Chapter Text
The sun set, the trees surrounding the village casting great shadows, darkness slowly encroaching. The streets were quiet, so many of the houses empty. Night had become the most dangerous time in Akumamenzen, the time when those who wandered out disappeared, whisked away by the darkness.
Kanata knew well that she was risking a lot being out at this time, but she had to. The only way she might figure out what was going on, that she might find answers as to why so many were disappearing all of a sudden, was if she investigated the home of the now dead high priest. She’d been there during the day - the townsfolk avoided it, had ever since the news of his death had come out - but the only thing of note she’d found was the old camera she now had in her possession.
The whole house was filled with a terrible presence, even during the day, just as the small temple they had was too. She’d investigate there, next, if she couldn’t find anything at the high priest’s home. Yet… Kanata was sensitive to these sorts of things, to the fog that overcame the town at night, the beings that emerged and took away anyone they could find. Even inside wasn’t safe anymore, when the sun went down, as people had begun to disappear from their homes.
She hoped help would come before things got too bad. Akumamenzen was isolated, kept that way by the Deadmans. The whole town was a part of them, though at this point faith wavered, ever since news of their Lord’s death had arrived. Kanata, though raised in the Deadmans, never quite cared for their beliefs, and had honestly been happy to hear Giff was gone. If for no other reason than hoping that the village would become less isolated. It had, in some ways, letters and such from the outside world finally were able to come through, Kanata’s family had received mail from her cousin, whom she’d knew little of. Letters could leave the town now, too.
So a few days ago, Kanata sent a letter. To Blue Bird, hoping to receive help of some kind. She didn’t know if either would do any good.
A stick snapped beneath her foot and she winced, though there was no one around to hear that sound. No human, at least, but Kanata could feel the heavy presence of something nearby. She was so close, she couldn’t stop now, with the high priest’s home looming so close. Another minute of careful steps, and she reached the front door, breath catching in her throat as she carefully reached out and opened it. She’d learned the layout during the day, and there were a few places she wanted to check. The first of which was the ceremony room. It had the strongest presence during the day. Kanata was scared of what she’d find now, at night.
With the light of her flashlight guiding her, she carefully made her through the house, dreadfully aware of every creak or small thud. Careful not to betray her presence more than she had to. Soon enough, the sliding doors to the ceremony room appeared. The room had been used regularly, until Giff’s death, which resulted in fewer and fewer ceremonies being held. With the high priest dead, the room, like the rest of the house, had gone untouched. In the center of the room was an alter, filled with candles that were mysteriously lit. Was someone else here?
In an attempt to document this strange occurrence, she pulled out the old camera she found, raising and aiming it at the alter.
When she took the picture, a voice rang out, echoing through the room even though she’d been certain she was alone. “It has to be done. It must be appeased.”
Though the alter had appeared normal, moments before, when Kanata took the picture it was not. Instead, it was a bloody, pleading woman, a gaping hole where her heart once was, her blood blending into her black and red gown. Her face was agonized, pained, and a new voice began to echo.
“Please, please don’t do this! I don’t want to do this!” And then a scream pierced the otherwise silent room.
Kanata stumbled back, dropping the camera as she fell to the floor, the bloody woman still looming in front of her. Her heart beat more quickly than it ever had before, the woman approaching her, hovering above the ground. “Another has come…” Some strange appendages emerged from the floor, something like tentacles or a vines. They wrapped themselves around Kanata’s arms and legs, restraining her. “Take my place. Appease it. Become it.”
Struggling to free herself, Kanata screamed.
“Death awaits those who defy the Inevitable.”