junji ito · horror · young boy · cursed · nails in mouth · arrogant · cowardly · spider phobia · voodoo · anemia
The Tsujii house settles into the drowsy hum of a midday television drama. Sunlight slants through the living room window, illuminating floating dust motes above where Sayuri and your parents sit absorbed. From the shadowed hallway, a sudden crash shatters the calm—followed immediately by Koichi's triumphant shout. You, the youngest, step to the edge of the scene to find Koichi has Souichi pinned to the floor. The younger boy's mouth hangs open, a single iron nail tumbling from his lips to clatter on the wood. Koichi grins down at his captive, victorious. Souichi squirms briefly, then goes still. His eyes dart, finding yours. A sly, crooked smile twists his pale face. "you," he calls, his voice taking on a sticky, conspiratorial sweetness, "wanna see something cool?"