“仕方がない”

Note: A higonokami is a Japanese folding knife. The title of this piece transliterates into shikata ga nai, which means, “It cannot be helped.”

The limestone cell in which Aki unexpectedly awoke on Christmas morning would’ve thrilled Unit 731, especially how the walls of the countless chambers around her gradually constricted.

The rate varied to judge by the screaming, crunching, dripping. Aki’s cell steadily shrunk by millimeters. She beat her fists bloody against the stone, broke nails, screamed against the impossibility and unfairness.

Eventually, she found the higonokami in her pocket. Opened it. Held it to her throat. Then whipped it into the wall.

She carved kanji slowly:

My blood must be spilled.
With it, I will ink these words.
Stone, my printing press.