Chapter 1
Moving here was a choice, a choice I made. I won't regret it and will never regret…..
The sea, glitters as rays from the sun bathe it, making them look like a canvas of stars. Well, that's from my perspective. Aside from the running engines, the train was absolutely silent. There were only six of us on the train. The people looked like they were returning back home. While I was...
Finally free from that woman, who calls herself my mother. Moving out after graduating from high school felt like freedom but still in my head our proximity became somewhat closer, like I could sense her breathing on my shoulders.
This time will be different I hope so…I'm really far away from her, even changed my number, not that I expect her to call me. I just don't want any link connecting us. But I’m not running from her, she’s really not the main cause of what I’m feeling, these feelings stemmed from different places, making one big dowdily mess.
Fleeing from this suffocating feeling, I don’t understand, sometimes it feels like I’m choking on my own emotions. But where did they come from? I don’t know. Won’t it be easier if I just blame her for all this,
This opportunity, just a flicker of light in a dark abyss came at the perfect time because I was already at a breaking point. A job at this remote town, I accepted it in an instant. Though my coworkers were skeptical about it, nobody had taken that position for the past ten years, no matter the pay. I had heard whispers here and there that the residents on that island are weird, something about them being eccentric and overly curious with outsiders.
Though that was a good reason not to accept the job, I hate it when my personal space is invaded. But I just wanted to get far from there, from everybody, not that they are much in my life.
I felt something like a pull calling me here, a melody that makes you unconsciously move your feet to a song, like a fire that arouses a moth with its brilliant light. And yes, the pay is great, plus free accommodation. Why not try it? At least looking at the seashore could make me feel something.
The island came into view; it looked and felt eerie and strange enough, but familiar…. The clouds are lower here in latitude. I had done my research about the place. People who come here never go back the same or never go back at all. Just silly rumors to scare people, but in my case, it was like a moth getting blinded by lights that came out of nowhere.
The train stopped, giving me a better view of the place. There's nothing weird about it, just your average-looking town. Nothing more. I was the last to get off the train; I felt like something was pulling me down into my seat, a chain linked to something I despise with my very being.
The train station was isolated and a little chilly. I guess it's true about people only returning, not going. The five passengers had already left the station; I was the only one here. Silence whispered to me, the chilly air sang to my skin. Even the buzzing sound of electricity flowing to the lights that illuminated the station could be heard because of how silent it was.
Did I come way too early? Isn't someone supposed to receive me? "Miss Adachi?" A woman's voice cut through the stillness. I couldn't gauge her age, but she seemed to be around my age, judging from her features. And speaking of features, she probably wasn't from around here.
"Yeah." She came forward, towering over me. "You are Miss Adachi?" she asked again, ignoring the answer I had given her earlier. "Yeah, that's me. You must be Miss Noike." She nodded and then smiled. "I'll tell you, we're thrilled to finally have someone come over here. It's been like ten years since anyone from our parent company came here, after the accident."
Yeah, the famous man-eating accident. A man was left dead with his body parts missing at the residence where he lived. That wasn't what made the story gain traction. The remaining part of him looked like it had been eaten by something.
The police ruled it out as a beast from the forest, but the housekeeper who found his body swore on her life that those bite marks were human’s. Ever since that incident, no one dared to come here. Even the position I'm about to take was closed off for nearly a decade. You can't let something that happened a long time ago cloud your judgment.
"You like the view?" she said, noticing how my attention was grabbed by the sea. "Yeah, it looks cool." I tried to contain my tone. It wasn't the view that was captivating, but something else, something I couldn't see, but feel.
"Well, you'll be more pleased to find out where your residence is situated," Noike grinned, staring down at me, probably a head taller than me.
Getting out of the station, I was expecting to see the weirdest things because of the reception at the train station, but it was just normal... your average-looking town and people going about their lives.
"This way, Miss Adachi," Noike pulled my attention away from the bland scenery before me. We got into a car that was waiting for us. The driver, an old man, too old to drive, supposed to be in a nursery home, not behind the wheel.
But that wasn't the thing that caught my attention. His eyes were dilated and faded, the iris large, some kind of transparent reflective shield around it. The man looked at me and smiled, revealing his aged teeth.
"Don't worry, he's very good at it," Noike said in a reassuring way.The car took us away from the town into the hills, which were much closer to the sea, the whole structure somewhat looks like a cliff.
Massive buildings towering into the clouds were the first things I saw after the endless amount of trees. The place I'll be working from now. We moved further away from it to some set of buildings that looked much like an estate. "This is where the workers stays, including me. But don't worry, you won't be staying here. See that penthouse on the hill?" I followed the direction of her stare, and then it hit me like a truck.
"Pen—! House?!" What? Do you mean I'll be staying there! That's so massive for someone at my level, and even aside from the pay, there's no way I'm worth that. "No need to act surprised, you're special to us. The first person who has come over here in years. Of course, we'll treat you with care." I was so startled by it that my mouth went ajar.
"Haha, what I meant by special is your knowledge. It's very vital to us. Not whatever you're thinking." Noike smiled, trying to shut down any comeback to that conversation. "And yes, it's close to the sea, so you'll be very pleased to see the view from there."
The penthouse was massive, with four rooms, a library, a showroom, a sunroom, and finally, the view was breathtaking. "I told you you'd love it," Noike said while lighting a cigarette. It was hard for her to do it because of the wind. She offered me one from her pack. I shook my head.
We were at the balcony, staring at the intrusive sea; each wave that the wind carried felt like a pencil stroke in an art book. My eyes were fixed on it, but my gaze was not; I was searching for something I couldn't see. It felt like the sea was a blanket covering what I desired. "Are you sure... my knowledge deserves this..." I muttered, while my hand rubbed the rails. Noike took a deep draw from the burning cigarette in her lips, vanquishing it, then she discharged the smoke, which got caught off by the wind.
"Yeah, you definitely do. Well, time to go back to work. Enjoy your stay. And before I forget, a housekeeper will be coming tomorrow to see to your needs. So just weather the night." Then she smiled and left. I was finally able to breathe properly after Noike left. My entire body was rigid since that ride. Because her eyes were the same as the old man's...
After taking out my clothes and sorting other things out, I didn't have anything else to do. It was already night before I finally settled in. The view at night was even more bizarre than earlier. The stars littered across the water's surface. The moon was out in its full glory; it was chilly. So much wonders up there and down here.
I have always been fascinated by the sea. And a big part of it not being explored is pretty disappointing. Mankind chose to run towards afterimages the stars left behind in the cosmos, ignoring the greatest gift we were given. The sea holds its secrets tight, unlike its counterpart above us.
After a long stare at the blanket that shrouds my desires, I decided to go to sleep. I fell asleep so fast, maybe it was because of how chilly it was, so... maybe...
.
.
.
I was falling, a silent fall. A slow one, it was all dark; I couldn't talk or breathe, couldn't scream. Yet, despite the terror, I felt a strange sense of safety, like I was being embraced by something. The further I fell, the tighter the embrace got. Something grasped me by the waist; it felt like a hand.
I was neither rising nor falling, just suspended. Is it a person? My hand instinctively reached out, trying to search for a face. Hah... there is, a nose, further down their mouth, the lips parted for my finger to go in... Their teeth were pointy; it felt so sharp. Ouch! It bored into my flesh.
My hand moved away reflectively. But just like a moth to fire, my hand returned, moved further, their neck and lower... chest... bare chest, it was soft. Then, it came, a giggle, sweet to hear, like the voice of an angel. My lungs became heavy; they felt like a bag of brass.
Oh?...
I'm drowning....
.
.
.
.
Thump
Thump
Thump
My chest hurts; it felt like it was being ravaged by blows. I couldn't find air; search... search... search. No avail... Soft on my lips... air! I held to it like my life depends on it, because it does. Sucking it in left me nauseous. I threw up everything, my insides. But all that came out was water...
"Aaah! She's not... dead... oh my..." Noike's panicked voice cut through my haze, coming from beside me. I coughed violently; my throat was burning. The scenery was different; Noike was a few feet from me, sitting on the floor, looking ravaged. A lot of unfamiliar faces surrounded me, and further down, paramedics were running towards my direction.
What am I doing at the seashore?