Inside My Head- Short Stories.

Whisper.- Part 1.

-"Ouch! O-aw-awouch!!"

I keep rolling down the muddy hill of the forest I came to for a trip.
It's my 18th birthday and I decided to leave the country for a month as a gift.
I went to Japan, quite mainstream if you'd say so, but those thick, green, humid forests; the gorgeous shrines, surrounded by such dense magical air and the perfect pairing of both future and tradition are something irresistible to me.

I chose to come in the very beginning of June, to enjoy the delightful sunny days.

This forest was quite hard to find, I was simply walking around the village when I heard some bells and followed them, and they led me here, where I just stumbled and started rolling down and down into the middle of a small clear space surrounded by a dense wall of trees. The air was soft, but also dark. Something was off.

Ever since I'd arrived, I hadn't seen anything related to bells or animals at all, but now, I feel as if shadows are following my every movement, spying from behind the trees and rocks, waiting to attack.

I slowly stand up, just to notice my ankle is the most injured part of me, and moving it hurts like hell. Of course, the rest of my body is just as scratched and cut as if I was made of pottery, but my ankle is almost unbearable.

Still, in such strange place, I have to find my way out, or somewhere safe to stay the night, until the sun can guide me back to the village again.

I saw some shrine signs around, maybe it's close? Although it should be on higher grounds, I heard how this shrine had a different way to access it, and that you had to go down and then up once again, to the stairs.

I see a bit of red, and the bells ring again, from the direction of the colour I just witnessed, so I make my way, as fast and painlessly as I can, towards it.

The air grows denser. The sun leaves me alone, under the cold gaze of the moon, also making the shadows increase and get closer to fragile me. I find every single piece of strenght and bear with the stinging on my leg and keep walking towards it, luckily being prized with the gaze of the stone stairs and red Tori leading me to safety, hopefully.

Slowly and steadily, step by step. My other leg begins to hurt, having to do all the work alone, but it's no time to rest, the darkness is growing thicker with every second and my panic along with it.

And finally, we're on the top. The shrine is old, and looks abandoned, not good news for me. But there's a light inside, that tells me that hope shall not be lost, not yet.
I scream, praying to whichever god the shrine belongs to:
-"Someone?!"

And a rustle is heard from the inside, a man peaks out of the front door with an unsteady face.

His hair is black and all messed up, I must've woke him up; his clothes, a white robe with grey, black and red sewing on the edges, aren't correctly put, showing a part of his chest and shoulder. The black belt supposed to keep it all together looks seconds away of falling to the floor, just about to make the situation a bit more stranger than it is. His piercing green eyes stop my thinking and staring, just as he speaks with thick oriental accent on his deep voice:
-"Are you done analizing me yet?"

I rush to the door, trying to hide my embarrassment.

-"Sorry sir, I didn't mean to..."- I look back, at the darkness menacing me and remember why I am here, everyting aching again. -"I didn't mean to wake you up, but please, please,"- I plead to him with hands together, ready to stand on my scratched and bleeding knees. -"let me stay the rest of the night."

He looks at me, at my torn clothes, my dirtied up hair, and I suppose he notices my missing shoe.
He sighs, with a tired face and relaxes his posture a bit.
-"Come in, I can't deny Ari's offering after all..."