One Shot

Ren hadn’t been back here since Arisu died.

The mountains were still there, buried under snow, just as quiet as he remembered. He leaned against the wall outside the café, holding a cup of coffee he wasn’t really drinking. The steam faded quickly in the cold.

It was December. Six months since he’d graduated high school.

Tomorrow would’ve been his twin sister Arisu’s eighteenth birthday, if not for the accident.

Ren pressed his lips together, looking away as his eyes burned red.

“Ren.”

He turned at the voice. A girl stood behind him, long white hair tied into a messy bun. Black-rimmed glasses hid most of her blue eyes. She wore a coat over a white sweater, jeans, and boots. She was clearly not dressed for comfort.

“Haruka…”

She walked up beside him and glanced around before frowning. “So this is where your family cabin is?”

Ren nodded.

Haruka clicked her tongue. “Damn. It’s all foggy. How much farther?”

He let out a short chuckle at her tone. “We’ll take a jeep. Two more hours.”

“Two hours?” Haruka shrieked. “We’ve already been traveling for ten, Ren. I swear I’m going to regret this.”

She stomped off, muttering under her breath.

Ren raised his voice after her. “Tell the others we’re leaving in a minute!”

Ren stepped outside and started the jeep. A moment later, three figures came out of the shop; Haruka, Haruto, and Sakura. His friends.

Sakura, unlike Haruka, barely spoke. She kept to herself most of the time. As for Haruto… he was always on something. No one knew what, exactly.

“Wait! Haruka said we still have to travel for two more hours?” Haruto groaned as he climbed in. “Come on, Ren. My back hurts like hell. We could’ve picked literally anywhere else for vacation, but nooo, you insisted-”

“Don’t start rambling. Just move.” Haruka shoved him from behind, cutting him off.

“Hey! Stop pushing!” Haruto grumbled before finally jumping into the jeep.

Sakura stayed quiet, like she had been the whole day.

“How much longer?” Haruka complained, grabbing Ren’s shoulder from behind and shaking it slightly.

Haruto turned around, pointing a finger at her. “I swear, Haruka! If Ren loses focus and we get into an accident, I’ll haunt you forever.”

“Won’t we all be dead then?” Haruka shot back, leaning against the seat. “Can a ghost haunt another ghost?”

Haruto clicked his tongue.

“Haruto…” Sakura spoke up softly, fidgeting with her fingers. “Um… how long till we reach the cabin? I kind of need to- never mind.”

Haruka patted Sakura’s shoulder. “Look at her, Haruto. Poor girl needs the restroom.”

“Haruka!” Sakura yelped, covering her face.

Ren, who had stayed quiet for most of the ride, finally spoke. “Ten minutes. We’re almost there.”

Whoosh.

All four of them snapped their eyes to the front.

“Huh?” Haruto muttered, running a hand through his hair. “What was that? A beast?”

Ren shook his head. “I’ve been coming to this cabin for eighteen years. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“Probably just the wind,” Haruka said, forcing a laugh. “Damn, my heart almost jumped out.”

She leaned back, trying not to think about the dozens of worst-case scenarios her mind had already made up.

It took them another fifteen minutes before the cabin finally appeared through the thick fog.
It looked like any normal wooden cabin you’d see in the mountains. Nothing special.

As they got out of the jeep, their eyes naturally went to the structure.

“Ren, I didn’t know you were this rich,” Haruto muttered, slinging an arm around Ren’s neck.

“We bought it when my dad was still alive,” Ren said quietly. “After that… Mom couldn’t bring herself to sell it.”

“Damn, dude.”

They stepped inside, and their expressions dropped instantly. The place was cold, dusty, and clearly untouched for a long time.

“Hey! You didn’t get this place cleaned?” Haruka complained.

Ren shook his head. “We always clean it ourselves.”
He pointed toward the fireplace. “Let’s start a fire first.”

Haruka walked over and looked around. “Hey, Ren! where’s the wood?”

Ren turned to Haruto. “It’s in the shed near the cabin. I’ll clean up in here. Can you grab it?”

Haruto scratched the back of his neck and nodded.
Sakura stepped forward hesitantly. “Um… Haruto, can I come with you? I’ll help.”

Haruto nodded again.

Haruka’s eyes lit up with a mischievous grin. “Ooooh. I knew there was something going on between them.”

Ren didn’t respond.
Something dark flickered in his eyes as he clenched his fists.

*

Haruto and Sakura stepped outside, trying to look for the shed. The fog was thick. It was hard to see anything beyond a few steps.

Sakura kept her head lowered, sneaking small glances at Haruto. Her cheeks warmed every time.
Being alone with her crush felt… nice.

“Damn it. I can’t see the shed,” Haruto muttered, turning to her. “Sakura, do you see it?”

She looked around carefully and finally spotted a dark shape hidden in the fog. “Is that it?”

Haruto clapped his hands and jogged toward it. Sakura followed.

“Ren said it was close,” Haruto grumbled. “This isn’t close at all. I’ll get back at that bastard later.”

He pushed the shed door open.

“Huh?”

There was no wood inside.

Both of them froze.

“…Damn that Ren,” Haruto muttered, shaking his head.
He turned to Sakura. “Let’s go back. Can the all-seeing Sakura find the cabin now?”

Sakura let out a small laugh and nodded, pointing ahead. “There.”

The figure moved.

“…?!”

Their hearts started pounding.

Thump. Thump.

“Don’t move,” Haruto whispered. “Try to find the cabin.”

Sakura nodded slowly, eyes wide. After a moment, she whispered, “North-east.”

“On the count of three. One… two-”

Before he reached three, Haruto suddenly ran.

“Haruto!” Sakura screamed.

The figure started moving toward her.

She shut her eyes and ran after him, her feet slipping against the snow. A low growl echoed behind her. Tears blurred her vision.

Haruto reached the cabin first. He yanked the door open, slipped inside, and slammed it shut.

Sakura stopped short.

Her eyes widened. Her heart went cold.

Just as she was about to lose hope—the door burst open. An arm shot out, grabbing her and pulling her inside before slamming the door shut again.

*

“Hic… hic…”

Sakura’s sobs filled the cabin as she curled up inside a blanket. The fire crackled nearby, its weak light flickering across the room. Haruka sat beside her, gently patting her back.

Ren suddenly turned around.

He grabbed Haruto by the collar and yanked him forward.
“You asshole!” he shouted. “You left her alone!”

Haruto shoved his hand away, glaring back. “How is that my fault? You’re the one who sent us to an empty shed. And I had to save myself. If I’d waited for Sakura, we’d both be dead—”

His head snapped to the side as Ren punched him.

“You really are scum,” Haruka muttered. Her glare was sharper than Ren’s.

Haruto wiped his mouth and laughed bitterly. “Again—how is this my fault?”
He pointed at Ren. “You said it yourself. There are no monsters here. So why did that thing follow us?”

Ren froze. His head lowered, eyes turning red.
“I… I don’t know,” he said quietly. “This never happened before.”

Haruto stepped forward, fist clenched. “Is that supposed to be an excuse?”

“Stop!”

Sakura’s voice broke through the room before she burst into tears again.
It hurt more than the monster; being abandoned by the person she loved.

“Tch.” Haruto turned away. “If you want to blame someone, blame Ren.”
He grabbed his jacket. “I’m leaving.”

Haruka shook her head. “And go where? It’s the middle of the night. Do you want to die that badly?”

Haruto stomped his foot and turned back. “Fine. I’m leaving first thing in the morning. Damn all of you.”

He stormed off.

Ren stared at his back for a long moment before letting out a tired sigh.

“Ren…” Haruka called softly. “Do you really have no idea what that thing was?”

Ren looked at the fire, lips pressed together.

“I don’t know, Haruka… but-”

“But what?” she asked.

“It’s just a myth.” He shook his head quickly.

Sakura stopped crying and looked at him.

Seeing their expressions, Ren finally spoke.

“The person who sold us this cabin sold it cheap,” he said. “He mentioned something called an Amarok. But it’s not real. Just a myth. A wolf that hunts alone.”

He scoffed weakly.
“What kind of wolf hunts alone? I’ve been coming here for eighteen years. Not once have I seen any beast.”

Haruka shook her head. “We leave first thing in the morning. I checked; there’s no signal here. We can’t contact anyone.”

Ren felt his strength drain as he looked at them.
“I… I’m sorry, guys,” he said quietly. “This is all my fault.”

No one replied.

Because it really was.

*

Dawn was less than an hour away.

Haruto sat near the main door, his bag beside him. He kept glancing at his reflection in the glass window, waiting for the first ray of sunlight to appear.

“Haruto…”

A soft voice came from behind.

He turned and saw Sakura standing there, looking at him with gentle eyes. He clicked his tongue and looked away.
“Why are you here?”

Suddenly, he felt someone press against his back.

“I… I don’t blame you, Haruto.”

His eyes widened. He turned to look at her. “Really?”

Sakura nodded slowly. “You did what you thought was right.”

Something in Haruto’s chest loosened. He hugged her back.
“Finally,” he muttered, “someone understands me.”

Sakura smiled and handed him a warm mug. “I made you hot chocolate. The journey will be cold. Drink it.”

Haruto’s eyes burned. He didn’t know why, but his chest felt warm. He took the mug and started sipping.

Sakura sat beside him.

“It’s been four years,” she said suddenly.

Haruto froze. He lowered the mug. “You mean… since Arisu died.”

Sakura nodded.

“She was such a good friend,” she said softly.
Then she smiled.
“Too bad you killed her.”

Haruto’s body went cold.

He turned to her, horror filling his face. “Sakura…?”

She leaned in and kissed him.

“You shouldn’t have left me alone, Haruto.”

Her smile twisted into something wrong.

She took the mug from his hands.
“How will it feel?” she whispered. “Being frozen while a monster chases you.”

Haruto tried to move. His body wouldn’t listen. Tears streamed down his face as he glared at her, hatred burning in his eyes.

“Don’t worry,” Sakura said lightly. “Before the effect wears off, the monster will be done with you.”

She opened the cabin door, dragged Haruto outside, and threw him near the shed just as the first light of dawn crept over the mountains.

Sakura scattered meat sticks from their supplies around him.

She waved cheerfully at his frozen body before walking back inside.

As she turned, a shadow moved toward Haruto through the fog.

Sakura smiled.

Then she slammed the door shut.

*

“Did everyone grab what we need?” Haruka asked while tying her boots. “We don’t need clothes. Just phones, chargers, and some rations.”

She looked up.
“By the way… where’s Haruto?”

Ren and Sakura both shook their heads.
“I don’t know.”

Haruka scoffed. “That asshole probably left ages ago. Good for him.”

She slowly turned the doorknob, a knife clenched in her other hand.
“We just need to reach the jeep.”

The moment they stepped outside, the fog swallowed them again—just as thick as yesterday.

“Damn it, where’s the jeep?” Haruka muttered, running a hand through her hair.
She glanced at Sakura. “Hey, all-seeing Sakura. Spot it for us.”

Sakura nodded and stared into the fog. “I see a shadow… Wait! no. That’s the shed. It must be on the other side—”

Ren frowned. “I parked the jeep near the shed.”

He started walking. Haruka followed him. Sakura clicked her tongue, her face going blank.

“Now where is it—”

Squish.

Haruka froze.

Her boot had stepped on something soft.

She pressed down slightly before looking at the ground.

Her face drained of all color.Before she could scream, Ren covered her mouth. Tears spilled down her face as she shakily pointed downward.

Intestines. A blood-soaked leg. And a head; It was missing its eyes and nose.

Haruka collapsed into Ren’s arms, her body shaking.

Ren stared at the remains, his expression dark.

“It… it’s Haruto,” Sakura whispered.

She sounded terrified. But there was something else hiding in her eyes.

Ren pulled Haruka back. “We have to leave.”

Haruka broke free, sobbing. “But—hic—it’s Haruto…”

Ren didn’t answer. He lowered his gaze.

Haruka suddenly turned and ran back into the cabin.

“Haruka!” Ren followed, Sakura close behind.

Haruka searched frantically, her eyes darting everywhere. Then she froze.

“That’s Haruto’s bag!”

Ren frowned. “But why would Haruto leave his bag…”

Realization hit Haruka like a punch.

She spun around and grabbed Sakura by the hair, yanking her forward.
“It was you, wasn’t it?! You did this!”

Ren rushed between them. “Haruka, stop! What are you saying? What did Sakura even do?”

Haruka didn’t answer. She just glared at Sakura, her eyes filled with venom.

“You promised you’d never keep that thing with you!” Haruka screamed.

Sakura stayed silent.

Her head lowered, short brown hair hiding her face.

But beneath the strands a smile hid.

Ren stared at them, confused.

*

Three hours passed.
They were still inside the cabin, sitting around the fireplace.

The three of them looked empty now. Hollow.
Only one thought kept repeating in their minds.

Haruto is dead.

“So… what now?” Haruka muttered weakly. “How long are we stuck here?”

Ren glanced outside. The fog had thinned a little.
“Can’t we leave?”

“And what guarantee do we have?” Haruka shot back. “That thing could still be out there. What if it follows us in the jeep?”

She pulled out her phone and scoffed. “No signal.”

Sakura sat quietly, staring into nothing.
She hadn’t said a single word in three hours.

“I can’t stand being in the same room as this bitch,” Haruka snapped.

Sakura slowly lifted her head and gave her a soft, sweet smile.

Haruka glared at her before storming off. Ren followed.

Inside her room, Ren finally spoke.
“What were you two talking about earlier?”

Haruka shook her head. “You wouldn’t get it.”

“I would,” Ren said, sitting down. “If you’d just tell me.”

Haruka looked at him, then lowered her eyes.
“If I tell you… you’ll never forgive us.”

Ren stiffened. “What?”

Haruka took a deep breath. Her voice dropped.
“We… I mean… the three of us promised. We were supposed to tell you everything today.”

Ren frowned. “Tell me what?”

Haruka looked away and shook her head.
“There’s no point anymore. Just forget it.”

She walked out of the room, leaving Ren alone.

*

Night fell again.

Haruka muttered about leaving at dawn no matter the risk and locked herself in her room.
Ren did the same.

Sakura, however, had other plans.

When the clock struck midnight, she pulled a hood over her head and slipped outside. A small container swung from her hand.

She walked toward the shed and waited.

It didn’t take long.

The fog was thinner tonight, and when the creature emerged, Sakura finally saw it clearly.
A massive white wolf. Long, pale fur. Black, empty eyes. Blood still stained around its mouth.

Growl.

It stepped toward her. Sakura smirked. The wolf lunged.

She pulled something from her hoodie—

Tzzzz.

Electricity shot through the beast. It crashed onto the ground, convulsing.

“Bad boy,” Sakura muttered.

She stepped closer and shocked it again. The wolf snarled, trying to rise.

“Listen to me,” she hissed. “This continues until you obey.”

The wolf stilled, watching her with something deep.

Sakura pointed toward the cabin. Toward a window ont eh first floor.
“Go. Kill that girl. I don’t care about the boy. But she has to die.”

No response.

Sakura’s smile twitched. Her face twisted as she raised her hand again.

The wolf slowly turned… and began walking toward the cabin. Sakura smiled wider. This was getting excited.

Haruka had to die. She was the only one who knew the truth.

How dare they think of confessing and surrending themselves to the police?

How dare they think Ren would forgive them for killing his only sister?

Haruto had always been weak. He would’ve backed out eventually. But Haruka? Haruka was serious.

Sakura never felt guilt. Not even once. That bitch Arisu deserved everything. How dare she steal all the boy’s attention!

She watched the wolf’s back and thought, Maybe I should’ve killed them myself. But this is better.

Then-

The wolf stopped.

Growl.

It turned around. Its eyes locked onto Sakura. Her knees gave out.

“No… no,” she whispered.

The wolf stepped closer.

“Stay back!” she screamed, crawling away. “Ren! Haruka! Save me!”

Footsteps burst from the cabin as a figure emerged.

“Sakura!” Haruka shouted, grabbing a stone and throwing it at the wolf.

It didn’t even flinch and look behind. It kept coming.

Sakura sobbed, snot and tears spilling freely.

“I’ll call Ren!” Haruka cried. “Ren! Please save Sakura!”

Ren stepped into view. Sakura looked at him with desperate hope. His eyes were cold.

“She killed Haruto,” he said.

Then he shut the door.

Sakura screamed.

*

The screams continued for a moment then stopped.

A series of low growls followed,until everything fell silent again.

Haruka stood frozen, her eyes wide as she slowly turned toward Ren. He was slumped against the sofa, his shoulders shaking. When he looked up, his eyes were red and hollow.

“I… I couldn’t forgive her, Haruka,” he whispered, shaking his head. “She killed Haruto.”

“Ren, you-”

“I’ll go outside,” he suddenly said, pushing himself up. “I’ll let that monster take me too. I deserve it.”

“No!” Haruka rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “It’s not your fault, Ren. None of this is your fault!”

“No…NO! It’s all my fault!”

She held him tighter. “Please. I only have you. I love you.”

Ren froze.

Slowly, he turned to face her. “Are you telling the truth?”

Haruka broke into sobs and nodded. “I really love you, Ren. That’s why… that’s why I wanted to tell you the truth.”

He leaned in and kissed her gently, it was warm. For a moment, she was in heaven.

Then he pulled back slightly.

“What truth are you talking about, Haruka?”

Her throat tightened. Before she could answer-

Beep. Beep. Brrrp.

A faint signal.

Haruka’s eyes lit up. She grabbed her phone, hands shaking. “We have a signal, Ren.”

Who could she call?

Her parents wouldn’t answer. They never did.

Her thumb hovered, then stopped at a familiar name. She pressed call. Ren’s arms slipped around her again.

Beep. Beep.

“Hello?” A weak voice answered.

“Auntie—is that you?” Haruka cried. “Please listen. We’re stuck in your family cabin. It’s so dark, and two of us are already dead—”

Then-

“Tch.”

Haruka frowned. “Auntie?”

“I told that boy to hurry up,” the woman muttered. “Why is he dragging this out?”

Haruka’s phone slipped from her fingers and hit the floor.

Her body began to tremble.

Ren leaned down, his lips brushing her ear.

“Did you really think I didn’t know the truth?”

His voice was calm. She turned. Ren’s face was cold.

“It was my mother’s idea,” he said quietly.

Haruka stumbled back and fell.

“You… you didn’t—”

“You had the audacity to become friends with me,” Ren continued, stepping closer, “after killing my sister.”

“I wanted to tell you!” she cried. “I swear-”

“And do you think that makes everything okay?!” he roared.

His hands closed around her throat.

“I wanted to give my sister a birthday present,” he snarled. “So I sold the souls of the people who killed her—and walked free.”

“You dumped her in cement. Took photos. Then went out to eat.”

Haruka clawed at his wrists. “L–let go!”

“That bitch Sakura tried to control the monster,” he laughed shakily. “She even brought the same drug she used on my sister. Tell me, was that what you two were fighting about?”

Her vision darkened.

“And Haruto,” Ren whispered. “I tore out his eyes. The same eyes he used to look at my sister.”

Tears streamed down Haruka’s face. Her thoughts blurred into one broken sentence.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

“And you,” he said softly. “You hated her because she was loved.”

Haruka took her final breath.

Ren released her.

“You assholes,” he sobbed. “Burn in hell…”

The call was still connected. His mother said nothing.

A heavy presence entered the cabin.

Ren looked up as the monster approached.

It sat beside him and lowered its blood-soaked head onto his lap.

Ren stroked its fur.

“Good boy.”