Angela
October, 26, 2007. 3:06 a.m. Lights are off. In bed next to Josh. Sejong’s on the bed next to us and Janelle is sleeping on the couch. Got my butt up against Josh’s and my DS clenched in my grubby, sexy, naughty little hands. Come on… Come on… Please be shiny. Crack. Crack. Crack. And! Another normal Turtwig. Aight. Into the boxes with all the others. Maybe egg #1,458 will be the one. I’m hungry… like… real hungry. I knew I should’ve had that last pizza slice, but noooo. Josh just had to sneak the last slice out from under me… If I cut him open, will the slice still be intact?
Intrusive thoughts are wild sometimes. I don’t even think I could slice through that belly if I wanted to. The knife would probably bounce harmlessly off his abs if I ever tried anything. I want to get the slice from the fridge… but my legs don’t wanna move… neeegh.
bzzt bzzt bzzt bzzt
My butt’s vibrating, and not in a fun way. Who the hell is calling this late? I fish my phone out of my jeans and check the caller… It’s mom. Welp. Putting that on silent and getting pizza now.
Just as I step out of bed, Sejong begins to writhe in his sleep. He starts groaning. Sometimes in English. Sometimes in Korean. Sometimes in a bastard chimera of the two. I can barely see in the dark, but I can see a mass of limbs shoot out from her chest. The shape changes every second, but it’s growing. Limbs of all kinds morph out of the mass. Some human arms, some spider legs, a tentacle or two. I’m sure I even saw some huge bat wings and the outline of a duck at one point. Various ends of the mass flail weakly against the ceiling and quietly gushes out all over the bed, sending her pillows and blankets flying all over the room. I don’t know what I’m looking at, but I really want to. I bet it’s hot. Just as I move to hit the lamp, something presses against my face. It’s big, wet, and pulsing. I can’t see what it is, but it feels rough… and warm… and barbed... and could probably knock me out with one hit. Just as I run my hand up it, it morphs into something else and retreats back into Sejong.
“AH!” Sejong shoots awake. Her hands are cradling her face and she’s shaking uncontrollably.
Janelle and Josh are still asleep. Luckyass heavy sleepers. “Hey…” I bend down and whisper to Sejong. “Are you okay?”
“Angela?!” Sejong flinches, but still forces a whisper. “How… how much did you see?”
“I dunno.” I pat Sejong on the head. “But the lights were off, so don’t worry.”
“I’m so sorry…” Sejong curls into a ball and buries her face in her knees. “So, so sorry.”
“What for?”
“For you seeing that… I struggle maintaining a form while I sleep…”
“Aaah don’t worry about it.” I continue patting her head. I’m sure this will make her feel better eventually. Least I hope so. Hard to tell sometimes. “I wish I saw more though.”
“... What?” Sejong looks up at me. I can’t see her face, but I can see the silhouette of tendrils and antennae peeling and dripping off her chin. “Why?! HOW?!”
“Spooky stuff is cool, bruh.”
A muted, pained laughter escapes Sejong. “So I’m spooky, huh?”
“Yeah, but in a good way. Imagine if The Thing was directed in stop motion by Tim Burton. That’s what that form reminded me of.”
I hear Sejong snivel. “Thank you, Angela… you’re too kind.”
“If you don’t want to risk the other two seeing you like that the rest of the night, do you want to just sleep in the tub? It’s comfier than it looks.”
Sejong nods. “I think that’s wise… thank you, Angela.”
Jimmy
October, 26, 2007. 3:21 a.m. Hideout. Putting a 500 piece puzzle together with Sejong on the kitchen table while Doc catches up on her soaps on the living room couch. I’m about 150 pieces in. It’s this super adorable picture of a bundle of kittens playing with a big yarn ball. We have all the edge pieces done, so that’s nice, but I am not looking forward to the yarn ball. Seriously, the damned thing’s like a third of the picture. That’s just cruel. Sejong’s been super quiet this whole day. Like, more than usual quiet. Not sure what’s up with him. “Yo, Sejong. You cool, dude?”
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?” He replies without even looking up.
“You just seemed kinda quiet today, that’s all.”
“It’s because I have nothing to say. Simple as that.” he clicks a piece into place.
“You don’t miss the team at Aegis, do ya?”
Sejong nearly snaps the piece he’s holding in half and looks up at me. “Don’t you dare insinuate tha-”
“Quiet.” Doc raises her hand with her eyes still glued to the tv. “Deborah’s twin sister just woke up from a coma.”
Sejong sighs and grows big titties. “Don’t ask about them.”
“Alright alright.” I shrug and continue doing my thing. “So… uh… you just feel like having titties now?”
“Yes. Are you complaining?” Sejong still doesn’t look up.
Before I can reply, Junko materializes in the chair between us. “Are you, Jimmy?”
“Course not.” My heart nearly gives out as I ruffle Junko’s lavish hair. “Your ghost titties are all I need. How was You? She didn’t try to pull anything, did she?”
“Not at all.” Junko smiles weakly. “She is a sweetheart.”
“Yeah, till she impales ya with a stop sign…” I scratch my chest.
“About that.” Junko looks down at the puzzle and starts helping us piece the puzzle together. “she told me to tell you ‘Sorry about the impaling thing… I kinda panicked, but in all fairness, you left me no choice.”
“You know what? That’s fair. I can respect an honest apology.” I slap a piece into place and complete the image of a white kitten lying on its back. “What’d you two talk about? Girly secrets?”
“I told her about my death.”
“Oh… That… That’s good.” Sejong’s lips curl into a smile. “How’d she take that?”
“She nearly vomited twice.”
“Good…” Sejong lets out a cruel chuckle. “Let the guilt set in… Anything else?”
“She just said thank you for the information.” The love of my life shakes her head. “I could not tell if she intends to do anything about it, so we’ll see.”
“Damn…” Sejong completes a kitten and sets it aside. “It’s still a start… where’re the little bastards right now anyway?”
“They’re in a hotel in Utah. I overheard some of the students talk about stopping a bombing plot in Chicago on Halloween.”
Doc pauses her soap opera and faces us. “Interesting… This could be quite a lucrative opportunity. It’s time to wake up Oliver.”
Suzy
October 25, 2007. 6:12 a.m. My office. Team Lovers and Familia are all packed up and ready to go. Well, perhaps ready is a bit of an overstatement. Half of them look ready to pass out. “Okay. I’m pissed. This is getting just a tad too convenient. Everyone remembers leaving for Chicago yesterday, right?”
“Yep.” my students all respond sounding like they’re about to die.
“Good. Okay, that’s it. This whole time rewinding shenanigan is starting to seem targeted to piss us off. I’m blaming Doc.”
“Do you have any evidence of that?” Will asks.
“No, but it’s a good start. Did you see or hear anything suspicious while you were with them?”
“Well.” Will yawns. “There was a whole closet of suspicious stuff, but nothing that looked like a time machine.”
“I’m going to get to the bottom of this… Have fun driving up there again.”
“Not it.” Will tosses the keys to A.D.
“Not it.” Yuko and Vivian shout in unison.
“Fine…” A.D. sighs and begins to walk off.
“Hey… Janelle. Buddy, pal.” Josh puts his hand on Janelle’s bedhead. “Can you drive?”
“Why?”
“I… just don’t feel like it.”
“If you say so…” Janelle sighs. “Already drove us once I suppose.”
Oliver
October, 26, 2007. 1:12 p.m. Halfway through the state of Kansas. I am reclining in what the kids call the shotgun seat. Sejong has been driving for well over ten hours at this point, but looks happy to just be out of a safe house. Jimmy is sitting behind me whispering something to Junko while Doc is sleeping peacefully behind Sejong, almost like an elderly opossum exhausted after a long day of being milked.
“Is anyone aware of Kansas’ motto?” I ask.
Sejong stays quiet and shakes her head.
Jimmy tilts his head. “No, actually. What is it?”
“Ad astra per aspera.” I point to the ceiling. “That’s Latin for ‘To the stars through difficulties’.”
“Ah,” Jimmy nods. “That sounds pretty cool. I was not aware of that.”
“Always an opportunity to expand your mind and widen your knowledge.” I look back to Sejong. “Do you know a nickname for Kansas?”
“No, and I do not care.” Sejong wipes her nose and keeps her eyes on the road.
“Young lady, you do not speak to your elders like that.”
“I’m two weeks younger than you.” Sejong replies like the child she is.
“Thank you for affirming that you are younger than me. What is troubling you? Why have you been so surly as of late?”
“I’m not surly. You’re just imagining things.”
“Nah.” Jimmy interrupts. “I’m pretty sure you’ve been a bitch ever since you got back from your infiltration mission. What’s going on?”
“Yes, Sejong.” Doc speaks without opening her eyes. “Is there something I should know about?”
Sejong’s back straightens immediately. “No, Miss Doc. Jimmy’s just reading too deep into things, as usual.”
“Pull over.”
“What? Why?” Sejong glances in the rearview mirror.
“Are you questioning me?”
Sejong pauses and begins to pull over. “No, ma’am. Sorry for giving you that idea.” she pulls right onto a dirt road and stops the car.
“Get out of the car.” Doc demands without raising her voice.
“Yes, ma’am.” Sejong unhooks her seatbelt and gets out immediately. She even goes around and opens Doc’s door for her.
“Good, Sejong.” Doc unhooks her seatbelt, steps out, closes the door behind her, and walks Sejong out about twenty paces away from the vehicle.
“Ooooh dis gun be gud.” Jimmy rubs his hands and presses his face against the window to watch.
“Indeed.” I follow suit. “Bring out the vegetable chips.”
“Sorry… can’t do that. I ate them all.”
“I thought you hated those?”
“Me too.” Jimmy picks some chip residue out of his teeth. “They kinda just get better the more you eat them. Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I am glad I was able to convert you. Is there still hummus at least?”
“Hell yeah. Let me open that for you.” Jimmy bends down, scoops up a closed jar of hummus from the car floor, and pops it open for me in one clean twist. “Here you are.”
“Thank you, gentleman.” I take the jar and begin licking hummus out of it. “Now the opera begins...”
Sejong
October, 26, 2007. 1:28 p.m. On the side of the road in the middle of Nowhere, Kansas. I am currently looking at Doc. She has that same smile she always has. That same warm, unchanging smile.
“Are you okay?” she rubs my shoulder. “If there’s anything troubling you, you know you can just talk to me about it. I am certified.”
Her touch is warm, yet my spine shutters. “I appreciate your concern, but really-” I let her hand stay on my shoulder. “I’m fine. Just all the dust in this air is driving my allergies crazy.”
“Oh, I see.” her smile widens momentarily and her grip on me increases ever so slightly. “Why didn’t you say that earlier then?”
“... I already told Jimmy that. Figured he wasn’t going to listen regardless.”
“I see. I see.” Doc nods. “Do we need to stop somewhere and pick you up some medicine?” she brushes my bangs out of the way and presses her palm against my forehead. “Are you sure it’s even allergies? It could always be an onset of a cold.”
My heart nearly stops. Don’t. Stop. Breathing. Don’t shake. Don’t move. Just keep smiling. “It could be. Might as well pick up something just to be safe.”
“Then we’ll do just that.” Doc slides her hand up my head and ruffles my hair. “I would hate for anything to happen to you.”
“Thank you…” I exhale through my nose. “I greatly appreciate your concern.”
“And I appreciate your manners.” she relinquishes her hand from my head. “Let us go back to the car. Our team is waiting for us.”
Josh
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
October 26, 2007. 2:57 p.m. Yaaaawn…. I wake up in the shotgun seat and see we’re almost at a state checkpoint. Janelle’s driving. Angela and Sejong are discussing… perverted topics in the backseat. I must have learned at least five new terms just by listening to them for two minutes. Oh… she’s describing a commission to him. Fantastic. Something about… un-birthing. I’m going to check out of their conversation now. If it’s anything like it sounds, I might just vom on the dashboard.
I rub my eyes and peer over to the border checkpoint coming up the road. Can barely make out the text. “Uh… Janelle?”
“Yes?” She sighs.
“What state are we entering?”
“Nebraska. Why?”
“The hell?! Why does Nebraska have a border checkpoint?!”
“I dunno.” Angela shrugs. “Maybe they just have nothing better to do.”
“Crap! I gotta hide!” I immediately unbuckle my seatbelt and begin crawling to the trunk through the backseat. I stomp on Sejong’s foot and knee Angela in the stomach on the way. “Sorry!”
“Ack!” Sejong cradles her foot. “Josh! What the hell are you doing?!”
“I gotta hide! I’m not allowed back in Nebraska!” I slide over the seats and shuffle my upper body into the trunk. There’s an assortment of backpacks, pillows, and blankets in there. That’ll do just fine. I dive into the blankets’ and pillows’ plush embrace and begin burrowing under them.
“What?!” Janelle raises her voice and slows down the car slightly. “Why didn’t you tell us that before?!”
“I didn’t know we were driving through Nebraska!”
“Why wouldn’t we?! It’s on the way!” Everyone yells at me.
“Because I forgot my central U.S. geography okay?! I thought Nebraska was above the Dakotas!”
“Josh!” Angela laughs. “You dumbass!”
“Ssh! Don’t say anything. Just act cool.” I shush them before I finish burying myself under the blankets. I lie as flat as I can on my stomach and press my cheek against the trunk’s floor. “How’s it look?”
“Messy, but I can’t tell anyone’s under there.” Sejong assures me.
“They’re going to catch you and vore you alive.” Angela snickers.
“Angie, I love you, but now is not the time!”
“Everyone shut up!” Janelle yells before she pulls up next to the check kiosk half a minute later. “Hello, officer.”
“Anything to declare, ma’am?” the pig asks. “Any narcotics, perishable meats, animals?”
“Nope.” Janelle responds.
“What brings you to Nebraska?”
“Oh, we’re just on our way to Chicago. Pardon me for a moment. Here, I believe this should explain everything.” It sounds like Janelle’s unfolding some paper.
“Eh?” the officer’s tone shifts. “Oooh you’re Aegis students. Fancy that. My sister actually applied to the school a while back.”
“Really? Did she get in?”
“Unfortunately, no. She was real broken up about it, but just became a local state hero. She goes by Corn-chan. If you’re ever in Lincoln and you see her, tell her her bro says hi.”
“How will we know she’s Corn-chan?”
“Ohohoho.” The pig laughs. “You’ll know her when you see her. She’s quite a character.”
“Will do.” Janelle folds the paper again. “Why did she not get in?”
“Couldn’t pass the entrance exam. Said her corn powers were useless on an island without good soil.”
“Ooh… yeah that does sound unfair. Sorry.”
“Eh, don’t worry about it. Alright, heroes. You be on your way.” he taps the roof of the car and sends us on our way.
“Hey,” Angela speaks up. “If you don’t mind me asking, why’s there a checkpoint here? There wasn’t one last time I drove down this road.”
“Oh, that? People have been sneaking alien eggs through our great state lately.”
“The heck? How?”
“I dunno the finer details, but a lot of aliens drop off their eggs here. I think corn is a big part of their diet or somethin’.”
“But why would people smuggle eggs?”
“I heard all sorts of rumors. Some say it's for food, some say some weird scientists want them for research. My personal theory is that the government’s trying to create some unholy human-alien hybrid soldier.”
“Haha…” Janelle laughs. “Wouldn’t put it past them.”
“Thank you. Finally someone understands.” The officer pats the top of the car. “Alright, little lady. You’re free to go. Enjoy the Cornhusker State.”
“Will do. Thank you.” Janelle says before speeding away.
I wait for about two minutes before speaking up. “Can I come out now?”
“Yes.” Janelle says. “We’re away from the checkpoint.”
“Aw hell yeah.” I rise and shine out of the blanket cocoon.
“What can’t you enter Nebraska?” Sejong turns to me.
“I got caught selling some neo-weed with Faust a while back. Barely managed to make it out.” I roll up my sleeve and show off my badass shoulder scar. “Nebraskans have real good aim. Some grandpa with a bolt action rifle nicked me while we were speeding off.”
“Josh!” Janelle raises her voice. “What the hell’s wrong with you?! I had to treat patients who overdosed on that stuff.”
“Not my problem.” I shrug. “They shouldn’t have od’d. Consenting adults can smoke whatever they want.”
“Hold up.” Angela raises her finger. “The hell’s neo-weed?”
“Imagine weed, but weedier. Weed 2, so to speak.”
“Aah…” Angela smiles with her pomeranian eyes. “You got any on you right now?”
“No.” Janelle reaches over and slaps Angela. “No getting high on duty.”
“I mean… not on me, but I know a guy here. Could probably hook us up. Got a bunch of other people in Chicago too.”
“Josh.” Janelle points at me while keeping her eyes planted on the road. “No. Drugs.”
“Alright, mom.” I roll my eyes.
Janelle stops suddenly and I go flying over the backseat and bonk my head against the ac console. “Ah… aight… you know what? I’ll give you that one.”
Angela bursts out laughing.
“Are you okay?” Sejong rubs the back of my head.
“Yeah…”
“Put on your seatbelt.” Janelle demands.
“Yeah yeah…” I crawl off the backseat, get back into the shotgun seat, and put my seatbelt on. “You could really use some neo-weed. You’re so stressed all the time.”
“I’m stressed because my teammate is a criminal. I refuse to become an accessory.”
“Ah, don’t you worry. I’m no snitch.”
“It’s true.” Angela affirms. “He’s never ratted me out once.”
“That’s not the pro-” Janelle pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs. “Never mind.”
bzzt bzzt bzzt bzzt Angela’s butt begins to vibrate.
“Angie, please tell me that’s your phone.”
“Duh,” Angela fishes her phone out her side pocket. “The heck you think it was?”
“Feminine secrets.”
Angela opens her phone and reads something. “Ey yo, Team Lovers wants to camp out in Nebraska tonight. We good on that?”
“I’m down. Where at?”
“Ah, somewhere. I dunno the address, but I’m sure we can figure it out.”
“That sounds nice… I’ve always wanted to go stargazing.” Janelle smiles for the first time all day.
Vivian
October, 26, 2007. 5:02 p.m. Camping site in the middle of Nebraska.
Green green green. Nothing but a bunch of green everywhere. There’s a pristine river flowing into god knows where and patches of flowers and trees all through the field. It seriously feels like I just walked into some landscape painting. I never knew nature could be this vibrant; always thought all those ‘Come to Nebraska’ ads were photoshopped, but no. It’s just really like that. Good.
Damn… the sun’s just starting to go down… “Guys! Come on. We need a picture.”
“Agreed.” Will stares out into the sunset. “This land must be remembered.”
“I’m down.” A.D. nods. “Where should we face? Any place in particular look good?”
“I… actually haven’t thought of that. Never really taken a group photo before.” I fiddle with the camera in my hands trying to see which button takes a picture.
“Then where did you get that camera?” Yuko yawns.
“My mom bought it for me as a graduation gift. She said ‘Here. Now you have zero excuse to not take pictures’.”
“Hmm…” Will makes a small frame with his fingers and scans over the landscape. “Here.” he points out to the top of a hill overlooking the plateau. “That should be a great spot for a photo.”
“Sounds good. Race you all there?” I look at Yuko.
Will and A.D. immediately accept the invitation and begin sprinting off to the hill like a couple of grade-schoolers.
“I’m not running.” She crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow.
“Aww… Can’t blame a girl for trying, can you?”
“I appreciate the hustle.” Yuko smiles, takes my hand, and leads me to the hill. “C’mon. We need to get a photo before the sun starts to set.”
“Right.” I follow Yuko and meet A.D. and Will at the top of the hill. They’re arguing.
“Nuh uh.” A.D. shakes his head. “I totally beat you.”
“Lying’s a sin, A.D.” Will laughs and waggles his finger. “And there ain’t no greater lie than lyin’ to yourself.”
“Darling, darling.” Yuko puts her hands on both their shoulders. “You’re both losers. Just hurry up and get in the frame.”
“Of course.” Will and A.D. agree and get into frame in front of me and Yuko and bend down on one knee.
“Give me the camera.” Yuko insists. “I can take it.”
“If you say so.” I hand her the camera.
Yuko takes the camera, walks away, and points it at us. “Aight, everyone smile.”
“What? No, Yuko. You’re supposed to be in the picture with us.”
“Just chill. We can get a better photo this way.”
“Nuh uh. Wrong. It won’t be as good without you in it.”
“I don’t want to get in. Just let me take the photo.”
“Why?”
Yuko raises her voice. “I just don’t, okay?”
“Please? It’d make me really happy.” I shoot her the best puppy dog eyes I can.
Yuko stands still before stomping her foot and groaning. “God dammit. That’s cheating.” she starts walking back to us. “Who’s taking this then?”
“Need me to take the photo?” A.D. asks. “I got long arms.”
“I’d appreciate that. Yuko, give him the camera.”
Yuko does just that and gets in frame with us.
“Are we going silly or wholesome first?” A.D. asks.
“Wholesome then silly.” I nod.
“Right.” A.D. holds out the camera and smiles.
Will grins and flashes a peace sign.
“On three?” Yuko asks.
“On three.” I smile and rest my head on her shoulder. “One. Two. Three!”
snap snap snap
“Silly now?”
“Hell yeah.” Yuko and I say in unison.
“One. Two. Three!”
snap snap snap
“Here ya go.” A.D. hands the camera back to me. “What do you think?”
I look at the camera screen and check the silly versions first. Yuko flashed a double peace sign, stuck out her tongue, and rolled her eyes back. Will tipped his hat and pointed his finger at the camera. A.D. charged up a fireball. I posed with my back towards the camera, my head tilted backward, and my hand covering my face.
I look back at the camera and snicker. “We all look like assholes. It’s perfect.” I flip through to the wholesome photo just to see everyone’s smiles. I usually hate staged photos like these because they usually feel so forced and unnatural. That being said… something about these shots just seems right.
Janelle
October 26, 2007. 9:32 p.m. We finished setting up camp, tents, and sleeping bags about ten minutes ago. I lit a nice bonfire for everyone and Will’s been grilling some meat and veggies on a big skewer over the flame. Everyone is nice and cozy around the campfire. Sejong is staring blankly into the fire. A.D.’s doing squats. Josh is putting some spices over the skewers. Angela’s lying down and tossing blades of grass and bugs into the flame. Vivian and Yuko are a little bit too cozy. They haven’t let go of me ever since I sat down. “Could you please let go of me?”
“No.” Vivian rubs her cheek against my shoulder. “You’re too warm.”
“Yuko,” I wiggle my arms to get them off me. “Why are you on me?”
“You’re warm. End of story.” Yuko hugs me tight.
“Will!” I struggle. “Get these harlots off me!”
“C’mon ladies.” Will shakes his skewer at them. “Vivian, you can’t just hog every girl you see.”
“I can try.” Vivian smirks.
Yuko looks annoyed. She lets go of me, pulls Vivian off me, and carries her over to the other end of the fire. She then sits down, pulls Vivian into her lap, and rests her chin on her head. “I’m warm enough. Deal with it.”
“Sorry…” Vivian takes Yuko’s hands and wraps them around her waist.
“Thank you.” I sit back and gaze up at the sky. Whoa… there’s so many stars. Swirling galaxies, a mosaic of constellations, and even some satellites cruising by. I feel so… small. No matter how much I do, no matter where I go or how long I live, the sky looks the same. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was.
“So…” Vivian looks around at all of us. “Anyone got any spooky ghost stories?”
“Don’t. You. Dare.” Angela looks ready to fight something.
“Aaaw, what’s wrong?” Vivian smirks. “You afraid of ghosts?”
“Damn right I am!”
“Really? So aliens, monsters, and eldritch abominations are sexy, but ghosts are too much?”
“I can punch all of those.” Angela shakes her head. “You can’t win against a ghost.”
“But ghosts can be cute…”
Yuko bops Vivian on the head. “I actually have a story. Happened to one of my classmates in middle school.”
“Ooooh.” Sejong’s and Josh’s faces light up. “Do tell.”
“Ever hear of a little game called Hitori Kakurenbo?” Yuko’s face curls into a sick grin.
“NOPE! NO! I’M OUT!” Angela covers her ears and stomps away from the campsite. “Come get me when she’s done.”
“What’s Hitori Kakurenbo…?” Vivian asks.
“It’s Japanese for one-man hide and seek.” Yuko looks back at me. “Basically, you get a little doll, cut it open, put some rice and a drop of your blood in it, then sew it up with red string. Oh, and you have to name the doll.” Yuko pauses and points to all of us. “By the way, if any of you try this I will kill you. Anyway, then you put the doll in a tub of water and chant ‘the doll’s name’ is it!’ three times, then turn off all the lights, get a knife, then cut the red thread. After that, say ‘the doll’s name’ is it’ three times, then you book it and hope you live.”
“So when’s the story start?” Josh asks.
“Bro, I’m getting to that.” Yuko rolls her eyes. “Anyway, some bitch in my class named Mayumi was bragging one day about how ghosts aren’t real and making fun of a kid for being scared of ghosts.”
“Was this kid named Yuko?” Josh snickers
Yuko completely sandbags Josh and continues. “So, to prove to everyone that ghosts weren’t real, she decided to play one-man hide and seek and record it. So she did. It didn’t turn out too hot.”
“What happened?” Will asks with his eyes still glued to the skewers.
“Well, according to Mayumi, she saw the doll walk out of the bathtub and begin slowly walking through the house. Apparently, it searched every room except the one she was hiding in. She thought she won the game, but her camera began to static out and the words ‘Found You’ were plastered over the camera screen. She turned around and saw the doll floating right above her with a knife. The doll dropped the knife right into her eye and giggled ‘now Mayumi’s it! Now Mayumi’s it!’.
Vivian winces and closes her eyes. “Geez… did that actually happen?”
“Well she showed up to school next week with an eyepatch over her right eye and even showed the whole class the video.”
“Oooh… how did she survive that?” I clenched my stomach. “Not many people walk away with a knife in the eye.”
“Fortunately, her scream woke up her brother and he just happened to be an occult otaku. He got some salt water, poured it all over her and the doll, then drove her to the hospital asap. When they got home, he burned the doll in gasoline and chucked it into the ocean.”
“Geez… how big was the knife?” I shiver.
“I think it was a fruit knife. Just something small you’d use to cut limes or something. I always thought the ghost never meant to kill her, just torment her.”
“Japanese ghosts are no laughing matter…” Vivian shutters.
“Oh yeah.” Yuko cackles. “Don’t piss off a Japanese ghost. You’re dead as all hell if one of our ghosts gets you.”
“Is that all there is to the story?” Sejong asks with wide eyes.
“Hmmm…” Yuko rests her chin and thinks for a moment. “Oh, yeah. Mayumi says that even though she’s now blind in her right eye, she can still see the doll from time to time, but I have no idea if she’s being real or just trying to score sympathy points.”
“Okay…” I gulp. “If that was me, I might have just killed myself.”
“Can’t blame ya,” Yuko cackles again. “What about you two? Does the Philippines got any pissed off ghosties?”
“Have you ever heard of the Manananggal?” I ask.
“The Manangal?” Yuko tilts her head.
“No no. Manananggal.” I correct.
“Ooooh yeyeyeye.” Vivian’s face lights up. “I know this one. Janelle, take it away.”
“The Manananggal is basically a female vampire that detaches her upper body to fly around at night.”
“Sick.” Yuko grins. “What she do?”
“She basically flies around looking for pregnant women. She has this long, gross tongue that is similar to that of a proboscis worm’s.”
“I have no idea what that looks like.” Yuko blinks.
“Do you know what a tree’s roots look like?”
“Yes…” Yuko’s face begins to sour.
“Imagine a three-foot tongue with branching paths going up your vaginal corridor.”
“Ewewewewewew!” Yuko flinches. “Never mind! That’s way more messed up than any Japanese ghost! Why the hell does she do that?!”
“They like to eat fetuses.” I shrug. “That’s what vampires do.”
“Why do I get the feeling Angela would regret missing this story?” Sejong gazes into the fire.
“Do you know anyone who encountered one?” Vivian asks.
“My aunt claims a Manananggal ate her baby when she had a miscarriage.”
“Oh…” Vivian looks down at the fire.
“I mean… I would argue it was her rampant alcoholism… but what would I know? It’s not like I am a medical professional or anything…”
The mood quiets and everyone just stares into the fire.
“Aaaand done!” Will claps his hand and starts munching down on a fat meat skewer. “Dig in everyone! Dinner time!”
Sejong
October, 27, 2007. 12:32 a.m. Campsite. I have a full belly of meat and veggies… I have no clue what Josh put on those, but that was the best meat I ever ate in my whole life. Tender, but still just firm enough. Sweet, salty, and savory all at the same time… It’s a mural of flavor. All the bravery of baroque and mystery of post-modernism without any of the pretentiousness.
The fire’s been put out. All our waste has been properly taken care of. Everyone’s all snug and asleep. Vivian’s snuggled up next to Yuko. Janelle’s hugging Will tightly. Even in sleep, Angela has her hands fastened tightly around Josh’s butt. What the heck? How is everyone already paired up two months in? The only one who isn’t asleep is A.D. He rolls over to face me with his eyes wide open.
“Are you okay?” I ask, lying on my back.
“I can’t sleep…” A.D. rubs his eye.
“Well you shouldn’t have exercised before going to bed. Everyone knows that keeps you up.”
“I thought I could sneak in a little extra… I have to be in tip-top condition for the mission.” Even now, A.D. is slowly lifting his legs into the air.
“A.D., put your legs down. You need to sleep. How many times do I have to nag you?”
“Right…” A.D. laughs and puts his legs down. “Always looking out for me, huh?”
“Huh? When?”
“Never mind.” A.D. groans and rubs his chest.
“Still haven’t fully healed from the sparring with Vivian?”
“I mean, it doesn’t hurt unless you poke it. Or if I laugh.”
“A.D., you need to chill. You can’t be in tiptop condition if you don’t sleep.”
“I know… but… I can’t. This sleeping bag’s too light and it’s too cold out…”
“Want to cuddle then?” I lean up and reach out to him.
“I…” A.D. looks at me then shakes his head. “Sorry, no thanks. I don’t think I’m comfortable with that.”
“Are you sure?” I smile and morph into Chun-Li.
“...” A.D. looks at me, bites his fist, and closes his eyes. “hnngh…”
“A.D.? You okay?”
“Okay… you got me.” he opens his eyes and sighs. “So… uh… how’s this gonna work? Do I cuddle you or?”
“Just roll over and let me take care of everything.” I wink.
“Hnngh…” A.D. groans, but follows my directions regardless.
I crawl over, wrap my arm around his stomach and hold him gently. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah… It’s nice.”
“Good. Now go to bed.”