The black candle

At the bottom of the silver capped peaks of Japan lay a village nestled in the countryside. Far from the big cities, the nuances of technology are forgotten. The houses in neat rows, paths of dirt in between leading to each house. In one of these houses, lives a small family of four, the Azusawa's residence. Rin Azusawa, the youngest daughter of the family struggled to pull on her winter boots sitting on the floor. Her hair was of a short length, thin and jet black like her mother's, and her eyes were the same. An average look for a girl of the mountains, however her sister was different. Her sister, beautiful and delicate like the Sakura trees that bloom on the sides of mountains, long and full black hair that went almost to her knees and skin as pale as the freshly fallen powder. Her eyes pulled anyone who stared at her, like a deep and endless abyss. The pride of the family. The pride of the village. Rin scoffed at her own thoughts "what makes her so special? What does she have that I don't?" There was one answer for that. A sickness: one that wore down the body and caused physical weakness, it's true her sister was delicate, fragile like a porcelain doll. And because of that the family was in the situation they're in now.

"Rin, Chiyo, are you ready to go?"

Called Fumiko, Rin's mother. Chiyo nodded silently, as did Rin

"Let's head out to the shaman's house then."

Added her father, Yuta.

"Why must we go to the shaman in this cold weather?"

Rin protested

"You know as well as I do that your sister's condition has only gotten worse, we need to protect her."

"That's what you always say! Why does she get everything, what about me? When I get sick you don't take me to the shaman!"

Fumiko sighed deeply; this conversation had come up more than once

"Rin please, your sister is in terrible condition, she needs to be taken care of."

"It's because you like her more, isn't it? You like her pale skin, her dark eyes, her long hair. You like everything I don't have!"

Rin shouted, her voice filling the cold and small house

"You know it's not like that Rin, I-"

Chiyo attempted to finish her sentence but failed to without coughing. Her father ushered them out of the door and into the cold street. Passing by each house, the windows boarded up and doors locked. Rin wondered why, there wasn't supposed to be another snowstorm anytime soon. The shaman's house was adorned with talismans and papers. The family sat down to draw an O-mikuji fortune slip.

"Be careful dear Azusawa family, for tonight is the impact. Every 50 years the monsters spill from the sky and terrorize our village. Take this black candle to protect yourself, keep it alight, and keep your door closed. Unless you are free of sin."

The shaman warned the family but said no more, as the family drew O-mikuji Rin stared at hers. Kyō. Misfortune. "this cannot be true! I've never drawn misfortune before!" Rin glanced over her shoulder at Chiyo's fortune, shō-kichi. Small blessing. "of course, she gets a blessing! She always gets everything! The looks, the treatment, she has it all!" Chiyo notices Rin's frustration.

"I'm sure it will all be fine; we can trade fortunes if you want."

Her voice soft and warm against the winters bite. Rin shook her head. There was no need for pity. On the way back to the house Rin's father handed her the candle. It was tall black and waxy to the touch.

"Use this to protect yourself, and when we return, we will knock three times, so you know it's us. Don't open the door otherwise."

She nodded and placed the candle on the table. Waiting as her family headed out the door, to the real shrine far up the mountain. And as they did the evening sun dipped below the silver peaks, the last orange rays of sunlight bathed the world in a reddish tint. Before disappearing completely, for the moon to rise and take its place, shining brilliantly white and casting a silver glow upon everything it touched. She lit the candle and sat with her back against the door, covering her ears as the sky split open with a sound like a giant mirror cracking. Shortly after people were screaming, and monsters were roaring. She stared into the candlelight, the flame was steady, sometimes faltering but ultimately staying alight. Entranced by the fire, delicate yet dangerous, she continued to stare. "Can this little flame really protect me?" She thought to herself, unsure of what the shaman told her to be true. As she sat, her back braced against the door, she could hear the earsplitting screams and shrieks of the monsters, just descending from the rift. She tried not to imagine how grotesque they must look, and how many people they had come to take. To distract herself from the infinitely worsening cries of death she stared out of her open window, at the moon high in the sky. A strong gust of wind traveled over the mountains and down to the village where it pushed into the room, the candle's light began to flicker rapidly. She hurriedly jumped to her feet and ran to close the window shut, turning around to see if it had gone out. The violent flickering ceased, and it returned to its steady glow, she let out a deep sigh before walking back to the door. She lost track of time, it continued, and the moon stayed at its safe place in the sky, above all the terror. The candle had gotten smaller, and wax was dripping onto the floor. A sound came through all the screaming. Three knocks upon the very door she was sitting on. She hesitated to open the door; it may not be her parents.

"Rin, Rin open the door!"

They had come to save her at last! After all this time sitting, waiting, listening to her neighbors die they had come to rescue her. She threw open the door, smiling wide, for they had come back for her. But she reeled in horror in an instant, she stood face to face with a monster. It's tendrils were long and oily black, slithering in place. Her eyes scanned up the monsters horrid body and arrived at it's face. So familiar yet so unusual. The face of her very own sister, the same pale skin, the same long black hair, the same gentle smile she had known too well. The eyes, however, the eyes. black as the sky they were under, with no whites. Only an endless abyss. Just like Chiyo. The monster dragged her out as she screamed in terror. Screamed for her mom. For her dad. For Chiyo. But no one heard her, and no one ever would. She stared at the moon, the last thing she saw. It looked down from it's perch, and with also having stolen her sisters face it laughed. The moon fell and the sun rose, the family had descended from the mountain and knocked on their door three times. They called Rin's name to no response. Upon opening the door, the house was empty, with no sign of life. The only thing left was the black candle in the middle of the room. Still burning brightly, the only thing warming the room as the family crumpled to the floor in tears.