Grandma?

I was supposed to see her come out, shrouded in her nightgown and lamp in her hand. She never trusted technology. That’s why every time the lights were out, she reached for the signature paper lantern on her bedside.

Upon seeing her lantern, I was supposed to run up to her, cling to her, crying.

She was supposed to chuckle after she nearly dropped the lantern. “Who are your friends?” Those were the words she was going to say, and I was going to reply with:

“The girl is Yukimura, the love of my life. Y’know that one…”

“Who’s the boy beside her?”

“Oh, him? That’s Rentarou, don’t mind him, he’s a nobody.”

She was supposed to laugh again at my words before letting us all inside. She was normally up early in the morning, but I knew she was going to give the three of us company for the night if we asked to come inside.

However, that conversation never came. My grandma didn’t have her lantern in hand; she didn’t even leave the cabin-like house. The only thing that I saw when I opened my eyes was the familiar foul fragrance that seemed to follow me wherever I went.

I ran up to the door, and it was already ajar. When I ripped the door open, the smell only worsened. I could hear the creaking of something, but I didn’t care about that; all I cared about in this moment was my grandma.

When I barged in, I saw how much of a catastrophe the house was. Normally, it was tidy, despite her barely having visitors, but now it was horribly disheveled. Books were scattered on the ground. Talismans descended to the ground. However, I didn’t care because I found her.

My grandmother was one of the biggest influences in my life. My father died weeks after I was born, so my mom took me over to my grandmother’s shack often. Even when my mom died two years ago, my grandma was there for me. She paid for my rent, my school materials, the meals I ate, and everything else I needed. If there was anyone I wanted to tell about this entire Onmyoji and yokai situation, it’d be her. I wanted her to know I was doing well. I wanted her to know the people who took me in. I wanted her to know I was alive… but I was too late.

When I found her, she was lying on the floor. Burn marks and wounds were scattered over her wrinkly body, but as if that wasn’t enough, she was surrounded by blood.

Upon seeing this sight, the words and thoughts I had prepared left my body. I could only kneel toward her. My tears mixed with her blood. My hands were gripping her cold body.

“GRANDMA!”