“You loser,” another light groans. “You think we’re playing? We’re NIGHTMARES, hello!”

Again, the others chime in. “Yeah! Don’t underestimate us!”

“Fine,” the Yokai groans. “Then point me back the way I came.”

Another nightmare, fat and bright, buzzes in her face. “No! We changed our minds. We’re fickle like that! You’re gonna stay here and suffer! Ha! You want everyone to think you’re human with that tacky disguise? Well, you’ve got your wish; now you can rot and die up here like all the humans who’re too stupid to stay away from here — you know, where they don’t belong.”

The others watch and laugh, but there is an air of nervousness in their chuckles. They altogether find it strange that she does not remember their last encounter. One would think the trauma of it all would have scared her right from the beginning. But in the backs of their minds, they chalk it up to just more of her human-like behaviour. She is a strange creature indeed.

The Yokai huffs. Now she is upset. “You know what? Shut up. I don’t want to hear it. You’re just a bunch of glowing will-o’-the-wisps with no authority, and you can’t stop me from — Ow! Son of a —!”

She was too caught up in the moment. By the time the one fat light had lowered itself to the height of her hand, it was too late to get away before it gnashed her fingers. She sucks at them, tasting blood.

The fat nightmare lets out an evil laugh. “Oh, now she’s listening,” it says. “Look at that. It speaks the language after all. Let’s see if you can understand this, freak show. Take your ugly — hey! Let me go!”

“Ha! Not so tough now, are you?” The Yokai holds the large, bloodthirsty light, enjoying the warmth and electricity as it wriggles wildly in her fists. Its friends float in the air, helpless.

“You bitch! How DARE you mess with me!”

“Maybe if you apologize, I won’t do something we’ll regret. Now, what do we say?” the Yokai addresses the others. “Are you going to move aside, or do I have to get ugly?”

The nightmare in her hands makes another angry buzzing noise. “What do I say?! I say you can bite me! I say, you’re already ugly! I say you’re — nooo!”