And Who Knew?

So . . . What Was That About?

"Quick question, do you make food for others? That looks good." I asked, as Arthur stuffed his face with the chicken.

"Hell no. Make it yourself." He said, moving the plate closer to him. the aroma was mouthwatering.

"PLEASEEE?" he defiantly stuffed his face. I gave up. I haven't eaten since I got here, which was about four days ago, not counting this morning. I've had all the water I could want, but no food.

"Do you even know where the food is?" I shook my head.

"Come down around eight. You could pick whatever the hell you want, food will be there. But if you want to eat before then, raid the kitchen. Just don't try to open the locked vent." He stuffed his mouth again.

"Alright." I completely missed my hour because I slept in. It's around nine right now. Besides, what's the point? I'm a missing person on the news. Might as well not go spotted. Po's slowly cracked the brief silence. Not five seconds later, Takai came into view, more of a giant than ever. She wasn't even trying to be sluggish. She stomped out of the hotel in a matter of seven steps. Each step was huge. Frickin' giant.

"Ooh, look. It's your girlfriend." I punched Artur square in the arm. He sulked. This guy was definitely wasted. I glanced back at to where I saw her.

So . . . What was that about? I looked around boredly. Along with me and Arthur, there was Kuchisake and a large octopus in a basin of water in the corner, there were not many people.

"How come it's so empty all the time?" I asked.

"Well think about it. Japanese urban legends largely add beasts into the mix. beasts or girls. so the animals are off doing their own thing. You should be greatful you have yet to see a fish with the head of a woman!" He gruffed.

"Oh . . . Never really studied Japanese folklore"

"As a matter of fact, who does?" Takai came stomping through the hotel, dragging a small child by his hair. He couldn't have been more than six, and he was understandably a sobbing mess.  The child screamed and flailed but Takai just stared out into face, as if the child was just a limp doll.

"Holy shit!" I jumped, my heart lodged in my throat. 

"Get a grip." Arthur calmly stabbed a piece of chicken.

"Around your throat? What the hell just happened."

"It's in her nature. There's nothing you can do about it. Just send condolences to the kid and move on. " I opened my mouth to speak, but he interrupted me.

"Look, you hurt your wife, She hurts kids. See how that resentment works? As soon as you're triggered, you don't think about it until it's already dead and over with. But does smashing your wife's wrist make you an abuser? Does having impulses that other people gave Hachishaku make her a bad apparition?" Even when he was drunk, he was still able to beat some reason into me. And all it took was a few justified words.

"You just had to bring up my wife, huh . . . Wait, how did you know?"

"Kokuriiiii" He kind of giggled, slugging another drink. Yup. He's wasted.

"Alright,  buddy, I think a glass of water is in order." I took the drink from his hands and went to the sink to fetch him some water. He drank obediently. What are buds for?

~

I was feeling peckish. I lost my appetite after seeing Arthur throw up. You could mistake this guy for a human, I swear. But not only that . . . 

"EEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHgggg...." a scream followed by a few gurgles. I flinched. Whatever was going on in my room, it couldn't be pretty. Takai hasn't emerged once and Kuchisake was poking at the table like the pattern suddenly became hypnotic. I watched her intently out of pure boredom. Another scream. A few gurgles. She flinched, gave a quick glance, then picked at her fingernails. 

"I'm going to go chill in my car." 

"Yeah, you go do that." Arthur said dryly. I speed walked to my car and scrambled inside. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. I ran my fingers through my hair.

hair.

brown.

doppelganger. Right. What was up with that doppelganger? You think that if I asked her, I would get an answer?

I sighed, leaned my seat back, and took a nap.

tap tap tap tap tap

Well, I tried to, at least. I peeded one eye open.

I couldn't hear anything, and my stomach ran cold.

There was a woman who looked like Kuchisake. She had no mouth and it looked like a wooden mask was growing on her face. Like you could tap your knuckles against it. She didn't have a chin or a nose, only two bloodshot eyes. and they were looking directly at me, quivering ever so slightly. Suddenly, the wood cracked, and she screamed. 

"HOLY SH-" I jumped back and hit my head against the roof of my car. I rubbed my head and glanced up. She was gone. I should have been relieved, but I was still terrified. The back of my throat clenched and it felt like I was suffocating. I gulped a bit before taking my water bottle out of the cup holder in the door. I didn't hesitate to chug half of it down. The clenched feeling didn't leave. I sat in silence for a few moments, just trying to get my shit together. When I finally calmed down I turned away from the window and faced the steering wheel. I grabbed my phone hoping a few stupid videos would calm me down. It was 7:26, so instead, I decided to order take out. I still had a bit of money and despite me being labeled as a missing person, I still got my latest pay check. All the money that was in mine and April's joint account, including the couple thousand dollars that we have saved,I had cashed out at an ATM. Well, before my credit card says suspended due to suspicion. I ran my fingers through my hair and put the key in her engine. Vrrrrm. 

That's when I noticed something abnormal in my field of vision. I slowly turned my head.

That thing was in the passenger seat of the car, and it was staring right at me.

I took a deep breath and smiled.

"What the FUCK are you doing at my hotel?" Even though my voice quivered, and even though I was paralyzed, something inside of me just... Snapped.