Shinchan's Last Goodbye

Shinchan's Last Goodbye
It was a cold winter evening in Kasukabe. Shinchan’s family was gathered around the TV, watching a variety show. Suddenly, the power went out. Everything was silent except for the howling wind outside. Misae lit some candles, but the flickering flames cast eerie shadows on the walls.

"Don’t worry, the lights will be back soon," Hiroshi reassured.

Shinchan, with his usual mischievous smile, decided to explore the dark house. "I’m going to play hide-and-seek with Shiro!" he announced, running towards the backyard.

An hour passed, and the power hadn’t returned. Misae and Hiroshi grew worried as Shinchan hadn’t come back inside. They called for him, but there was no response.

"Maybe he’s playing somewhere; let’s check outside," Hiroshi suggested.

When they stepped into the backyard, they were greeted by an unsettling sight. The air was unnaturally cold, and the moon was hidden behind thick clouds, casting the garden in complete darkness.

"Shinchan! Where are you?" Misae’s voice cracked with fear.

Suddenly, a distant giggle echoed from the woods behind their house.

"Did you hear that?" Misa asked, her voice trembling.

"It’s coming from the forest," Hiroshi said, leading the way.

They followed the sound, entering the dense, dark woods. The giggles grew louder, but the more they followed, the more distant it became. It was as if Shinchan was leading them deeper into the heart of the forest.

After walking for what felt like hours, they found a small, abandoned cabin. The door creaked open on its own as they approached. Inside, they found Shinchan sitting in the middle of the room, facing away from them, completely still.

"Shinchan, are you okay?" Misae asked, rushing towards him.

As she reached out to touch his shoulder, Shinchan slowly turned around, but something was wrong. His eyes were lifeless, and his skin was cold.

"Mama, I’m sorry," Shinchan whispered in a voice that didn’t sound like his own.

Before Misae could react, the door of the cabin slammed shut, and the temperature dropped drastically. A shadowy figure appeared in the corner of the room, its hollow eyes staring at them. The figure slowly approached, its bony fingers pointing at Shinchan.

"He belongs to me now," the figure hissed.

"No! Please, don’t take him!" Misae cried, holding Shinchan tightly.

The figure’s grip was too strong. It pulled Shinchan away, and in a flash, everything went black.

Misae and Hiroshi awoke the next morning in their home, unsure if it had all been a nightmare. But when they looked for Shinchan, they found his favourite toys scattered in the yard. His shoes were by the back door, but Shinchan was nowhere to be found.

Days turned into weeks, and the police searched everywhere, but there was no sign of him. The family was heartbroken. Misae sat by the window every day, waiting for her son to return, but deep down, she knew he never would.

The forest behind their home remained silent, but sometimes, late at night, they could still hear the faint giggle of a little boy, forever lost in the darkness.