying of a baby. I am panicking, yet I continue to run, nude and bleeding,

gripping the very play that caused my wound. I leap over fallen branches, through sharp bushes, and away from the cries and eyes of the dead children. I see light in the distance. I don't know how. This place is a way of turning me around

and myself. But it's the village. I see the town square. It looks as if the entire village has gathered there. Men and women surround a central figure. I realize I have seen no children in the village and I now know why. In the square centre,

standing elevated by its stature Father Namura His voice bellows from his half-bent face As he speaks to the residents of the village A spit flies from his lips Skin slowly drips down his face He is angry And the people appear to heed

And agree with his every word I am behind a tree A row of houses stand between me and the square This is my chance With everyone occupied by Father Namora mora, I can sneak into a house, steal clothes and maybe some money. I pace towards the closest house. Blood drips with every step. The wound has opened up further. Dirt and leaves stick to my body. My blood acts as glue. I open the front door and enter the

house. I see two doors toward the back and assume they are bedrooms. I enter one and sure enough I am right. I find clothes. Ironically, a white kimono. I scrounge together any money or valuables that may help me escape. Blood drips onto the house's floor, and I leave and move onto the next. In the next house, I do the same. I've acquired a decent amount of money, but I'll keep stealing more just in case.

I sneak out the second house, and I'm halfway to the third. when I notice Father Namura point towards the trees a section of the villagers run in that direction disappearing into the tree line Father Namura points in another direction

the same thing villagers move towards the trees he then pointed my direction although he doesn't see me I won't have time to make it to the next house or back to the one I came from I'd be seen I turn and run back into the trees

The villagers have been sent I'm guessing to find me They are faster than me They haven't seen me yet But they will soon I reach the tree line And feel my only option is to hide I'm bleeding too much to outrun them

Coupled with my exhaustion And lack of proper clothing I no longer see the children Or hear the baby's cries I trudge into the woods before seeing a climbable tree nearby. Jumping up to its low-hanging branches, I hoist myself up. I hold back screams as my wound presses against the wood,

my inside's sandpapered. My white kimono soon takes the colour red. I keep climbing. I pull myself up one more branch, just as the villagers end my sight line. I pray that I'm high up enough that they don't notice me. The first few pass without trouble, They look scared, they look guilty, but I know they're not on my side.

I hear a shout from the direction of the village. They definitely found something, either my trail of blood or they've realised I looted their houses. Soon the area around me swarms of villages. Every few minutes one emerges from the fog and passes my tree. Finn! Finn, Ren's voice echoes. Finn, we found your blood and know you're near. I freeze.

She couldn't be more than 40 feet away. She's close to me, somewhere in the fog. Finn, a voice booms, Father Namura's. You must come out to us, Ren shouts. You must let us explain. Father Nomura bellows from beyond the fog, surprising me with his English words. I feel my blood start to drip.

It soaked through the kimono and now drips onto the ground below. I tried to cover it with my hand and move my wound further above the branch so it leaks onto it. Yet it continues to drip down the side of the branch. Someone emerges from the fog as I struggle to stop my blood leaking from the branch's edge. Heena She looks scared, her arms are burnt, yet she shakes in the face. the cold night air. She walks slowly, nervously looking around. I quietly try to contain the dripping, but it continues to steadily drip down. Hina moves under my tree and a drop of blood

falls onto the shoulder of a white kimono. She doesn't realize. She stands under my tree, Another drop lands on her shoulder As she turns to leave A drop on my blood falls in front of her face And slightly clips her nose She looks up slowly And sees me clinging to the branch above She stares at me in disbelief

It feels like it's been minutes We continue to stare at each other She begins to quietly mutter something Under a breath I begin to beg Hina, I She turns her head and shouts loudly In the direction of the village

I have no choice In one quick movement I brandish the knife and push myself off the branch onto the one below before jumping onto Hina She falls to the ground under my weight groaning as we both hit the dirt I feel a warm liquid around my hand oozing from the knife

I've stabbed her The knife cuts into the upper side of of her stomach at an angle that looks like it slid under her ribs. As I let go of the knife, I feel it is stuck in place. She is silent, looking at me in shock. I wonder if I got to her in time. I wonder if Father Nomura heard her yell. Villagers emerge from the trees, followed by Wren.

I am encircled by people. Father Namura soon one of them. My eyes briefly lock with his before he looks down at his daughter that I had just killed. He is frozen. His face slowly turns to one of despair, tears well up in his eyes. He swallows loudly and clenches his jaw.

He does not move. The first villager begins to quietly chant, dropping to his knees as he does so. The rest soon follow, including Wren. Soon the villagers surround me, quietly chanting, bowing down. Father Nomura stands still, staring at his dead daughter. He is yet to move. From behind him.

Movement Children emerged from the fog, the same children who had once been hunted by the grandmother, and who had hunted me earlier tonight. I counted around 15 of them. all huddled together. Two of them approached Hina. The rest watch from the woods.

I move away from her, scurrying in the dirt. The young boy and young girl are the ones I had seen when running. Each grab one of Hina's feet and drag her towards the other children. Father Numeru's eyes follow Hina as she is dragged past him, his head turning so that she doesn't leave his sight. I notice he now whispers that. the same chant as the rest of the village. His whispers are the quietest here.

A tall, foreboding silhouette of the grandmother slowly emerges from behind their children. Hina's body rests in the dirt, her feet out of sight immersed in the fog. As I make out the figure of the grandmother, Heena's body suddenly is jerked deep into the woods, a fast and violent motion that pulls her out of sight completely. The children and the grandmother fade into the night beyond them. I am frozen.

One by one, the villagers stop bowing, stop chanting and leave. Soon, Ren leaves, quietly saying something to her father as she passes. She does not look at me. Father Namura and I are the last two here. He remains standing, still quietly chided. His eyes haven't left a spot where Heena's body lay before it was pulled into the night. I stand and slowly back away from him. His whispers change. I am sorry. I am sorry.

I am sorry. I spent last night by the road. The bus just arrived. I'm almost surprised when I see it. I had been in and out of consciousness so often that I hadn't realized how many days it had been. Upon seeing my bloodstained clothes, the driver asks me what happened.

I ignore him and give him the stolen money before taking my place on the back of the bus. Police soon stopped the bus. I'm guessing the driver contacted them about me. Fair enough. I tell the police everything about the village, the Nemora family, the fire, the grandmother.

Obviously, they don't. don't believe me, and take me away in their car. It's been a few days since I escaped the Namura family. The police tell me they located the burnt remains of the Numera household, but none of the family. They say the villagers tell them that the Namoa family were the richest in the village and that they had taken me in, but have no idea what happened to the house. They deny any acknowledgement of any Yamaoba terrorizing the village. Although I hadn't actually mentioned the grandmother being a Yamaoba

I just told the police that there was a creature who mimicked an old woman I only have just found out what a Yamaoba is and it fits the grandmother's description I fear that even though the Numeras are gone the creature isn't I fear the villagers are still under her control I've tried to call Lexi hundreds of times her number isn't even in service anymore.

I don't know if I'll have another update. Probably not. But as I line hospital go through the photos from my trip last year, I recognise the Nomura family. I see photos of her smiling with them, laughing with them. As I reach the final few photos of her trip,

I see a picture of her with a young boy. He is full of life, smiling as he hugs her, in his white kimono.