𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃 || 𝐊.𝐍𝐉

𝟷 | 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 ☽

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"Did you hear what happened last night?" Two girls stand in front of me in line at the store. They're dressed in their high school uniforms. Most students would already be at home by now.

"No, I was binging Attack on Titan again. What happened this time?" The other girl questions curiously, chewing on a red twizzler. She puts her items on the counter and fishes out her money.

"The beast came back," the other girl freezes for a moment, and the older, male cashier even stills.

"Seriously?" The cashier asks with unease.

"Yeah," the girl turns her attention to him. "The news report said he came back for blood. A body was found yesterday on the bay. His throat was ripped out-"

"Ugh, that's nasty," the older cashier waves his hands in front of him. "I can't stand anything gory." He looks pale already.

"Your loss," she shrugs. "It's pretty interesting actually... I mean, he's supposed to be an urban legend, right? He's been around since like what? Since our grandparents were kids? It's fascinating." The girl's friend scoffs at her.

"What's fascinating about someone having their throat ripped out? Nah, I'm not about that. I'll lock myself up in my room with a lifetime supply of ramen noodles and watch anime until the day I die. You won't catch me sticking my nose into others' business where it doesn't belong." They quickly pay for their items and leave the small store while still talking about the news.

I step up, placing the bottles of water and a few packs of spicy noodles on the counter.

"You don't believe in that stuff, do you?" The cashier asks with worry in his eyes while scanning my items.

Pulling back my black hoodie, I look at him. "What's there to believe in?" I ask, placing the appropriate amount of cash on the counter. "It's just someone trying to stir up what's been dead for years. If you ask me, it's some sicko trying to make people scared again. Now can I please get my stuff? I'm in a hurry."

He jumps from my tone but doesn't waste any more time talking about it. He quickly puts my things in a plastic bag and hands them to me.

Without wasting another second, I turn to leave but suddenly see the heavy rain pouring down from outside.

"You have to be joking," I groan while pulling my hoodie back over my head.

Taking a deep breath, I quickly open the store door and start running into the rain.

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I wait for an hour and a half underneath the bus stop. It's late by now, and I want nothing more than to get back to my apartment.

The rain hasn't let up once. I was drenched from head to toe once making it here. I had to run for a while because this bus, like every other, has a designated area, and this ride takes me home. So I had to run up wet steps, down some streets, and I finally made it here to this isolated area.

Luckily, my clothes have dried a little. Now I'm freezing.

I sit on a black bench underneath the bus stop shelter, shielding myself from the heavy rain. I'm the only person here. There's only a single street light next to me and dark trees surround the whole area. If I wasn't so used to the dark, then I would be terrified.

It's the last bus stop today, and if I don't get on, I'll get a ticket for sure if patrols come by.

This city is nothing like it used to be. I live in Japan, specifically in Tokyo. I always knew living in a big place would be a little difficult, and surely, I was right.