Record Sixteen - Mina

  The lake was quiet.

  Tall grass grew unevenly along the banks and thin trees leaned over the water. The surface of the lake was calm, only shifting when the wind passed over it or when something small disturbed it underneath.

  The wooden bridge along the side of the lake had recently been repaired. The planks were new and lighter in color, the grain still visible and clean. The boards lined up evenly, secured tightly, though they still made a soft, hollow sound when weight shifted on them.

  Two high school girls had taken over the middle of the bridge.

  Lia was lying flat on her back across the planks. Her blazer was open, her tie loosened. Her arms were stretched wide on either side of her. Her hair spread beneath her head, strands resting against the wood.

  Mina sat beside her, cross-legged. She was watching the water.

  Their school bags sat next to them, leaning against each other near the edge of the bridge. The zippers weren’t fully closed and the corner of a notebook stuck out from Mina’s bag.

  The new wood gave a soft creak under their weight.

  Lia breathed out slowly.

  Mina glanced at her briefly, then back at the water again.

  Neither of them spoke.

  A moment passed.

  ....

  Lia slowly pushed herself upright.

  The wooden planks made a low creaking sound as she shifted her weight onto her knees. She shifted closer to Mina, moving on her knees until she was directly behind her.

  Then Lia placed both hands on Mina’s shoulders.

  “Heey. Could you lift your head up for a sec?”

  Instead of lifting her head, Mina lowered it. She knew Lia too well to trust a request like that.

  “No.”

  Lia leaned closer.

  “Aww… but I spent all night practising jujutsu.”

  Mina let out a short breath.

  “Heh. What would have happened if I had lifted my head.?”

  “Come on,” Lia said, leaning forward more. She rested some of her weight against Mina’s back now.

  Mina placed her hands on the wooden bridge to steady herself.

  Beat.

  Pfff

  Lia suddenly blew sharply into Mina’s ear.

  The sound and sudden breath made Mina shriek without meaning to. Her head jerked up instantly.

  Lia shrieked too, happily and immediately wrapped her arms around Mina’s neck from behind. At the same time, she locked her legs around Mina’s waist tightly.

  And then she fell backward on purpose.

  They both toppled onto the wooden planks in a messy tumble. Mina landed on top of Lia.

  “Ha! Hurry up and confess your secrets!” Lia shouted happily, squeezing her grip tighter around Mina’s waist.

  Mina made a show of struggling. She twisted slightly, her hands pressed against the planks for leverage. Lia tightened her grip.

  For a moment it looked like Lia had won.

  But Mina’s movements slowly changed. Her hands planted firmly on the bridge. Her posture adjusted.

  Then, while Lia was still clinging to her, Mina began lifting herself off the ground. She pushed upward steadily, bringing Lia up with her.

  “Heh…?!” Lia shrieked in surprise as she felt her own body rising.

  Now Mina was seated upright.

  Lia was behind her, still holding on, but no longer in control of the situation. Her arms were still wrapped around Mina’s neck and her legs were still hooked around her waist, though her grip had loosened lightly.

  Slowly, Mina began pulling Lia’s feet apart. Lia immediately tried tightening her legs again, squeezing with effort, but Mina kept pulling.

  Little by little, Lia’s legs separated. Her grip weakened.

  The moment they loosened enough, Mina turned her body quickly and grabbed Lia by the waist, pulling her forward.

  Now Lia was directly in front of her.

  Her arms were still loosely wrapped around Mina’s neck from the struggle.

  Mina leaned forward slightly.

  “You lose.”

  A pause.

  They were very close. Too close. Their faces were only a few inches apart. Their breathing mixed in the small space between them. Mina could feel the warmth of Lia’s breath against her lips every time she exhaled.

  Another moment passed.

  Lia shifted slightly, her hands loosening around Mina’s neck as if she was about to pull away and end the moment before it became something else.

  But Mina reacted before she could. Her hands tightened around Lia’s waist, pulling her closer again. Firm enough to stop her from retreating.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Mina…?”

  Lia’s voice was quieter now.

  Mina stared into her eyes. She could see the faint reflection of herself in her eyes. The dark outline of her own face mirrored in Lia’s smoky gaze. Lia’s lashes were long.

  For a brief second, Mina forgot everything else.

  Her throat felt tight.

  She opened her mouth.

  “I…”

  The words barely left her mouth.

  A thud.

  Something wet hit her cheek.

  Then more.

  Warm. Thick.

  It splattered across her face and uniform.

  The smell hit next.

  Metallic. Sharp.

  Blood.

  It streaked across her skin, dripping down from her forehead to her jaw.

  Lia’s arms loosened. The hold around Mina’s neck slipped slowly. Her fingers slid down her shoulders, dragging faint streaks of blood across her uniform as they fell.

  Her headless body fell sideways onto the wooden bridge.

  Blood sprayed out in thick bursts from the open neck, splashing across the planks and Mina’s uniform. The body hit the wood with a heavy sound and rolled slightly onto its back.

  For a split second, it was still.

  Then the body twitched.

  It was small at first. Just a jerk of the shoulder.

  The fingers curled.

  The torso jerked again, harder this time. The legs stiffened and kicked against the wood. The body began shaking violently, not like a normal spasm but like something was pulling the muscles in different directions at once.

  The shaking became worse.

  The skin along the neck wound did not just bleed. It stretched. The torn flesh pulled outward as if something inside was pressing against it. The shoulders began to rise unnaturally high. The spine arched upward in a sharp bend that no body should be able to make.

  A loud crack echoed across the lake.

  The arms lengthened.

  The elbows bent the wrong way. The joints shifted under the skin as if they were being rearranged. Fingers extended, growing thin and stretched. The nails split against the wood as they scraped across it.

  The torso began to expand. The ribs pressed visibly against the skin, pushing outward. The uniform tore at the seams. The fabric ripped open down the middle of the chest.

  The skin along the back began to split.

  The crack widened slowly down the spine.

  It opened fully, and something forced its way out from inside the body. A thick arm pushed through first, deep bruised red and swollen with bulging veins. It shoved against the torn skin and widened the opening further.

  Another arm followed.

  The thing inside pulled itself upward, using the shaking corpse like a shell. The shoulders of the creature forced through the split spine.

  Its skin was stretched tight over heavy muscle, dark red. Its head pushed free last, forcing the remains of ‘lia’s ‘ corpse like discarded clothing.

  It straightened slowly.

  Bits of torn uniform and skin still clung to its shoulders before sliding off.

  The wooden planks near its feet began to splinter and warp. Nails tore themselves free from the boards. Metal bent and fused together. Wood twisted and compressed into a long, warped shape.

  It rose to the creatures massive arm slowly.

  The result was a massive machete-like blade made of fused wood and metal, jagged and uneven.

  She couldn’t move.

  Her face was wet. Warm liquid dripped down her cheek and onto her collar. Her chest was soaked. She could feel the stickiness of it against her skin.

  Her throat locked.

  The monster took a step forward.

  The wooden bridge groaned under its weight.

  Then another step.

  It dragged the ‘machete’ along the planks as it walked.

  The metal screeched against wood, splintering the boards. The fresh planks cracked and tore apart as the blade carved into them.

  Her body finally reacted.

  Barely.

  She scooted backward on her hands and heels, her movements clumsy and weak. Her palms slipped slightly on the blood-slick surface.

  Her mouth opened.

  A cry tried to come out.

  Nothing did.

  Her eyes filled. Tears spilled silently down her face, mixing with the blood already there.

  The monster stopped just three steps away.

  Up close, it was enormous.

  Its shadow swallowed her.

  It bent down.

  Slowly.

  Its upper body folded forward at the waist, spine bending in a way that looked unstable.

  Its face came closer.

  Closer.

  Until it was inches from hers.

  Its mouth slowly opened. Its jaw stretched so wide. The corners of its mouth split slightly as the skin pulled tight.

  It leaned even closer.

  For half a second , everything went silent.

  Then it shrieked.

  The sound was not just loud. It sounded like metal scraping against metal. Like nails dragging across wood. Like dozens of distorted whispers stacked on top of each other.

  The shriek hit her face directly. The force of it felt physical. Her ears rang violently. Pain shot through her head. Her vision blurred instantly.

  The sound felt like it was coming from inside her skull.

  Her vision tunneled.

  It kept screeching.

  Everything started going black.

  ...

  Mina shot upright in Lia’s bed.

  She sucked in a sharp breath that burned her throat.

  Her whole body was wet with sweat. Her hair stuck to her forehead and neck. Her towel clung uncomfortably to her back. Her heart was beating so hard that it hurt.

  Her head hurt. Her ears rang.

  She looked down at herself immediately.

  No blood.

  Her hands were shaking.

  She pressed one hand against her chest, trying to slow it down, but it did not calm quickly. Her throat felt dry. Her mouth tasted bitter.

  The room was dark.

  Lia’s desk sat where it always did. The faint light from outside filtered through the curtains.

  Everything looked normal.

  But for several seconds, it did not feel real.

  Her eyes kept moving around the room, checking the corners, the shadows, the door. She wiped her face with her hand and felt sweat and tears mixed together.

  She swallowed hard. The image of the dream still lingered in her mind.

  Lia.

  It had felt real. Too real.

  She forced herself to breathe in.

  Slow. Deep.

  Then out.

  Again.

  She pulled the blanket up and held it tightly against her chest. The fabric was damp from sweat, but she did not care. She squeezed it and tried to focus.

  She started counting backwards.

  Ten…

  Nine…

  Her breathing was uneven.

  ....

  “Help me…”

  A voice.

  Clear.

  Weak.

  Right there.

  Mina’s eyes slowly moved upward.

  Standing at the foot of her bed…

  ‘ Lia.’

  Her uniform torn down the middle. The fabric hung loose, soaked dark with blood. It dripped steadily from the sleeves and hem to the floor.

  In her hands…

  She was holding her own head. It tilted slightly in her grasp. The eyes were gone. The sockets were empty and dark, but blood welled slowly from them, spilling down her cheeks and dripping from her chin.

  The mouth moved.

  “Help me…”

  Mina’s body reacted before her mind could process it. She squeezed her eyes shut immediately..

  T... eight…

  Seven…

  Her voice cracked.

  The air around her went cold.

  Six…

  Five…

  Her fingers dug into the sheet.

  Something wet touched her face.

  Cold. Sticky.

  A hand.

  “Minaaaa…”

  The voice dragged her name out slowly and distorted.

  Her breathing broke completely.

  She scrambled backward on the mattress, her back hitting the headboard. Her hands clawed at the sheets. Her vision started to tunnel at the edges. Her fingers tingled and felt numb. Each breath came too fast and too shallow, like she could not get enough air into her lungs no matter how hard she tried.

  Her chest tightened painfully.

  Her heartbeat became irregular and loud in her ears.

  Her throat felt like it was closing.

  Tears streamed down her face.

  Her body shook uncontrollably.

  She did not hear the door unlock.

  She did not hear it open.

  ...

  “Heey… “

  Lia stepped inside, holding two bags. Her shoulder bag and large paper bag filled with something.

  “I…”

  The bags slipped from her hands and hit the floor when she saw Mina.

  Mina was pressed against the headboard, eyes wide and unfocused, shaking violently.

  Lia rushed forward immediately. She climbed onto the bed without hesitation and grabbed Mina by the shoulders.

  “Mina. Mina!”

  Mina didn’t react.

  …

  She could not hear Lia properly. The room sounded distant, like she was underwater. Her breathing was too loud in her own ears. Her eyes were open but she wasn’t seeing Lia

  “MINA!”

  Lia’s voice cracked. Tears filled her eyes as she pulled Mina into her arms.

  She held her tightly, one hand pressing against the back of Mina’s head, the other wrapped around her shoulders.

  Mina’s body kept trembling at first.

  Her hands were stiff and cold.

  But slowly…

  Her breathing began to respond to the rhythm of Lia’s voice.

  In.

  Out.

  In.

  Out.

  Lia kept repeating quietly, over and over.

  “It’s okay. I’m here. You’re okay.”

  The shaking reduced from violent to small tremors.

  Mina’s fingers twitched.

  Her eyes focused slightly.

  The cold feeling faded.

  No monster.

  Only her Best friend.

  Her hands slowly lifted and rested against the sides of Lia’s head, almost like she needed to make sure she was real.

  She stared at her for a moment.

  Then her face crumpled.

  Then she leaned forward and buried her face into Lia’s chest, wrapping both hands around her tightly.

  And then, the crying came out loud.

  She broke down fully, her shoulders shaking as she cried against Lia. Holding onto her tightly. Not wanting to let go.

  Lia held her just as tight.

  ‘It’s okay,” she whispered again, her own tears falling now.

  “I’m here.”

  *****

  The bathroom door opened quietly.

  A soft cloud of warm steam drifted into the room. Lia stepped out, her hair still slightly damp. She had changed into simple home clothes. An oversized gray T-shirt that hung loosely over her frame. Her skin was fresh from the shower, faintly pink at the cheeks and there was a clean scent following her as she crossed the room.

  She dried her hair lightly with a towel as she walked.

  Mina was on the bed. Lying on her side.

  She had changed out of the towel and into one of Lia’s spare t-shirts.

  Lia walked over and climbed onto the bed. She pulled the blanket over her legs and sat upright against the headboard.

  Mina shifted, then pushed herself up too. Without saying anything, she scooted closer and pressed into Lia’s side. She wrapped one arm around Lia’s waist and rested her cheek against her shoulder.

  The room was quiet except for the soft sound of fabric and their breathing evening out.

  A few seconds passed.

  “What happened?” Lia finally asked, her voice soft but steady.

  Silence.

  “Mina..?”

  “I saw you die,” she said quietly.

  She slowly lifted her head and leaned closer.

  “We were at the lake back home,” she continued quietly. “And then…”

  Her breathing hitched. The images came back too clearly. The blood. Lia’s headless body. Her stomach twisted hard and she pressed her lips together, trying not to gag.

  Lia immediately wrapped her arm around Mina’s back.

  “It’s okay,” she said gently.

  Mina’s breathing quickened slightly again, but not like before.

  “It was just a dream,” Lia continued calmly. “That’s all it was.”

  She shifted slightly so she could look at Mina properly.

  “Look,” she added, giving her a small smile. “I’m not dead, right?”

  Mina looked at her and smiled faintly. Then she hugged Lia even tighter.

  They slowly shifted down together after a moment.

  Lia adjusted the pillow behind her head and slid lower into the mattress. Mina followed her movement , still holding onto her.

  Lia turned slightly onto her back. Mina curled into her side, pressing close, her head resting against Lia’s chest. Her arms slipped across Lia’s waist, holding her firmly.

  Their legs tangled under the blanket.

  Mina drew one knee up slightly, brushing against Lia’s thigh. Lia adjusted again so Mina could fit more comfortably, their bodies aligning.

  Her ear rested over Lia’s chest. She could hear the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. Calm. Slow. Real.

  “Are you going to tell me why you came home in a yukata..?”

  Mina said, her voice softer now.

  Lia let out a small giggle.