8 feet tall

In a small village in Japan, rumors spread of a terrifying entity known as "Hachishakusama," or the Eight-Foot-Tall Woman. She was said to be an evil spirit that lured children to their doom. Towering and unnaturally thin, her presence was marked by an eerie “po… po… po…” sound, like a low chant that echoed through the air. Many locals swore they’d seen her shadow stretching impossibly tall in the night, yet no one dared speak of it for fear of summoning her.

One summer, a boy named Kaito visited his grandparents in the village. Curious and adventurous, he wandered around the old, traditional home, listening to his grandfather’s stories. But one night, while he was playing outside near dusk, he noticed a strange figure lurking by the trees. She was impossibly tall, her head nearly grazing the top branches, her white dress flowing and swaying in the still air. Kaito felt a chill creep up his spine as the figure began moving towards him, gliding with silent, elongated strides. Then he heard it, the unmistakable “po… po… po…” sound, rhythmic and hypnotic.

Frozen with fear, Kaito was snapped back to reality when his grandmother ran out, grabbing him by the shoulders and pulling him inside. “Do not look at her!” she hissed, slamming the door shut. She and his grandfather began a frantic ritual, placing bowls of salt by every window and hanging ropes covered in sacred charms around the room. Kaito, bewildered and frightened, asked what was happening.

His grandfather spoke in a grave whisper. “That was Hachishakusama. She’s marked you. Once she’s chosen a victim, she will not stop until she takes them away. But we will try to keep you safe.”

They placed him in a small room surrounded by charms and closed the door, warning him not to leave until morning. The hours passed slowly, and the house grew eerily quiet. Despite his fear, Kaito drifted into a restless sleep.

In the dead of night, he was startled awake by a soft knock at the door. Then he heard his grandmother’s voice. “Kaito, are you alright? Come out; it’s safe now.” Relieved, Kaito got up, reaching for the door handle. But then he stopped, chills running down his spine. Something about the voice was… wrong. It sounded hollow, like an echo rather than a real voice.

“Kaito, come out,” the voice repeated, now taking on a sing-song tone. “Po… po… po…”

Fear gripped him as he realized the truth. It was her. She was imitating his grandmother’s voice, trying to lure him out. Trembling, Kaito backed away from the door, pressing his hands over his ears to block out the sound. But it only grew louder, as if she were right outside the door.

Hours passed, and finally, dawn broke. His grandparents opened the door to find Kaito huddled in the corner, pale and shaken. They took him back to the city that morning, performing a farewell ritual to ward off Hachishakusama. He was warned never to return to the village.

Years later, Kaito received news of his grandparents' passing and returned to the village to pay respects. But as he stood at their graves, he heard it again—a faint, haunting “po… po… po…” echoing through the trees. Terrified, he left immediately, vowing never to look back.

To this day, Kaito still wakes at night, certain he hears the ghostly chant. Hachishakusama never forgets her chosen victims. She’s patient, waiting until they’re alone, and when they least expect it… she comes back.