Run For Your Life

THE rain continued to pour. Lightning flashed and thunder roared from time to time. The wind howled again and again. No one could forecast when this chilly weather would end. Extreme coldness suddenly crept through the veins, almost impossible for Yuki to ignore it. The excruciate heat she felt before was long gone. Now Yuki's body was shuddering. With overpowering fear, sadness, and more. All her unbearable feelings were jumbled together like chaos!

Rain, driven by strong winds, lashed into the lobby through the open door. The sight and tension were palpable.

But Yuki could only stand there on the second floor. Putrefied and terror-struck. And down these long stairs, the trespasser stood near the dead Reiko. Yuki watched the lifeless body of her loyal maid in disbelief. It was a heart-breaking view. Yuki was bewildered, completely speechless at what she had witnessed.

Every creature has an aura, or spirit, surrounding them. Among humans, only Yuki could see it. And that trespasser's soul was pitch black! Yuki was more afraid of the black soul rather than a dead body.

As Yuki was astounded, her lamp oil fell on the floor. And her source of light was gone. It became dark.

Her mind was brooding over with a lot of crazy questions. But the main query that earliest appeared on her mind was, who on earth was that man?

And what was happening here?

Immediately Yuki screamed and cried for help and others' attention! Her screams were so loud that the servants on the first floor hurriedly left their room, and others on the second floor awoke from their deep sleep.

Soon after, every person living in the manor gathered on the scene.

"Great. All are here. Seem like our job tonight is easy," exclaimed the trespasser in joy.

Grandma Ito, the Family Head, hurriedly pulled Yuki's hand and stood in front of her, protecting her.

"This is a private manor. And you are invading our place! Who sent you?" remarked Grandma Ito with anger.

"My client sent me. She can't afford any more competition." He answered.

Yuki remained clueless and speechless for a long time. What client? What did he mean by competition?

At that moment, the man loaded his gun. And he was ready to shoot. Any minutes. Anyone could be his next target.

Tonight, the moon would witness lots of innocent death.

Nevertheless, other servants bravely stood in his ways. They tried their best to hold him back. But in all conscience, what could four feeble female servants do when facing a vigorous man armed with a gun?

"Hiromi! Kiko! Take Yuki and go. Hurry!" Grandma Ito pushed Yuki away.

As always, Yuki's safety was her top priority. Even if it meant others' lives were at stake.

The Mikos; Hiromi and Kiko promptly pulled Yuki's hand, forcing her to follow them.

They headed to the only escape route available at the end of the second floor. It was just a gigantic window hidden behind a big curtain. There was a strong rope in the nearest cabinet to them. Kiko quickly took the rope out, and she tied one end of it to the cabinet and threw the other end out the window. It was dangerous. But their only solution to escape was to slide down it!

"Sister, I'm scared. I'm scared!" Yuki's hands were trembling with fear. She was panic!

"No. Don't cry. It's okay. I'll go down first. And just follow me." Hiromi swiftly wiped Yuki's tears.

Cautiously, Hiromi went down first. When she was sure the coast clear, she told Yuki to slide down.

"I'll catch you if you fall. No worries." Hiromi tried to soothe Yuki, who was afraid. Noticeably.

Yuki refused. "We must go back. Reiko is hurt! I have to heal her!"

"She's dead already! You can do nothing!" Kiko clarified in disappointment.

BANG! BANG!

At that very moment, some gunshots were fired. The gun noises were mixed with the hysterical screams of others. It was chaotic!

"Hurry!" Kiko firmly pushed Yuki to the window. They could not waste any precious seconds.

Yuki finally slid down the rope. It was difficult considering her long nightwear. But she succeeded. Then she raised up her head, looking at Kiko.

"Don't wait for me. Just go!" said Kiko. She knew it was bad timing for her to escape. So she let Hiromi and Yuki went down first.

"What?" cried Yuki.

"I'm sorry. But just GO!" Kiko pulled up the rope. And she closed the window tight. She covered it with the curtain before running back to the stairs. She had to save her family!

Yuki froze. What?

"Hurry!" Hiromi pulled her hand. They were running to the back gate. Their next destination was the shrine. It was the safest place on the island. Hiromi already thought of the plan. She would hide Yuki in the shrine and go to the port. There was a working phone booth there. Maybe she could call for help. She prayed.

While running away, Yuki kept asking the same question repeatedly, "I don't understand why this is happening?"

Hiromi shook her head. She wanted to explain. But now was not the perfect timing. They had to run first. There was no time to explain.

Yuki grew up with lots of protection and care. She never sees the evil in the world. She is so pure and oblivious to it. To Yuki, this island is her domain. It always had, and always will.

Oh, God. Hiromi was always afraid that this trouble would occur one day. She knew it was bound to happen.

While visitors kept increasing each day to seek healing from the shrine, there must be one logical reason it happened. It must be because of the rumored shaman on the mainland.

Hiromi once heard about that shaman when she went to the mainland for some errands. The shaman was ill-reputed in casting bad curses and such. She was the best among the bests in the mainland. But since Yuki started helping around the shrine, performing purifying acts, and more, of course, that so 'famous' shaman would start losing her customers.

'That shaman must be out of her mind. Trespassing and killing are crimes. This is vengeance!'

As they were reaching the back gate, they saw a dark figure of another man.

"He has an accomplice!" muttered Hiromi. Oh no!

Instantly, Hiromi and Yuki stopped.

Of course, he had an accomplice. Hiromi and Yuki observed the man. He had a creepy smile with passionate killing intent. He reeked of cigarette smoke and alcohol. However, this other guy did not own a gun. But a dagger!

"What should we do?" said Yuki, in a frightened voice.

They met a dead end!

"You must run! Don't ever look back!" Hiromi chose to sacrifice herself.

"No!"

"GO!"

Yuki cried. She did not want to go alone and let go of Hiromi's hand.

Hiromi instinctively pushed Yuki away as the man came closer towards them. Yuki did not have a choice. Thus, she ran away with a heavy heart!

Then disaster struck. Hiromi was attacked! The man aimed the dagger at her heart, but she avoided and it stabbed on her shoulder instead. Her body collapsed because of the impact. When the man wanted to run after Yuki, Hiromi held him back. She clings to his foot desperately.

"This damn woman!" The man was scarlet with anger.

With the same dagger, he stabbed Hiromi's back multiple times. Instantly, a spray of red blood quashed out from her stricken back! Hiromi gave a howl of pain, writhing in pain. But she did not let go! With her small amount of energy left, she kept clinging until she knew Yuki was already gone.

___

YUKI was not sure which way to go. She just ran for her life, and for those who sacrificed theirs so she could escape from the murderers. She wanted to get help. But there was no police station on the island. She was trapped!

At last, she ran into the woods. While hiding behind a tree, she broke down and sobbed bitterly. Yuki had no sense of direction. She ran off without shoes or any preparation.

And for goodness' sake, it was still raining!

Until when must she run? She could not hide forever. Instead of running to the shrine or port, her legs led her to the private lake behind the manor.

"Oh, God. Please save us!" Yuki held the palms of her both hands together and prayed hard.

Suddenly, Yuki heard a voice behind her, calling over her.

"Come out! Come out! Wherever you are! You can't escape, woman!"

No! Yuki felt a cold gust of wind on her back, sending a chill down her spine. She was terrified. She shut her eyes close. She was paralyzed. Her mind and body were unable to function. She was so fixated on praying that she could not even breathe properly.

"Aha!" The man grabbed her hand. He found her!

NO!

At that very moment, the ground was shaking! Almost like an earthquake. Both of them lost their balance, but Yuki took that chance to escape his grabs. And her heart told her to run to the lake!

Yes, she could not swim. But she was so scared that she could not think sane. She just wanted to cross over the lake!

"Woman!" the man shouted.

But Yuki did not look back.

With that previous shaking as a warning, the ground made slight movements, which rapidly became violent. And it started affecting the lake too! Yuki's feet were locked on the ground. And her body stumbled upon a stone before, finally, she fell into the lake.

And her world becomes black.