The light of the sun shown through Yuna's windows and made their way to her face. Turning to her side her glass eyes opened. Sitting up slowly, Yuna placed a hand to her head. Her lashes opened and closed slowly as they gazed down at the floor. Her ears could hear a ringing bell, perhaps the shrine bell? She didn't know. Moving her head, her gaze went to the door. It was now morning and what she thought had been a dream, wasn't. Her father was still dead and she was still here, in this lonely village and this lonely shrine. Standing up Yuna fixed the Yutaka her kind grandmother had given her and Yuna let her long hair down so she could fix it and pin it up once again.
Slowly, Yuta made her way to her door and hesitantly she pale fingers touched and twisted the cold doorknob. The door opened and she walked out into the dark, empty hallway. Looking left, then right, Yuna's lips pressed tightly together as she found herself alone. Her small body turned to her right, to the sound of the temple bells ringing out into the distance, and her feet started to slowly walk towards the sound. As she walked down the hallway, it seemed to get longer, like she was in an ever extending hallway with no end nor beginning. Her glass eyes looked around as she continued to walk. Her hands clinched at her sleeves as they trembled slightly. Being in an old temple with no one around frightened her, for some unknown reason, it was like a oozing feeling that stirred within her small body. It felt as if she this scenario was strangely familiar.
Her pale hair bounced against her skin as she walked. Finally, the endless hallway came to an end. Reaching out, Yuna slowly opened the paper door, to reveal a bright day out and a beautiful garden. The temple bell's ringing was now much closer and its song was soon about to come to an end. Stepping out, Yuna slipped on the wooden slippers that sat on the cemented path that led further into the garden and towards the bell. Her shoes clicked and clacked as she walked along the path way. Her glass eyes taken in the beautiful colors of the flowers and the sounds the running water and song of the cicadas. The air was mugged and damp, it must've rained last night.
A small smile formed on Yuna's lips, the tight feeling in her stomach faded away as the soft wind brushed against her cheeks. She now felt at peace as she walked, another scenario that felt all too familiar for her. She neared the bell and she climbed the stairs to find her grandmother pulling on the thick woolen rope one last time. "Goodmorning," Yuna's soft voice reached her grandmother's old ears. Taking her hands from the rope the grandmother turned and her wrinkling lips turned into a smile as her kind eyes landed on her granddaughter. "Goodmorning my sweet child. It is good to see you up." Yuna smiled and gave her grandmother a slight nod.
Clasping her hands together, the old woman chuckled softly, before walking over to Yuna. "Morning bell, I'm sorry if it woke you, but since you're up you can help me with breakfast and with cleaning the temple." Her old hand reached up and sat slightly above Yuna's waist. Yuna nodded again before the two walked back to the shrine house.
The day rolled on slowly. The cicadas continued to sing throughout the day, visitors came and went. Yuna stood out in front, sweeping with the bamboo broom her grandmother had lended her. Beads of sweat rolled down from the sides of her face as the sun's rays shown brightly down upon her. A small shaky sigh left her lips as she stood there sweeping. Along with cleaning the floors, selling charms, dusting and other chores, sweeping was the least of her worries. Plus....there was also that shed that needed to be cleaned.
Yuna's eyes lifted from the dusty ground and made their way over to the creepy-looking shed in the corner, next to the house. A huge padlock hung from a chain that kept the doors locked shut. Shadows hung around that old-looking shed and just staring sent shivers all down her back. "Oh my, are you done my dear?" Her glass eyes went to her small grandmother, who was now standing in front of her. Yuna hadn't noticed that while she stared at that shed, she had stopped sweeping. "Ah.....sorry...I got distracted..." Yuna said softly.
The grandmother chuckled softly and shook her old head. "No worries my dear, you've worked hard today and can use a break on this hot day. There are cool drinks inside for when you need it," she told the girl as she fixed the huge bag that hung over her small shoulder. Yuna tilted her head a bit, "Are you leaving?" The old woman nodded her old head. "Yes, it is shopping day and I need to make sure I get everything you'll need since you're staying here my dear."
Yuna gave her grandmother a worried look and the old woman just chuckled softly and motioned Yuna to lean down. When she did, her eyes widened a bit when the old woman gave her a dry kiss on her forehead. Her lips curled and her cheeks warmed as she pulled away from her grandmother. "Don't over work yourself, after sweeping just relax inside." Yuna turned her gaze to the shed and hesitantly she asked, "But the shed..."
"The shed is off limits!" Yuan's eyes snapped to her grandmother. Her body was tense and her eyes filled with mixed emotions, Yuna couldn't identify. Noticing Yuna's expression, the old woman relaxed and let out a small, soft shy. "I-I'm sorry.....everything but the forest and that shed is opened for you to explore. Please....never enter the shed or the forest...please," the granny begged. Yuna's brows knitted together as she stared into the old woman's eyes. Her pale lips opened slightly but Yuna said nothing and nodded instead.
The old woman stared at Yuna for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh. A shaky hand reached up and patted Yuna's shoulder, a wrinkling lips smiled at her. "Good girl..." the old woman said in a hushed voice. Dropping her hand the woman turned and got to the gate before turning and waving goodbye. Yuna waved as well and watched the old woman make her way down the long stairway. Yuna stared, even after the woman was no longer insight, she stared out into the nothingness that the stairs led into. Swirling and spinning went the steps and Yuna's body went weak.
Gripping onto the bamboo broom tightly she went to her knees as her lips let out a shaky pant. Her vision went spinning and the images blurred. The heat had gotten to her and slowly her body fell backwards. Her gaze was now onto the sky as her chest rose and fell rapidly. Slowly, her eyes closed and her mind seemed to fade in and out of the dream realm.
At one point, she felt if her eyes had opened and a tall figure loomed over her. All she could tell was that the figure was male and she could make out the vivid color of his eyes. The beautiful shade of crimson and the sharpness of his pupils, they stared into her own and she felt as if she knew those eyes. Yuna's lips parted for a moment as she saw his hand reach out and once again everything went black.
Cool wind kissed her cheeks and her long, pale lashes fluttered opened. The color of the sky was now that of cotton candy. Blinking once or twice before sitting up and placing a cool hand to her forehead, Yuna's eyes narrowed a bit. How long has she been out? Removing her hand she looked around, her grandmother didn't seem to be around and there were no lights within the house.
Moving the hand that sat on the ground, something cold touched her pinky finger. Tilting her head downwards, Yuna spotted a rusted key that sat next to her hand. She picked it up and examined it. Her fingers brushed along the shaft slowly, feeling every indent in the metal. Such a strange looking key, she thought. Lifting her head, her gaze left the key and wondered over to the shed and its lock.
Her lips pressed together as the presence surrounding the building drew her in. Slowly, Yuna stood and her grip on the key tightened. It felt like someone was calling out to the girl, someone inside of the shed. Yuna made her way over to the shed and it seemed like the hair on the back of her neck rose. She was now standing at the door and the young girl let out a shaky breath.
Lifting her hand, the key drew closer to the padlock. Suspense filled the air and Yuna caught her breath as the edge of the key slowly entered the hole of the lock. "Yuna!" Her body jumped and her heart skipped a beat. Yuna's head snapped behind her to see her grandmother with a disappointed expression painted on her face. "Get away from there now!" "A-ah! Yes grandmother," Yuna called out and hurried from the shed and followed her grandmother inside.
The key remained inside of the padlock which kept the big wooden door of the shed sealed shut. Ever so slowly the key started to turn until there was a click and the lock was now unlocked. The padlock fell onto the ground and the shed doors slowly opened and a ghastly fog exited the shed and spreads out through the night.
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