The Red Embrace

The Red Embrace
A horror short inspired by the Ainu legend of Akkorokamui

When mythographer Aya Nakamura arrives in the near-forgotten village of Utashiro, she's chasing the last whisper of a centuries-old legend: the Akkorokamui—a crimson, tentacled sea god said to heal, devour, and remember every soul that dares disturb its slumber.

Aya isn't here for superstition. She's here for proof. A career-defining discovery. Validation. Fame. But the villagers are silent. The shrine doors are nailed shut. And something beneath the water has already started to stir.

As her grip on reality unravels and the sea begins whispering her name, Aya must decide what she's willing to offer to uncover the truth. But some legends aren't meant to be unearthed. Some gods do not forgive.

And some tides pull you under before you even realize you're drowning.

In the glow of the red tide, the sea remembers.
And it's hungry.