‘Just a word of reminder, Edward, it is vital that you do not leave this house tonight. Don’t
even open the door or look out of the windows.’
It was until then I did I realize all of the windows were covered with curtains.
Puzzled, I asked Uncle why it was so essential that I do not look or walk out. He, however,
simply told me to retreat to my room, and bade me good night. I felt like he was hiding something
from me and considered asking on about whatever’s outside, but decided to keep my mouth shut.
Uncle’s command never stayed out of my mind. It also got Cheryl interested. We kept
talking about it, guessing what Uncle had meant and thinking of what was outside. Perhaps
there were bandits outside. Maybe predators of the desert stalk the land at night, hunting
and devouring whatever prey it finds. We laugh about Cheryl’s suggestion of spirits fluttering
around the sky at night.
None of these guesses were even close to the truth.
Once or twice, I insisted we look out the window, but despite her curiosity, Cheryl was quite
persistent on listening to Uncle. She was, after all, an obedient girl. She had always been in class.
Cheryl finally decided to put the whole issue behind her mind and went to sleep. I, on the
other hand, could not let go of Uncle’s warning, and having them clinging onto my mind has cast
away my exhaustion.
It was 2 in the morning. Except Cheryl’s soft breathing and the wind blowing outside
the house, everything was silent. I was still wide awake. My curiosity furious, my body kept
screaming at me to disobey whatever Uncle said and walk out of the house. I continued struggling
for what appears to be minutes, though it felt like hours, and finally decided to do as I pleased.
I nudged Cheryl awake. I told her my idea of leaving the house and checking what’s outside.
Perhaps she was too tired, Cheryl disapproved of my plan and, before I could say anything else,
dropped onto the pillow and continued indulging herself into her dreams.
Shrugging, I silently slid off the bed and tiptoed out of the room. Walking on the balls of my
feet, I crept down the stairs and into the living room. I stood still for a while, listening closely to
any movement around the house. Again, except the wind, everything was peaceful. I grinned,
contented with my skill in stealth, and continued sneaking towards the door. As hushed as
possible, I dragged the wooden front door open, and stepped onto the front porch, closing the door
behind me.
The desert night was chilly, and with the blowing wind, it was colder than ever. The wind
was a lot stronger than it sounded in the house. Dust was blown into the air along with the wind,
mystifying the view around the house. I smiled and laughed to myself. Uncle was probably too
paranoid with whatever he thought was happening out here.
Just as I have concluded that there was nothing suspicious out there, the dust cleared, and the
wind died. Ten feet or so away from the house, torches stood, burning and in a circle.
In the middle of the burning circle stood a man.
Only he – it – was not as ordinary as any man you would meet. Its eyes were hollow, and
what seems to be blood was leaking from the eyeholes. Its nose was cracked, and its jaw was torn,
dangling along with its lower lip inches below his scarred, bloody face. Shirtless, the creature was
covered in scarlet blood, its body torn and broken, bits of bones piercing out of its chest. Its right
arm was replaced by a long, blood-covered blade sealed in place by loose nails that drilled into its
shoulder and joint. Its left hand, or what used to be it, was substituted by a claw, its tips covered,
just like the rest of its body, with blood. Parts of the creature’s trousers were torn, blood seeping
