Black Smoke

Window Sill

It had been over a year now since you first started seeing her. At first it was easy to brush off the moving shadows and uneasy feelings but as it became more and more frequent you felt compelled to investigate the disruptions. After a few months of nightly observation of your bedroom window you started to see it. In the beginning it was just a distant eye faintly gleaming in the moonlight, however you'd slowly piece her together.

    A ghostly form that seemed to obey no immediate shape, sharp outstretched claws, fangs that seemed to be constantly bearing. Her glowing eye, something that seemingly always stuck in your mind. The once unknown eye became familiar as you started to observe her faintly outside of your window almost nightly.  As months went by the companion's eye felt more and more comforting, like a guardian angel. It was nothing short of odd, at first the experiences were so frightening but as you observed your new companion more it started invoking a calm and borderline nostalgic feeling.

     Tonight was different, you awoke to a sharp tap on your bedroom window. There was no mistaking the girl's shadow and her sharp claw continued to slowly tap onto the thin glass of your window. The moonlight shadow poured through revealing how long her claws truly were, the shadow casted over your bedroom floor and completely covered the bed you lay in. Despite all the unknowns rushing in your head you pressed forward, out of bed and to your window sill. As you peered towards the glass she was gone, all you could make out was a black haired boy sauntering home from a few houses away.

      You forcefully laid back into bed and played off the experience as your tired eyes deceiving you. Not even the shocking sight could keep you from falling back asleep. Yet again, your eyes darted open but this time to the sound of your alarm. Halfheartedly you got ready for the day as nagging questions came to your mind. It felt like the only thing you could think about was the prior night, so close to fully seeing the ghost.

     All you wanted was to see her, to have tangible proof that this wasn't all in your mind. Your day flew by and as you left and again arrived home but your thoughts stayed the same, who was she and what was she? Once again time rushed by you before you knew it, you were utterly lost in thought, fully obsessed. Arriving at your bed it was almost impossible to not let imagination run wild, what did this creature want with you?

     Just like the night before your eyes closed on their own and reopened as you awoke to another tap. Slow tapping beckoned you to the window once again and as you approached the creature it's shadowy figure began to undo. The smokey and transparent form began to cling to the center, shaping the height and limbs of a younger woman. The girl formed hair, complexion, and a small sundress. Her dark hair laid perfectly over her frail shoulders and the girl's pale skin perfectly contrasted a little black dress.

    She was beautiful, like a siren luring her victims to the waves below. Without words she called to you, the girl's dark brown eyes pulled you deeper and deeper into them. Slowly pushing open the window the young woman disappeared entirely once again. Looking down at the window sill you saw a small piece of bone, akin to something a bird or cat would drop off as a gift. 

     After another restless night of dreams you decided to take the day to rest and relax. After a hot shower, breakfast, reading a few chapters of your favorite book, lunch, and a nap your mind still wandered to the girl from last night. Maybe getting some exercise and sun could distract the nagging in your mind. A convenient intermediate hiking trail wasn't too far from your house so the idea seemed perfect. You figured if you left now you could get home before it was dark out, so you grabbed a water bottle and walked to the trail head.
     
     It was a truly beautiful day outside, the warm sunshine paired perfectly with the cool breeze and helped refresh your body and mind. The trail was lined with trees providing large spots of shade and as the path thinned the greenery began to overgrow it, coating the ground in dark and light hues of green. Getting lost in following the majesty of green you began to feel the sore ache of your legs as they beckoned you to take a break, you obliged. As you took in the scenery your eyes went to the sky providing you with orange, red, purple, and blue vibrant patterns. A perfect sunset.

    Sunset, the word repeated in your mind. The sunset, the sun was setting, and quickly. It was time to head back home but as you turned to head back down the trail you looked down to only foliage, the trail was gone. You were lost, you tried to grasp the surroundings but as you glanced down at what used to be the trail all you could see was greenery. Before you could turn to look behind you a hand gripped the collar of your shirt.
    
     The hand yanked you into the forestry trees and you swiftly screamed for help. Thrashing around the grasp of the unknown arm that dragged you gave you glimpses of another ghostly figure, this one much smaller yet sinister. Sustaining painful scrapes, cuts, and bruises your motion abruptly halted. The grasp on your shirt collar disappeared followed by the thud of something falling behind you.

     As you turned to the expectedly fearful scene behind you it was beyond belief. The ghost stood before you, what it had of an arm now lay on the ground beside it. A younger boy stood behind the apparition and with a quick draw of the sword he held beside him the ghost's head was sliced off, leaving it to dissipate into a thin black smoke. The black haired boy stood quite tall and as he turned to you his dark blue eyes and apparent dark circles comforted you.

"I apologize for meeting you like this, are you hurt?" The boy stepped closer to you offering his hand.

     The startling event left your legs shaking and your mind rattled. You slowly extended your arm to grasp the boy's hand. He boosted you up and held you at his side to support your weight.

"Try to breathe with me." The stranger said.

     After a few deep breaths you tried to formulate a response. It took a little bit of time but eventually you spoke to the man.

"I'll be okay but, why did you help and how did y-?" You tried to question before the boy replied.

"First allow me to introduce myself, you can call me Yuta Okkotsu." Yuta mused.

"It's part of my work to save people. Let me ask, does it hurt to walk?"

     You tried to take a few steps but after walking around all afternoon and what had just transpired it made moving your legs difficult and uncomfortable. Yuta quickly made note of your discomfort as he held you.

"Not a Problem, we can talk while I carry you home." He said.