My vision went black, and then I saw the moon.
It wasn't a full moon, but a new moon. Its light was dim, partly obscured by leaves.
It was as if I were flying through a forest at night, racing past strangely shaped trees.
I was flying higher and higher, until I reached the treetops.
In the distance, I saw a red structure that looked like a gatepost or ceremonial arch. When I flew closer, I realized it was a torii.
The red paint on its surface was peeling and faded.
As I passed through the gap in the torii, I thought I saw traces of insect damage.
With a whoosh, the torii was left behind me. My body descended into the forest.
Meow—
The cat's cry was unbearably shrill.
Suddenly, the view before me opened up, as though the trees had parted to make way at the sound of the cat.
I saw a shrine in the woods. It was dilapidated and crude, with nothing left but a small hut.
A pair of eyes emerged from the shadows inside.
The nonhuman, slit-pupiled eyes glimmered in the darkness.
A hand reached out from the shadows and stroked the little creature.
It closed its eyes in contentment, and its whole figure disappeared into the dark.
The gurgle of running water came from somewhere, drawing my body away.
A stream flowed down the mountain, like melted snow, carving a path through the woods.
The path stretched farther and farther down the slope, reaching the mountainside.
A mountain estate stood surrounded by snow.
Wisps of steam rose from the estate.
My body suddenly plunged downward, dropping into the estate and floating on the surface of the water.
Gurgle, gurgle...
Something was rising from the bottom of the water.
My heartbeat skipped. The eerie