Flat

Urban legends...an urban legend is defined as an apocryphal story involving incidents of the recent past, often including elements of humor and horror, that spreads quickly and is popularly believed to be true.

A story that is believed to be true...is that all it really is?

Could something, like that, be fact?

What if you did hear an urban legend that was so crazy...that it WAS true?

What if an urban legend was so farfetched and so absurd...that is was fact, not fiction?

Could you comprehend it?

Could something, like that, be...reality?

Could you change…fate?

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP CLICK!

Awwww!

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Hey Sota!"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Are you awake yet?"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Hey Sota! Are you listening!"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Hey Sota!"

"Yes, mom, I'm awake! God can't she let a guy sleep for little longer?"

Our urban legend begins with Sota Gawa. He is 17 years old and attends Shishiwakamori High School. Sota lives with his mom right now. Recently, his parents filed for divorce and his younger sister past away from a fatal illness of the heart. Him and his whole family were struck hard from this recent event. But, Sota, has been affected the most by this horrible tragedy, she was like his only true person that could understand him. It almost led him to the brink of suicide, for him. But now, he has no one, except his 26 year old sister, Rina, who is engaged to her finance, Tomo. If it wasn't for her, he would probably wouldn't be here. Now, he lives with his drunk mom, is going through the loss of his younger sister, and is now, alone. Now, back to our story.

Sota changes into his school uniform, for his first day of school, at Shishiwakamori High School, he comtemplates about the day ahead.

What would my days at school be like? Is it just another building with people that hate me or just plain can't look at me?

DING DONG DONG DING (repeated)

"Hey come on, sis, let's go!"

"Ok, big brother, hold on one sec!"

Flat: The Story of an Urban Legend

Episode 1:

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP CLICK!

-Struggling groans of a tired person-

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Sota!"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Are you awake yet?"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Sota! Are you listening?!"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"Sota! You're going to be late for school!"

"Yes, mom, I'm awake! God can't she let a guy sleep for a little?"

-As Sota is changing into his school uniform, for his first day of school, at Shishiwakamori High School, he contemplates about the day ahead.-

Let's get the day over with. I hope mom doesn't have another late nighter like she always does. I'm surprise she's up this early to begin with. Well, maybe…what am I saying she would never do that.

DING DONG DONG DING (repeated)

"Hey come on, sis, let's go!"

"Ok, big brother, hold on one sec!"

–A brother and sister laughing and the mumbling of classmates overfill the grounds. Sota enters the school grounds and looks up at the clock tower, on top of his school, as it rings in the school year. He looks up into it for a moment and watches emotionless reminiscence about the funeral of his younger sister. Also, there, emotionless and stern showing no remorse of sadness or regret, holding everything in as his black suit started to appear more like his heart then the atmosphere. He heads off into the building and into his classroom and takes a seat at his desk, paying no mind to any of his classmates and not really caring either. As his classmates talk about how each other are doing and formally introducing themselves and laughing over stories of vacation, Soto sits there looking forward not moving as he thinks to himself…-

What a bunch of fools…but…I wish that I had at least…one…

-Lowering his head a little closing his eyes almost trying to shut them out…-

"What's your name?"

-Looks up almost startled to hear a voice. He looks up to see a short blue hair girl with green eyes looking at him from the side of his desk, smiling at him asking him again.-

"What's your name?"

-Blinks as if confused wondering if she was talking to him, he looks around the room quickly to confirm who she was talking to. Seeing she was talking to him, he looks up at her smiling saying kindly.-

"My name is Sota Gawa. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Sota Gawa."

-Pondering that name for a sec as she looks back at him and responds…-

"My name is Yukito Oshimo, but everyone hear calls me Yuki for short. I've never seen you here before."

"Yeah, my mom and I just moved here from a little up north…wait a minute what did you say your name was?"

"My name is Yukito Oshimo, why?"

-His eyes widened like he just saw a ghost, Yukito gets worried and asks him…-

"Are you ok Sota?"

"Yeah, I'm fine it's nothing, really."

-She knows he isn't fine but plays along with him, teasing him a bit…-

"Oh I see, well it is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Gawa."

"Please, no formalities, you can call me Sota."

-Smiling and giggling to herself as she said…-

"All right then Sota-chan, it's a pleasure to meet you, we should talk again soon."

"Yeah that would be great."

"Well take care, bye."

-Put her hand in the air still as her sign of goodbye as she runs off out of the class. Sota sitting there confused waving to no one and thinking to himself blushing a bit.-

Wow, that girl…she reminds me of….

-Flashes back to a fond memory of his younger sister, were playing outside in their old backyard; her face radiant in the sun, the laughter of a child that was his paradise. He snaps out of the memory as his teacher walks in and says to his students, as they continue to talk amongst each other...-

"Settle down students and take your seats, let's begin."

-Shuffling his papers as he's ready to start the school year. The bell rings as the first school day ends, everyone leaves the school and walks out ready to enjoy the rest of the day. Sota's in the classroom, alone, looking outside at the orange sun. Thinking of nothing but at the same time, something…something important, his thought clouded with the funeral of his younger sister. Seeing her lay inside the small gray ash coffin as it shines in the setting sun…-

"Sis…"

-Long pause replaying what he was thinking about.-

"Sis…"

-Replaying quicker as he pauses again.-

"Sis…" closes his eyes hard trying hard not to watch the repetitive film.

"Hey Sota!"

-Opens his eyes wide like he just heard his sister's voice from beyond the grave. Eyes twitching to that fact as he slowly turns around to see Yukito smiling down at him.-

"What's wrong Sota-chan? Aren't you happy to see me?" Teasing him.

"No that's not it I…I just…I thought you were someone else that's all."

-Taking a sigh of relief as it was only just Yukito. She smiles at him as he directs his attention toward the window, not paying any mind to her being there as she says teasing him.-

"And who do you think I was?"

-She waits a little for him to respond but he doesn't respond back, as if he was in his own little world and no one was there except him. She starts to worry a little and asks…-

"What's on your mind Sota-chan?"

-He says without looking at her.-

"There's nothing wrong. I just…I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

-Flashes back to his little sister smiling and showing him a toy of hers. Whispering to himself…-

"Sis, I wish you…"

-Yukito listens in and watching his lips as he finishes saying to himself…-

"I wish you were here."

-He stares out the window some more as he snaps out of his thought process and smiles turning around and saying…-

"I'm sorry Yukito, I was just…"

-He turns around to find her not there anymore. He looks around seeing if she was still in the room but to no avail, she was gone. He blinks a couple of times and assumes that she left. He thinks to himself…-

I'm an idiot…

-A car rushes by, speeding towards point B. The streetlight above changes from red to green, the sun's setting on the sky. Sota is on his way home, going down one of the busiest streets, the main street of the town, hustling and bustling of people as they make with the last of their shopping before heading home. Sota passes the crowd, passing the gallery of windows stores and vegetable stands. He pays no mind to the people around; to them he hears nothing but the mumble of the mixed voices. He stays in his own world and lets no one in. He starts to think again, his final day home.-

"Sota, you're leaving?"

"Yeah, my mom and I are moving to Hiroshima."

"But why?"

"It's none of your concern why I'm moving."

-An old girl friend of his looks at him with much concern. Thinking to herself…-

Why…why Sota? Why can't you ever tell me, what's on your mind?

-Almost like she was ready to cry, she looks at him, without warning, she gives him a big hug not letting him go. He stands there, frozen still as she says softly to him…-

"You'll always have a home here, just remember that, Sota."

-After staying like that for a while, she lets go of him and walks over to the door exiting from his life as she says to him without looking at him…-

"Take care…of yourself…Sota."

-Sota rubs his head when she walks over to the door, feeling as if a few pieces of hair got plucked from his head. As she walk out the door, he looks at her and extends a hand to her reaching for her as she runs off and yells at him…-

"Goodbye!"

-And runs into the school, never to see him again. He has another flashback of seeing his homeroom teacher talking to him as he is saying to him…-

"I see, your gone starting tomorrow."

-Sota, not looking at him, wanting to go not wanting to talk to him just says nothing. The teacher continues to look at him talking to him some more…-

"You should, while you are there, engorge yourself with the rich history of the town. You know, Hiroshima is full of stories and legends. In fact, there's one legend that Hiroshima is known for and that is the story of a pic…"

"I don't want to hear about it. It's not my home. So what's the point?"

-Clenches his fist and interrupting his speech, not wanting to hear more and ready to punch his lights out. He stands there just wanting to leave as he finishes saying to him…-

"It's not my home! It's not my home! It's not my home!"

-Runs off away from him as Mr. Kyokushi yells out to him.-

"Sota! Sota! Come…back…"

-Takes a sigh of relief and realizes he was gone from his life forever. Back in reality, he hasn't paid attention to where his surroundings, he says under his breath…-

"Why do I want to hear about a stupid urban legend…"

-As he finishes saying that, he hits his head into a wall. Rubbing his head for relief he looks up at what he hit. Murazan's Antiques is the sign he sees above the store. Sota had a taste for antiques; he enjoyed the rich history of picking up a relic and thinking about how life has changed since then. He hadn't been to one since he left his hometown and almost without hesitation, he heads inside. The bell rings in the new customer throughout the store finding no one was around. The store bombarded him with paraphernalia, used cameras, old hardware equipment, and other assortments on old rickety shelves and hanging from the ceiling rafters. He was just engorged by all this rich history surrounding him. Marveled at a simple gun used 50 years ago, he goes over to it and picks it up admiring the craftsman ship and detail of delicate machinery giving his fingertips a good stroke over it…-

"It's a fine piece of machinery it is."

-He hears out of no where and almost drops it from the shock of realizing someone's around. He looks over to the counter…no one. He looks around the store…no one.-

"That beauty you have there was made in 1944."

-Continues to look around to still find no one in the store. He looks back at the counter to see a man coming from behind a curtain; he hobbles from the curtain as the man continued to talk. Still holding the weapon in his hands like he should fire at the guy, the man is hobbling to the store front with a crutch on his right side to see he had no left foot. He had an eye patch over his right eye, scars up and down his arms and looked like he just came back from war. Sweaty and in a t-shirt that did not fit him. The fat bulge that he called a gut hanged out of his t-shirt like it was trying to escape.-

"That there is a British No 4 Mark I* single shot, break open signal pistol. That gun was used for the British & Allied Aircrafts during WWII."

-He rests his hands on the counter and smiles at Sota and says...-

"I'm sorry for bothering you with that but that right there is probably my favorite antique in the store. It was given to me by my dad when he left the British army back in 1949."

"Wow, that…that is…"

-Not even finishing a sentence as he still looks at the disfigured man at the counter, scared of him almost like all of his fears rolled up into one.-

"I was in war, if that is what you're wondering."

-Sota's eyes just widened as almost this gentleman exactly knew what he was thinking of. Shuddering at that fact, the gentleman laughed hardy and looks at him with his only good eye and says…-

"C'mon boy don't be scared by my appearance, I was only playing with you."

-Laughing more at his cruel joke towards Sota as Sota joins in on his laughter, nervously laughing just wanting to be friendly with this gentleman, not wanting to get hurt if he didn't. The man stops and says…-

"Where are my manners? I am Kurogawa Murazan. I'm the owner of this antique shop."

"I'm Sota…Sota Gawa sir."

-Not wanting to be rude as Kurogawa replies…-

"No need for formalities just Kurogawa will be fine."

"Right…Kurogawa."

-The man goes back to conducting his store as he asks Sota...-

"What can I help you today with Sota?"

"I…I was just looking around."

"Take your time then my boy there's a lot to see here, just call me if you find something."

-He hobbles back to the back room and disappears into the darkness. Sota continues to look around the store some more finding more things that interested in him. After a few minutes of looking around and seeing nothing he would like he looks over at the counter to see more stuff on shelves. He carefully inspects the antiques and then at the end of one, he sees a wooden worn down picture frame. He's intrigued by this since he rarely sees this kind of thing at an antique store.-

"Kurogawa sir. Kurogawa sir."

-Screaming into the darkness. Kurogawa comes back from the back room, crutching his way over to the counter as he says to Sota…-

"You don't have to call me sir, just Kurogawa will be fine but did you find something you like?"

-He points to the picture frame and asks him…-

"May I look at that?"

-Kurogawa turns his head to the picture frame and grabs it from the shelf giving it to Sota for him to closely inspect it more.-

"Sure my boy."

-Sota runs his fingers around the beautifully detailed chiseled in scenery of boats on the water, with seagulls and clouds surrounding the picture frame. Ships sailed through as Sota likes what he sees, and almost, again, like the man knew what he was thinking of…-

"That is the oldest piece I have here. its date is unknown but it's rumored to be from the early 1800s."

-Listening in on to the man's story, he continues to admire this piece of work. Kurogawa noticing Sota's interest in it, he says to Sota…-

"I see you like it, don't you?"

"Yes, very much so, it's…simple but…difficult and marvelous at the same time. I like it a lot."

"Then why don't you have it then."

-Sota looks up to him as if he was double checking what he said, not believing what the man just told him.-

"Go ahead, what's wrong?"

"I can't, it's your oldest piece and it must cost a fortune…I…I just can't…"

"Don't sweat it my boy. I can see you are a true connoisseur of fine pieces of work like that. It wouldn't be right of me to charge you for something like that, go ahead, my gift to you."

-Sota looks up at him, bows and says…-

"Thank you, thank you so much sir."

-Kurogawa laughs and says again…-

"No more sir, just Kurogawa, ok?"

-Sota looks up at him and nods. Looking outside and noticing it was getting dark real quickly, he says goodbye to Kurogawa and runs home. The bell rings as Sota leaves and Kurogawa watching him leave into the night. He arrives home shortly after, out of breath and tired, looking at his run-down home entering and saying out loud to the shadows, taking his shoes off…-

"I'm home."

-Hearing nothing but silence as usual, his mom probably getting drunk again, as she usually did. With the picture frame in hand, he heads into the kitchen and fixes him up some cup ramen, since that is all they can afford. Looking down at the kettle, sad and alone not really having that true feeling of a mother at home. The kettle steams up; he turns off the flame and pours him his cup of ramen. With the cup in hand and the picture frame in the other, he heads upstairs to eat and then go to bed. He gets into his barely of a place called his room. The only thing unpacked is his desk and his bed, which are close to each other. He sits at his desk, eats his ramen, and starts his homework. Trying to figure out a problem, he starts to space off again…-

"Big brother, big brother, I made this for you."

-His younger sister shows him a hand drawn picture she made (unknown to us what it is). She gives it to him, he looks at it for a short while and smiles back saying…-

"It's beautiful."

-She smiles up at him and responds to him…-

"I made it for you big brother."

-He snaps back and opens the draw in front of him to show the picture she made, he stares at it for a minute and then thinks to himself…-

I miss you…sis…

-He puts the picture in the picture frame; the glare from his overlooked lamp makes the picture faded as he continues to go to work on his homework. Shortly after, he finishes his ramen and homework, shuts off his light and goes off to bed. That night, in his dreams, he sees a bright light shining at him, like a twinkle of a star and a wispy voice says…-

The price of a life…and it's yours…

-The light, saying that to him it was different, it wasn't like a light from any star…it…it was dark and evil…he screams and wakes up, like from a nightmare, and sees it is morning all ready. Sweat goes down his face as he thinks about the strange dream he had and thinks…-

What the hell was that about? The price of a life…and it's yours? What does that mean? Maybe I'm just overreacting…just a bit…

-He plops back down on his bed again, his arm dangle to each side as he hits the bed but feels something…on his right arm, but…it isn't his blanket or a pillow, but…he looks over and sees a hand sticking out from under the sheets. He stalls for a minute as if his brain was trying to register the fact of what he is seeing, his eyes widen now realizing what he was seeing and falls off the bed grabbing the sheet with him as he falls to the floor and finds a beautiful naked woman sleeping on his bed. He gasps and looks at the delicate flower sleeping soundly on his bed, vacating his space as he just stares at what was there.-

What the…who…who is this girl? What is she doing…in my bed?

-Blushing at her naked beauty. She starts to awake, getting up slowly, her long blonde hair shimmering in the morning light from his window and covering her face. She swings her hair to one side with her head and opens her bright blue eyes to see him on the floor just watching her blossom from her slumber. She looks at him for a few seconds and smiles saying…-

"I…I love you."

-He stares at her still and does nothing.-

What if you heard an urban legend…that was true?

One will find out why some stories are best left A story.