Yuki-Onna

YUKI-ONNA Skyler Novak

The evening is a brisk one. A light jacket over your shoulders, thick denim jeans and a scarf for good measure. You ask yourself why on earth you picked the graveyard shift, at a graveyard.

At the time it was the only job hiring, but with the expansion of the city you actually have a chance at building an actual life. Finally, you can take those skills you have stored in the garage and try to make a name for yourself. However, "Why should I put myself out there? I’ve got a nice job and it pays decent." is a thought that comes to mind more often than it should. You sigh.

As a bitter wind stabs into your eyes you wince from the icy daggers. Raising the lantern in your right hand you survey the surrounding area. You notice a figure in the distance.

"Excuse me! The graveyard is closed!" You yell at the figure.

Only another gust of icy wind responds to your words.

Now frustrated, you swiftly sift through the snow towards the figure. You hear the crunch of the snow over and over beneath your boots. Calling out to the figure again, your voice is cut off by the howling air itself.

When you finally approach the person, you start to hear the cries of a woman. Her sniffing and weeps cut through the suddenly silent graves. Again, you lift your lamp to get a better look. The woman before you is pale with black hair and a white dress. She weeps at a gravestone, and you notice her frozen tears falling into the snow.

You carefully lower your foot as you try to quietly walk up to the woman and softly say "excuse me ma'am, but we are closed for the night." As the words leave your mouth you notice that the wind is at a stand still for the first time in weeks. You extend your hand to help the woman up. When she turns to take your hand you feel a sharp pain in your chest, as if the air is being stolen from your lungs. You collapse to the snow and the darkness begins to grow in your vision. Thoughts flood through your mind; friends, family and the lost chances that you wish you could have taken. With your final gasp for air your wish that you could have one more chance. Finally the darkness consumes you and the final thing you see is your own name on the tombstone in front of you.