1.
"Ah!" My scream pierces the confined space of the car as the loud boom of thunder strikes far too close for comfort. "Where the hell is this Airbnb, Mike? In the land of the forgotten?!" I ask nervously, my fingers digging into the armrest, trying to calm myself down.
Mike says in his typical calming tone, "Just stay calm, alright? It looked wonderful in the pictures. There's a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji from our room." His eyes are fixated on the winding road ahead, every curve revealing a deeper shade of darkness. It's past 5 p.m. in September, which means two things - dusk and rain. Although scary, the view is really captivating. It's mystical, full of unknowns, and the strange ghostly feeling that Japan always brings me.
"Why didn't we come for the Sakura?!" I ask Mike in a futile attempt to divert my attention from the unsettling silhouettes darting between trees. The boundaries between real and imagined blur, making the surroundings even more ominous. Mike flicks on the high beams, trying to ward off the encompassing gloom, but it only amplifies the vast, growing darkness around us. Each flash of light reveals glimpses of figures that shouldn't be there--twisted forms that vanish as quickly as they appear. Eyes that are watching us.
Mike chuckles softly, "Remember, it was your idea to avoid the tourist rush during Sakura season. Besides, there's a unique beauty to Japan this time of year, don't you think?"
I force a smile, nodding as I grip the side handle of the car door. "Yeah, I just didn't expect the beauty to be accompanied by... whatever that was," I whisper, recalling the eerie shadows.
"I've heard stories of the spirits that reside in these mountains," Mike says playfully, shooting me a quick, mischievous glance. "But come on, we both know those are just legends."
As we journey deeper, the path reveals a secluded old wooden Japanese house, its edges softened by years and weather. Flickering candlelight from within casts long, dancing shadows across the structure, giving it an ethereal glow. Its appearance is inviting and a little sinister, exuding an atmosphere of serene stillness yet hiding untold stories in its walls.
Mike parks the car and turns to me, his eyes reflecting pride and slight apprehension. "See," he says with a note of forced cheerfulness, trying to mask an underlying tension. "It looks amazing, doesn't it?"
"Kon-ban-waaaaa!" a senile but cheerful voice welcomes us from the front porch. I smile and wave to the old lady. She looks one hundred years old but jumps around like a rabbit.
"Hai, dozo!" she says, pointing to the door. It's silent all around the house; no other cars are parked, just the trees, the lady, and us. As I step on the porch, I jump back, scared.
"Shoes! Shoes!" the old lady yells at me. I smile timidly and take my shoes off. I remove my socks. They are wet from the wet ground I stepped in.
I feel warmth as my feet touch the soft tatami of the house. My body is filled with energy.
"Aaaaah! Beautifur feet!" the old lady says, pointing to my feet and smiling. The vivid yellow of my toenails, complemented by the delicate ring adorning one toe, has caught her attention, setting them apart in her eyes.
As I smile, I hear Mike's voice behind me. "Yeah, tell me about it. I love to suck them toes!"
I whip around, giving Mike a look of sheer disbelief.
Mike chuckles, hands up in mock defense, "Hey, it's not like she's getting our jokes, right?"
Yet, to our combined mortification, the old lady mimics Mike's tone and giggles, "toey-moey, sucky-wucky!" She then winks dramatically, urging us forward with an exaggerated wave. "Follow me, silly geese!"
We trail behind her into a room, the entrance graced by a stunning Japanese sliding door. Its entire expanse is meticulously hand-painted with elegant Japanese cranes, each detail so precise that the birds seem to be on the verge of taking flight. Behind them, a white fox is lurking in the bushes. An octopus is in the water near the cranes. The ambient light gently reflects off the tatami floor, where two trays laden with warm, mouth-watering Japanese delicacies await us.
The lady turns to me and says. "Food now! Onsen rater! You pretty, they rike!"
"Who are 'they'?" I ask, a shiver running down my spine despite the room's warmth.
But she doesn't answer. Instead, with a deep bow, deeper than necessary, casting her face in shadows, she gracefully exits leaving behind silence as the door slides shut with a resonating sound.
Mike, attempting to lighten the mood, grins, and jokes, "Maybe she's talking about the house spirits? Looks like you've got some supernatural fans!"