Ch. 6: Goodnight
The studio tour came to an end…-.
Will showed me to a guest room within the castle.
Will: “You can stay here tonight.”
I turned around, taking everything in, but it was a completely normal western-style room.
OO: “…I’m relieved it’s normal.”
Will: “Just like I thought! But if you’d rather something a little more unusual, I can show you. Something like an abandoned cottage, or a cursed mansion, or there’s …”
OO: “Th-this is fine.”
I shook my head in a panic, and Will started laughing.
Will: “I’m kidding, I wouldn’t make you do something you didn’t want to.”
His voice was so kind, and I couldn’t look away from his eyes.
(It seems like my initial impression of him was totally off…)
I remembered all the things that had happened over the day.
He had a flair about him that was a little different from most people, but he was quite serious about his work, and he couldn’t stand real blood…
(I’m not good with horror movies, but I’m curious about what kind of movie Will would shoot…)
Will: “What’s up? You’re staring at me.”
OO: “Nothing, um…”
Suddenly, Will’s expression relaxed and he took my hand.
Will: “Well then, sleep well tonight. I’ll be putting on the last of the finishing touches tomorrow so I won’t be able to keep you company…but you can anticipate that I’ll prepare something nice for you, ok?”
OO: “Alright, goodnight.”
Will: “Night…”
Leaving me with those kind words, Will left the room.
Ch. 7: I Want to See You
The next day…-.
I awoke and was greeted by the pleasantly warm sunlight coming in through the window.
Then, a knock sounded at the door…
Movie Crewmember: “Good morning Ms. OO. Breakfast has been prepared, and I also have a message for you from the Director.”
OO: “From Will?”
Movie Crewmember: “Yes, he’s going to be busy for a while so he wants you to freely enjoy yourself around the studio and the town.”
OO: “Understood, thank you.”
The crewmember left, and I looked out the window.
(Will’s town of Kenal…I suppose I should go check it out.)
I finished dressing and went out to explore the town.
…
……
It was my first time walking around Kenal on my own.
The area was quite metropolitan with various shops lined up in rows, and the commercial for the film flooded the screens around the town.
(The more I walk around, the more nostalgic it feels, like the world I came from…)
Even though at first glance the place had seemed like a movie set, there were regular people going about their business too.
(It’s a bustling town, yet it all feels so safe and comfortable.)
I suddenly stopped outside a bookstore on the main street…-
(Oh, Will’s on the cover of this magazine.)
There were actually quite a few magazines with articles expressing their excitement over Will’s new film.
(There are so many people looking forward to it…I’m scared…but I really do want to see it.)
———————
Will: “I’ll be putting on the last of the finishing touches tomorrow so I won’t be able to keep you company…but you can anticipate that I’ll prepare something nice for you, okay?”
———————
I flipped through an article written about Will, remembering his parting words to me the other night.
OO: “…”
(Will, what are you feeling right now as you work on your film…)
For some reason, those thoughts of him came unbidden to my mind, and I left the bookstore and headed towards the studio…-.
I returned to the film studio, and noticed the crewmember that had come to my room that morning.
OO: “Excuse me…is it possible for me to see Director Will right now?”
Crewmember: “Sure, if it’s just for a little while.”
At that, I headed towards the editing studio.
Will: “Oh, something wrong?”
I entered the studio, and Will came over when he saw me.
OO: “Um, here…I brought refreshments! I wondered if you had had lunch yet.”
I held out some hot sandwiches I had picked up from a delicious-smelling stand on my way to the film studio.
Will: “…! I’m surprised. This is from the shop on 39th Street right? I love this stuff!”
OO: “Really?”
Will: “Yeah! I’m so happy…this’ll keep me going through the afternoon. Thanks OO!”
Will’s face broke into a delighted grin.
OO: “Good luck, I’m looking forward to your film.”
I smiled at him…
Will: “…”
Will stared at me through his glasses.
OO: “Will?”
Will: “Ah, nothing. I was just thinking how my world revolves around people’s frightened expressions but…”
OO: “?”
I tilted me head, not understanding what he was getting at and…
Will: “I think your smile might be something that moves that world too.”
Will pushed up his glasses as if embarrassed, and I felt a warmth well up inside me at his words.
OO: “I may not be good with horror, but I’m really looking forward to seeing the film you made.”
Will: “…OO.”
And with that, we smiled at each other.
Ch. 8: Be More Afraid
The next morning…-.
I awoke and left the room, and could make out the vague form of a person standing in the corner of the hallway.
Curious, I walked closer and…
OO: “Will!”
Will: “Huh…oh, OO?”
Will was leaning against the wall and rubbed the corners of his eyes.
OO: “Are you alright?”
Will: “I’m fine, just fine…I was just a little too enthusiastic and ended up working all through the night.”
OO: “Just a little…”
Will stretched, and a look of complete satisfaction filled his face.
Will: “Anyway, I’ve finally got some time tonight and there’s something I want you to see.”
OO: “Me? But you should rest…”
Will: “I’ll be fine, besides, it’s gotta be tonight.”
He stared directly at me as he spoke with unusually earnestness.
OO: “Alright, but don’t push yourself.”
I nodded, and he smiled in delight…-.
…
……
Then that night…-.
The promised time arrived, and Will took me out into the town.
OO: “This is…?”
The place we’d finally arrived was a small miniature movie theater in town.
There was a sign outside the entrance that said ‘Reserved for the day’.
Will: “You see, tonight, I wanted you to be the first to see my shiny brand-new film!”
OO: “…!”
He was completely different from the worn-out Will I had seen during the day, his back straight as he held his hand out to me.
Will: “I just finished it a little bit ago…and I really want to hear your first thoughts on it.”
He held my hand with his tattooed one.
It was a slightly pale, regular hand…
(This is the hand that made the movie everyone is looking forward to…)
Will’s hand, which could make something like this from start to finish…-.
OO: “Alright…!”
I squeezed Will’s hand with both of mine, and answered firmly.
I arrived at my seat in the theater, and before long the film started. The numbers projected on the screen started to count down…
Soon, the film started, opening in a deep forest…-.
OO: “…!”
A man and a woman ran through the eerie night forest, and a strange figure chased them from behind.
(It really is scary…)
I clenched my hand atop my knee…-.
Will: “…”
Will, who sat beside me, grasped me hand.
But my hand continued to shake in fear…
After a while, the scene changed…-.
A small boat moved across a lake in the night, creaking as it went.
Aboard that boat…
OO: “…!!”
The mysterious murderer was bathed with a spurt of blood from their victim, and I gave a silent scream.
(It’s scary…so scary…)
I kept watching, my shoulders shaking as I fought the urge to close my eyes.
Yet as Will held my hand, his gaze was trained not on the screen, but on me, a look of pleasure on his face.
Suddenly, I felt a breath close to my ear, and my heart leaped.
Will: “It’s an honor to make you feel so much fear…”
OO: “Will…!”
He whispered close to my ear, as sweet as a lover …
Will: “This afternoon I was thinking how nice your smile is…but I really do love your expression of fear so much more than that.”
My heart started beating faster, but not from being afraid.
Will: “OO…it seems I’ve become completely enthralled by you.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Will: “Like how you’re scared to the point of tears, and yet you’ll watch my film. You really are cute…”
OO: “…”
He kissed the corner of my eye.
But in the next instant, the agonizing death of the character on screen blared through the speakers.
My shoulders stiffened in fear, and Will wrapped his arm around me.
Even though we were as close as a pair of lovers, the screen in front of me continued to play one horrifying scene after the other, and each time I clung to Will’s arm.
Will: “You’re so assertive.”
OO: “Th-that’s not it, I’m just scared…”
I went to pull away, but he held onto my shoulder with even greater strength.
Will: “It’s fine, get frightened to your heart’s content, then turn to me. I want to see even more of those honest expressions of yours…okay?”
OO: “Will…”
(I wonder if it’s really alright to rely on him like that.)
I put all my strength into my fingers as I clung to him, giving myself over…-.
Though only a few days had passed since we’d first met, I relied on him…though I wondered if it was because my mind was paralyzed with fear.
END