How I was Murdered by a Fox Monster

Chapter 1 ~ The Monster

I heard the tatami mats creek and groan with every step the vile monster took as she crept closer and closer towards us. Akito obviously shared my anxiety, and I could see beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. We had taken refuge in the study, but I doubted the books and flimsy walls would provide much support if push came to shove.

Did she know already? Had she heard us? Or maybe she was going to finally give up and return to whatever hell she was spawn from.

My thoughts screamed “Please don't stop here, whatever you do please don't open this door!”

Bang! Suddenly the paper screen door went flying across the room. It hit the desk and splintered into two. We all ducked down and covered out heads to protect ourselves from the debris, but something must have hit Nina because she let out a cry of pain. Nina realized her mistake instantaneously and her hands flung to her mouth, but it was already too late.

That was all it took. The monster knew we were here. Now we were definitely done for.

I peeked through a gap in Akito's hasty barricade of chairs and furniture and I found myself staring at her in horror, unable to move or look away.

In my mind she was a possessed demon, but all that stood before me was an abnormally beautiful woman with long raven hair, dressed neatly in a red summer Kimono. She was smiling pleasantly which would have caught anyone unaware (I certainly was). She was completely unharmed except for her charred left sleeve which was almost blasted off by Itsuki's lightning charm. You may be wondering why we were all so terrified and currently bleeding because of this pretty young woman, and the answer was incomprehensible but simple.

She was a fox monster.

“Found you!” She called.

I expected Akito to have a plan (he had to have a plan) but all I could hear was his sigh of defeat. “It looks like it's come to that,” he said.

What! It can't be? Don't tell me he's given in. I thought to myself. Akito, my teacher, had always gotten my hopes up and quickly smashed them, apparently now wasn't going to be any different.

I tore my eyes away from my approaching death and back to Akito, who was now holding a knife in his right hand instead of Nina. I was uncertain if he procured it from his clothes or desk, but the details didn't matter anymore.

I forced myself to feel hope. Maybe it was a magical weapon that was highly effective against fox monsters. “Hey, Akito,” I whispered hopefully. “What's up with the knife?” I was looking for words of reassurance but his face was stone cold. “Akito?” I asked again.

He grabbed me by the shoulder to stop me from fleeing and held the knife to my face.

“I'm so sorry Daisuke, but I don't think we have any other choice.”

“What? What are you talking about Akito?”

“I'm so sorry Daisuke,” he apologized.

“What, so this is it?” I said. My eyes flicked from the knife to his face which wasn't giving anything away. “Don't tell me that I'm going to die here?”

They say that your life flashes before your eyes once you know you're going to die. I could see it all before me in the reflection of Akito's cold hard blade. I was standing under the cherry blossoms at my elementary school entrance ceremony, eating cake at my sister's wedding, outside praying that the monster wouldn't come tonight.

I'm sorry, you don't know what I'm talking about do you? I've become so immersed in this world that I often forget that regular people don't know about the monsters lurking right under their noses. Maybe it's best if I explain to you the events of that morning, or the previous month, or from my first day of high school?

No, that still wouldn't be far enough. How about we go way back? Let's start from the beginning. Let's go back to the day when I learned about Obake and the fox monster for the first time.

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Hello thanks for reading this far, the next chapter should be up soon so stay tuned. If you enjoyed it so far please vote or share, I need love to survive :P