Treasure Chest

by Adam Bennett

  I was plunged back into darkness. Sweat streamed down my brow and I shuddered in horror and disgust. I looked around and found myself back in the darkened room in the museum, surrounded by the terror-stricken faces of the other guests. To my right, Elise had advanced from quiet tears to full sobs, and she wouldn’t meet my eyes.

  At the head of the table, Madame Moreau breathed heavily. Her face was now covered in sweat, and she looked overcome with a deep exhaustion. “Primordia is closed to me now,” she said through panting breaths. “Our communion has ended.”

  We released our hands from the Divining Rods, then got up and began to pack up our things in relative silence. Elise and Gladys excused themselves to the bathroom, while the rest of us put on our coats and avoided each other’s eyes. As I put my hat back on, I looked around and realized Madame Moreau had left. Goddamnit. Not only had I failed to expose her, but I almost started to believe in her method. It had been so convincing, so mind-shakingly horrifying in the moment that I could still scarcely believe it was a trick, but it must have been. It must have been.

  I waited for Elise to return from the bathroom before I left. She emerged after a few minutes, her makeup reapplied and her tears wiped away. She looked at me strangely, then walked over.

  “Some trick, huh?” I asked with an attempt at certainty.

  She nodded, still avoiding my eyes. “Some trick.”

  “What was it like?” I asked. “For you, I mean. Did you… see things?”

  She nodded again. “It was horrible,” she said shakily. “I killed someone. I ate… I tasted...” She trailed off.

  I put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. “It’s okay.”

  She looked up at me, and there was something behind her eyes. Was it anger? Lust? Invisible energy moved between our eyes in one long moment. I felt the same deep longing that I knew she was feeling. We had been shocked out of our civilised minds, and our animal impulses were reaching out from our hindbrains across the centres of our better judgment.

  We shared a cab from the museum to her highrise, then lingered on the street. We tried to make small talk, but the building tension between us was distracting enough that neither of us could keep the conversation moving. Each time we stopped, we would meet each other’s eyes, and for a second the feral energy inside us threatened to boil over. I asked if she would like me to escort her to her apartment. She said yes.

  We waved at the doorman and he chuckled knowingly under his breath as we waited for the elevator. Once inside, Elise hit the button for the penthouse and we stood in silence as the elevator rose. I could have taken her there, and I think she was wishing I would.

  The elevator opened and we walked down the hallway to her door. Her hand shook as she turned her key in the lock and opened the door. We both began to laugh, relieving some of the nervous energy as we stepped into her apartment. The far wall was glass, and I could see the twinkling of buildings in the urban jungle that surrounded us. It was beautiful. So was she.

  She looked up into my eyes and smiled, then turned around and asked me to unzip her dress. The rest was sudden, and almost frightening in its passion. We left a trail of clothes to her bedroom, and within seconds we were wrapped in her red silk sheets. I held one of her wrists down above her head while the fingernails on her free hand dug into my shoulder. I kissed up her collarbone to her bare neck, then met her eyes as she scratched her nails down to the small of my back. It hurt, but I didn’t mind.

  We made violent love, lit only by the light from the flickering tops of buildings outside. As I thrust in the dark, my thoughts strayed to Madame Moreau, with her green eyes and curly black hair. What had she awakened in me? In us? I ran my hand through Elise’s blonde hair and made a fist, then tugged on it in a playful show of force. Elise bit down on my shoulder to muffle a moan, then again raked her fingernails down my back.

  This time, it hurt. I felt the familiar warmth of trickling blood and looked down at Elise in confused pain. Her eyes were thin again, like they had been when she was the panther, and as she opened her mouth to give me another love bite I saw the gleam of fangs. I felt something snake around my leg; a tail?

  Elise shrieked and bit down into my shoulder. I cried out in pain and tried to pull away from her as blood began to spill down her chin and onto her bare chest. She writhed her hand out of my grip and scratched me across the face. That was when I lost control.

  When I awoke the next morning atop her silk sheets, her bedroom had been largely destroyed. An overturned wardrobe had been smashed and splintered. Her sheets had been ripped into fine shreds. The door to her walk-in closet had been ripped from one set of hinges, and jagged bits of a broken mirror were stabbed into the dangling wooden door.

  The police found her outside on the patio, with one arm dangling down through the bars of her balcony railing and chunks of glass from the broken window stabbed deep into her back. They said she must have been thrown through the plate glass. Her head had been twisted off at the neck, and they said that there was evidence of skull and brain matter in a mashed puddle nearby.

  I swore I hadn’t killed her, and it was true. It was the ape… the ape killed her. And he’d done it with my hands.

  The Séance of Madame Moreau was first published in GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM: A Hardboiled Anthology along with 21 other fantastic stories. You can find it on Amazon in ebook or paperback.

  Moon Shrine

  Rich Rurshell

  “Why do you always leave a carrot at the Moon Shrine?” asked Kazuki Hashimoto. “We don’t leave carrots at any of the other shrines.”

  “We have to keep the Moon God happy,” replied his mother, “so he continues to protect us.”

  They continued walking along the road, having just visited the Moon Shrine on the way to the Asada residence, Namie Hashimoto holding her son’s small hand as they walked.

  “You mean the golden rabbit,” replied Kazuki, familiar with the legend. “So our crops don’t fail.”

  “That’s right," Namie answered. “He stops the terrible weather that once cursed Arashima ruining our crops.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t deserve a carrot this week," said Kazuki, pointing to the deep water in the irrigation canal that ran alongside the road. “The rain has been relentless this week.”

  “Yes, it has," laughed his mother, “but our crops need water, so we must still be thankful.”

  They approached the large wooden bridge that crossed the river. The river was much higher than normal due to the rains, almost reaching the bottom of the bridge. As they stepped onto the bridge, Kazuki looked through the handrails into the dark waters that flowed just beneath them. He’d never seen the waters so high before. He wondered if his house would be affected if the river was to burst its banks. Over the last week, during his dinner time, he’d seen the devastation in northern Japan caused by the recent typhoon on the television, and didn’t want to have to leave behind all his possessions and his home if flooding occurred.

  “Are you looking forward to staying over at the Asada residence tonight?" asked his mother, taking his mind off the water and the news reports. “What are you and Kei-kun planning on doing?”

  “I think we are going to watch some movies tonight," he replied, “I always look forward to playing with Kei-kun.”

  They finished crossing the bridge and continued along the road until they reached a junction. They turned left and continued walking towards the Asada residence.

  “You don’t have to walk with me all the way if you don’t want to," Kazuki said, looking up at his mother. “I know the way.”

  “I know," she replied, smiling at her young son, “but I’d like to.” She tightened her grip on Kazuki’s hand.

  Kazuki smiled back, but said nothing.

  They walked along hand in hand until they reached the Asada residence. Kazuki let go of his mother’s hand and ran to the front door and rang the doorbell. After a moment, the silhouette of Kei Asada appeared behind the frosted glass and the door opened.<
br />
  “Hello Kei-kun," said Namie Hashimoto.

  “Hello," replied Kei. “Please come in Kazu-kun.”

  “See you tomorrow," said Kazuki to his mother as he took off his shoes. He stepped up into the house just as Kei’s mother appeared in the hallway. The two mothers began to talk to one another, so Kazuki and Kei saw this as an opportunity to disappear upstairs into Kei’s bedroom. Once upstairs, they selected which of the rental movies they would watch first, then pulled out their futons and got them ready to be slept in. Kei loaded the first film into the player and they both climbed into bed and got comfortable, ready to watch the movie.

  ***

  As the first movie finished and Kei was getting out of his bed to change over the movies in the player, the telephone in the Asada residence began to ring. Shortly after Kei had started the second movie and got back into bed, his mother came into the bedroom.

  “I’m sorry about this, but you’ll have to have your sleepover another time," she said to the boys, with a concerned look on her face. “Kei-kun, your grandmother has fallen and hurt herself and we must go and take her to the hospital. Kazu-kun, we can drop you home on the way.”

  “It sounds serious, I can walk home by myself," replied Kazuki, looking sympathetically at his friend and Mrs. Asada. “Please, don’t worry about me, I know the way.”

  “If you are sure Kazu-kun, it’s dark already.”

  “I’m sure,” he replied. “I hope everything will be alright.”

  “Thank you Kazu-kun.”

  Kazuki said goodbye to his friend as the Asada family all got into their car, and started making his way back home in the dark. It was a cloudy night and the moon was hidden behind a large sheet of cloud. The only light Kazuki had was the occasional blue lamp that were on posts every now and then along the paths. His mother had told him that the blue light kept away “nasty men," so each time he passed underneath one he felt a little bit safer, though he didn’t really feel unsafe on his walk home. He reached the first junction on his route home and turned right, passing under another blue lamp. Though it was a cloudy night, it was still quite warm, so Kazuki was in no hurry. He could now hear the sound of the river ahead of him and he remembered looking into the dark waters earlier that evening on his way to the Asada residence. He then remembered about Kei’s grandmother and hoped she was alright.

  Soon enough, he had reached the bridge crossing the river. He walked over the bridge, his footsteps sounding loudly despite the sound of the river running underneath. Then came the sound of a splash underneath the bridge. A fish maybe? He stopped and looked through the handrails and down into the water. For a few seconds he could see nothing but black, but as his eyes adjusted he could make out a shape in the water. He looked harder at the shape, trying to focus on whatever it was. For a brief moment, the moon came out from behind the clouds, giving Kazuki enough light to make out a face on the shape staring back at him.

  He heard a scraping sound on the opposite handrail behind him. He whipped his head around and could just make out the silhouette of something climbing up out of the water in the fading moonlight. He quickly darted off the bridge and ran a few steps, before turning to see what was on the bridge. He could just make out a figure on the bridge, standing on two legs, thick-set and just taller than himself. It stood motionless for a second or two, then suddenly started to bound towards him. Kazuki turned and ran. He could see one of the blue lamps ahead of him and he ran towards it. Was it one of the ‘nasty men’ his mother had warned him of that now chased him? Hopefully the blue light would keep him safe.

  He ran until he was underneath the lamppost and glanced back to see how far behind him his pursuer was. But he could see nothing. He stopped running and stared harder into the darkness. He couldn’t see or hear anything. It must have stopped chasing him. He turned to make his way hastily home, when the creature leapt out of the irrigation canal right next to him, trying to grab his leg. Kazuki let out a small scream and jumped backwards. The creature had now pulled its way completely out of the water and Kazuki could see what was chasing him in the blue light which obviously had no effect. It was unmistakable, but Kazuki could not believe his eyes. Before him stood a Kappa. The hard shell that covered its torso and its beaked face that leered at him made the Kappa instantly recognisable. On its head was a thatch of coarse black hair and the blue light from the lamp above the Kappa glistened in the water that filled an opening in the top of its head.

  For a few seconds, Kazuki and the Kappa stared at one another, then Kazuki took a step backwards. The Kappa lunged towards him and Kazuki turned tail and ran. He ran past the next blue light and continued on past the Moon Shrine. He reached the next blue light and was almost at the junction he needed to get home when the Kappa leapt out of the irrigation canal in front of him. He quickly turned on his heel and began to run back the way he had come, now terrified. It was now between him and his house. He ran past the Moon Shrine again when to his horror, underneath the blue light ahead of him, stood the Kappa. He turned again, only to see the Kappa under the other blue light. There were two of them, and they were advancing towards him. He backed up to the Moon Shrine, watching both of them as he went. He could hear the Kappas chuckling. They had now slowed to a walking pace, they had him trapped.

  “Can’t wait to eat your Shirikodama," shouted out the Kappa that barred his way home. “I can almost taste it already!” The other Kappa whooped and laughed out loud. Kazuki remembered the legend of Kappa. They would pull children who played in the river under the water to their doom, and eat the child’s insides starting at the backside, where the Shirikodama could be found, said to contain the child’s soul. The Kappa’s favourite part was the liver, though cucumbers were also a favourite food of the Kappa. But Kazuki had no cucumbers. He backed into the small clearing around the Moon Shrine and crept backwards towards the shrine itself. As the two Kappas came together in the entrance of the Moon Shrine, Kazuki remembered something else about the Kappa. The water-filled openings in the top of their heads was important to them. If emptied, the Kappa would become weak, maybe even paralysed. If allowed to go dry, the Kappa would die. They could often be fooled into emptying the water themselves by bowing to them, for Kappas were polite creatures and would often return the greeting. Kazuki bowed to the advancing Kappas.

  The Kappas looked at one another, then began to laugh out loud.

  “Nice try," one of them said when it had stopped laughing, “but we are far too hungry for pleasantries right now and in all fairness, that’s one of the oldest tricks in the book. We’re not falling for that!”

  Kazuki now had his back pressed up against the shrine, the Kappas slowly advancing on him. There was nowhere for him to run. He sank to his knees and cowered before the Kappas. This resignation seemed to excite the Kappas. They mockingly held out their webbed, clawed hands and cackled as they got within inches of him.

  “Let’s get you back to the river for a nice midnight feast," one of them taunted. It reached out to grab Kazuki with its damp, green hand when something leapt from on top of the shrine and kicked the Kappa with great force in the chest. The Kappa sprawled backwards, landing on its back on the pavement, its head spilling its contents which ran into the cracks between the stones. The other Kappa hissed as it took a few paces back from Kazuki. Between Kazuki and the Kappa, stood a large rabbit. Unusually large. It was easily the same height as the Kappa. The rabbit stomped its feet on the ground as it took a step towards the hissing Kappa. The Kappa retreated another few paces, its companion now staring up into the cloudy night sky on its back, paralysed. The rabbit and Kappa stared at one another for a few seconds, then the Kappa grabbed the other Kappa by its shoulders and began to drag it back towards the irrigation canal.

  “Come Kazu-kun, we don’t have much time," said the rabbit, turning to Kazuki. In what little light there was, Kazuki could just about make out the rabbit. It was quite unpleasant to look at. Apart from its size and the fact it could speak, something unne
rved Kazuki and he was reluctant to follow the rabbit. It had a presence about it.

  “Quickly!" it snarled. Kazuki jumped to his feet and the rabbit bounded out into the street. Kazuki followed. The rabbit had saved him after all. He had to run to keep up with the rabbit, which swiftly hopped down the street towards the Hashimoto residence. But they didn’t get far before the Kappas leapt once again from the irrigation canal, blocking their way.

  “Stay behind me," ordered the rabbit. Kazuki watched as the two Kappas set upon the rabbit, biting and clawing it as they fought. The rabbit kicked out to defend itself, sometimes knocking over one of the Kappas, but never both at the same time. The Kappas rolled one another back into the irrigation canal if one of their heads became empty, and slowly wore down the rabbit. In the blue light from the lamp, Kazuki could see dark, bloody patches staining the fur of the rabbit. The rabbit now panted and limped slightly. It knocked over one of the Kappas yet again, and whilst the other pulled its companion back into the water, the rabbit leapt back to Kazuki’s side.

  “We must climb up there," said the rabbit, pointing to a slope which led up a small mountain not too far down the street from where they were. They ran as fast as they could to the slope, jumped over a small wire fence and then began to climb, the concrete grid built to prevent rocks falling down into the street making it relatively easy. As they climbed, Kazuki realised they were climbing Rabbit Mountain, but before he had time to think about this too much, he heard the Kappas beneath them, now making their own way up behind them.

  “We had one meal, but now there’s two, we’ve also got a rabbit stew!" shouted one of them as the other cackled.

  Kazuki followed the rabbit up the slope in the darkness, trusting that the rabbit had a plan. The rabbit seemed quite hurt and Kazuki wondered if it could survive another fight with the Kappas. Once they reached the top of the slope, the rabbit led Kazuki further up the mountain along a small trail. Plants and small branches from trees scraped Kazuki’s face and tore his clothes as they ran, but he continued to follow the rabbit. They reached a small clearing, not too far from the mountains summit and the rabbit stopped. Kazuki got behind the rabbit as it took its position in the centre of the clearing.