My rapid breathing pierced the silence cruelly, the harsh sound reverberating off of invisible walls. Tentatively, I took a step forward. Little did I know this would plunge me into a dark destiny. A shiver brought a chilling numbness to my bones. Ominous. I wanted out.

I gripped my friend's hand tightly, her manicured nails digging into my clammy palms. The wind whispered wicked words relentlessly. Our steps, slow at first, quickly escalated into a brisk walk.

"See, Momo? There's nothing to worry about!" Yui was right, I decided, my mouth twitching into a lopsided grin.

"A bit underwhelming, isn't it?" I asked, sardonically. I dropped Yui's hand and shrugged, my eyes dropping to the ground. I took a confident step, despite my lack of vision, and my foot collided with a small pebble. Crash! Silence…

…but what was that World's Fair-esque music? Uplifting, jovial and… sinister.

I rose to my feet. The Aurora Borealis battered my sensitive eyes, the lights flashing in a frivolous manner.

The air was still. I glanced up, my eyes meeting inquisitive kohl rimmed hazel. I stared into the obsidian abyss of her eyes, my breath catching in my throat.

"Y-Yui?" I asked, tentatively.

"Am I beautiful?" She asked, her voice shrill and oddly piercing. I stumbled backwards, finally processing mask muffled mumble. She advanced, suddenly a hairsbreadth away from my face.

"Am. I. Beautiful?" Each word was a deadly promise. From fear of my demise, I nodded. My lower lip quivered.

This woman, who looked like Yui, was truly hideous. Porcelain skin didn't hide the ugly scars. Thick makeup didn't hide the lack of feeling. Mask didn't hide…

All of a sudden, she screamed. I hurriedly covered my ears, eyes squeezing shut. Adrenaline coursed through my veins when I looked upon her frightful face.

A once-beautiful smile had been sliced from ear to ear. Blood dripped from her twisted maw. Stitches stretched as she spoke.

"Am I still beautiful… Momo?" My name was like poison on her forked tongue. She inhaled sharply, her eyes rolling back in her head. A dainty arm lifted, bones creaking and cracking as she contorted in an unimaginable fashion..

My mouth opened as I began to answer the monster known as Kuchisake-Onna.

"Momo!"

I jolted awake with a start. My heart beat frantically, my eyes refusing to open. It was just a nightmare… just a nightmare… just a-

"Am I beautiful?"

My eyes sprang open; her dark eyelashes brushed my face. The close proximity was frightening. A sinister laugh, much unlike my own, reverberated around the room. I felt lightheaded, in pain, confused. Then, I saw it; the crimson, viscous liquid stained my skin.

Yui, or Kuchisake, gripped my hair, then my shoulder and began to yank them apart, a smirk twisted on her deviant features. Excruciating pain blossomed from my neck whilst my lifeblood matted my dark locks.

"Perfect! You'll do nicely."

The last thing I heard was a horrific crash. My body hit the ground. How macabre.

Hi everyone! I've written this based on the Japanese myth :) I'm hoping to enter this into a writing competition, so please let me know what you think! I can only write 500 words though, so please keep that in mind! Thank you all for reading this!