The world is interesting naturally, rock formations, planets. However, perhaps there are things beyond that, things that we are yet to uncover?

  Here we have Melissa Walker. She was a 25-year-old, married robotics engineer with an abundance of friends.

  Melissa twisted the screwdriver on the robotic arm and flipped a switch. She opened and closed her hand. The robot closely mimicked her.

  “Oh my!! It’s working, I can’t wait to show my hu— oh wait.” Melissa paused.

  Melissa’s husband is a senior wildland firefighter, and he was currently out of state fighting a huge fire. He most likely won’t pick up the phone.

  “Uhhh….” She sighed.

  She frowned, then smiled.

  She pulled up her phone and dialed a number.

  It picked up.

  “What bruh, you are a grown woman with a husband calling me every day,” spoke the voice.

  “I’ve called you twice in the past 2 weeks,” Melissa replied.

  “Call Miley, bruh…” the voice replied.

  “I do every day. Now anyway, I wanna show you something,” Melissa replied.

  Melissa pressed the camera button, starting up FaceTime. The speaker answered the call.

  “Look what I made, Devan,” Melissa said excitedly.

  She repeated her earlier actions.

  Devan’s expression changed. “Pretty nice.”

  He had dark skin, a rather trim face, he also had dreads, and wore black glasses.

  “Thanks,” Melissa replied.

  “Anyway, do you still have that monocle on?” asked Devan.

  Melissa flipped the camera to show herself.

  She’s very attractive, dark skin, long straight black hair, brown eyes, and a golden monocle. It perfectly accommodated her husband’s oversized white dress shirt and her black tights.

  “You look like you from the 1600’s,” Devan said.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “They had the best fashion for a reason,” Melissa replied.

  “Delusional as always,” replied Devan.

  “Whatever,” replied Melissa.

  “Anyway, how’s football going?” asked Melissa.

  “Bro, I had to travel to Zeltic to play them. It’s freezing cold,” he replied.

  “Hmm, well we live in Kumpus. It’s pretty chilly here,” Melissa replied.

  “Yeah but nowhere near as cold as Zeltic,” Devan countered.

  “Fair, but anyway I got a question,” said Melissa.

  “What?” asked Devan.

  “So I’ve been wanting to go with my husband, but unfortunately he always dips when it’s time to leave. So I want you to come with me,” Melissa declared.

  “Get to the point, lil girl,” Devan said.

  “I’m older than you. Anyway, I wanna go to a haunted house,” Melissa said.

  “Yeah, get off my phone,” Devan said.

  As the line ended.

  Melissa called back instantly.

  “Jerk, just go with me,” said Melissa.

  “So you insulting me but want me to do something for you?” asked Devan.

  “….Ok look, I’m sorry,” said Melissa.

  “That’s what I thought,” Devan said.

  “Anyway, please Devan,” Melissa said.

  “Fine, just get down there before me or I’m leaving,” Devan said.

  The line ended.

  Melissa ran to her closet. She slipped on a black tank top and black tights with white sneakers. She threw a white hoodie over it, golden monocle still equipped.

  She walked through the house into her garage and grabbed a robotic hand. It had a flashlight and flare gun attachment. She looked over to the calendar, which had February 20th, 2036 marked.

  She smiled.

  ***

  Melissa stepped out of her car. She naturally stretched from the 20-minute car ride.

  Devan stood there, leaned up against the car, his expression unreadable.

  “What happened to you leaving if I don’t make it in time?” Melissa teased.

  “Want me to leave,” Devan said.

  “No no no,” replied Melissa.

  Devan laughed.

  Melissa walked closer, and Devan leaned up. They stood at an equal height, 6’5.

  “Hmm, you’re finally as tall as me,” teased Melissa.

  Devan patted her head.

  “You aren’t gonna call Miley or Chris, not even Neveil?” Devan asked.

  “Nah, just me and you,” said Melissa.

  “Alright,” said Devan.

  The two entered the house.

  Melissa flipped on the flashlight by closing her index finger and thumb together.

  “Oh? So you finished the magical implementation-3 as you call it?” said Devan.

  “Yeah, it’s still a slight work in process though. I call it MI3,” she said.

  “Sounds nice,” said Devan.

  Devan pulled out his flashlight.

  Melissa ran off.

  “Hey Melissa, where you going!!” yelled Devan.

  Melissa ran up the stairs far away from Devan.

  Melissa pulled something concealed from her waist, a katana.

  Haven’t used this thing in a meaningful way since I was 12, Melissa thought to herself.

  She pushed open a door, and as she went in, it slammed behind her.

  “So funny, Devan!” Melissa yelled.

  There was no response.

  She walked deeper into the room, and she saw a lamp, a huge lamp. It towered over her, around 2 feet.

  “Uhh…” Melissa sighed.

  Melissa pointed the flashlight directly at it.

  The lamp looked odd. The lampshade appeared more like a white sun hat. The lamp’s body was a long white flowing dress.

  The “lamp” rose its head and made a creepy smile.

  Hachishakusama!!!

  Melissa closed her pinky finger and thumb together. A slight slit opened as a flare shot from MI3, setting Hachishakusama ablaze…

  Melissa ran. “Devan!!”

  ***

  Devan was scratching his head. He threw the flashlight up in the air a few times.

  “Ugh… What is her obsession with horror, I swear…” said Devan.

  Devan rubbed his back. “Damn, them Zeltic boys don’t play. I’m still sore. Still beat them boys to sleep though,” he said.

  Suddenly he heard footsteps. He quickly snapped back.

  A woman in a surgical mask walked towards Devan. “Hey there, am I beautiful?”

  Devan scratched his head.

  “Uhh sure,” said Devan.

  She moved down the mask to reveal her slit lips.

  “Am I pretty?” She repeated the question.

  “Fuck no,” Devan said.

  She pulled a pair of scissors, but Devan pulled a Glock and shot her. The first 3 hit her, but she dodged the others.

  “Melissa!!” Devan yelled out.

  As both Devan and Melissa ran, they bumped into each other.

  “Devan!!” yelled Melissa.

  “Aye, is something chasing you?” he asked.

  “Yeah…” said Devan.

  As they ran, they saw bones flying from across the house, pulling together into something… bigger.

  Devan tried to twist the door, but it did not budge.

  “We ain’t got time for this shit!” yelled Devan.

  He slammed his body against the door. Melissa also kicked at it.

  Eventually the door flew open. They ran through it and made the mistake of looking back. However, they did not see the two yokai from before, but instead something… bigger, faster, stronger.

  Gashadokuro!! Melissa thought to herself, as she began to sweat, grabbing at her hair and jumping into her car.

  She pulled off. Devan immediately called her.

  “Let’s go to Neveil, he’ll know what to do!!” he said, breathing heavily.

  “Ok..” Melissa agreed.