An inch to Yuto’s left, the dirt road gave way to a ravine. The old baka that drove the rickety bus sped around mountain bends, untroubled.
Yuto, who’d missed his normal transport, lurched to the front. Other commuters prayed.
“Are you blind? You’ll kill us!”
The driver inclined his head.
“Onii-san, even without eyes, I know these roads. You may leave.”
The passenger door creaked open as the man took a hand from the wheel, tugging his face. It melted into featureless flesh.
“Noppera-bō!”
The now silent travellers removed their own faces.
Yuto staggered backwards, plunging into the abyss, screaming.
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alt="Stone Jaws by Evan Baughfman"
class="motion-reduce"
loading="lazy"
width="1200"
height="630"
>
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="The Mannequin People by Michael J. Stiehl"
class="motion-reduce"
loading="lazy"
width="1200"
height="630"
>
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Gator by Randall Andrews"
class="motion-reduce"
loading="lazy"
width="1200"
height="630"
>
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Rude Awakening by Richard Lau"
class="motion-reduce"
loading="lazy"
width="1200"
height="630"
>