In the Dark

Kapre

Everything comes with a risk, but for this risk the Girl had no choice.

The kapre towered at nine foot over her small frame. His dry mane emitted an acrid odor that was enough to cause the thick shrubs around them to wilt.

"I must say how disappointed I am," he spoke. "Your lack of enthusiasm breaks my heart. And here I thought that we were friends?"

The Girl silently pleaded. However, it had no effect. Her charm had worn off long ago and the innocence in her round eyes was gone. 

She opened her mouth to speak but her throat was parched as she coughed out the smoke coming from the bundles of weeds between his darkened lips. They had been here for hours, yet the joints never seemed to burn out.

"I thought you wanted this."

The kapre never touched her once before. Never. The Girl knew that he just didn't like touching mortals. A sense of superiority, some would say. 

So to her surprise, he leapt from the tree and came closer until she was practically pressed against him. 

Contrary to what most would expect, the kapre was gentle when he caressed her bare chest. His palms were wide enough to wrap around the growing bulge in her belly. Even he was astounded at how quick it was growing.

He could sense its impatience and to this, he let out a satisfied grin. 

The Girl attempted to push him away but she was simply too weak. Gritting her teeth, she spoke. 

"This was not the deal!"

Her lovely voice was only returned by a laugh. Foolish Girl.

As the rumors go, the kapre never hides his amusement.  He pulled away to raise her chin, and she had no choice but to peer into his red eyes that had sunk deeply to his sockets. 

"Who was that poor man again? That one you made gayuma for. Such a pity that it made him barren. Take a man's pride away and what would be left of him?"

The kapre took a strand of hair away from the Girl's face and bent down so he could plant a kiss on her supple cheeks. It was salty,  just mild enough for his taste.

This contact between them triggered a sudden visible ripple on the surface of the Girl's belly. The bluish veins on her pale skin stretched like lianas.

"You lied to me," she muttered. 

Again, he laughed. Foolish Girl.  

Did she expect that the gayuma would last?

" I have given something better, didn't I? You wanted a child and I gave you one. Surely, even without a gayuma, a child would keep your dearest man loving you."

The Girl only winced as her guts seemed to move on its own. She could not listen to what he was saying anymore. Bruises formed on her  upper torso. Blood spilled between her creamy thighs. Her body was being ripped into two. Three. Ten.  A hundred. Who could even tell?

"A child!" she cried out. "Not a tiyanak!"

Again, he laughed. Foolish Girl.