Story
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Movie Night | Open
by Yumiko Tashiro
Categories
Musings & MumblingsWriting - GeneralWriting- Open
Tags
Specifically VHSMoviesYumiko Tashiro1996 EraMentions Of Past Child Abduction And HarmScience FictionFaster Science Together BuildingMentions Of Tea And BooksEcho GenerationMaple TownOpen WritingSlice Of Life
~?Yumiko Tashiro?~
Maple Town was a nice little suburb with a cozy downtown. Tea Tunes was her frequently visited place. A little shop that sells boba and tea with an ambiance of jazzy tunes or soft relaxing melodies. The walls were lined with records and pictures of musicians respectfully. Across the way on the other side of the street was the public library; The Bookatorium. Another place she loved to go. Its front desk reception could be warmer, but Yumiko always nod politely—nervous smile—and head for the science and technology section. Sometimes she’ll frequent the entertainment books, namely the romance novels. She was a romantic at heart and couldn’t resist them. Mystery was a second genre she held interest in and often found herself engrossed within the pages, working her mind to try and solve it herself before finishing the book. Sometimes she hit the mark and other times she didn’t. It was fun.
She use to live in the suburbs before transferring to the FST building. It was a nice, quiet little home amongst the neighborhood but she often didn’t like the neighbor down the road from her. He made her uneasy during those times. Always creeping about late at night, looking over his shoulder while carrying suspiciously large black bags. Then children started going missing…
Thanks to two particularly nosy and smart siblings, her suspicion and horrible assumption came true once the police listened to those two siblings and investigated. The sick monster had a dungeon in his basement. By this time she had moved but hearing it early in the morning around the facility was spine chilling. She also had felt guilt. Maybe if she had spoken up sooner, even if she had been new to the town, they could of caught him much faster…However, even if Dr. Lee was right about no evidence and her word being the only thing to go on, Yumiko still felt she should of tried…
It’s been two years now since then and a lot has happened to the town. One being the FST’s growth. They finally discovered portal technology thanks to the aliens two years back. It was still in the research and field testing stages, accidents have occurred and trying to minimize them was a huge challenge. Take into account the unpredictability of where the portal will open up to? It’s going to take a few years to get it as right as possible.
Right now, on her rare but ever grateful week off, Yumiko was at the Video Store looking through the movies and posters. She planned to spend the day watching something down to earth, maybe comedic, and treat herself with some snacks in the bag hanging on her folded elbow. Some of her interest called out to her but she held firm in wanting something different. Trying something new but comfortable.
It catches her eye, nuzzled between the stack on the shelves she pulls out the VHS;
The Ghost and the Darkness
It’s a thriller and adventure yet reading the synopsis on the back portrays it as a horror movie with killer lions…
Yumiko’s curiosity drives her to rent it despite her earlier intentions. On her way out, she bumps into someone which causes her to drop her bag. Thankfully the snacks were all boxed sweets, no fruits this time which meant the VHS was safe from sticky residue.
”I’m so sorry, are you okay?” She apologizes in her nervous demeanor. Upon looking at them though, they’re indeed a new face in town.
