Chapter 21: Arrival at Akita
“Are you alright, dear?”
The voice startled Yurika. A woman in her late thirties stood beside her seat, worry etched across her face. Around them, other passengers glanced over, their expressions uneasy—almost as if they had seen Yurika like this before.
“What… happened?” Yurika asked, lifting her head.
The woman hesitated before replying. “You were shaking. Sweating. You kept murmuring something under your breath. Some of us got concerned, so we decided to check on you.”
Yurika’s heart skipped. She almost denied it—almost insisted nothing had happened—but the memory of the nightmare still clung to her mind like fog.
“I just had a bad dream,” she said quietly. “That’s probably all.”
“If that’s the case…” the woman said gently, though her worry did not fade, “I hope you feel better soon.” She returned to her seat, though she glanced back once more.
Yurika covered her ears, pressing her palms hard against her head.
I can’t even think. I can’t process what I just saw…
Hours passed in silence. She stared out the bus window, watching the scenery blur by while her thoughts refused to settle. Then, nearly seven hours later, the bus finally slowed.
Akita.
Mountains rose in the distance, their dark outlines cutting through the night sky. Small villages lay scattered below, lights glowing softly like distant stars.
Yurika stepped off the bus and inhaled deeply. The air was cold—pure—nothing like the city. Nature surrounded her, quiet and vast.
“Excuse me…” she said, approaching a man nearby. “Do you know where this address is?”
He studied it briefly. “Ah. That should be in Minikita Village. About two miles north from here.”
“Thank you,” Yurika replied.
She began walking.
As she moved forward, a strange feeling crept over her. Every step felt familiar—too familiar.
Have I been here before…?
She shook her head. Déjà vu.
The cold night air brushed against her skin as she continued onward. Nearly two hours later, dim lights appeared ahead.
Minikita Village.
“Finally…” Yurika whispered in relief.
She searched the houses carefully, comparing addresses until she stopped in front of an old home. The structure was worn, its paint faded—but there were signs of life.
This was it.
She stepped forward and knocked.
“Hello? Is anyone home?”
The door creaked open slowly.
An elderly woman stood there, frozen in shock.
YOU ARE READING
My Knife Pointing At Your Heart
Mystery / ThrillerA Girl desperately seeks the attention of her crush, willing to do anything to make him notice her. But in her pursuit, she stumbles into the tangled lives of those around her, uncovering secrets she was never meant to find. As she delves deeper, sh...
