Kuchisake-Onna: Do you think I'm Pretty? - Japanese Myth - Extra Mythology

[@extrahistory]

Don't be thwarted by a snack like the Kuchisake-Onna! Use code EXTRACREDITS50 to get 50% off your first Factor box at bit.ly/3kHfe03 ! Thanks for Watching!

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

YAY! Love japanese mythology! You guys always make My day 😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@fantalandia4273]

Extra Credits x the win! 😅 Nah I think I’m kidding

[@harleycote732]

You could also avoid the yokai when she takes the surgical mask say she looks normal that will give you enough time to run away

[@Hom1c1de]

I KNOW HER LEGEND. she was a very beautiful woman where she lived and would always ask people “am i pretty” and ofc they would say yes, however she had a samurai husband and when she got caught cheating….. well we can say he grabbed his sword and cut her mouth so NO ONE would think she was pretty again so she ask men and kids “am i pretty “.

[@Borninthewronguniverse]

Bro why'd I watch this at 3 A.M? Cant sleep now lol.

[@brotquel1592]

Another solution I love to the Kuchisake-onna problem is simply answering "Sorry, I am in a hurry" and she'll let you go out of politeness, so to not inconvenience you. So many yokai are polite it's fascinating, like how you can incapacitate a kappa by bowing to it, the kappa will reciprocate thus spilling all the water from the bowl on their head and losing all their strength. Gotta love how such a still alive and modern folklore has a bizzarre recurring theme such as politeness and etiquette.

[@drextrey]

Its Japanese, Politeness and etiquettes are everything there, which is why these folklores are created to teach kids about politeness and etiquettes.

[@FrancisTheBerd]

Damn lmao

[@middleeasternforhire8985]

Even Japanese evil spirits are polite😂

[@keyharmonyschannel8509]

Kuchisake mister: Do you think I’m handsome?

[@alanherlan3429]

a solution I heard was giving a confusing answer when she asks "Am I still pretty?" which she does after asking "Am I pretty?" then while she is puzzling your answer out, run. But if you can't think of a confusing answer coins or hard candy will distract her. Whatever you do do not scream or answer no if she asks if she is pretty, she will kill you for being rude, but if you say that she is pretty each time she will cut your face so it looks like hers. Also, I don't know where the "targets children" came from I heard she just goes after guys and men never girls and women

[@zogkuma]

I have heard that this yokai also appears before young men too with the same questions and consequences, however, the trick is to tell her "I have a girlfriend." That way, she will leave them alone, leaving them unscathed.

[@TheMysteryDriver]

She just wanted directions

[@kaltaron1284]

Kuchisake-onna (口裂け女) litterally means woman with a tourn or cut-up mouth. There's many different variations. The escape method with the sweets isn't so much about them being sweets but that she has a compulsion to pick them up one for one. Others include not answering her questions directly or stating that you're in a hurry and have no time. Just running doesn't work though.

[@gooby8953]

What if you ask her out

[@cyborgcatrj6794]

Funnily enough one of the methods I heard of is asking her the same question back, “do *you* think *I’m* pretty?” It supposedly confuses her and while she thinks of a reason you get time to run away.

[@cjcollado8071]

​@@gooby8953 _Smooth talker 100_

[@tell-me-a-story-]

If you tell her she looks normal, she'll stall.

[@TheeMusicalARM]

I wonder what the kuchisake-onna would do if someone replied to her question with, "Do you think you're pretty? How you see yourself is more important than how others see you."

[@easternhills1329]

I was trying to go down that route with a regular-onna, but it didn't work out. After being pestered for an hour, I went with you look normal; which made her completely hysterical. 10/10 would NOT try that out with the kuchisake-onna.

[@theorangeoof926]

@@easternhills1329”you’re fine, you shouldn’t use external validation for your sense of self-worth”

[@Vampireleopard]

So the T.V. show Constantine had a character do almost exactly that. Kuchisake-onna "Do you think I'm pretty?" Character " I don't know do you think you're pretty?" The result was irritation

[@chocomelo454]

I think i heard that saying shes average will stun her so im gonna guess asking her that is the same 💀

[@PramkLuna]

The fact that you can tell her you're running late for a meeting and she'll let you go is pretty funny for something you're supposed to fear. "Sure I'll kill you if I want to, but I'm not monstrous enough to make you skip a meeting"

[@kaltaron1284]

Being late to a meeting is serious business in Japan. And many Youkai are pretty polite. That includes the Kappa who are downright nasty but if you bow to them, they will bow in return and spill the water they keep in a bowl on their head and lose their monstrous strength.

[@reyonXIII]

"I may be a murdering bloodthirsty fey creature...but dear gods, I could never be as evil as your bosses. You look even worse than me! How bout this? I'm in need of some victims, though, so if they give you hell, send them my way, make sure they don't have any hard candy on them, and we'll call it even. Sound good? :D Now go home and get some sleep!"

[@Musicbox_6]

You can also say that she is normal looking. As far as i know this also works

[@trapezoid5810]

Can't you also escape her by asking her, in response to her question, if she thinks YOUR pretty?

[@Musicbox_6]

@trapezoid5810 The simulation would crash and reboot itself right to the point before you asked her that

[@CaitiffPrimogen]

Kuchisake-Onna: Do you *still* think I'm pretty? Me: Actually I'm kind of into that... Kuchisake-Onna: OK, no. You've made it weird now. I'm going.

[@Tyronebedingling]

Speechless💀💀

[@Balbuster420]

Real I could def tap that💀

[@Musicbox_6]

It is always good to have a second teacher of history, books, and even mythology. Keep up the great work, Extra Credits people!

[@aperson6242]

“Do you think I’m pretty?” gives me the same vibes as “ let’s put a smile on that face”

[@Nokotron]

Kinda like the female version of The Joker lmao

[@nikoloijames-jarrett6613]

True true

[@geofff.3343]

Other things that supposedly work: "Maybe, I'm not sure. Can I have some time to think about it, please?" and "I'm really sorry, but I'm late for an important appointment."

[@the_tactician9858]

Ah, yes, the one thing scarier than a killer spirit who slices your face. Japanese business culture.

[@geofff.3343]

@@the_tactician9858 A lot of Japanese spirits are beaten by timely acts of politeness. The Kappa and bowing to make it spill the water from its crown is a really well-known one.

[@the_tactician9858]

@@geofff.3343 That makes a lot of sense considering the (over)polite nature of Japanese society

[@mattkent4397]

“Ma’am I’ve been on a ship for months now, you drop dead gorgeous.” Some unknowing American Navy Sailor

[@charlotteshenkenberger345]

Navy Sailor Dad: And that sweetheart is how I met you mother. Slit Mouthed Child: That explains way too much.

[@deadlydingus1138]

Kichisake Onna: Do you think I’m pretty? Me: Are you flirting with me?

[@john2g1]

And that's why the yokai targets children.

[@not_a_dissappointment72]

​@@john2g1 why does that sound even worse 💀

[@TheYoungHannya]

​@@john2g1 That's crazy 💀

[@staceyschultz-y2v]

Her. Maybe

[@Wolfiyeethegranddukecerberus17]

This is like the Ol Higue from West Indian folklore, who's basically a flayed vampire who will stop to count rice grains if you drop them near your doorstep. Who knew terrifying monsters could be so meticulous?

[@kaltaron1284]

Counting is an integral part in many myths around the world. Probably because it was an important part of society. Here we have the legend of a giant who was tricked into counting beets on a field, allowing his victim to escape and gave him his name: Ruebezahl = beet counter.

[@ferretyluv]

Vampires are supposedly the same way. That’s why in Sesame Street, the vampire is called The Count. Because vampires like to count things.

[@herusolares5320]

Hey! That rice counting obsession sounds exactly like a Greek vampire tale I heard on my travels.

[@NL-ws5fv]

A lot of demons/yokai are meticulous. You should hear some in the Iberian peninsula.

[@zoesucre6311]

In Trinidad, we know her as the "soucouyant" and you have to make a circle of rice around your house to keep her out

[@SaiGade-go9wp]

The answer is always yes, especially if it's your wife.

[@extrahistory]

[@mistynight123]

Or Grannie...

[@rikuvakevainen6157]

Sometimes if you say yes it hurts them even more. They doubt me, even if I say "yes". I usually ask back: "What happens if I tell the truth or a lie?"

[@GreekV1nce]

​@@mistynight123😦bro

[@gahrilla_1]

@@rikuvakevainen6157 Lie: Slit mouth Truth: slit mouth.

[@YOSSARIAN313]

I love how this myth is basically a creepy pasta

[@codysonic1]

Well Japan is where the whole Creepy Pasta thing started. The. Baka Nekomata was considered the first creepy pasta

[@foxbox8994]

well most creepy pasta are just a cultural extension of folktales kinda like how urban legends are just our modern day folktales

[@arthurpeters1996]

@@foxbox8994100%, I was about to say the same. Creepypastas are *literally* just digital urban legends/folktales.

[@mutantmaster1]

Fun fact: Kuchisake Ohna is the monster from Ghost Stories that was part of the Dropped Episode. Apparently she's defeated by one of the snarky characters by straight up telling her "no, you're ugly and i hate you"

[@RiverBroslife]

The fact that it would be harder to find kuchisake during Covid with all of the masks

[@Pillzpop]

I've heard of other roundabout ways to avoid getting maimed by her. One of them is to describe her appearance as average. The other is to ask her if she thinks she's pretty.

[@creditcrazy597]

Now I want to see her try and kill an oblivious therapist. Her: do you think I look pretty? Him: well yeah maddem. Her taking mask off: how about now? Do you want to look like me? Him: idk do you think your pretty? It seems to me that you have severe anxiety. Her: uh what?

[@RedCyberLizzie]

"Do you think I'm pretty?" "Would you like some candy?" Works with girlfriends, wives, and yokai.

[@Daisuke_mouthwashing]

And little kids

[@livl1v]

@@Daisuke_mouthwashing what the fu-

[@TheYoungHannya]

@@Daisuke_mouthwashing Nahhhh 💀💀

[@DDlambchop43]

funny. the version I read was a woman was married to an unstable man and he finally snapped and slit her mouth cause she was leaving him. He suddenly regretted it and turned the blade on himself. Also, I never read anything about children being targeted; it's usually just people she runs into. She asks, "Am I pretty?"; if you say yes, she takes off the mask and says, "HOW ABOUT NOW?" if you say no, well...she'll slice you no matter what.

[@kamal_jab]

Thing is... this yokai is an urban legend, and like every other urban legend, details often changes to fit their audiences

[@aze94]

In the version I heard Kuchisake-onna cuts you up if you answer no out of anger and due to a Japanese pun if you answer yes (綺麗 sounds similar to 切れ). The way to get out of the encounter alive is to say you have an appointment and need to go as she is to polite to refuse.

[@paulcalixte2223]

This is the first scary Extra Mythology that actually sent a shiver up my spine

[@therealopaartist]

Imagine if she asked a blind person this. “Uuuh…I don’t know?”

[@WOLF36554]

Pretty cool to see you guys are covering modern Urban Legends. Any chance you do Polybius next?

[@furryfucker420]

Bru

[@Esneson28]

Might be him, I don't even know him 😂

[@HeraclesN-fp1bw]

She is definitely one of the best Japanese urban legend & like her I call them a M.O.T.I. Or Monster Of The Imagination where they are entities that are created by various people’s imaginations

[@Munchkin.Of.Pern09]

That’s actually a pretty popular designation for the origin of various Yokai and spirits. Nurarihyon no Mago features the concept of yokai “born from stories”, and Kyokou Suiri uses basically your exact phrasing…

[@HeraclesN-fp1bw]

@@Munchkin.Of.Pern09 Then there is Re:Creators & Mob Psycho 100 also uses it in their series

[@sheepketchup9059]

Slanderman

[@hoxiipoxii56]

This was one of my first favourite urban legends, I have such memories of it. It's so good

[@jy3n2]

She and Red Cape show up in World of Horror. She's absolutely terrifying, both inflicting a unique injury and bypassing the Last Stand option.

[@JaimeNyx15]

That first "do you think I'm pretty?" was *chilling*. Well done, Matt.

[@anniel6479]

The solution I had heard was to simply not answer her and instead excuse yourself, telling her you had somewhere to be. But I think I like this candy solution better!

[@ItsmeInternetStranger]

Maybe that's why she targets children. Adults are always so busy.

[@lizbizwiz1238]

I’ve also heard if you say “so so” or “maybe” she’ll be confused long enough for you to run.

[@anniel6479]

@@lizbizwiz1238 Oh, that's a good one.

[@lordjakob7052]

simple "do you think i am pretty" "Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what is beautiful now might not be in like 100 years after all standards for human beauty change and are diffrent in cultures around the globe like in some cultures a monobrow is seen as attractive and in some . . . ." "ok your not worth it"

[@lizbizwiz1238]

@@lordjakob7052 That’s probably why Kuchisake-Onna only goes after kids- because she knows adults can be crafty about it. Of course, kids can be crafty too, but you know what I mean?

[@lrnook]

It became the Red Mask urban legend here in Korea. It was a big thing back then. I remember parents not letting their children go outside to play after school hours.

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

Kuchisaki-onna: Do you think I'm pretty? Me: Does the bear pope wear a funny hat in the woods? KO: ...nani? Me: *runs away*

[@foxbox8994]

I've also heard that another way to escape unscathed is by answering the question with "you're average" or "so so" and she would be so stunned by your answer it would give you time to escape

[@Shidyk]

Japan has some creepy (but awesome) stories.

[@naphtal5578]

I've heard that a way to defeat the kuchisake onna is to ask her : "And you, do you think I'm beautiful?" after her first question. She will be taken aback and will give you the chance to run away. I guess it's in case you go out and and don't carry candy with you. 😉

[@agoblincandraw]

I e always heard that if you give her a vague answer like “you’re alright I guess” it’ll confuse her enough to be able to get away.

[@NatCon501st]

She's also a cursed spirit in Jujutsu Kaisen! Season 2 has a cameo of the Kuchisake-Onna

[@zeiadayman3000]

Finally someone noticed it

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

The character appears in the 1994 animated film Pom Poko, produced by Studio Ghibli, and later appears in the 1996 live-action short film Kuchisake-onna, directed by Teruyoshi Ishii. She is also mentioned in the 1998 film Ring, directed Hideo Nakata.

[@naphtal5578]

Ho yes, Pompoko is a goldmine for everything Yokai related. The 100 Yokai parade is so good 🙂

[@mattyt1961]

Also in the game Ghostwire Tokyo.

[@jaohonaxa]

I was thinking about this myth recently, but I can't believe I didn't consider how great it would be to hear about it on this show. Love it when you cover the creepy ones.

[@figo3554]

Putting it into the perspective of the urban legends I grew up with, I find this even more fascinating.

[@augustomoreira7441]

"do you think im pretty" "yes" "how about NOW?" "...do you need a band-aid?"

[@robertnessful]

The twin morals of this story: One, always walk home from school with a friend. Two, always carry snacks.

[@chaoticcranium]

Not only are you very pretty, your dental work is exceptional and you were very considerate of others during COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for that, and please stop being so hard on yourself. That said, I do have to ask...why scissors? I mean, I would say you have incisors of sufficient number and sharpness to do the trick. Did you get those from an office supply store? Do yokai have a brand of scissors they prefer? These are the questions that will keep my up at night, perhaps more than my impending flesh wounds.

[@trinefanmel]

I too have asked myself how the lady in question would react if her next victim took this approach... either that or started spouting a philosophical essay on what is meant by the word 'pretty' and how, culturally speaking, it isn't very easily defined...

[@hoxiipoxii56]

Scissors are rougher so I think it'd make it a lot more painful than a simple slice/rip

[@jeremy1860]

I don't know what it is about Japanese horror stories that makes them so much scarier than what we do here in the west, but boy are they good at it 😅

[@lizbizwiz1238]

I know right? Japanese scary stories really live up to the name

[@ecurewitz]

It’s the creepy factor

[@Adam-wm2rh]

bro the animation and the story telling fit perfectly with the scary genre video😂❤

[@cheerijessie]

Gotta say, in 2020 I had wished I'd been better at costume makeup because I thought that would be an interesting surprise for if I'd taken a mask off. I'd since forgotten I wanted to do that, thanks for the reminder!

[@singingcrow439]

Another way of warding her I heard is to ask the question back. Asking her if you're pretty. Apparently this is suppose to immobilized her as she thinks about it long enough to get away. Though I am not from japan so this might be wrong.

[@RimuruTempestAt]

0:34 I LOVE YOUR INTRO!

[@MorglortheMangler]

Brilliant idea to have the yokai help you promote Factor, loved it. Also mentioning Super Nintendo was nice, good times.

[@LadyZubat]

The way I heard the story was Kuchisake-Onna was this beautiful woman who was married to a samurai and every faithful to him and one day he became enraged believing that she was cheating on him. She was also pregnant in the story and the samurai did not believe the child inside of her was his so he punished her by cutting her face and throwing her out of their home, and in her destitute she wandered the land until she gave birth but because of her poor health from being homeless her child did not survive. She is so heartbroken by her child having been stillborn she wept until it caused her to die of a broken heart, as a spirit she's jealous of other people's children and that is why she attacks them.

[@videostarlet]

Oh, I hadn't heard about the candy weakness before. Usually, they say you should give some ambiguous answer that confuses her and that's when you make a break for it. But hey, always good to have options.

[@AnemicPhantom]

Wait 'till i get my hand on the inverted spear of heaven.

[@somerandumguy]

i used to LOVE urban legends. kuchisake ona was one of my favorites, but NOTHING gave me more fear than the legend of TEKE TEKE.

[@Mnogojazyk]

I wonder how the kutisake-onna would respond to “Is there any reason why I wouldn’t?” or “Would you like me to help you find a good reconstructive surgeon?”

[@percyjacksonfangirl4ever835]

I would like to know how she'd respond to "I don't know, do you think you are pretty?"

[@OGEdger]

Okay, hear me out...

[@dangbro4832]

Dont worry im hearing you out

[@isaacmcmahon2264]

Ima stop you right there no need to speak

[@cjsaun14]

0:43

[@taco2422]

oh my god 💀

[@foo1ed]

I’m all ears

[@umang3227]

OK, I have to stop using these extra mythology videos as my bedtime storyteller.

[@Grey_day_offical]

0:33 I CANT STOP LISTENING TO THIS 😂

[@TheMaskedFox288]

"Do you think im pretty?" "Listen, girlypop, I'd love to stay and chat but i have a toaster bath with my name on it."

[@VaradMahashabde]

"You wanna know how I got these scars?"

[@TheMysteryDriver]

Popsicles?

[@steeveedragoon]

This urban legend actually reminds me of a concept that I really like. One of my favorites even. The concept is that the ghosts and monsters depicted in these urban legends are created by the collective thoughts of everyone who knows about them. This interestingly also means that any ideas that someone has and then becomes widely accepted also become part if the monster as if it were always true. One great anime that covers this is Mob Psycho 100, although it only really touches on it. Still an amazing anime though. Another one that's good is In/Spectre. It's a weird on to talk about. I like it, but it's hard to really say snything else about it without aluding to spoilers, which I generally hate doing.

[@rageskingdom8834]

Onna is pretty, and id let cut her own signature smile on my face. ITS COOL. AND I LOVE HER.

[@Windona]

Oh man, I remember this. Isn't there also an aspect because of a pun in Japanese, where 'cut' and 'pretty' sound similar?

[@2345mat]

I remember hearing about this like 5-7 years ago in one of those, "Top 10 Scariest Urban Legends!"

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

LOVE this mythological videos! You huys are amazing 🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

[@thechristsknight7758]

1:38 "You wanna know how I got these scars? Sometimes I remember it ine way, sometimes another. If I'm gonna have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice..."

[@Hondavid.]

Not to contradict, but technically the kuchisake onna isn't a youkai, it's an urban myth so it's considers a kaii, a super natural apparition. Youkai are more like the faye and elves in the sense that they're like a supernatural species, but youkai is a huge loosely connecting category. Some myths say the kuchisake onna is a youkai though so it's correct, it's just a much more modern tale than what are considered traditional youkai.

[@atsukorichards1675]

Well said! The tale came out in 70's, I remember.

[@stevebrown4401]

Okay so... She's not a youkai, yadda yadda yadda, she is a youkai. Well, you sure didn't contradict, I suppose.

[@johnathanellis433]

I love the urban legend series that you guys do. Have you guys ever heard of the Indonesian urban legend of the Pocong?

[@Temtatork]

Wow, i watched an animated version of that same legend and boy, is the polar oposite but also the same in some twisted way

[@Rmry_Gryffin]

I love all the different art styles

[@stampede274]

"How about now?" Teratophile: *sweats*

[@Haech-E-doubLe-hoLckeystix]

I didn’t know that was the word for it. Omg.

[@GraceAnne2007]

I heard this story, growing up in California (she is spreading her range, fear her) except the way to get away was to hold up a mirror to her face

[@sienanrey]

Toji killed that special grade yokai "you're not my type"

[@zachsmith5371]

I lobe your videos, they calm my hyperactive curious mind. Thank you

[@eddokter]

My favorite version of the workaround for the spilt faced woman is to be polite but say, "I'm sorry but I have somewhere in late to be." Japanese culture doesn't really have a polite way to bring a conversation back from that and she's all about punishing rude behaviors.

[@fredotv6201]

5:15: "You wanna know how I got these scars?"

[@VodShod]

7:44 is that a microwave, and is that fish on that plate? Did you just microwave fish?

[@neilpalmieri9028]

Its fine, Suguru Geto absorbed this one and Toji Fushiguro exorcised it later

[@Kawaii_only]

Lowkey she seems like the perfect halloween costume, lots of roleplay ops and you get candy in them

[@jy3n2]

I've got time to watch a nice short video like this before my appointment.

[@TheCreepypro]

these guys are way too good at this

[@midoriya-shonen]

Interesting. The version I've heard before says the key is to tell her "you look alright." It'll confuse her, and give you enough time to run away

[@MovieFan1912]

7:21-7:22 “Who’s still thinking about Halloween? We’ve already got our Christmas decorations up.” -Kodos (The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XIV)

[@demostheneslocke8183]

I always thought a way out of it was to ask "do you think I'm pretty" back

[@MathiMan12532]

Tbh I always have sweets in my pockets, from peppermint sticks, to butterscotch, to even some versions of chocolate, I always am prepared; ya know, just in case

[@riopratamamartin7870]

Actually kuchisake onna were more like a onryo (vengeful spirit) rather than a yokai

[@finneandowney3892]

I could see myself giving a genuine yes as my answer

[@이동연-c6d]

South Korea had their version of kuchisake onna, the Red Mask(빨간 마스크).

[@edgarromero3196]

Another way to survive Kuchi Onna is to politely tell her that you have no time to answer her question because you are running late for an appointment. She will understand and let you go.

[@utahraptor1578]

Most terrifying version of this I’ve seen is from the WEBTOON Death: Rescheduled There is a character who summons her and it’s freaking terrifying

[@maryalderman7592]

I heard if you say so-so, when she asks the question the first time she'll leave you alone because she's confused. (I think)

[@sultanarajia3689]

The smile nullies everything 😂😂

[@michaelanderson3672]

Geto from jujutsu kaisen has a ability that references this

[@boeingbomb6856]

If we’re on the topic of Japanese urban legends, I’d like to see Aka Manto next!

[@mssnadie]

I got candy and chocolate advertisements on this video. Well played marketers

[@kevincronk7981]

Not sure if it's because Its 2 am, but this seriously creeped me out, I got actually scared a few times.

[@danielvisky]

I find it funny the japanese legends are like "you be there living your life, in the street or your home, than boom face this horror and you'll die anyway."

[@GuitarRocker2008]

I always felt sorry for her and decided I’d ask her out or at least if she wanted a hug or shoulder to cry on if I met her.

[@tooru9387]

Top ten ways to fucking die, if you encounter her it’s definitely some sicko trying to portray her not an actual spirit that just wants to be freed from the curse. That probably won’t work considering they are there to kill some people not receive hugs cause they have a twisted fantasy with this story and are fucked up enough to go roleplaying a vengeful spirit.

[@justicedunham4088]

Gotta say “I don’t speak Japanese” in English and keep walking

[@Haech-E-doubLe-hoLckeystix]

Hell, I’d do it in Japanese, pronounced “Gominozai. Watashiwa nihongo amari hanasen.”

[@AshleyGravesreal]

One of my favorite myts was waiting for an upload of some new ones ❤

[@naiathasamarabudhram3033]

why is the intro so good

[@MeltenIce]

I remember hearing this story at school and i think if you said i dont know or you look normal she would spare you

[@ManyArmedMooseDei]

Perhaps a mere coincidence, but the opening lines here seem a subtle reference to that of “The Twilight Zone”.