One of Us

by Samie Sands

  Tadashi shook his head. “It wasn’t my mother. Kayako had her in her grip—had... possessed her. When she saw me, she must have fought with her last breath to break the curse—freeing it and her. You are no longer under the grudge or Kayako’s control. You are free.”

  Sakura sighed with relief and placed a comforting hand on Tadashi’s shoulder. “For what it’s worth—Yua loved you very much. And I am so sorry for your loss.”

  Tadashi smiled. “Thank you, Sakura. If you can spread the word—stop these cults from taking place. They are far too dangerous.”

  Sakura nodded. “We will do our best.”

  Tadashi left—with his mum and gave her a proper burial. As far as family and the police were concerned, his mother had died several years before. The little they knew about the case, the less he would look crazy.

  The next few days went by uneventful...until Tadashi’s phone started to ring. He jumped, pulling back the bed covers and checking the time. It was 2.30 in the morning. Whoever this was... Tadashi felt like his heart had jumped into his throat. The caller ID came up as Kayako...

  He answered and immediately wished he hadn’t. The low creaky groan came down the phone and then the line went dead. He got up and started to shake. Tadashi’s body began to jerk in unnatural fashion, and his head cracked from side to side. His once blonde hair turned to black as his hair grew black and long, covering his face. His skin crackled and turned white. Sharp, black nails grew out of his fingers. He fell to the floor, getting on all fours and start to breathe heavily.

  His bedroom door opened, and Sakura stood there, with the other three girls, and more behind her. “See girls,” Sakura grinned. I touched his mother, touched him and past the curse onto him. Now Kayako is able rise again. The cult of Kayako will live on!”

  Tadashi’s body crumpled to a heap below and Kayako’s hair parted. Her eyes were horribly wide, and her mouth groaned, stretching downwards unnaturally. Kayako, arms outstretched, lunged forward.

  Case Notes: It was unclear how the girls were able to conjure the spirit of Kayako in the first place, or how the cult was formed in the first place. By now, almost every young girl between 16 and 21 wears white and has long, black hair. I have determined that it is best to avoid them if you see them on the streets. Lock the doors at night and only go out when you need food. Kayako’s grip is strong—but one day I hope to break the curse. I plan to visit Sakura, one of the girls involved to find out more. Be strong. Be brave. This is not over. Hiro Mako.

  Kevin S. Hall

  Kevin Hall is 35 and lives in Haddington, East Lothian in Scotland. He is a sci-fi, fantasy and horror fan, his

  biggest loves being Stephen King and Doctor Who. He has written Thirteen: A Collection Of Horror Stories, and Thirteen Vol. 2: The Horror Continues and is beavering away on Vol. 3: The Never-Ending Horror at the moment.

  He is currently writing his first full horror novel Ravens

  Edge, and is working on several anthologies - a High Fliers superhero one, a fantasy one and a Halloween one. Submissions are always welcome for short stories too. In his spare time, he loves to read, is doing a Games Designer Course, and does a Radio Show on a Sunday on Radio Saltire too.

  ‘The One’

  Samie Sands

  He is the one.

  I never thought I would be able to say that. I didn’t think I was the sort of person who’d fall in love. Especially at the tender age of nineteen.

  Now, I know what people will say to me, ‘Juliet, you are so young, you don’t need to fall in love right now, you still have so much life to live’, but if I turn down this man, the one for me, then I might never find it again, and this feeling is too much. I can’t turn my back on it.

  Especially not now. He’s taking me to meet his friends! This is the most exciting day in our relationship so far. I can’t wait, but I definitely need to impress them all.

  “How do I look?”

  There’s no one to answer me, but I ask anyway. I ask myself more than anyone else. Not that I have any answer. I mean, is this dress friendly enough? Sexy enough? Will Alex like me in it? I suppose that’s the main thing. I need him to like me even more than anyone else. It’s his opinion that matters most of all.

  Is it weird that I’m meeting his friends before he’s seen what I got going on underneath this dress? It’s unusual, sure, but I think tonight might be the night. I’m staying with him anyway because he lives out in the sticks, so I have my best underwear on in preparation.

  “Oh God...was that the door?”

  My heart hammers in my throat, my pulse speeds too quickly, I can hardly contain myself. But I don’t let any of that free. I make my way to the front door with my cool, calm, collected face on.

  I know Alex is the one for me. He tells me the same, but I don’t want to give him any reason to think otherwise. If he sees me panicking, it might put him off.

  “Coming.”

  The door swings open and there he is, in all his glory. The talk, dark, and handsome man who I get to wrap my arms around and hold forever more.

  God damn, I’m so damn lucky.

  “Hey there, Alex.” I swing my hips, drawing his attention downwards. If I catch him staring down my body then I know it’s on. “How’s it going?”

  “You excited?” His eyes remain firmly on my face, gentleman that he is. He’s bound to be a freak in the sheets though, the quiet ones normally are. “My friends are all really happy to meet you. They’ve heard all about you...”

  “All good? You haven’t told them anything bad about me have you?”

  He tosses his head back and laughs. “There’s nothing bad to tell.”

  “Hmm, you might be right about that one!”

  And then...we’re on the way.

  Alex has an old car, he doesn’t have much need for new things, so it takes us a while. I spend that time trying to gather myself up so I’m on top form. I want to portray the best of myself to these people.

  I’ve never cared before, meeting the friends of partners, it’s never bothered me. I always thought I was just too confident to give a damn about the opinions of other people but now I know the boyfriends weren’t important enough to me.

  Alex is...he’s the one.

  “IT’S LOVELY HERE.”

  I don’t know how to describe it, even to myself. It’s like a commune or something. Tents surround me, they are as far as the eyes can see, and judging by the fact washing lines hang outside a lot of them, people seem to lived here fulltime.

  “I know, I love it.”

  Alex’s face lights up like a Christmas tree. I haven’t ever seen him like this before. I’ve seen him happy, but here, he’s shining.

  “Yeah, I can see that.” I squeeze his hand tighter. “And I can understand why. Your friends have a great way of life. It’s all so free and casual.”

  “It isn’t just my friends...I live here too.”

  I freeze on the spot and stare in shock. “I didn’t know that.”

  “Oh, sorry. I thought I told you. That purple tent over there is mine. I’ll show you inside in a moment.”

  Okay, that’s good news. If he wants to take me inside his tent then it still means things might progress between us. Not that I ever thought my first time would be in a tent.

  Not that I thought Alex lived in a tent.

  Still...I won’t judge.

  “S...sure.” I shudder. With need, probably. Not nerves. “Where are we going before then?”

  “To meet my friends. I told you that much.”

  Eventually we come across a wooden shack which stands out among the tents. It’s almost like someone more important than anyone else lives here. An emperor or a king. I cling onto Alex tighter, freaking out even more now. My heart pounds violently against my ribcage.

  “What is going on here?” I lean into my boyfriend closer. “Who are we meeting? Where are your friends?”

  “Him.” There’s an awe on Alex’s face. On everyone’s faces actually. Thi
s is pretty weird. “He’ll be here in a moment. You are going to love him.”

  A shadow steps out from behind the door and in an instant everyone drops to their knees, praying to him. Of course, I have no idea what the hell is going on. Alex has to pull me down with him.

  “What the hell?” I demand. “What is this?”

  “He’s our leader, Juliet. You need to respect him.”

  “Oh sure, because this is totally normal.”

  I shake my head to myself, but do exactly what Alex tells me to. Just because this is a little kooky, it doesn’t mean Alex isn’t the one. People do crazy things for love all the time. This can just be my cross to bear. No problem.

  If it means bowing down to some dude I don’t even know, then I will.

  “Children,” the man booms, causing a hushed silence to fall over the bowing crowd. I might be the only person left breathing. “You have proven yourself worthy over the last few months. Worthy of God’s words. Because of that, he has sent a message through me for each and every one of you.”

  Oh God. This is crazier than I thought it was going to be. I cringe internally, trying to recall the promise I just gave myself.

  Anything for Alex.

  Anything for the one.

  “Everything that we have been working towards as a group...it will all come together soon enough...”

  I can’t help myself, I start to drift off. None of this is my bag, so I don’t need to listen in. I’m only here for him.

  Instead, I drift off. I allow myself to think about the future that I so desperately want with Alex. Imagining me and him together forever is my happy place and I love being there.

  Me and him, living in our house together somewhere beautiful in nature, me in a big white dress telling him that I will be his forever, the pair of us with our children living out our happy ever after...it’s everything I want and more. Me and him just need to get to that place.

  I need him to see the dream as well, to want to work towards it just as much as I do. That’s the only way this will work.

  “Miss, you are a new face, aren’t you?” The sharp tone of the man, who is seemingly in charge of this place, plus the jab in the side from Alex, drags me from my thoughts. “I am trying to locate all the new people here.”

  “Er...well, I’m not exactly here,” I inform this guy because I don’t want him getting any funny ideas about me. “I’m just here visiting with Alex.”

  “Ah, so you are the offering of Alex, I see.”

  “Offering?”

  The look I get shot my way chills me to the core. I guess other people don’t ever question him, but I’m not here to be another sheep in his flock. No way.

  “Well, I just want to know what that means,” I continue defiantly. “Alex invited me to meet his friends.”

  “And that is what’s happening right now.” He extends his arms wide as if he’s including everyone here in this. “We’re all meeting you. Alex’s friend.”

  “Girlfriend.”

  Screw this guy. Urgh, he’s such an idiot. How can anyone follow him? I always assume leaders are charismatic people with something likable about them, even if they have negative intentions deep down.

  But this guy...

  “Of course.” My attitude doesn’t bother him at all. If anything, I’ve turned him smug. “Girlfriend, how silly of me. What is your name?”

  “Juliet.” I can’t stop myself from sounding like a sulky teenager. “My name is Juliet.”

  “No surname?” The glare I give him is answer enough. “Right, sure. Juliet. Nice to meet you. My name is Cloud.”

  I don’t want to shake his hand but there are too many eyes upon me for me not to. He’s clammy, sticky even, unpleasant to the touch, but as Alex watches me connect with this man who he clearly has a lot of love and respect for, he beams at me.

  I’m making him happy and that’s the most important thing. I need to keep this up.

  “I would love to have a word with you after dinner. Alone.”

  That sounds terrible, I hate it, but Alex wants it, it’s pleasing him even more, so I find myself nodding along as if this is a good idea.

  “Well then, let us get back to our evening.”

  As it turns out, the evening consists of a dinner which mostly includes various lettuce leaves, a weird speech by two very pregnant women who I lose interest in almost immediately, and some dancing.

  This is not what I thought meeting Alex’s friends would be like.

  “This has been amazing,” Alex gushes as he holds me in his arms so we can sway to the music just like everyone else. “I have really enjoyed having you here.”

  Huh, clearly he can’t sense my mood about it all. Maybe that’s for the best. I don’t want him to think I don’t appreciate him inviting me into his life, just because it’s weird. Soon enough, I’ll have him back to being just mine and life will be perfect once more.

  “I like being here with you.”

  At least that part is honest. I rest my head on his chest and listen to the beating of his pulse. I slide my eyes closed and block everyone else, putting myself back in my bubble, in my happy place.

  Alex is the one, the man who makes me happy. Everything else is worth the hassle, as long as I get to keep him.

  “Oh, we need to go and meet Cloud, don’t we?” Alex brings me back to earth with a hard thump. “Or at least you do. This is exciting, isn’t it?”

  I say nothing. I want my silence to be enough, but it isn’t.

  “Come on.” He tugs my hand and drags me away from the party. “Let’s go now before it’s too late.”

  My resistance means nothing. It’s as if he doesn’t even feel it. Alex pulls harder, ensuring I can’t escape. The less I want to go, the more determined he becomes.

  “Here we are.” He might as well be trembling in excitement. “Cloud is in there. I wish I could come with you.”

  “Then why don’t you? It seems strange me going in alone. I would feel much calmer with you there.”

  Alex shakes his head, just like I kinda knew he would. “I can’t. Cloud didn’t ask for me. It’s against the rules.”

  I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “You are allowed to make your own decisions, you know? You are in charge of you.”

  I don’t know why I even bothered, of course Alex is going to look at me like I’ve lost my mind.

  “Never mind, don’t worry about it. I’ll just go and speak to Cloud by myself.”

  Cloud...honestly. I wonder what his real name is. Obviously he wasn’t given the name Cloud when he was born. I can’t imagine any parents naming their child Cloud and if they did...well, he was always destined to end up doing whatever it is he does here.

  Should I have knocked on the door? Probably, but I’m not in the mood for niceties. I storm into Cloud’s room where I find him lying in bed, probably naked.

  “Er, maybe I shouldn’t be here.”

  I avert my eyes because the last thing I want is a glimpse. Not of him anyway, I was only planning on seeing my boyfriend naked tonight.

  “Why would you go?” I can hear the smile in Cloud’s voice. “When I’m expecting you. I want you to climb in bed with me.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  I’m already edging my way towards the door, looking forward to my escape.

  “Because I’m introducing you to our group properly tonight. Alex wants you to stay with us fulltime, which means me and you have to get to know one another.”

  “Well, Alex never said that to me. I’m just here to meet his friends, so actually I’m going back home now.”

  “He didn’t tell you that you’re the offering?”

  Offering...why does he keep saying that like it’s a thing?

  “I’m just Juliet.” I force a fake smile on my lips. “No offering, nothing like that. I don’t even know what an offering is...”

  Cloud bolts upright, showing me far too much of his body. I don’t want to look but I can’t resist a little peak
. He’s surprisingly ripped and I wasn’t expecting those tattoos either. But I can’t be caught staring or he’ll try and get me in bed again.

  “Oh, only the most important thing to us.” I don’t enjoy Cloud lighting up. He’s too enthusiastic, it’s unnerving. “The offering is our way of appeasing God. If you listened to my speech before you would know that he is angry because of the ugly place his world has become. We make offerings to him so he doesn’t unleash his wrath upon us. It’s our job to keep the world safe.”

  “You know that’s bonkers, right?” I snort and shake my head. “God isn’t even real. The world has always been an ugly place. You aren’t doing anything.”

  Cloud stares intently at me, like he’s trying to see into my soul or something. Knowing this idiot, he probably is.

  “Such a beautiful offering. God will be pleased.”

  “I’m not being offered to anyone.” I reach for the doorhandle. Thankfully, he doesn’t try to stop me. “I want to go home. This isn’t my thing at all. I mean, I love Alex and everything. He’s the one for me, but this...he can do what he wants but I’ll have no part in it.”

  “Alex won’t want you if you don’t.” Cloud’s voice changes. It’s darker, more gravely. “You think he loves you enough to change his whole way of life? He doesn’t. If you walk away from this now, you lose him.”

  This does give me pause for thought, but only for a moment.

  “No, that’s where you’re mistaken.” Now it’s my turn to be smug. “Alex loves me. He loves me more than you guys. Just you wait and see.”

  I don't know if I feel quite as confident as I’m making out as I stalk away, Alex does seem pretty invested in this nonsense, but he’s the one, isn’t he? I can make sure that he picks me over anyone else.

  “Come on.” I grab his hand hard. “Let’s go to your tent. I want to see what you’re hiding away inside of there.”

  “Wait...but you weren’t very long with Cloud at all. What happened? I thought...?”