I wrote this back in good old 2015, for my GCSE Literature portfolio. The inspiration to write this came from the Living Dead Doll; Yuki Onna from series 24. The poem at the end is her chipboard poem, and of course belongs to the company Mezcotoys and Living Dead Dolls.
I cringed reading it again, but this is for you Zoe!
Winter's forest
The winter's night sky was like a dark void, never ending but eye catching. The stars dimly flickered, as they were trapped by the net of darkness. The low shine of the twinkling stars were out matched by the illuminating winter moon, which shone down like a spot light. Hazel eyes, dark enough to reflect the night, gazed up at the clear sky. Wonder filled the eyes as their owner watched the night sky, like it was alive and calling out to her. But, when she turned her attention away she only saw the opposite of what's above.
Frowning at the forest surrounding her; colossal evergreen conifers towered her. Eerie fog which touched high above their canopies, and white snow which cased everything, shortened her vision. Distant trees look like blurred shadows in the gloomy forest night. Everything was silent, as if the world around her had gone to sleep under a bed of winter snow. Only the occasional whistling wind could be heard, as it shifted through the trees. Not even the loud birds which once flooded the forest made a sound, giving the forest an unnerving feel.
Even so, the trees were dusted with a feathery white coating and crystal clear icicles which hung beautifully off the thin tree branches. Small specks of white fell from above causing the girl to avert her attention back to the night sky. The dark void was no longer sparkling as dark clouds now covered over it. Snow continuously fell from above, and dusted everything in a fresh, cold blanket. Sanctuary. That's the only word she could describe it as. Her sanctuary at least.
In the day it would sparkle and glisten, as the bright winter sun shone down. Like a scene from a story it would be beautiful, but for now the darkness only made it a nightmare. The dense fog still filled the forest, only the thin gaps between the conifer trees thin, sharp, need-like leaves revealed little light from the midnight sky. The snow didn't help either, like curtains they shielded what little light there was.
A sound silently travelled with the wind. Two simple words. Nothing else made a noise after that, not even the wind, as everything went deadly silent. Only the falling snow made it clear that time was still ticking forward, and that the world itself hadn't frozen around her. A sigh passed her pale lips, her breath easily visible in the bitter-cold air.
Gently and gracefully, she lifted herself off the fallen tree she'd been sitting on. Her bare feet hit the cool, silvery forest floor. Standing up her appearance could be taken in. Almost blending in with the surrounds, she wore a traditional white kimono tied with a black pattern less obi. With midnight black hair and pale skin; she looked like a living doll. Moving in an elegant manner she padded through the frozen forest. Towards where the words were said.
"Appearing to you on a snowy night..." Her soft voice started, as the breeze brushed passed her to carry the words. "Eyes that fill lost souls with fright…" Her once hazel eyes began to lose colour, until finally they were only white. She continued to walk forward, when shadowy figured could be seen in the fog. "An Icy breath that leaves your corpse a frozen frame…" The figure twisted and turned hastily, attempting to seek out the voice amongst the fog. "If you encounter her and live..." The girl approached the figure, reaching out a pale hand.
"Never speak her name."
