The Rule Series Episode 7: "You must not reflect your face on the surface of an old well"

The Rule Series

Episode 7: "You must not reflect your face on the surface of an old well"

In a mountain village, there was one well that was no longer in use.
A circular stone structure.
A moss-covered wooden lid.
A strange rule had remained regarding that well since long ago.
―― At night, you must not reflect your face on the surface of the well's water.
Children were threatened with, "You'll be pulled in."
But there are almost no adults left who know the reason why.
Tachibana, a photographer, had come to take pictures of that well.
Recording disappearing folk culture.
That was his job.
The well he saw during the day looked like nothing more than an old well.
But the villagers always returned home before the sun went down.
"It's better not to go near it at night."
Everyone said it the same way.
Tachibana did not like that ambiguity.
11:00 PM.
He heads to the well alone.
The mountain was quiet.
There was not even the sound of insects.
Only the light of his flashlight swayed in the darkness.
He arrives at the well.
The wooden lid was slightly open.
As if someone had looked inside before him.
Tachibana readies his camera.
He shines the light into the well.
It is deep.
The bottom cannot be seen.
But the water itself was strangely still.
Like a mirror.
Tachibana laughs.
"It's just water."
And then.
He peers into the well.
His own face is reflected on the water's surface.
In that instant.
The "self" that was reflected smiled.
Tachibana gasps.
He himself is not smiling.
Yet.
Only the face on the water's surface is slowly raising the corners of its mouth.
Plop.
Something moved deep inside the well.
The "Tachibana" on the water's surface is approaching him.
Even though it is in the water.
Ignoring the sense of distance.
Slither.
The face grows larger.
Their eyes meet.
In that moment, Tachibana understood.
That is not a mirror.
There is another person "down there."
A wet voice echoes from inside the well.
"Finally found you."
The Tachibana on the water's surface stretches out both hands.
Those hands were unnaturally long.
Tachibana jumps back.
But a massive splashing sound echoes from inside the well.
Splash, splash, splash!!
Something is climbing up the wall.
Fast.
A movement that is not human.
Tachibana ran.
Behind him, wet footsteps follow.
Pat.
Pat.
Pat.
But halfway there, the footsteps stop.
Tachibana looks back fearfully.
In the darkness.
Beside the well, "Tachibana" was standing.
Soaked from head to toe.
But only the face is blurred, as if rippling in water.
It tilted its head slightly.
"Which one?"
The next morning.
The villagers found Tachibana walking on the mountain path.
He was covered in mud.
But something is wrong.
He had forgotten the location of the well.
No.
That is not all.
He had become afraid every time he looked in a mirror.
As if he knows that "someone" on the other side is still watching him.