Oh man this brought back an old idea I had years ago and never wrote, so I ran with it a little.

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There had to be something wrong with the map. Haruka slowed to examine it once again. This was supposed to be a scenic detour, just a reroute to show her more of the countryside as she passed through. But now her phone was dead and the sun was setting behind the ever thickening trees and she hadn’t seen a gas station or any sign of life for god knew how long.

According to the map, she should have passed two small towns by now.

She wasn’t lost. Haruka didn’t get lost. She had a great sense of direction and—

And her low fuel light was on.

Shit.

There had to be something around. She was not yet in the part of the country when she could go fifty miles without so seeing so much as a truck stop. She couldn’t have misread the map that badly.

And there it was— faint light glimmering like hope in the distance. She just had to make it there, and someone would help her, or at least let her charge her phone.

Her rusty pickup sputtered to a stop, but Haruka’s spirits were buoyant now. She sprung out from behind the wheel, locked it up, and jogged towards the light.

She slowed as she approached. It was an old-style mansion set into the trees, dark but for one window. Haruka could make out one stooped shadow through the curtains— that was lucky, old ladies often had a soft spot for her. Always wanted to feed her up, and she always needed it.

No one answered her knock at the door, but it opened at Haruka’s touch. If the poor old broad lived alone, she’d take time to make it down stairs. There couldn’t be any harm in just stepping in from the night. Haruka unlaced her boots and left them by the door. The floor was cold under her socks, but clean. Someone had to come to tidy, then. Maybe the old womans’ children. Haruka smiled at her idea of what went on. The old woman’s son came once a week or so to help out, but spent so much time cleaning the many rooms that the old lady felt lonelier than ever. She’d be delighted by Haruka’s unexpected company, she’d pinch her cheeks and promise her son, who had a bigger, nicer truck, could give Haruka a tow to the next town.

The thought made Haruka comfortable, so she began to explore while she waited for the lady to make it downstairs. Down the hall was a sitting room with a crackling fire. It bore only one chair. Haruka sat on the floor, feeling a slight twinge of sadness. Perhaps the old lady just hired someone to clean, and had no reason to expect anyone to sit and talk with her. She’d definitely be glad to have someone, but—-

Amidst the cracks and pops of the fire, Haruka heard a distinct slither.

She turned, thinking snake, thinking things that crawled in the night, the hair on the back of her neck standing at full attention, but there was nothing.

She may have imagined it. She turned back.

Something that was not a snake and was not any old lady rushed her from the shadows, lifting her by the shoulders and pinning her to the far wall.

It was like a snake, with a long tail and body that together were probably twice Haruka’s height, and it was like a woman also, though age was impossible to say. Hair hung limp in greasy green patches from its scalp. It’s skin was paled to gray and the contours of its face were exaggerated far past bony. The hands that held Haruka to the wall bore claws. Its eyes, though… There was something frighteningly human in its big blue eyes.

“What are you doing here?” Its voice was a raspy hiss. “No man may trespass upon my house.”

“I-I’m sorry.” Haruka’s heart beat so hard in her throat she could barely speak. “My truck broke down, I was just looking for some help.” She swallowed hard. “I can leave, but if you could point me in the right direction…”

The monster’s grip loosened. It looked over Haruka, giving her a sickening sense that she might be eaten.

“What’s your name?”

“H-Haruka.”

“No one has come here for a very long time.” The monster spoke slow now, so quiet Haruka could barely hear.

“I’m sorry, I—“

The monster dropped her. “You will stay.”

“Stay?”

It rose a hand, and in the distance, Haruka heard the door she’d entered through slam. “This place will give you everything you need, so long as you do not enter the northern chambers.”

Haruka stared at the tiling of the stone floor and tried to process. The monster thing was frightening, but the house was more than she’d ever had. Already she could smell foods she liked cooking in a far-off kitchen. Perhaps that should frighten her more, but if she couldn’t leave anyway… The only thing was Mina.

“Can I charge my phone?”

The monster blinked. “Can you… what?”

Haruka pulled out her phone. “My phone. I’ve got the charger, I just need an outlet.”

No sign of comprehension came across its face.

“Do you… have electricity here?”

“Oh, I’m afraid not. We… I am not new money like that.”

Well, the good news then, Haruka supposed, was it would only be a matter of time before Mina came to find her. A few days living in what was practically a palace, and then she’d be rescued. That was doable, even with something as monstrous as what stood before her.

“I can show you to a bedroom, if you would like.”

“Okay.” Haruka gathered herself from the floor.’

“The wardrobes will give you any clothes you desire,”the monster said, as though it was important. “As will the kitchens produce food.” It began to slither down a long hall. “Perhaps… we shall have dinner together, starting tomorrow. It is proper for guests to dine with their host.”

Haruka did not want to see what or how the thing ate, but she nodded along. It could kill her without effort, she was certain.

“Is this bedchamber to your liking?” it asked, opening a door and gesturing inside.

Haruka stepped over its tail to take a look. It was grand, just a touch below gaudy, with a faded red canopy over the bed and ornate carving on the frame and matching wardrobe. She would never choose it, but something told her there would be nothing more low-key.

“It’s fine.”

“Then I will take my leave for the night.” The monster turned down the hall.

“Wait.” Haruka’s own voice surprised her. “You never told me your name.”

The monster stopped, looking down instead of back at Haruka. “I am… I was the Lady Kaioh. If it pleases you, you may call me Michiru.”

“Okay.” Haruka swallowed. “Goodnight, Michiru.”

It— she, Haruka corrected— turned away quickly, a shiver running down her strange body. “Goodnight, Haruka.”