Red and blue flashes of light strobed through the dark, empty streets of a residential neighbourhood on the east side of Odewara town. The black and white patrol car had its rooftop flashers going while Goro slowly drove through the dark, empty streets of darkened houses.

  Goro was partnered with a rookie to cover this area in addition to his patrol duties around Mt. Kumotawa. Even with extra manpower being provided by the National Police, there were not enough officers to effectively patrol the town of twenty-five thousand people. His police car provided a reassuring presence for the frightened residents even though he probably wouldn’t encounter the serial killer. The third victim of the Kuchisake-onna Killer had been found where this neighbourhood bordered workshops and small factories.

  Toshiro Abe stifled a yawn as he played the searchlight on his side of the car along the houses and dark yards that went by. He was still youthful enough to barely show the fatigue under his eyes too much. It was one AM, and he had worked the day shift until a few days ago.

  “I don’t know how you stay awake on these night shifts, Sergeant,” he complained to Goro.

  “I work this shift a lot. Just stay alert. It takes some time to get used to a shift change.” Goro suppressed a grin at the discomfort of his much younger partner. “Looking for a killer or the burglar in the area should be keeping you on your toes.”

  “You said that yesterday, but we haven’t seen anything. Not even cats or dogs are out.”

  “It is pretty quiet,” Goro nodded. He peered where his spotlight angled forward and didn’t spot anything either. He tried his best despite his attention being divided between driving and observing. “You saw the pictures of the victims’ faces. It was like they were peeled off. That’s why we’re out here.”

  “It’s hard to forget those images. The Kuchisake-onna Killer must be pretty twisted. How do you deal with seeing that?”

  “I just try not to think about it too much. It isn’t something they can teach you at the academy. It’s easier if it isn’t anyone you know, too. You haven’t seen a really bad traffic accident yet, right?”

  “No. But some of the other guys said it can be pretty gruesome.”

  “Yeah, it can be, especially when you’re first on the scene. Afterwards, talk to someone over drinks. It helps to get it out. Don’t try to tough it out on your own.”

  “Thanks, Sergeant. That’s good advice. I’m glad I’m teamed up with you for this.”

  “Don’t jinx us, Rookie,” Goro replied jovially.

  Right after he said that a human figure, visibly outlined by a streetlight behind them, walked out onto the street; they saw the lights of the police car a half block away, paused, and turned back the way they came.

  “Damn…” Goro muttered under his breath. “Did you see him?” He pointed where the figure had shown up.

  “Yeah. They ducked back into those houses.” Toshiro’s voice perked up enthusiastically. “Let’s check it out.”

  “Don’t get too excited. Probably just someone out for some air or going home.”

  “Or it could be the killer or burglar.”

  “I told you not to jinx us. There's nothing wrong with a quiet night.” Goro gunned the engine and raced forward towards the spot. “Call it in.”

  “Dispatch. This is Unit Four. We’ve spotted a suspicious figure near 3-chome-20-21 Koshigoe and are investigating.”

  The radio crackled. “Roger, Unit Four. Use caution, and keep us apprised.”

  “Roger, Dispatch. Will approach with caution.”

  Goro stopped the car without screeching on the brakes, where they had last seen the figure. Toshiro pointed his spotlight into the space between two houses with a low fence between them.

  “I don’t see anything. I can go and have a look.”

  “We’re not splitting up. You know we’re supposed to operate in pairs while the killer is loose.”

  “I can take on the killer,” Toshiro blurted out.

  “I’m sure you can, but we’ll both go.” Goro knew running into the actual monster behind the killings would probably be bad even with backup, but they still needed to investigate.

  The two policemen stepped out of the car. Toshiro took the left yard while Goro went into the right yard. Both had their baton flashlights out and hands on their holsters. They slowly walked along the side of the houses into the backyards. The yards had well-manicured lawns with ornamental shrubs and trees along the fence line. Goro scanned his light around while he advanced into the yard, and Toshiro did the same.

  A figure darted out from behind a bush and scrambled over a tall back wall on Toshiro’s side.

  “Stop, police!” Toshiro ran forward even as he called out. He scrambled over the fence to see the man running down a smaller backstreet with a twenty-metre lead. There was no hesitation when he jumped down to run in pursuit.

  Goro took longer getting over the back fence than his younger and fitter partner. I have to lose a few kilos, he thought. Toshiro was well down the lane now, and Goro saw the individual they chased go around a corner.

  “Unit Four, in foot pursuit of suspect heading east! Request backup, ” Goro called into his radio as he ran.

  His radio crackled out: “Roger, Four. Attention all units. A prowler was spotted near 3-chome-20-21 Koshigoe, heading east. Officers in pursuit are requesting backup.” The radio crackled again a few seconds later. “Dispatch. This is Unit Six. We’re on our way.”

  Goro reached the corner to see Toshiro’s flashlight disappear off to the left by a large shed. The distance between them had actually increased, and he tried to put on more speed. They were not supposed to split up, he thought.

  When he reached the shed, he realized it was at the back of the Saito Metal Fittings factory yard. The main factory building stood at the far end of a wide storage yard. A floodlight illuminating the company’s sign above the big back double doors was the sole source of light in the area. It was obvious the company had seen better days from the building’s rusted corrugated iron walls and dirty windows. Piles of old crates and bins of scrap metal littered a weed-infested storage yard between the back of the building and the shed.

  Goro ran between crates and bins until he reached the middle of the yard. He hoped to see a clue as to where his partner or the suspect might have gone. The night was silent while he panned his light around and carefully listened. Due to his loud breathing from his run, he was the loudest thing there. There was no clue as to which way Toshiro or the suspect might have gone.

  “Toshiro,” he called into his radio, “do you read? Over.”

  Seconds ticked by before he heard a response. “Sergeant, I copy.”

  “Where are you? I’ve lost track.”

  “I’m at the front of the factory. I think the suspect is hiding around the shipping containers here. I heard someone run that way.”

  “Okay. Stay put. I’m at the back, and I’ll head there to back you up.” Goro ran towards the front of the building. “Dispatch, this is Unit Four. We are at the Saito Metalworks. The suspect is in the front yard area of the factory.”

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  “Roger, Four, your position is confirmed.”

  The front of the factory looked much like the back, with a nicer sign lit by a single floodlight again. The factory was set a good thirty metres from the road, and shipping containers were stacked two high on both sides of the yard. Faint light filtered in from some streetlights running along the street out front.

  Goro did not see anyone by the containers on his side, so he trotted over to the far side. He had just reached the lighted area under the main doors when his radio crackled. “Sergeant! I think I saw movement. I’m going in!”

  “Wait for me!” Goro shouted into his radio. “It’s too dangerous.”

  The streetlights and the light above Goro cut out, plunging him into total darkness. His eyes didn’t see anything for a moment except the circle being cast by his flashlight. He heard a police siren in the distance. Keying his radio a couple of times, he realized it wasn’t squawking.

  “What the hell? Damn, the radio is dead,” he muttered.

  An intense shriek of long, agonizing pain came from the containers ahead of Goro. There was a pause of ten seconds, then a shout, “Don’t move!” Two rapid gunshots followed, and then a third.

  The rookie is in trouble was the only thought on Goro’s mind while he dashed forward. His flashlight beam bobbed wildly on the ground in front of him as he ran. He reached the containers and drew his pistol. He crossed his wrists, pistol over his flashlight, and advanced into the containers while scanning from side to side.

  “Toshiro! Where are you?”

  Silence answered him.

  Goro’s adrenaline raced through him, and his palms were sweaty from his nervousness. He hoped this wasn’t the kuchisake-onna and it was just a thief. His luck was pretty bad these days, he reckoned, so it probably was the monster. It was too bad Yuriko or Travis were not here to help him. He wanted to retreat and wait for backup but knew the rookie needed his help. He pressed on despite his fear.

  He moved further into the containers, scanning left and right, pistol aimed wherever his light was pointing. His footsteps crunched lightly on the gravel underfoot. Turning a corner revealed a flashlight on the ground, its beam illuminating a cone of gravelly ground. This is a bad sign, he knew. Performing an extra scan around and behind did little to reassure him as he approached.

  The crumpled form of the suspect lying on his side came into view next. It was a man in his twenties with long hair and a larger nose. Goro noticed the man’s eyes bulged out of his face, and his mouth lay open as if to scream. Panning his light around, he saw Toshiro nearby. His partner sat on the ground, propped up against a container, with his face slumped down over his chest. His holster was empty, with his pistol nowhere to be seen. A closer look showed that the front of Toshiro’s blue uniform and vest were stained dark with blood. Goro couldn’t tell if he was dead or alive and moved forward to check on him.

  “Toshiro. Are you okay?” Goro called out in a low voice.

  There was no response from his partner. A prickling sensation started on the back of Goro’s neck as if something watched him from behind. He spun around, thinking the kuchisake-onna was behind him, but there was nothing there. After panning his light around in a wild manner, he fought back against his panic and forced his movements to slow down. I just have to hold out for a few minutes, he thought. An approaching police siren was louder now but still distant.

  The sound of scuffing on the gravel jerked his attention towards it. His light revealed nothing from where the sound originated. Another scuffing noise then came from the other side. His light showed nothing again. It’s playing with me, he realized. He quickly swung around to cover his back and saw a pale flash disappear behind another container.

  “Police! Surrender yourself!” Goro shouted more to reassure himself. He approached the corner of the container, giving it a wide berth so there would be no close-up surprises. There was nothing behind the container.

  The night wasn’t warm, but sweat beaded on Goro’s forehead. The nervousness he felt became the fear he was seriously outmatched. This monster was fast, strong, and quiet. Goro thumbed his radio again, but it was still dead, then decided to back up towards Toshiro. He needed to see if his partner was still alive and to put his back to a container so nothing could sneak up behind him.

  Halfway back, he felt a rush of air from the side. He swung his pistol around to fire at a yet unseen target. The kuchisake-onna rose from a slight crouch after landing on the gravel with a low crunching noise. It had jumped from the top of a container stack. Goro’s flashlight barely illuminated its form when a clawed hand swept up with great force. The strike knocked the pistol flying from his grip even as he pulled the trigger. His shot barely missed, punching through the metal container behind the monster’s shoulder.

  Goro stumbled backwards several steps away from the monster. He almost lost his grip on the flashlight and didn’t know where his pistol had landed. His trigger finger and wrist hurt, but he didn’t freeze or panic. Instead, he reached down to his belt for his extendable baton. His flashlight didn’t waver from the tall, pale grey form in front of him. Over two metres tall, with strangely heavyset shoulders, it had a slender build with feminine contours. It wore a light grey robe. On closer examination, the hood around its face and the cloth robe were actually folds of fine, leathery skin. The face was the most disturbing feature, with two dull black dots for eyes and no other features.

  A thin, wide line that went from one side of the kuchisake-onna's face to the other side appeared on its face. In a raspy monotone Japanese, it said, “Am I beautiful?”

  The creature asked the same phrase again as it stared at him. “Am I beautiful?”

  It was a kuchisake-onna, Goro thought quickly. The legend about the mutilated woman coming back as a vengeful spirit was all too real at the moment. How do I answer her question about her beauty?

  “Y-yes, you are beautiful,” Goro replied. According to the legend, if he answered yes, she would reveal her true form. Otherwise, he would be killed.

  The creature opened its unnaturally wide mouth, full of small, sharp teeth capable of biting off an arm. “Even like this?” the creature hissed.

  He let out a horrified gasp at the sight of the dead-looking face full of teeth. His body took an involuntary step backwards even as he shakily flicked his steel baton open. According to the legend, if he screamed or answered no, he would be killed. Answering yes would grant him a reprieve to be killed later. There was no winning.

  The kuchisake-onna savoured his fear, paying no attention at all to Goro’s baton. It felt the desperation in his emotions as he tried to think his way out of the trap. The creature raised its arms to show him its claw-tipped fingers, and the mouthful of teeth seemed to curl into the slightest smile. The creature slowly stepped forward again towards Goro to let the fear grow in him.

  Goro wanted to run but knew the thing would probably catch him. He noticed a small hole in its chest where a bit of dark substance oozed out. Toshiro must have hit it with a bullet, so it could be hurt. He summoned all of his courage and let out a yell while he attacked with the baton. The full-strength swing aimed to smash the creature’s head in. His blow was knocked to the side by a powerful swing of the creature’s arm at the last moment. Goro was left open, and the creature gave a strong sideways swipe that clawed through his uniform and partially through the ballistic vest worn underneath. The strong blow sent him flying sideways through the air.

  Goro landed heavily on his front. His breath was knocked out of him, and he was dazed by the blow he had taken. The flashlight he used went spinning off and landed with its beam shining in between him and the monster. Looking sideways, he saw the monster’s feet illuminated by the beam as it walked closer.

  A myriad of useless, conflicting thoughts raced through his brain. His fear acted as a roadblock to action. One part of his mind finally ordered his body to get up, but it didn’t want to obey. The best he could do was crawl forward on all fours. I’m going to die went through his mind. Goro’s hand then touched a hard metal object on the ground. It took a second for him to realize it was a pistol. He clutched at it with both hands, rolled over, and aimed it at the kuchisake-onna’s torso. The pistol bucked in his hand as he screamed out, “Die!”

  Bullets fired from the pistol as fast as he could pull the trigger. The first round struck the monster’s torso, causing it to hiss in pain. The second round hit somewhere in its side. The third and fourth shots missed due to the creature’s incredible agility. It dodged to the side and closed the final distance between itself and Goro in an instant. A powerful swipe with its claws raked Goro’s arm, slicing deep into it, and knocked the pistol flying away again. It picked Goro up by his uniform shirt, claws digging into his chest, and threw him against a container.

  Goro’s body and head impacted hard against the steel container. His vision blurred, and he was barely conscious. He felt himself get picked up again, and he looked into the kuchisake-onna’s dead eyes as his own closed into unconsciousness. He thought he heard shouting voices as he passed out.

  *****

  His eyes opened to a brilliant white light. The square grid of white ceiling tiles and overhead fluorescents slowly came into focus. Goro heard the regular beeping of a medical monitor.

  A female voice called out. “Nurse! I think he’s awake.”

  The voice sounded familiar to him. He slowly realized Yuriko was speaking.

  “Hey, Goro. Can you hear me?”

  He turned his head a bit and winced as he had bruised muscles everywhere. Yuriko looked at him with concern on her face.

  “Hi,” he weakly replied. His throat felt dry and raspy. “Am I in the hospital?”

  “Yes. You’ve been out for two days. Heavy concussion, bruised ribs, lacerations.”

  Still groggy, Goro tried to recall what had happened. “I feel awful…”

  “You should. You took quite a beating.”

  There was a long pause from Goro. ”Toshiro… Is Toshiro okay?”

  Yuriko didn’t answer right away. She reached out to hold his hand, and he saw she was deciding how to answer. “He didn’t make it. His injuries were too severe. I’m just glad you made it.”

  Goro let out a sigh. “I made it, but it sure doesn’t feel good to me. He was just a rookie. I tried to get him to hold back, but he was too eager for action.”

  “You can’t save everyone,” Yuriko replied, “I’ve lost more than a few friends in the army over the years. You can only do your best and carry on. And… I’m glad you made it. I wouldn’t want to lose another good friend.”

  A doctor entered the room with the nurse. Yuriko moved to the side to give them room. “We can talk more later. You did well. Rest up.”