(One-shot) There's something in my house

[24iza_run]

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Aiba said while bow down to the interviewer. Everything runs so unexpectedly smooth to him during the entire interview. After was told to call for Nino, Aiba smile for the last time before close the interviewing’s room door and walk back to the waiting room. The moment he almost reaches the room, he stops when sees a famous paranormal expert is coming from opposite way. He keeps calling the other one to ask for help since a week ago, but never has a chance to see the expert face to face like this.

“Sensei!”

The man looks at him and widens his eyes. Aiba on the other hand hurriedly runs toward him, but immediately stops when the man tells him to not get closer.

“I need your help! My house is haunted by something!”

“Weren’t I’ve told you how to get rid of it on phone before?”

“I can’t do it! It’s too dangerous for me! I’m the owner and they keep showing themselves to me!”

Aiba pursue his lips when the other one sighs.

“I can’t Aiba-san. I’m too busy with other stuff.”

“Please. I’m already in danger now.”

He then quickly rolls up his jeans and show the expert the bitten wound that he received from what he thought dream before. The sight startles the older man in front him. Day by day Aiba watches his wound gradually become worst. And now the bluish bruise before almost turn to black with the red wound now already turn to dark purple color.

“Is that left by the dark man?”

Aiba look at the expert, surprise.

“No. But how did you know about the shadow?”

“He’s following you everywhere.”

The statement makes Aiba’s face change to pale. For the twice time, he tries to approach the man but the man back away immediately, afraid if that might endanger him too if he comes closer to the idol even for an inch. He almost stormed out to the exit way again before stop when heard Aiba’s plea again.

Finally, he sighs heavily and turns to Aiba.

“I’ll only tell you how to get rid of it, okay?”

Aiba bites his lip, but finally nod in agree.

“It’s holding a very deep grudge. The only way to save you is by destroy or burn the source. Otherwise…you’ll become worst.”

“Worst?”

“It might show up itself everywhere and every time it want, but this time in its real face and shape.”

Aiba feels like his breath suddenly stuck in his throat.

“That’s all I can say or the thing might follow me for telling you the way to exorcism them. Good luck.”

The paranormal expert then spins around from there quickly. Seeing that, Aiba immediately bow down to him.

“S-Still, thank you.”

With a nod, the man leaves him alone in the corridor. As Aiba slowly straightens up back, he found the man is nowhere to be seen anymore. Grief and half giving up, the cheerful idol chew his lip and turn to the doorway. However, he greets by unexpected witnesses.

“Guys?”

He surprises to see the four Arashi’s members are also looking at him from the already open door. They then step aback, giving him a way to enter the room.

Finally, Aiba as slow as can get inside it.

“Nino, it’s your turn.”

He speaks after close the door behind him. Nino on the other hand already pat the seat beside him with the rest already sitting whether opposite or nearby couch in the room.

“It’s fine. I’ve told them that I need a minute.”

The room fall into silence until Sho becomes the first one to break it.

“So, this is the reason why you slept in hotel this past entire week?”

Their cheerful friend nods.

“That means you’ve got the wound from ‘the thing’ in your house?”

“I guess so…at first I thought it’s just a dream.”

Another heavy silence.

“But, I’m surprised you guys can accept what I’m saying easily. I mean, I thought you guys are going to questioning me to ensure if what I through is real.”

The rest Arashi members look at him hesitantly. After a while, Jun finally gives Aiba the photo of the other one in his grip. Aiba take it, but still beaming Jun his confused look.

“It gives us enough proof already.”

Frowning, Aiba bring his stare to the photo in his hand.

And he becomes wordless. Jun just took a picture of him spacing out with a dark fog is surrounding his body and lower parts. There’s even a visibly tall dark thing is standing right next to him.

As quick as he can, Aiba gives it back to Jun, whimpering while closing his eyes tightly. When he bend forward to rubs stressfully his face, Nino immediately gives a reassure pat on his back.

“I can’t take it anymore…Why me?”

“Calm down. That Sensei already told you how to get rid of it right?”

“But wasn’t it means I need to burn the house if I want to survive? It’s impossible.”

He sighs. Seeing how worried Aiba currently is, the other four look at each other, trying to find a way to help their dear friend.

“We won’t know if we don’t try.”

The rest turn to their leader in disapprove.

“Not by burning the whole house of course. I mean like look for the strongest spot and destroy it.”

Aiba’s eyes snap open.

“That might be working. Thanks guys! You’re genius Leader!”

His sadness suddenly disappears as he drags his friends into a gratitude hug. Meanwhile, the four guys just curve with huge smile. As soon as Aiba finally let go of their body, Sho pats the latter’s shoulder.

“But you’re not going with us.”

“Eh?”

“You also know he’s good with this stuff Sho. We need him to find for the spot.”

“Cause he’s good, it’ll be dangerous for him. Plus, he’s the house owner. Every single thing in the house might attach to him.”

“Say someone who afraid of scary movie. They might cling on you because of your fear, you know.”

“I’m not going with you guys. So it’s fine.”

><><><><><><><><><><>< 

Since Aiba was prohibited to get closer with his apartment, Nino let him to wait in his house which is the closest one compare to Ohno, Sho and Jun’s. While the talkative guy is waiting there alone, his other four friends on the other hand are now standing in front of his creepy apartment.

“I still think one of us needs to stay and accompany Aiba-chan.”

“You wish.”

“But is it okay? The tall thing is following Aiba-chan everywhere right? Maybe someone really needs to stay with Aiba-chan.”

Sho nods enthusiastically by Ohno’s words.

“Since someone is going to its place, there’s no way it’ll let us wondering in his area easily right? I bet it’s already inside there, waiting for us. Means, Aiba-chan will just fine alone.”

Sho sigh.

“Come on, guys. Give me a break. I promise you guys can entrust Aiba-chan on me. You know I hate this thing right?”

“I’ll choose the same thing too, Sho. But it’ll be unfair for the rest. And I hate this stuff too.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“I’m not. But I think it’ll be dangerous.”

The three younger guys turn to Ohno immediately. In no time, it already decides that the leader will lead the way. Ohno then calmly unlock the apartment’s door using the key that Aiba gave to them before their leave to here. None of them dare to say anything until the eldest finally turn on the living room’s light.

Immediately, the place turns to bright.

“Alright. Let’s start looking.”

The four of them then quickly move to separated way. From living room to bathroom, they try to find for anything that might give the answer of Aiba’s trouble. Unfortunately even after an hour been there, they still found nothing. Furthermore, the apartment is newly build so it’s somehow unbelievable if there’s anything creepy stuck in the building.

Soon, Nino receives a sudden incoming call.

“What’s up?”

He picks up the call which gains attention from the other three guys with him there. They frown when his calm expression suddenly change into a very serious one.

“Calm down Aiba-chan. What’s wrong?”

The three guys’ eyes grow wider.

“That’s Aiba-chan?”

Nino nods to his question. Hurriedly, Ohno, Sho and Jun come to approach him.

“Are you sure? But we’re here and we still can’t find anything at all.”

The gamer frowns before turns to look every inch of the place. After success in reassuring their friend that he’s safe and they’ll manage to help him, he flips close his phone and shoves it back into his back pocket.

“He said he found the tall thing in my house as well.”

“What? But how come? We’re here and yet we’re still doing fine.”

“I’ve no idea.”

All of them fall into silent as they try to think for any possible answer. If the house is indeed haunted by something, the creepy spirit or maybe soul suppose to scare them, not Aiba.

“What if…it’s not this house itself is haunting? Like, someone is holding grudge with Aiba-chan and give or bury something dangerous here to scare him.”

Sho’s words make their stunned. Immediately, the four Arashi’s go to check for every furniture and things in the living room. They move, lift and open everything that they can to look if there’s anything wrong even until the last stuff. Still not giving up, they then move to the kitchen. One by one space has been exploring by them later, but they only found nothing. When they finally make their way to Aiba’s bedroom, they immediately start to inspect every inch of it, throwing or digging everywhere for any unusual things. Nino move to the wardrobe, Sho and Jun using torchlight to see if there’s anything under the bed while Ohno walk to numbers boxes next to Aiba’s bed. The leader then just simply lifts every box and shakes it upside down to make everything inside it fall. Later, he reaches for the full of stuffed toys box and do the same.

“There’s nothing under here.”

Sho and Jun get up from the floor, sighing. As they stand on their feet again, all lights in the house suddenly turn off.

“Short circuit?”

Jun move his torchlight to Nino while Sho do the same to Ohno. Luckily both of them bring it with them before.

“I don’t think so.”

“This building is still new. Something like this happen too frequent seems impossible.”

Sho then watch cute toys and plushie flood out from the box in Ohno’s hand, looking if there’s anything unusual inside. Soon, a brown teddy bear hit the floor follow by a sudden loud crack sound comes from the medium size mirror inside the room.

 Startle by it, the four Arashi’s turn to the mirror. Both Sho and Jun then move their torchlight to the cracking mirror with disbelieve look.

“What the hell just happen?”

Nobody knows how to answer it.

However, the worst thing just begins. While the four of them still staring at the same thing, they surprise to see a man’s shadow suddenly appears among them from the broken reflection on the mirror. Though they’re repeating turn to the room, they can’t find the black thing with man feature anywhere. As the shadow creature come closer to them by every step from other side of the mirror, all of them take few steps backward. It’s just then when Sho recall about the teddy bear.

“Satoshi! The teddy!”

 Ohno look at Sho before grasp what his mean and quickly snatch the teddy bear with him. Yet, he suddenly frowns.

“What’s wrong?”

The leader returns their gaze. By chance, he saw a cutter on a table next to Jun.

“Jun-kun, give me the cutter beside you.”

“What you’re going to do with it?”

The younger guy asks, but still turns to where Ohno is looking at. He immediately grabs for it before passes it to Ohno who’s already stretching his palm to him. Soon, the leader suddenly kneels with his another hand push the teddy to the floor. The other three guys meanwhile startle when they found the shadow man is now looking at them right from behind the mirror. They don’t bother to look at Ohno even there’s sound of tearing and ripping come from the older one.

“Oh God…”

Their face turn to pale as the shadow’s head creepily comes out from the broken mirror with bone cracking sounds. Slowly, the shadow creature shows its body part one by one out, sending the guys shiver with sweat flow to damp their pale face and body.

The sight make their heart beat hardly inside their chest. And somehow, their body refuses to move anymore.

“Guys.”

Ohno’s worry voice manages to snatch their attention. The straw things that Ohno shoves out from inside the teddy bear make them widen their eyes, totally shocked with what they’re currently witnessing.

“Voodoo doll?”

Only sound from the creepy shadow and their breathe echo inside the room for a while.

“This is insane.”

“Who the hell hid that thing inside it?”

All of sudden, the room full with sound of broken glass. The four guys immediately cover their head and body with their arms until sound of glass shattered on the floor stop.

Their eyes wide open when they realize a tall dark thing is standing in front them.

“Nino! You bring lighter with you right?!”

“Yeah! Throw that thing to me Oh-chan!”

At the moment Ohno throw it to Nino, the tall creature make its way to them. Their only light source is the torchlight in Sho and Jun’s grip which makes the situation will become creepier than they maybe can bear. Nino then lit up his lighter, ready to burn the straw doll in his hand. He immediately been approached because of his act, but right before the dark hands able to touch him, the voodoo doll’s leg burnt by fire and move to its other part few seconds later. Nino quickly drops it to the floor under him and watches the dark thing disappear in thin air just in blink of eyes together with the rest.

Time just flows silently for a while until the idols finally have guts to speak again.

“I’ll go and call Aiba-chan now.”

The other members nod. While Nino walks to the room’s corner, Ohno, Sho and Jun move to take a close up with the already burnt doll on the floor. It’s hard for them to accept that someone could did this just for put Aiba’s life in misery. Though it’s true they can’t make everyone to love them, to do this kind of thing is also too much for someone who called human.

Meanwhile, Nino couldn’t listen clearly Aiba’s voice because of noise and unpleasant sound from the other line. As he puts his phone in loudspeaker mode, Aiba’s panic voice startles him and the rest.

“It’s spreading! What should I do?!”

“What do you mean? What is it Aiba-chan?”

The rest immediately move closer to the gamer.

“The bruise! My leg slowly turns to black now!”

“What?”

Jun is the first to turn to look at the destroyed voodoo doll follow by the rest. It’s still there.

“We’ve destroyed it. Maybe it’s just a while effect. You’ll be getting better soon.”

Then however they heard loud thud sound come from other line. Aiba’s voice now on the edge of crying and terrify.

-“I-I can’t move it!”

“Calm down Aiba-chan. What is it?”

-“My leg! I-I can’t move it! It-W-WHY ARE YOU HERE??!”

The four Arashi’s members frown. As they turn to each other, they heard another thud and shifting sound.

“Aiba-chan, what happen? Who are you talking to?”

Aiba doesn’t answer it. Nothing is heard but worrisome sniffs and trembling breathe sound until the latter suddenly shouts;

-“STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!”

“Aiba-chan!”

“Maybe there’s something else among the toys! We need to find for it quickly!”

In a swift move, they run toward the bunch of cute yet creepy stuffed toys on the floor. While Nino still waiting for Aiba to answer him, the other three members are ripping and throwing stuffed toys in front them one by one, messing the floor with white cotton and threads.

Unfortunately, they found nothing inside even until the last plushie.

“If I know this will be happening, I’ll leave someone to stay with him before.”

He flips close his phone when no sound comes from Aiba’s line. The four of them stressfully sigh and do their own thing to calm their gradually panic self down. When they hear a low creak sound come from the living room, their eyes immediately snap open.

“The bunny.”

Indeed. When they’re inspecting the living room before, there’s a bunny lying on the floor. None of them unfortunately care about it back then since it’s impossible to think that toy could be very harmful. As fast as they can, the four guys slammed the door that connecting with the living room.

On the doorstep however they freeze.

Although it’s really dark, they found a short hair female teen is crouching down on the floor with her back is facing them. It gives the four idols goosebumps when they can hear clearly the teen is humming something. She’s playing something in her hands, but they can’t figure out what is it.

For a while, the idols have no idea with what they should do. Cold sweats now slowly wet their face. Even the temperature there suddenly feel like drastically drop, sending them a shiver.

“Whoever you are, you better leave our friend alone.”

Ohno’s calm tone echoes in there. The teen on the other hand just ignore him and continue with what she’s doing.

“This is not your place. Please. Leave to where you’re belonging to.”

He persuades as soft and gentle as he can. If they take any wrong step now, it might be triggering the other one and drag Aiba to more dangerous situation. Soon, the spirit finally ended her hum. She then turns to them, making the guys step backward. While creepily grinning, she shows them the bunny which its right leg she’s holding, upside down and left leg tangling in the air.

“Please stop bothering him.”

However, the other one ignore him. She just sways the toy to right and left, staring it and starts to hum again.

“What do you want from him?”

Abruptly, she stops from playing with the bunny.

The spirit slowly bring her red bloody eyes to them while grinning, showing line of her sharp teeth. Her act make all four Arashi members terrify, but still stay still to see what she’s trying to do. Then, she suddenly moves another hand to hold the bunny body with the other one still grip around its right leg. While shooting them with a meekest smile they ever seen, the spirit suddenly tightens her grip on it.

And in front of their eyes, the bunny leg harshly has been ripping apart from its body.

White cotton spread on the floor immediately. When the red eyes creature throws the bunny leg away, Jun all of sudden stormed into the kitchen. Ohno and Sho only look at him in surprise before Nino quickly makes his move to the door.

“I’ll go and check Aiba-chan now!”’

The two eldest guys turn to him.

“NINO! DON’T!”

The gamer looks at his front and freezes. Meanwhile, the spirit now is also returning his shock stare from behind the door with a deathly one. Still gripping on the bunny with her left hand, she suddenly moves forward to Nino. Too shocked to run, Nino however only can stand on the same spot. Fortunately Ohno manage to pull him away right on time when Sho success on snatching the toy. Before their mind able to process with what they should do next, the spirit change her target to the rapper and appear in front the other one just in a sec.

“THROW IT OVER HERE!”

Their attention goes to Jun. The youngest guy now is standing on the kitchen’s doorway with a container of oil. Sho almost gives the bunny in his grip to the other one, but can’t move when the spirit is now really just few inches from him. So, he purposely drops the toy.

Like he expects luckily, Ohno manages to catch it on time. The leader then throws it with all his might to somewhere near Jun. As soon as the rabbit stuffed toy falls in front him, Jun splash it with oil in his hold before quickly move aback. Quickly, Nino then lit up his lighter and drops it to the oil stain on the floor, doesn’t give a space for the spirit to do anything again. Fire swiftly spread on it, burning and destroying the toy along with the straw doll inside it. The living room immediately creep by the red eyes creature screams before it suddenly disappears like has been sucked into the air around them.

For a moment, the idols just watch the blaze in fronts them. After sure enough there’s no even a single trace of the voodoo doll left, Jun grab for a fire extinguish that he found inside the kitchen to avoid the blaze from spreading. In no time it returns to normal again.

Or maybe not.

“A-Aiba-chan. We should go and check him now.”

The rest snap up and stormed out from the house immediately, swiftly heading to Sho’s car outside. With Sho drives the way to Nino’s apartment, the other three try to call for Aiba’s phone.

However, they receive no answer from the other side even until they finally arrive at their destination. After running and stop in front Nino’s front door, they knock the door panicky while shouting for Aiba to unlock it. When there’s still no response from inside, Nino finally uses his key to open the door. Soon, the scene of Aiba is lying unconsciously on the living room’s floor come into their eyes.

“No way…”

“Aiba-chan!”

Without wasting any second, they panicky kneel beside the cheerful guy. Ohno let Aiba’s head lay weakly on his lap when the rest try their best to make him awake by shaking, telling and even slapping lightly Aiba’s cheek to make the pale guy wake up.

“Hey.”

Ohno, Sho and Jun turn to him. Their eyes go wider as Aiba’s leg already completely recovers from the bruise back then.

“Umm…”

Just then the Arashi’s leader feels a movement from the other one. Immediately, he looks at his lap and found Aiba is staring at him with half open eyes.

“W-Why are you guys here?”

He stunned. As he looks at Sho, Nino and Jun, the four of them curve with smile and sigh in relief, leaving Aiba to sit up with confuse face.

><><><><><><><><><><>< 

Hugging his knees to his chest, Aiba quietly watch the stuffed toys that he bought from orphanage before lost from his sight inside his new apartment’s burning site. He never expects a spooky thing like the straw dolls will be hid inside those cute plushies. After had been told by the others about what’s actually happened to them back then, he decided to destroy everything that related to the stuffed toys on the same night.

“I wonder who have heart to do that to you, Aiba-chan.”

“It wasn’t meant for me.”

They frown by his answer.

“I think the orphanage sold these things after experienced a same situation like mine. Maybe long time ago somebody hid it to curse anyone else, but it was passed to innocent people time by time.”

Silence.

“Seems, no one expect there’s such a thing inside it so they didn’t destroy the teddy bear and bunny.”

“Creepy.”

“It’s better if you don’t buy something cheap and second hand again after this Aiba-chan.”

The other members laugh by Ohno’s words. Even though the eldest tried to sound serious, his face totally fails in their eyes.

“But if these fall to someone else hand before, maybe it’ll turn out worst right? At least I’ve you guys.”

Aiba smilingly turn to them above him. However, Sho, Nino and Jun just look at each other before slowly walk away from there.

“No more. If this kind of this thing happens again, bear it with yourself. I don’t want to involve myself with anything that has to do with ghost.”

“I should be spending my time to create a new magic trick now. Thanks to you, I just lost my inspiration.”

“I bet I can’t sleep for this entire night. Or even I can, I’ll definitely have nightmare. I told you that I’m weak this stuff.”

Instead of pouting, Aiba just laugh by their statement. Although they felt terrified, they still sacrifice themselves just for help him while ago and it’s already make him more than grateful for the kindness.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay!”

The cheerful idol chirps happily before runs toward his friends. After take a last glance to the blaze in the burning site, he takes a deep breath and decides to let’s gone be by gone.

-The end-

>I'm back~ but just with a one-shot. Actually I've gotten inspiration to write this after watched a horror movie. Since I'm really interested to try this genre but never have idea to write a plot + currently stucked with the series that I'm working on, I decided to give a try. Honestly, I wanted to use slender man at first, but considering that there's no way Aiba-chan might survive if I use it, I change to 'shadow creature'. For you who doesn't know what's slender man, you can try google it, but I adivce you to do it during day. I did it during midnight AND...*wordless* =="
>I think I'll write another one-shot horror under 'spooky' title. But still have no idea when the next idea is going to come. Thanks a LOT for reading anyway ;)

Comments

[br-arashi.livejournal.com]

Spooky!
But I agree with aiba-chan: glad he has his three friends to be beside him at all times!
It made me remember that special with the spooky house and how Nino and Jun were clinging on Ohno and how oblivious he was to everything. Loved that episode!
Cute ending!

[24iza-run.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! Actually Ohno's 'dependableness' here is inspired from the spooky house episode too! Nino and Jun really cling to him all the time ne. I think that's the only moment they can depend on their leader(hehehe)Loved that episode too!
I notice most of horror related fics have a bit heavy ending. So I decided to write a much 'lighter' one.
Thank You SO much for reading! ;)