The Day the Lamp Went Off: A Novel

By Ahmad M. Bakarmoom

Tom is an old man who works as a graveyard watcher in a small unknown village in Ireland. He was there for forty years. All this time, he was living in the cemetery, alone with no family; his only human companions were in the people village that he see them often and that was the weak human touch in his life. The strong human touch was with the villages priest, father Mackenzie, who was an old good friend with the graveyard watcher. Village people were calling him Ancient Tom, and he really liked this name very much as well as his very routine life. It looks like his life will go like this forever.

Then came a night, a night like no other, when Ancient Tom receives a visit from someone outside the village, someone that asks for the old graveyard watchers help, and Ancient Tom does so gladly. In a night that looks itll never end, Ancient Tom faces another surprise that almost blows his mind off. And once again, he does his best to make this night pass in peacebut fate has another opinion. As that night passes with him being frantic, suffering from terror, the next day came carrying with him the shocking news that was the first in a chain of horror that the old man will be bent with it for the rest of his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jan 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504936514

Ahmad M. Bakarmoom

Starting from age fifteen, he was obsessed with novels and stories. With his sailing deep in literature, he found that Western culture is his place.

Book preview

Chapter One

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It was after midnight when a dog started howling. A few seconds passed, and another dog also started howling. It was a matter of time when a pack of dogs started howling, and it looked like they’d never stop at all. The time was 2:05 am. The place was a graveyard in some small, unknown village in Ireland called Fanaly.

Stop, stop, you damn dogs! Stop! said the graveyard’s watcher, Tom, or Ancient Tom, as the village people liked to call him.

The dogs were howling and looked like they never heard the old man yelling. They continued their howling, which made Ancient Tom take some pebbles from the ground and throw them toward the dogs as he yelled and cursed them. But the dogs only fell back and then started howling again.

Dear Lord! Their howling is really scary this time, and it feels like their hearts are tearing apart! Ancient Tom told himself as he leaned on a big tombstone, panting slowly. Your health is not the same as before, old man. You have to admit it.

He raised his head to the sky. Then he opened his eyes wildly as he realized the reason behind the dogs’ howling. It was a full moon. The place around him was clearly bright, while glowing silver light covered the sky above him. So the dogs would never shut up, and this would last for more two nights. He stood tall and decided to go to his hut at the far north of the graveyard. The dogs kept howling, but he ignored them this time.

No more chasing. In the end, it is my fault that I always forget the full moon nights, Ancient Tom said to himself as he stared again at the full moon and its cold light. It was spreading over the big tombstones that were widely spaced around the graveyard.

What a creepy scene! Ancient Tom murmured as he lifted an old rusty lamp that he held from the beginning. And with a lighter, he lit it.

Cheeeck … cheeeck …

And the light was born within the rusty lamp, overspreading the warm light around him and building very creepy shadows around the big tombstones. The light looked like a candle in the dark.

For a moment, Ancient Tom stood there staring at the rusty lamp. He truly loved this rusty lamp even though the village people brought him modern flashlights, but he insisted to use his rusty lamp. And he always said that the day he stopped using his rusty lamp was the day he died.

For no reason, he smiled as he lifted the rusty lamp to his sight level and started to look through its weak light around the graveyard while his legs started the journey toward the hut. As the moon was hanging up in the dark sky, sending its glowing spears of silver light to the land beneath it, a small light was moving from the center of the cemetery and walking in a very slow motion toward the north, surrounded by a horde of dogs howling in sadness. All this would make this place the worst to be in.

If anybody saw this scene, he’d damn sure run out of blood, Ancient Tom thought as he was watching the shadows that he built on the tombstones as he was shaking his rusty lamp left and right all the way to his hut.

Deep down in him, he was enjoying this atmosphere and quietness, which wasn’t present tonight, thanks to the dogs, including the dark, the smell of the cold, fresh air, and the sound of the whooshing wind. He really considered this place as his kingdom. All this was running in his head before he suddenly stopped.

He felt something. To be exact, he felt that someone was there. For a moment, he stopped doing any movement at all. Only he sharpened his senses as far as his age could allow him, trying to ignore the dogs’ howling while his eyes were rolling around, trying to catch anything. It did not take him more than ten seconds.

Then he shook his head, saying to himself, No need to be scared, old man. If there’s anything you need to be afraid of, it is death. As he started walking, the dogs suddenly stopped howling, and heavy silence surrounded the place. It was a very quiet silence that was more annoying than the annoyance itself. What the hell is happening to these damn dogs? Why did they suddenly stop howling? And what—

Excuse me, sir? A voice rose from behind him, a feminine utterance to be exact.

That made him tremble in shock for a second. Then he turned around quickly to see who this was.

Even though the lamp light was not that strong, he could clarify the comer. It was a young girl. He estimated her age to be late twenties. She had a round face, black eyes, and long eyelashes. Long, black, thick hair covered her head. She was wearing a black blouse; black pants; long, black, shiny boots; and a long, shiny, black leather coat.

Everything on her was black except for her white face and skin. It was very white, so anyone seeing her immediately would think that this girl was sick. Another thing really caught the attention on her. It looked like a thick, silver pendant shaped as a silver feather, and it was hanging on her chest.

Excuse me! The girl repeated her question with a very sweet voice to Ancient Tom.

He lifted his rusty lamp more toward the girl to see more of her. Yes, he replied to her very quietly, in a way that looked like he was ready for this visit, which made the girl really surprised.

She thought that this old man would be frightened, but she never let her surprise control her. Can I take your time? I need to talk to you. Ancient Tom lifted his rusty lamp and got near the girl with his questioning face, which made her say quickly, If your time allows you to do so.

Ancient Tom smiled and said, as he pulled off his rusty lamp from the girl’s face, Well … He turned around and pointed with his lamp to the space ahead of him. If you want my time, well, as you see, I have a lot of time. Very lot.

The girl did not say a word. She only looked at the old man with happy eyes, ones that made Ancient Tom wonder about them.

He was about to say something when the girl said, Thank you, sir. I really appreciate your kindness. What I am looking for is—

Hold it there, lady! Ancient Tom cut her off. I assume you want to make conversation that, based on this place, will not be proper to have here.

The girl looked at him with wonder this time.

Follow me, please. He then pointed with his head for the girl to follow him, which she did.

They walked until they reached a square yard. It was small and clean. In the upper right corner of the small yard, an old wooden chair looked very heavy. In the opposite side, there was a huge rock covered with a red carpet, one that three people could sit on. At her left side and under the silver light of the moon, she could see a wooden hut. Its door faced the yard. In the middle of the yard, there was a stack of dry wood surrounded by little stones, and beside them was a small pot.

It was very clear to the young girl that the old man was making coffee or tea here. She wished to try this. She started imagining herself how she’d drink whatever the old man was serving. She’d gone farther as she imagined how charming it would be when she sat in this late quiet time while only dead people surrounded her.

She smiled, as she really liked the idea. She raised her head to the old man to see him smiling and pointed with his lamp to the old wooden chair, saying, Sit down there, please.

Thanks. The young girl walked toward the old chair.

She was almost about to sit, but in the last seconds, she hesitated, a little afraid that the chair might collapse.

Don’t worry. Just sit, and you’ll not be disappointed, the old man said with a quiet voice, which made the young girl smile, realizing that the old man was smart.

So with caution, she sat on the chair. For seconds, she did not move. Other seconds passed her. Then she knew that the old man was right.

She grabbed the chair’s armrests. Wow! It’s durable.

The old man smiled and walked toward the big rock. He sat on the red carpet after he put his lamp on the ground. What’s your name, young lady?

Lilith.

Only Lilith?

Lilith Night.

"And you are from?

Actually, I come from the United States, Seattle, exactly.

United States? the old man asked with wonder to the girl.

She only nodded her head. The old man eyed her with the same wondering look, trying to make her say more, but she was looking at the pot on the ground.

What the bloody hell about this girl? She came from America to here? the old man thought as he stared at the girl staring at the pot. Everything on her is black. And her skin is very white. Is she sick? All this was rumbling in his head, which made a great curiosity possess him to know more about this girl.

Would you like some tea? he asked the girl.

And she raised her head quickly as he woke her up. At first, she did not know what he had asked her.

She smiled. That’d be lovely.

The old man left his place, walked to his hut, and opened the door. He made disturbing noises that looked creepy in this late hour of the night. He entered the hut for a minute. Then he came back, holding a little packet and two bottles, one small and one big. He kneeled before the dry woods and squeezed the small bottle a little bit. It was a matter of seconds until Lilith recognized that smell. It was gasoline that the old man used to start the fire.

With a lighter the old man used, the flames were born to become a fire that started to spread slow warmness in the place with its crazy dance as well as light up the place.

Sir, the girl said.

Call me Tom, please. The old man raised his head toward the girl. Or Ancient Tom, as people call me here.

Well, it’s difficult for me to call you with your bare name, but I’ll call you Uncle Tom, she said with a big smile and a little shaking.

She has a very attractive and lovely smile, Ancient Tom said to himself.

Then he stood up. As you like. Again, he went inside his hut. And this time, he came back with a little blanket that he handed to the girl. Take this and cover yourself.

At first, she did not and opened her mouth to say something.

Come on, dear. It’s cold in here, especially after midnight, Ancient Tom said to her.

Thank you. She took the blanket and put it over her shoulders.

Don’t thank me now. You’ll have to when you drink the tea.

He kneeled before the fire, and from the little packet, he took some tea and put it in the pot. Then he took the big bottle and poured it in the pot. It was water. Then he put it above the dry woods.

Five minutes and it’ll be ready. He shook his hands. Then he sat on the big rock. He turned right and left for a few seconds. It’s strange!

What? Lilith asked.

The dogs stopped barking!

Lilith looked around her, wondering how she did not notice this.

Well, that’s not important. Ancient Tom stared at the girl. I have a question for you, dear.

Lilith looked at him with interesting eyes as she adjusted the blanket over her shoulders.

What bring a young and beautiful girl like you to a place like this?

The girl sensed a little toughness within this question, but she ignored that and said quietly, Well, as I told you, I came from the States, Seattle exactly. And I came to Ireland for convalescence reasons.

Convalescence!

The girl only nodded.

Ancient Tom was staring at her with doubt. Convalescence, you said?

Again, Lilith nodded but slowly this time.

From what? Ancient Tom asked her.

Well, I had a surgical operation. Lilith took a deep breath. I suffered from a disease in my heart’s valve, so I had to go through open heart surgery and replace the valve with an artificial one.

Oh, sorry to hear that! Ancient Tom said with a compassionate look in his eyes this time.

It’s okay now. After that, I decided to leave the cities and its noises and go to quiet places. I did much research regarding this subject, and I did not find better than Ireland and its peaceful villages.

She looked honest and truthful. Besides, her answer was quick. Ancient Tom opened his mouth to say something, but he did not as he turned to the pot, which was starting to shake on the dry wood with the water starting to transfer to bubbles.

It’s tea time, sweetheart.

Chapter Two

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Wow! It’s very good! Lilith yelled as she sipped from her cup. I’ll be honest with you. Most young Americans are not familiar with tea. It is coffee and coffee only, but this … She had another sip and said with mouthful of tea, This is perfect!

Ancient Tom smiled as he sipped from his cup while his mind was busy. A convalescence from surgery operation! Well, this is acceptable, but it’s not acceptable at all to be in a cemetery after midnight.

What’s the time now? Ancient Tom inserted his hand inside his jacket to get his pocket watch. As he got it, he opened it to see the time. At first, he couldn’t see well, so he picked up his lamp from the ground. Then he put it down again. He raised his head to see Lilith looking at him with questioning eyes. It is 2:40 am. He closed his watch and returned it to his jacket. Well, tell me, sweetheart. He stopped to clear his throat. Are you all right after this operation?

Thank God. Lilith nodded.

You see, Mrs. Lilith—

Miss.

It was an intended question from Ancient Tom. He wanted to know the girl’s social status. Miss Lilith, this doesn’t explain why you are in a creepy cemetery at this time.

Actually. Lilith waved her cup by its handle.

Ancient Tom stood and took the pot from the ground. More tea?

She smiled and handed her cup to the old man to pour the tea. Thanks, sir. Lilith held her cup with both hands, enjoying its hot touch as cold started to increase in this late hour.

So, Ancient Tom said to Lilith as he looked at her.

But she never looked at him. She was staring with wide, empty eyes at her cup, watching the hot steam vanishing in the cold air.

After a while, she said, I was studying for a master’s degree, but this valve operation was why I left the university, which made me go through a bad grief and depression. After the operation was successful, the doctors advised me to visit a quiet place for a recovery.

And you did not find better than Ireland, huh? Ancient Tom asked her.

Yes, Lilith replied with a little bit of enthusiastic tone this time. She had a big sip from her cup. I read a lot about many places, and I did not see for some reason. My mind was set to visit Ireland, so I came here. And I am planning to have a big tour around the villages here.

Good! Ancient Tom said. But inside, he wasn’t convinced at all about what she said.

Quite frankly, people in villages are better than people in cities. Lilith smiled a charming and irresistible grin that made anybody smile in return.

And that was what Ancient Tom did. But sweetheart, until now, you did not answer my question. He waved with his cup. Why the cemetery?"

Lilith looked at him for a few seconds. Then she lowered her head and started to look at her cup, which made Ancient Tom feel there was something wrong with his question.

Don’t get me wrong, sweetheart. I … He stopped to think a little about his question and if there were anything wrong with it.

It was a normal question! he told himself.

So he decided to rephrase it.

He cleared his throat and said with a quiet voice, I mean that you are a lovely, charming, young girl who should have fun in other places. The cemetery is a creepy place that nobody likes at all. He stopped as he felt that he had delivered his message to this young girl. So he decided to wait for her answer.

Finally, she said, Before I did the operation, the doctors told me it might not be totally successful. At the time, I was engaged and prepared to get married. When my fiancé knew about the operation and the percentage of its success, he decided to leave me, which … Well, this makes me feel more miserable. She stopped a little to sip from her cup with her eyes starting to shine a little bit.

Ancient Tom was looking at her, while curiosity was eating him to know more about her.

Thank God, the operation was successful, and my heart was literally healed, but not actually. That led me to follow the doctor’s advice, and here I am. She stopped talking.

Seconds of silence passed. Then the dogs started howling again, which made Ancient Tom look behind him.

He said with a little smile as he pointed his thumb behind him in the dark, It looked like even those dogs want you to continue your story!

Lilith laughed and admitted to herself that this old man could earn people’s trust very easily. Well, I don’t want to bother you with boring stories about me and my problems.

No, no. Absolutely no, dear. Believe me. I want to know everything and why you are here. He stopped for a few seconds. Then he said quickly, And that doesn’t mean you are not welcome here. Then he stood and took the teapot. More tea?

Lilith nodded as she handed him her cup to pour the tea in it, preparing herself to listen to the pouring sound and to feel the tiny rumble inside the cup. It was very charming in this quiet time. The result was that Lilith fell in love with both the sound and tiny rumble.

Thanks, she said with a low voice.

You are welcome. Ancient Tom poured a cup for himself and sat on the big rock. They said the best way to relieve yourself is to talk without interruption while someone is listening to you.

Lilith understood what the old man meant by this. Her mind took her back to the modern cities where people paid a lot of money to psychiatrists so they could only talk without interruption while doctors just listened while classic music played in the back. And this old man just said the same.

I went to England. Then I came here, Lilith said.

You were in England?

Yes.

England and then Ireland?

Yes, sir.

Ancient Tom left his eyebrows in amazement. Well, do not get me wrong, sweetheart, but cemeteries and villages in Ireland are not good places for a young girl like you that want to forget her sufferings. Those are places for a person who study the old history, like those people who make programs for the TV about history and geography.

Lilith raised her left hand to tuck her hair behind her left ear. Then she smiled as she imagined that this old man was a Discovery Channel fan. Actually, there’s another reason why I chose cemeteries and villages in Ireland!

The amazement in Ancient Tom’s eyes transferred to interest while Lilith continued with an enthusiastic tone this time. After my fiancé left me and I made sure I didn’t have the desire anymore to study in the university, I decided to change my life with a new way.

Seconds of silence passed. Ancient Tom kept staring at the young girl as she continued with more enthusiasm this time.

I decided to become a novelist.

A novelist! Ancient Tom said with a low voice.

Yes, a novelist, Lilith said the last word slowly while her eyes were shining in the dark. And I’ll write horror novels.

Horror novels! Ancient Tom repeated her words with wonder.

Lilith did not notice. She was feeling really good running in her mind. In fact, she was feeling great. Since I was a little girl, I was madly in love with novels and stories, novels wrote by legendary authors and stories that take me to a magical and nonexistent land every time I read them. I’m sure I read a lot more than anyone I knew in my life. And I think this makes my brain a huge store for the literature and story-crafting art. She stopped for a few seconds to take deep breaths. Recently, I felt I had the gift to mix all the creation and art I’ve read. And I am sure I have the ability to create new ones of my own with new ideas and new styles.

Ancient Tom was staring at her with a stupid look for a moment. Then he said slowly, Horror novels!

As he finished his word, Lilith chuckled as she looked at Ancient Tom’s face. Then she held back herself as she thought she might hurt his feelings, so she covered her mouth with her hand to stop laughing. But it was a failed try. She couldn’t hold more, so she loudly laughed, a pure guffaw that made Ancient Tom hoot with her in return.

***

Ancient Tom finished his walk around the cemetery. Then he decided to go back to his hut, where the young girl waited for him alone in the dark.

It was 3:30 am, so he excused himself from the girl to go release himself. Then he’d have a little walk as he did every night. He promised her it would be a short one as he didn’t want to leave her alone. He suggested to her that she might walk with him.

But her answer was, Do not worry, Uncle Tom. I fear nothing. And do not forget that I have to live the true fear so I can describe it to my readers. She answered him with complete confidence.

There’s something very strange about her. She wants to be a horror novelist so she wants to live the fear in the darkest and scariest places. She must have a great test of fear so she chose this place, Ancient Tom thought as he walked harder to reach his hut.

He somehow felt that he became responsible for this girl. Also, something deep down inside him was saying there was something suspicious about this girl. Maybe suspicious was not the right description, but it was something he couldn’t put his finger on.

Maybe she was honest about what she said about her fiancé and her college. Also, there was that operation and the grief she went through. But still! He was the graveyard watcher for twenty years. He was almost seventy years old. He had enough wisdom that led him to know from the first look to anything if it were right or wrong, but he couldn’t decide with this girl.

He reached his hut and saw the fire was still strong while its flames were dancing in the air, busily eating the woods and making that lovely and lazy sound that called for a total relax. And indeed, it affected the young girl.

She was still sitting in the wooden chair, but this time, she wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her head on them. It looked like she had fallen asleep. At first, Ancient Tom did not get it at first sight, so he walked toward the girl and extended the lamp ahead toward her.

She was sleeping like a little girl who got tired from playing. Oh dear God, how I doubt her, he thought as he was looking at the girl who was sleeping quietly.

Suddenly, he forgot everything around as something hidden inside him was unleashed, something he tried for all the past years to forget about, to bury it. It was something he always killed before it moved inside his heart, but this scene had called this hidden thing to come to the surface again. He felt it move inside him, and all of sudden, he remembered the old father he was, the father he barely knew.

He strongly shook his head as he didn’t want to think about that and whispered, trying to get his mind away from these thoughts, Should I wake her or …

He thought a little. Then he decided to let her sleep. Maybe she wanted to have a little nap because she must be tired of travelling.

Travelling? Ancient Tom yelled to himself and stood tall quickly as if a scorpion had stung him. You stupid old man, how could you forget to ask this girl how she got here? His hair’s neck had rose up. It looks like you are still an idiot. Immature, you old man.

He extended the lamp more toward the sleeping girl with shaking hands. A fast thought passed his mind. He was afraid that this girl would wake up now. Her canine tooth became longer. He extended the lamp a little bit more with shaking hand toward the girl’s face. He was still thinking, Maybe she is a killer who looks for an old people to kill, or maybe she is a—

The lamp was now an inch from the girl’s face, and it was shaking with Ancient Tom’s body.

This is ridiculous, Ancient Tom whispered as he stopped shaking. Then he cleared his throat and opened his mouth to call the girl’s name.

Aaaahhhh!

A strong, long, and scary scream came from behind him that made him strongly startled. And with no intention, he took a step backward that made him fall down on the teapot that poured out on his hand. He did not feel the tea or the fall. He felt that his heart maybe stopped for seconds. With his heart literally racing inside his chest while he was laying on the yard, he felt everything around him become mute. Even the fire had stopped eating the woods.

Seconds passed with nothing, a time that looked like long minutes for Ancient Tom. He was only seeing the black blanket above him with white holes here and there. Was I under a short coma? Did I black out? he asked himself as he stared at the sky above. Then he moved slowly and grabbed his chest with his hand in a way that looked like he wanted his old heart to slow a little bit. He steadily contained the things surrounding him. Then he stood up and turned to the young girl. She was still sleeping before him.

Aaaahhhh!

The scary high scream came again, and it looked like it came from the midst of the dark.

Could these screams come from you? Ancient Tom asked himself. The girl was still in a deep sleep. How could she be the screamer, old fool? You are seeing her sleeping. Did you see her mouth open wide to scream?

This question was the only thing on his mind before he realized that he should care for something else. It looked like he wouldn’t return his heart to its normal beating while his legs could barely hold him. What in the hell’s name are you, man? Are you afraid of some screaming? You are a graveyard watchman, for God’s sake. How could you be afraid? He stood tall, took a deep breath, and tried to stop this damn shaking and arrange his thoughts.

Aaaahhhh!

For the third time, he heard the scream, but this time, all fears transferred to anger he did not know any reason for. Maybe because he discovered that he became afraid like normal people. He was proud for twenty years that nothing could scare him. Or maybe because the girl was still sleeping in safety, as if nothing had happened. And he was the one who was scared. Or maybe he had enough this night, as something strange had entered his kingdom. All this was surfacing on his mind, but he ignored them as he decided the next step.

He walked toward his hut. Then he came back with a big old shotgun in his left hand. He decided to know who this screamer was. He turned to see the girl. She was still in her deep sleep. As nothing was there, he lifted his lamp with his right hand from the ground.

Aaaaaaah!

Again, there was the scream, but this time, it was weak and closer to a cry. It sounds like a little girl’s scream! A girl! Another one! Good, like I don’t have enough tonight, he thought as he started walking into the middle of the cemetery.

He did not hear any screams as he was advancing more in his kingdom, but he was instead hearing what sounded like a little sobbing that was getting higher with every step he walked to the east side of the cemetery where the highway was located.

His mind was busy with damning this annoying night, and he started to curse his bad luck. Suddenly, a scary thought struck him. Maybe his next nights in his kingdom would be like this. All of a sudden, his hut would be the center for different people from all around the globe. All of them were looking for relaxing. His eyes got wide for the thought. Would he kiss those quiet nights good-bye? He wished those damn dogs would bark again, which made him feel he was still in his kingdom.

Aaaahhhh!

Who’s there? Ancient Tom shouted in return.

That scream would go on and on. Then suddenly, the cry stopped like a toy that its batteries had died. Ancient Tom stopped walking and started to wave his lamp everywhere with his right hand while the shotgun was in his left. He felt his heart was about to start complaining from all those efforts. He stopped waving his lamp and decided to think a little.

It’s almost four am, and there’s what sounds like a little girl sobbing in this cold night. On the other hand, there’s also another girl sleeping beside my hut. And the worst thing in all of this is those damn dogs. They stop howling like they never exist!

Long seconds passed him. Then he started walking slowly this time toward the east side, to the highway, to the place where he thought the screams might come from.

Aaaahhhh!

There was the scream again, and it was strong and scary this time.

Once it faded, Ancient Tom yelled, Who’s there?

His slow walks became large steps until he reached a short rock wall. It was two feet high and separated the cemetery from the highway. He jumped above it and landed on the ground.

Ahh, he moaned inside him. What do you think you are doing, old man? Jumping like this could break your old bones. He was panting hard, so he stopped for a little break. Then he raised his head. He was looking to absolute darkness. Where the hell has the moonlight gone?

He barely could see the highway before him. All he could see was blackness. Now he started to feel scary, not because of the pitch-black ahead of him. No, it was the quietness that enveloped everything around him. Everything is quiet. Very quiet.

It was the only highway that linked the village of Fanaly with the outer world. Because Fanaly was located on a high hill, the road went up, leading to the village entrance. The cemetery was at the northwest side of the village. Ancient Tom stopped and tried to see more, but his sight let him down.

My health will not help me climb this hill. There’s also this damn dark. For a minute, he stood there thinking. Then he decided to go back like nothing happened and wished it was not what he thought. And maybe it was a sound of some wild animal.

He turned back, and with his turn, the weak circle of light coming from his rusty lamp had turned with him to shade some dying light toward the short rock wall. As he moved his right foot, preparing to pass the rock wall with caution this time, his conscience started moving. Maybe there’s someone who needs helping.

Aaaahhhh!

Damn it! he shouted as he turned around, raising both his lamp and the shotgun.

But the scream suddenly stopped, followed by a creepy quietness, one he couldn’t stand.

So he shouted, For the last time, who’s there?

Heavy mute seconds passed him. Then he heard the voice of a weak sobbing that made what was left of his hair on both sides of his head shrink and his blood to be frozen. It’s a little girl sobbing for sure, he thought as his old sight now became a little familiar with the dark.

He continued walking very slowly forward until he stopped. His old eyes could barely tell him that he could see a shape of a huge tree in front of him that was standing on the other side of the highway. Sure, the voice is coming from behind it! He started to pass the twelve-feet-wide highway.

All of a sudden, his mind was full of thoughts that were rumbling inside his head. It was a quiet, cold, dark night. Add that to a little girl sobbing, the result would be for sure not happy at all. With a shaking hand, he put the lamp quietly in the middle of the highway, making sure that the shotgun was reloaded at a low noise as he could. Then he pointed it to the big tree and started to step forward, but before that, he stopped to throw quick looks to his right and left. Then with jelly legs, he started walking toward the tree.

Show yourself! he yelled as he kept walking, expecting an answer in return.

Slow seconds passed with absolute quietness, save for the faint sound of the cold wind whooshing through his ears.

I promise you that I’ll not hurt you if you show no harm! He wanted his words to be loud and strong, but it came weak and shaky. Again with no answer, he raised the shotgun. Then he decided to slowly sneak to the right side of the tree, trying to see more in this damn dark.

As he was sneaking, he opened his mouth to yell again, but the words never came out. His eyes became as wide open as they could. In a way, they looked like they would pass their eyebrows when the stranger showed up.

Ancient Tom was in total shock, starting from the first second. The outlines of the stranger gradually became clearer until his old eyes could see who it was.

Wh— Ancient Tom tried to say, but he couldn’t say more. Unconsciously, he lowered his shotgun while his eyes were locked ahead.

It was a very little girl, maybe four or five years old. Ancient Tom took a step backward while the little girl was walking toward him until she entered the weak spot of light that came from the old laying lamp in the mid of the highway. She was wearing a red dress, and it was totally dirty. Her face was full of mud. Her long, blonde hair was a total mess. Her nose was wet, and there were those things that were gathering beneath it, making it look like a frozen tap, a blue and red tap. But it was less red than her bloody eyes.

Still under the stun, Ancient Tom opened his mouth as he walked slowly toward the little girl, but he stopped as she suddenly stopped and screamed.

A long, pitchy scream came from her little throat. Then she fell down on her bottom in the cold asphalt and started crawling back while she kept screaming, yells that Ancient Tom could somehow hear words that he for sure knew: papa, mama, papa, and mama.

Stop! Stop! Ancient Tom said as he waved his free hand in an attempt to make the girl stop.

Then he walked toward her, but she continued screaming and crawling until she got out from the spotlight, which made Ancient Tom stop and unconsciously raise his shotgun. And once he did that, the girl suddenly stopped screaming. The quietness was back again. Only the strong panting of Ancient Tom was heard over the place. His shotgun was aimed at the girl. His mind was working hard to come up with anything, but he was incapable of thinking.

Then he decided the next step and took the action immediately. He took his lamp from the ground and walked to the little scared girl. Near her, he kneeled.

No! Under the weak light of the rusty lamp, he saw the girl was lying in the cold asphalt without any movement.

He put both the shotgun and lamp on the road. Then he extended his hand to the girl’s neck to check her pulse. He sighed. Then he raised his hand to wipe the cold drops of sweat that were gathering on his forehead.

Thank God, she’s still alive. She must be blacked out, he whispered.

Then he raised his head to look right and left in a way that looked like maybe there was someone else. Maybe there was someone he could talk to or even help him in this. Then he looked again to the little girl.

Well, old man, the best thing you could do now is to take her to your hut, and in the morning, you’ll find a solution for sure. He carried the girl and put her over his shoulder. Then he took his lamp with his right hand and the shotgun with his left. He started walking toward the cemetery until he reached the short rock wall. And this time, he passed it very carefully.

Maybe the visit from that Lilith wasn’t a coincidence. Maybe it’s a miracle. She is better than I am to take care of this little girl for sure, he thought as he walked.

Aah. A weak moan came from the little girl, which made Ancient Tom stop and throw down the shotgun.

He kneeled down to check the girl. He wrapped her checks with both his palms to see her. She half-opened eyes.

Aah. The girl moaned for a second time.

Ancient Tom replied to her quietly, It is okay, sweetie. It is okay.

The girl opened her eyes, and once she looked at Ancient Tom, she started screaming a strong yell that made Ancient Tom think the dead would wake up. He started to look around him randomly with no idea what to do. Instead, he only was speaking with stammering words.

Calm down. Calm down.

But the girl continued her screams with fear written on all her face. She screamed more and more until she forcibly stopped as Ancient Tom put his hand over her mouth. The girl stopped screaming as she was looking at Ancient Tom with eyes that almost would bulge. Ancient Tom pulled his hand a little. He was afraid to harm the girl, which made her use this as advantage so she kicked him in his right leg.

It wasn’t that strong of a kick, but Ancient Tom felt it so strong that he screamed and shouted a curse as he tried to reach the pained spot in his right leg. But the little girl did not give him the chance. She freed herself and escaped from his hands to run. And the next second, she disappeared in the darkness.

Stop! Ancient Tom yelled as he barely stood.

He picked up his lamp and tried to follow the girl.

***

Damn it! Ancient Tom said to himself as he returned to the same place that the girl escaped from him. For nearly ten minutes, he walked around the cemetery, looking for that fleeing girl, but he couldn’t find her. That brat, where’d she go? I know this place very well, every stone and every dead, though I can’t find her.

He looked around him to see his shotgun thrown on the ground. He walked toward it and picked it up. For a minute, he did not move with tens of thoughts fighting inside his head. Then he took his pocket watch and opened it to see the time. It was almost 4:20 am.

May she go to hell. I’ve tried to save her, and I’ve looked for her everywhere, he thought as he looked to the dark with empty eyes. At least I’ll sleep with a clear conscience. He continued thinking. Then he smiled nervously as he knew he wasn’t honest with himself. What can I do?

A hard sigh came from him. Then he started walking to his hut with low shoulders. Damn it! For twenty years, I did not have any visit from strangers, and in one night, I receive two visits from … He stopped thinking as his eyes got wide open. From two strange girls!

He remembered the other girl, Lilith. He totally forgot about her, so he started to walk a little faster. While he was walking, an idea flashed in his head for a split second, but he couldn’t give it more focus as his hut appeared before him with the fire still burning. He slowed his walk a little and started panting with his thinking still busy with that little girl. He decided to tell what happened to this Lilith.

He froze in his place. A frightening look sparked in his eyes as he was staring at the spot where that young girl Lilith was sleeping.

The chair was empty, and it looked like no one sat in it. With caution, he walked to the chair as he waved his lamp left and right to light the place as he could, even though the moonlight was covering the place with its bone-glowing light. In his heart of hearts, he was feeling something, and he knew it. He could feel a sudden fear born inside him. She was sleeping here when I left her and …

He stopped thinking and started to walk here and there. Lilith! Miss Lilith! Lilith!

He looked around the hut until he got tired. Then he went back to the yard when he noticed something. The yard looked clean and appeared as if no one was here.

What the … he whispered as he moved his eyes quickly to the wooden chair to stare at it for a moment.

Then he turned to the yard. Even the pot was on the ground, and there was no trace that it was spilled on the ground or he fell on it. His eyes got wide with fear as a thought came to him. Maybe he was hallucinating. Living things never happened. He shook his head, and deep down him, he yelled, No, it’s true. Everything was true!

Yes! He went to the wooden chair.

He took the action immediately. He sat on the chair, relaxing and grabbing both its armrests. For seconds, he never moved but only thought, If she were sitting here, then this chair must be warm because of her. Seconds passed on him. The chair is cold, as no one sat in it!

Suddenly, he started to touch the chair with